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Mood Disorders

Program Overview

What Are Mood Disorders?

Mood disorders are the most frequent mental disorders. They include disorders that have mood disturbance as the predominant feature. Mood disorders are often recurrent (multiple episodes of depression) and can also evolve into a chronic condition.

There are three main mood disorders:

  • Major depressive disorder or unipolar disorder, characterized by the occurrence of one or several depressive episodes (commonly referred to as depression);
  • Bipolar disorder (also known as manic depressive illness), characterized by the occurrence of both manic episodes and depressive episodes; and
  • Dysthymia, characterized by a chronic evolution of depressive symptoms.

Mood disorders can occur at the same time as other mental disorders such as an anxiety disorder, a substance abuse disorder (alcohol or drug abuse) and physical illnesses.

Contributing Factors to Mood Disorders

Factors that may contribute to the occurrence of a mood disorder include:

  • traumatic events during early development and life stressors;
  • genetic predisposition; and
  • biochemical changes.

The belief that mood disorders may be related to a lack of willpower or other character flaws is not supported by research.

Major depressive disorder is characterized by the presence for at least two weeks of the following symptoms:

  • Feelings of sadness, anxiety and hopelessness (negative thoughts);
  • Loss of interest and motivation or reduced enjoyment and pleasure;
  • Unwarranted feelings of guilt;
  • Diminished ability to think or concentrate; slowed thinking or indecisiveness;
  • Increased or reduced appetite along with an increase or loss of weight;
  • Increased or reduced sleep;
  • Low energy level and fatigue;
  • Low self-esteem or guilt; feelings of worthlessness;
  • Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness; and
  • Recurrent thoughts of death or suicidal thoughts or attempts.

The essential feature of bipolar disorder is a clinical course characterized by a period of higher mood called mania or hypomania, followed by depression. This pivotal symptom of mania or hypomania is an elevated, expansive, euphoric mood that seems excessive or in certain cases comes across as an irritable mood.

The mood changes typical of bipolar disorder are sustained and prolonged for several days. The mood change is associated with other symptoms such as:

  • Expressions of unwarranted optimism and/or lack of judgment;
  • Hyperactivity and excessive plans or participation in numerous risky activities (that may have the potential for pain or damaging consequences);
  • Decreased need for sleep where patients can go with little or no sleep for days without feeling tired;
  • Grandiose plans;
  • Racing thoughts; and
  • Impulse buying and shopping sprees.

Dysthymia and chronic depression are characterized by the constant presence of depressive symptoms of moderate severity for period of several years with brief or no symptom-free periods.