Different Types Of Mood Disorders
Some people may feel like their mood swings constantly, while others with bipolar disorder experience episodes of intense moods, such as manic episodes and depressive episodes.
Different types of mood disorders are characterized by different patterns and severity. There are many different types of mood disorders, depending on the symptoms exhibited, but they all have something in common: a disruption in a person’s ability to manage their feelings and emotions.
The most common type of mood disorder is major depression or unipolar depression. Symptoms include:
Depression—a general feeling of sadness, anxiety, or hopelessness.
Anhedonia (lack of pleasure in activities)
Fatigue/lethargy—feeling as though you have been run over by a truck; feeling unusually tired and unable to focus. This is also known as "the fog." Commonly associated with chronic depression. There is usually a history of excessive sleep and little energy. Some people may experience a lack of motivation and pleasure in daily life or assume that they are "slow" or "lazy". Weight loss or weight gain is common along with appetite changes (sudden or inappropriate food cravings).
Interpersonal issues—feeling isolated and shutting others out.
Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Physical symptoms that may include aching muscles and limbs, sore throat, or pale complexion. Some people may also experience headaches, digestive upset, nausea and irregular heartbeat. Some people who experience depression or mania do not realize they are ill because their symptoms can be mistaken as an illness rather than mental illness. Bipolar disorder may begin with a depressive episode that does not progress to mania (the "high" mood state).
People who are depressed often recognize that they are behaving abnormally but don't know why they feel the way they do. It is common for depressed people to have negative thoughts about themselves and the world around them. Depression can make life seem overwhelming, and some people attempt suicide.
Bipolar disorder is a type of mood disorder that causes people to experience extreme shifts in their moods, energy levels, thinking patterns and ability to function. Symptoms of bipolar disorder include:
Depressive episodes—a period of intense sadness (feeling hopeless, worthless) and loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities (anhedonia). Some people may also feel agitated or irritable during an episode. Having suicidal thoughts or feelings is common during depressive episodes.
Mania—a period of abnormally elevated or irritable mood. This may include frequent episodes of feeling energized (high-energy mania) or sleeping less than four hours a night and having racing thoughts (high-energy). During a manic episode, some people may experience delusions and hallucinations, believing that they can do things that are impossible or that others are trying to harm them. Some people who are manic spend lots of money and get into trouble because they don't think rationally.
Mixed episode—symptoms of both depressive and manic symptoms occur at the same time, sometimes with symptoms so severe that it makes functioning in daily life difficult.
Hypomanic episode—a less severe form of mania that causes milder symptoms than a manic episode.
Cyclothymia—similar to manic-depressive disorder, but with less severe cyclical mood swings, which are not as extreme as those in bipolar disorder or major depression. Some people experience depressive episodes every few months or years and hypomanic (mildly elevated) episodes in between. It is also common for people experiencing cyclothymia to have periods of normal moods between their depressive and hypomanic symptoms. Cyclothymia can progress into bipolar disorder if not treated.
Other types of mood disorders are:
Adjustment disorder with depressed mood—sudden and strong feelings of sadness or stress in response to an identifiable event. This leads to a change in behavior because of the change in mood. Symptoms usually last up to 6 months after the trigger event has occurred.
Atypical depression—a type of depression that is characterized by having few or no symptoms other than depressed mood, and does not respond well to typical antidepressant treatments. Many people with atypical depression have co-occurring anxiety disorders.
Dysthymia (also called chronic mild depression)—a less intense and longer-lasting form of depression that is characterized by cycles of low energy, irritability, poor concentration, and problems at work or school.
Seasonal affective disorder—a type of depression that occurs when the amount of sunlight gradually decreases during certain seasons. This can lead to feelings of sadness in the winter. Some people have symptoms similar to those who have seasonal affective disorder, but do not receive a diagnosis because their symptoms are so mild.
Major depressive disorder is diagnosed when a person experiences at least seven days of an episode that interferes with daily life or results in thoughts about death/suicide.
Major depression may be diagnosed in adults or children. It usually begins between ages 16 and 25 (although it can occur at any age) and has a lifetime prevalence of 5-8%.
Up to half of those who suffer from major depression experience suicidal ideation. Suicidal individuals are at high risk for suicide attempts when they are under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or sleep deprivation.
Suicide is a leading cause of death among those with bipolar disorder, which is why patients with bipolar disorder should immediately contact their physician in the event that they are feeling suicidal thoughts or behaviors.
Depression is a problem that can affect anyone, but it is more common in adults. Some people with depression feel bad all the time, while others have a more severe version that affects their ability to function in daily life.
Temporary depression or sadness can be caused by stress, changes in lifestyle and diet, and the loss of a loved one. Long-term depression can be triggered by events such as the death of a loved one, divorce or other relationship problems, financial problems, or loss of employment. It often occurs when people are older (age 50 and older), which may be related to retirement or changes in relationships. Depression often fluctuates over time and is linked with worsening of symptoms as time passes.
Depression is most often treated with psychotherapy and medication. Medications include: antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, anti-seizure drugs, lithium, and valproate. The main treatment goal is to reduce the severity of symptoms as much as possible by reducing the risk of suicide attempts and complications such as psychosis. A person should never drink alcohol to cope with depression or to improve their mood—this causes even more damage to the body and can actually worsen depression symptoms. Research shows that talking about a problem helps people who are depressed feel better.
Conclusion
The most common mental disorders in the United States are depression and anxiety disorders. Depression is an illness that can be treated effectively with medication and psychotherapy. Anxiety disorders are more difficult to treat, but evidence shows that cognitive-behavioral therapy is effective for treating generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorders, and social phobia. Cognitive therapy focuses on identifying distorted thoughts and correcting them by using exposure to feared situations to develop more adaptive patterns of thinking. A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials has shown that cognitive therapy is effective for patients with panic disorder. The treatments available for anxiety disorders are based on the principles of behavioral medicine and involve a combination of exposure therapy, relaxation training, cognitive restructuring, and behavior management interventions (e.g.