A 32-year-old woman is brought to the emergency department by her family due to 1 week of decreased need for sleep, rapid and pressured speech, grandiosity, and impulsive spending. She has a known history of bipolar disorder. Which medication is the most appropriate initial treatment for acute mania?

✓ Correct Answer: Option C

The patient is experiencing an acute manic episode. Lithium is a first-line mood stabilizer for acute mania in bipolar disorder. Sertraline (an antidepressant) can precipitate or worsen mania. Lorazepam can help with acute agitation but is not a primary mood stabilizer. Propranolol addresses somatic anxiety symptoms.