Everyone experiences bouts of sadness or irritation, but when these feelings become persistent and overwhelming they may be a sign of a more serious underlying issue.
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Schedule NowUnderstanding Mood Disorders
Mood disorders are a group of mental health conditions characterized by significant changes in a person’s emotional state, including feelings of sadness, irritability, and loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities.
Common mood disorders include:
Many individuals with mood disorders are able to better manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life with appropriate diagnosis and treatment.
“If you have or think you might have a mental illness, the first thing you must know is that you are not alone.”
U.S. Adults experience any mood disorder at some time in their lives
People worldwide have depression, including 5% of the world’s adults
Types of Mood Disorders
Mood disorders refer to a cluster of mental health conditions that entail substantial fluctuations in an individual’s emotional well-being, encompassing experiences of melancholy, agitation, and disinterest in previously enjoyable pursuits.
Depression
Depression, also known as major depressive disorder or clinical depression, is a prevalent yet severe mood disorder that impacts how you perceive, think, and carry out everyday activities like sleeping, eating, and working. In order to receive a depression diagnosis, the symptoms must persist for a minimum of two weeks.
In the United States, depression is among the most prevalent mental disorders. Studies indicate that depression is influenced by genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors.
While depression can occur at any age, it frequently develops in adulthood. Presently, depression is recognized as a condition that can affect children and teenagers, and may exhibit itself more commonly as irritability rather than low mood. Additionally, chronic mood and anxiety disorders often stem from high levels of anxiety experienced during childhood.
Risk Factors Include:
- Personal or family history of depression
- Major life changes, trauma, or stress
- Certain physical illnesses and medications
Bipolar Disorder
People with bipolar disorder experience periods of unusually intense emotion and changes in sleep patterns and activity levels, and engage in behaviors that are out of character for them—often without recognizing their likely harmful or undesirable effects. These distinct periods are called mood episodes. Mood episodes are very different from the person’s usual moods and behaviors. During an episode, the symptoms last every day for most of the day. Episodes may also last for longer periods, such as several days or weeks.
- Bipolar I disorder is defined by manic episodes that last for at least 7 days (nearly every day for most of the day) or by manic symptoms that are so severe that the person needs immediate medical care. Usually, depressive episodes occur as well, typically lasting at least 2 weeks. Episodes of depression with mixed features (having depressive symptoms and manic symptoms at the same time) are also possible. Experiencing four or more episodes of mania or depression within 1 year is called “rapid cycling.”
- Bipolar II disorder is defined by a pattern of depressive episodes and hypomanic episodes. The hypomanic episodes are less severe than the manic episodes in bipolar I disorder.
- Cyclothymic disorder (also called cyclothymia) is defined by recurring hypomanic and depressive symptoms that are not intense enough or do not last long enough to qualify as hypomanic or depressive episodes.
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Many people go through short periods of time where they feel sad or not like their usual selves. Sometimes, these mood changes begin and end when the seasons change. People may start to feel “down” when the days get shorter in the fall and winter (also called “winter blues”) and begin to feel better in the spring, with longer daylight hours.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is classified as a type of depression that is distinguished by its recurring seasonal cycle, typically lasting approximately 4 to 5 months each year. As a result, SAD shares similar symptoms with major depression, but also includes specific symptoms that vary between winter-pattern and summer-pattern SAD.
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a type of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) that affects a small percentage of women. It is characterized by severe mood swings, irritability, anxiety, depression, and physical symptoms in the week or two before menstruation. PMDD can significantly impact a woman’s quality of life, making it difficult to carry out daily activities, maintain relationships, and function at work or school.
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