Monomania

Editor-In-Chief: Prab R Tumpati, MD
Obesity, Sleep & Internal medicine
Founder, WikiMD Wellnesspedia &
W8MD's weight loss doctor NYC
Philadelphia GLP-1 weight loss and GLP-1 clinic NYC

Monomania
File:La Monomane de l'envie.jpg
Synonyms	N/A
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	N/A
Symptoms	Obsession with a single idea or subject
Complications	May lead to delusions or paranoia
Onset	Typically adolescence or early adulthood
Duration	Can be chronic
Types	N/A
Causes	Psychological factors, neurological conditions
Risks	Social isolation, impaired functioning
Diagnosis	Clinical assessment
Differential diagnosis	Obsessive-compulsive disorder, paranoid schizophrenia
Prevention	N/A
Treatment	Psychotherapy, medication
Medication	N/A
Prognosis	Varies; can improve with treatment
Frequency	Rarely diagnosed in modern psychiatry
Deaths	N/A

Monomania is a type of mental disorder characterized by an excessive preoccupation or obsession with a single thing, idea, or subject, to the exclusion of other thoughts, ideas, or activities. It is a form of mania that is focused, or "mono," on one specific thing. Monomania is not currently recognized as a distinct disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), but it was included in earlier versions of the manual. Today, symptoms that might have been diagnosed as monomania may be classified under other disorders, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), delusional disorder, or personality disorders.

History

The term "monomania" was first used in the early 19th century by French psychiatrist Jean-Étienne Dominique Esquirol. Esquirol described monomania as a form of partial insanity, in which a person has a single pathological preoccupation, but otherwise has a sound mind.

Symptoms

The primary symptom of monomania is an intense and persistent preoccupation with a single idea, subject, or activity. This preoccupation is not merely a strong interest or passion, but a pathological obsession that interferes with the person's ability to think about or do anything else.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of monomania is based on the person's symptoms and behavior. The person must have a single, persistent preoccupation that interferes with their ability to function normally. This preoccupation must not be better explained by another mental disorder, such as OCD or a delusional disorder.

Treatment

Treatment for monomania typically involves psychotherapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), to help the person manage their symptoms and reduce their preoccupation. In some cases, medication may also be used.

See also

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Delusional disorder
• Personality disorders
• Mania