Mood Disorders

Home  ›  Mood Disorders
Mood Disorders

What is a mood disorder?

Everyday life is a roller coaster of emotions. You may feel on top of the world one day because of a high-profile promotion or an awesome grade on a test. Another day, you may feel down in the dumps due to relationship problems, financial troubles, or because you got a flat tire on the way to work. These are normal fluctuations in mood that come and go. When your mood starts to have an impact on your daily activities and in your social, educational, and vocational relationships, you may be suffering from a mood disorder.

Mood disorders are characterized by a serious change in mood that cause disruption to life activities. Though many different subtypes are recognized, three major states of mood disorders exist: depressive, manic, and bipolar. Major depressive disorder is characterized by overall depressed mood. Elevated moods are characterized by mania or hypomania. The cycling between both depressed and manic moods is characteristic of bipolar mood disorders. In addition to type and subtype of mood, these disorders also vary in intensity and severity. For example, dysthymic disorder is a lesser form of major depression and cyclothymic disorder is recognized as a similar, but less severe form of bipolar disorder.

Symptoms of mood disorders​

Emotional symptoms of mood disorder (Emotional symptoms of mood disorders are not the same for all people).

·         Thoughts of and attempts at suicide

·         Loss of interest in activities that were pleasurable in the past

·         Unyielding anxiety, sadness or feelings of emptiness

·         Feelings of worthlessness, helplessness or guilt

 

Emotional symptoms of mania include:

·         Prolonged periods of elation

·         Restlessness

·         Irritability, agitation or excessive energy

·         Feelings of grandiosity

·         Impulsive, risky or hedonistic behavior

 

Physical symptoms of depression

·         Decreased energy or fatigue

·         Headaches, body aches, pains, cramps or digestive problems

·         Difficulty remembering details, making decisions or concentrating

·         Loss of appetite or overeating

·         Excessive sleeping or insomnia

 

Physical symptoms of mania include:

·         Racing thoughts and jumping from one idea to the next

·         Pressured or rapid speech

·         Increased goal-directed activities

·         Being easily distracted

·         Insomnia

·         Hypersexuality

Some examples of mood disorders include:

·         Major depressive disorder — prolonged and persistent periods of extreme sadness

·         Bipolar disorder — also called manic depression or bipolar affective disorder, depression that includes alternating times of depression and mania

·         Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) — a form of depression most often associated with fewer hours of daylight in the far northern and southern latitudes from late fall to early spring

·         Cyclothymic disorder — a disorder that causes emotional ups and downs that are less extreme than bipolar disorder

·         Premenstrual dysphoric disorder — mood changes and irritability that occur during the premenstrual phase of a woman’s cycle and go away with the onset of menses

·         Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) — a long-term (chronic) form of depression

·         Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder — a disorder of chronic, severe and persistent irritability in children that often includes frequent temper outbursts that are inconsistent with the child’s developmental age

·         Depression related to medical illness — a persistent depressed mood and a significant loss of pleasure in most or all activities that’s directly related to the physical effects of another medical condition

·         Depression induced by substance use or medication ― depression symptoms that develop during or soon after substance use or withdrawal or after exposure to a medication

Anxiety disorders can also affect your mood and often occur along with depression. Mood disorders may increase your risk of suicide. 

For most people, mood disorders can be successfully treated with medications and talk therapy (psychotherapy).

Prevalence of Mood Disorders

Mood disorders have been found to affect approximately 20% of the general population at any given point. More specifically, 17% of the U.S. population is thought to suffer from depression over the course of their lifetime, with bipolar disorder affecting only 1% of the general population. However, researchers agree that many instances of manic moods often go unnoticed or are deemed unproblematic, causing a significant decrease in their reported prevalence.

What causes mood disorders?

What causes mood disorders?  Many factors contribute to mood disorders. They are likely caused by an imbalance of brain chemicals. Life events (such as stressful life changes) may also contribute to a depressed mood. Mood disorders also tend to run in families. Researchers and medical professionals do not have a pinpointed answer for this question but believe both biological and environmental factors are at play. If your family history includes individuals who have been diagnosed with mood disorders, your likelihood of experiencing them, while still low overall, is increased. Traumatic life events are also considered culprits of the onset of mood disorders as well. Mood disorders can negatively impact your work life and school life and intrude on your personal relationships. In some cases, medications and substance abuse can be the cause behind the disorder.

Risk for mood disorders

Anyone can feel sad or depressed at times. However, mood disorders are more intense and harder to manage than normal feelings of sadness. Children, teens, or adults who have a parent with a mood disorder have a greater chance of also having a mood disorder. However, life events and stress can expose or worsen feelings of sadness or depression. This makes the feelings harder to manage.


Sometimes, life’s problems can trigger depression. Being fired from a job, getting divorced, losing a loved one, death in the family, and financial trouble, to name a few, all can be difficult and coping with the pressure may be troublesome. These life events and stress can bring on feelings of sadness or depression or make a mood disorder harder to manage.

 

The risk of depression in women is nearly twice as high as it is for men. Once a person in the family has this diagnosis, their brothers, sisters, or children have a higher chance of the same diagnosis. In addition, relatives of people with depression are also at increased risk for bipolar disorder .

Once a person in the family has a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, the chance for their brothers, sisters, or children to have the same diagnosis is increased. Relatives of people with bipolar are also at increased risk for depression.

Diagnosis Methods

Mood disorders are diagnosed through both physical examinations and mental health evaluations. Your physician will perform a physical exam to rule out any underlying medical conditions that are causing an effect on your mood. If ruled out, a mental health provider may perform a series of assessments to determine your mood stability and mental health. Many individuals are reluctant to seek help for mood disorders due to the social stigma associated with them. Because of this, many go undiagnosed and approximately only 20% of those diagnosed receive treatment. 

For additional information on mood disorders visit the sites below. 
Sites credited

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mood-disorders/symptoms-causes/syc-20365057  –  https://www.psycom.net/mood-disorders/  –  https://www.psychguides.com/mood-disorders/

Mood Disorder  |  Relationships  |  Sleep  |  Exercise | Diet  |  Treatment and Medication

If you are in a crisis, call 911 or contact your local crisis center. This web site does not take the place of professional help. Always
speak with your doctor or a licensed professional for treatment.