Mood Congruence and Incongruence in Bipolar Disorder

Mood Incongruence: A Sign of Bipolar Disorder

• Mood congruence is when a person's mood matches their thoughts, feelings, and actions.
• Mood incongruence occurs when there is a mismatch between a person's mood and their thoughts, feelings, or actions.
• Mood incongruence is a symptom of bipolar disorder, a mental illness that causes episodes of depression and mania.

Examples of Mood Incongruence in Bipolar Disorder

• A person who is feeling very depressed may laugh or crack jokes.
• A person who is feeling very manic may cry or express feelings of sadness.
• A person who is feeling very irritable or angry may behave in a calm and collected manner.

Mood Congruence: A Less Serious Symptom of Bipolar Disorder

• Mood congruence refers to symptoms that align with the person's current mood.
• Mood-congruent symptoms are considered less severe than mood-incongruent symptoms.
• Examples of mood-congruent symptoms include:
  • Feeling hopeless and despairing during a depressive episode.
  • Feeling euphoric and energetic during a manic episode.

Psychosis in Bipolar Disorder

• Psychosis is a break from reality that involves hallucinations (sensory experiences that are not real) or delusions (false beliefs held despite evidence to the contrary).
• Psychosis can occur during both manic and depressive episodes of bipolar disorder.
• There are two types of psychosis in bipolar disorder: mood-congruent psychosis and mood-incongruent psychosis.

Mood-Congruent Psychosis

• Mood-congruent psychosis is when the hallucinations or delusions are related to the person's mood.
• Examples of mood-congruent psychosis include:
  • Hearing voices that say negative things about the person during a depressive episode.
  • Seeing visions of grandeur during a manic episode.

Mood-Incongruent Psychosis

• Mood-incongruent psychosis is when the hallucinations or delusions are not related to the person's mood.
• Examples of mood-incongruent psychosis include:
  • Hearing voices that say positive things about the person during a depressive episode.
  • Seeing visions of poverty during a manic episode.

Treatment for Bipolar Disorder

• Bipolar disorder is treated with medication and psychotherapy.
• Mood-incongruent symptoms may require more intensive treatment than mood-congruent symptoms.
• Ongoing care and monitoring are essential for people with bipolar disorder.

If you think you may have bipolar disorder, it is important to see a mental health professional for an evaluation. Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness, but it can be managed with treatment.