Mood Congruence
A descriptor indicating whether a patient's psychotic or other symptoms are consistent in theme with their prevailing mood state.
Full Definition
Mood congruence is a qualifier applied primarily to psychotic features in the context of mood episodes, particularly in bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder with psychotic features. 'Mood-congruent' psychotic features have content consistent with the mood pole (e.g., grandiose delusions during mania); 'mood-incongruent' features do not align with the prevailing mood. Editors will encounter both hyphenated modifier forms ('mood-congruent,' 'mood-incongruent') as well as the noun form ('mood congruence'). The hyphen is required when either form precedes a noun.
Usage
Usage note: Hyphenate when used as a compound modifier: 'mood-congruent psychosis.' Do not hyphenate the noun form: 'mood congruence.' The paired antonym 'mood-incongruent' follows the same rule.
In Context
- "The diagnostic summary noted mood-congruent grandiose delusions consistent with the patient's manic episode." — Psychiatric diagnostic summary
- "Mood congruence must be specified when documenting psychotic features in any mood disorder diagnosis per DSM-5-TR specifier requirements." — Diagnostic coding document