Behavioral Examples of Impulsivity in Mania

In mania, patients display impulsive behavior such as spending excessively, risky driving, sudden travel plans, starting new relationships or projects, saying regrettable things, engaging in sex, gambling, or drug use. In mixed mania, they may exhibit reckless actions like abruptly ending relationships, leaving jobs, breaking things, or aggressive driving. Pleasure-seeking behavior in mixed mania is often justified as an attempt to alleviate depression by the patients.