Mind the Kids - Energized or at risk? Distinguishing subclinical hypomania in adolescents
Duration: 42 mins
Publication Date: 4 Feb 2026
Next Review Date: 4 Feb 2029
DOI: 10.13056/acamh.13808
Description
Energized, driven, “on a high” – or at the edge of something more serious? This Mind the Kids episode, “Energized or at risk? Distinguishing subclinical hypomania in adolescents”, explores how to tell the difference between healthy teenage intensity and something more problematic. Host Mark Tebbs talks to Dr. Georgina Hosang about the topic of hypomania, as she draws on her expertise and research. The conversation unpacks what hypomania can look like at home and at school, how it overlaps with typical mood swings and ADHD, and other conditions, and which red flags suggest it’s time to seek specialist help. Listeners will hear practical guidance on what parents, carers, teachers, and young people themselves can watch for, how to talk about concerns without stigma, and why early recognition matters for safety, learning, and long‑term wellbeing. This episode is for anyone supporting adolescents who seem unusually “switched on”, wired, or risk‑taking – and who wants clear, compassionate advice on when to simply ride the wave, and when to seek assistance. For more details read the JCPP paper ‘Subclinical hypomania, psychiatric and neurodevelopmental diagnoses: phenotypic and aetiological overlap’ by Georgina M. Hosang et al. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.70045
Learning Objectives
1. Explore the complex and multifactorial origins of subclinical hypomania, with subclinical hypermania linked to 14 different psychiatric diagnoses.
2. Examine how hypomanic symptoms can lead to decreased life satisfaction and suicidal behaviours and why it is crucial to observe changes in behaviour and energy levels in young people.
3. Discover the significant gap in research on subclinical hypomania compared to other conditions and how subclinical hypomania is distinct from ADHD, despite some overlapping symptoms.
4. Recognise the importance of understanding shared risk factors to help in mental health treatment and how early intervention can lead to better long-term outcomes for young people.
5. Explore why support for young people should be holistic and consider a range of symptoms.
