Mini-Mindset: Spring-Onset Mania--Understanding Seasonal Patterns in Bipolar Disorder

In this Mini Mindset episode of PA Mindset Matters, Jessica Spissinger and Mercedes Dodge discuss spring-onset mania as a seasonal pattern in bipolar disorder. Seasonal patterns require a consistent relationship with a specific time of year for at least two years, with manic episodes most often peaking in spring and autumn. They review manic symptoms using the DIGFAST mnemonic and distinguish hypomania from mania by duration, functional impairment, and possible psychosis.

The episode explores potential mechanisms including increased light exposure, circadian rhythm disruption, melatonin changes, dopamine variation, and genetic clock-gene vulnerability.

Treatment emphasizes acuity-based management, including mood stabilizers and antipsychotics for acute mania, with ECT for severe cases, and prevention strategies such as consistent sleep schedules, reduced evening light exposure, dark therapy, and blue-light–blocking glasses. The hosts also discuss a calendar-based prevention approach around the spring daylight-saving time change and share additional resources at pamindset.com.