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Bipolar I disorder — USMLE Step 3 MCQ

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HardPsychiatry (outpatient management)Bipolar I disorderUSMLE Step 3

A 32-year-old has slept two hours nightly for eight days, spent thousands of dollars, spoken rapidly, and has grandiose religious beliefs requiring hospitalization. Which diagnosis is most likely?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: B — A manic episode with severe impairment

Hospitalization and marked impairment with classic manic symptoms meet criteria for a manic episode. Hypomania lacks the same degree of impairment and does not require hospitalization.

Reference: American Psychiatric Association, Practice Guideline for Bipolar Disorder: https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/practice/clinical-practice-guidelines