In practice, the psychiatrist tries to evaluate, firstly, the quantitative disorders of affectivity as hypothymia, negative or positive hyperthymia and secondly, to appraise its qualitative modifications; parathymies, affective inversion, affective ambivalence.

Undeniably impressive in efforts at overcoming his polio-induced paralysis, Ghaemi's FDR also sounds like a delightful dinner companion who leveraged hyperthymia into grand programs such as the New Deal.