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Conditions

Mood Disorders

What is a mood disorder?

A mood disorder is a broad term used to describe mental health conditions that affect your emotional state. Mood disorders can cause sadness and depression. Some mood disorders bring out other emotions such as anger, anxiety, irritability, or a feeling of apathy.

Isn’t it normal for your mood to change?

It is, but it becomes a mood disorder when the feelings persists for several weeks or longer, and causes changes in your behavior and your ability to function.

Are mood disorders treatable?

Yes, mood disorders can often be treated successfully with antidepressants or mood stabilizing medicines taken in combination with psychotherapy (usually cognitive behavioral therapy).

Mood disorder symptoms

Mood disorders can vary for each of us, but generally involve one or more of these signs or symptoms:

  • Frequently feeling sad or depressed
  • Experiencing mood swings or irritability
  • Acting in a hostile or aggressive manner
  • Having chronically low energy levels
  • Feelings inadequate or worthless
  • Extreme sensitivity to failure or rejection
  • Consistently low self-esteem
  • Excessive worrying or guilt
  • Unable or unwilling to make decisions
  • Little interest in previously enjoyable activities
  • Consistent feelings of boredom
  • Lacking motivation to do anything
  • Not eating enough or eating too much
  • Using drugs or alcohol to feel better
  • Having thoughts of death or suicide

What causes mood disorders?

Mood and personality disorders are both categories of mental health conditions, but mood disorders are about patterns in your emotions, while personality disorders are about how you relate to others.

Mood disorders vs. personality disorders

Mood and personality disorders are both categories of mental health conditions, but mood disorders are about patterns in your emotions, while personality disorders are about how you relate to others.

The five most common types of mood disorders

Major Depression
Feeling sad, depressed, down, or hopeless for a minimum of two weeks in a row.

Dysthymia
Having a chronic, low-grade, depressed or irritable mood that lasts for at least 2 years.

Bipolar Disorder
Having periods of depression alternating with periods of mania or elevated moods.

Mood Disorder Related to Another Health Condition
Symptoms of depression triggered by medical or chronic illnesses such as cancer.

Substance-induced Mood Disorder
Depression brought on by medicine, drug abuse, alcoholism, or exposure to toxins.

Who is at risk for mood disorders?

More of the population is at risk for developing mood disorders than most of us are aware:

  • Mood disorders affect almost 20% of the general population at any given point.
  • Approximately 9.5% of American adults ages 18 and over will develop a mood disorder each year.
  • While mood disorders can develop at any age, the average age for development is the mid-20s.
  • Women are nearly twice as likely to suffer from a mood disorder than men. However, men and women are equally likely to develop bipolar disorder.
  • Bipolar disorders affect approximately 2.6% of Americans aged 18 and older in a given year, with the first manic episode appearing in the early 20s.

How mood disorders are diagnosed

Mood disorders are diagnosed through physical examinations and mental health evaluations. Physical exams are given to rule out any underlying medical conditions that could be affecting your mood. Mental health evaluations are performed to determine your mood stability and overall mental health.

How mood disorders are treated

Treatment for mood disorders depend on the person, their age, and the severity of their disorder. Treatments usually include medication management (the prescription of antidepressants and/or mood stabilizing medicines) coupled with some form of psychotherapy such as cognitive behavioral, interpersonal, or family therapy.

Can mood disorders be prevented?

Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent mood disorders. However, early diagnosis and treatment can reduce the severity of symptoms and improve the quality of life for people experiencing mood disorders.

Mood disorder FAQs

Conditions

Substance Use Disorder

u003ch3u003eWhat is a mood disorder?u003c/h3u003ernA mood disorder is a broad term used to describe mental health conditions that affect your emotional state. Mood disorders can cause sadness and u003ca href=u0022https://lifestance.com/condition/depression/u0022u003edepressionu003c/au003e. Some mood disorders bring out other emotions such as anger, anxiety, irritability, or a feeling of apathy.

u003ch3u003eIsn’t it normal for your mood to change?u003c/h3u003ernIt is, but it becomes a mood disorder when the feelings persists for several weeks or longer, and causes changes in your behavior and your ability to function.

u003ch3u003eAre mood disorders treatable?u003c/h3u003ernYes, mood disorders can often be treated successfully with antidepressants or mood stabilizing medicines taken in combination with psychotherapy (usually cognitive behavioral therapy).

u003ch3u003eMood disorder symptomsu003c/h3u003ernMood disorders can vary for each of us, but generally involve one or more of these signs or symptoms:rnu003culu003ern tu003cliu003eFrequently feeling sad or depressedu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eExperiencing mood swings or irritabilityu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eActing in a hostile or aggressive manneru003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eHaving chronically low energy levelsu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eFeelings inadequate or worthlessu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eExtreme sensitivity to failure or rejectionu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eConsistently low self-esteemu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eExcessive worrying or guiltu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eUnable or unwilling to make decisionsu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eLittle interest in previously enjoyable activitiesu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eConsistent feelings of boredomu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eLacking motivation to do anythingu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eNot eating enough or eating too muchu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eUsing drugs or alcohol to feel betteru003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eHaving thoughts of death or suicideu003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003e

u003ch3u003eWhat causes mood disorders?u003c/h3u003ernMood and personality disorders are both categories of mental health conditions, but mood disorders are about patterns in your emotions, while personality disorders are about how you relate to others.

u003ch3u003eMood disorders vs. personality disordersu003c/h3u003ernMood and personality disorders are both categories of mental health conditions, but mood disorders are about patterns in your emotions, while personality disorders are about how you relate to others.

u003ch3u003eThe five most common types of mood disordersu003c/h3u003ernu003cstrongu003eu003ca href=u0022https://lifestance.com/condition/depression/u0022u003eMajor Depressionu003c/au003eu003c/strongu003ernFeeling sad, depressed, down, or hopeless for a minimum of two weeks in a row.rnrnu003cstrongu003eDysthymiau003c/strongu003ernHaving a chronic, low-grade, depressed or irritable mood that lasts for at least 2 years.rnrnu003cstrongu003eu003ca href=u0022https://lifestance.com/condition/bipolar-disorder/u0022u003eBipolar Disorderu003c/au003eu003c/strongu003ernHaving periods of depression alternating with periods of mania or elevated moods.rnrnu003cstrongu003eMood Disorder Related to Another Health Conditionu003c/strongu003ernSymptoms of depression triggered by medical or chronic illnesses such as cancer.rnrnu003cstrongu003eSubstance-induced Mood Disorderu003c/strongu003ernDepression brought on by medicine, drug abuse, alcoholism, or exposure to toxins.

u003ch3u003eWho is at risk for mood disorders?u003c/h3u003ernMore of the population is at risk for developing mood disorders than most of us are aware:rnu003culu003ern tu003cliu003eMood disorders affect almost 20% of the general population at any given point.u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eApproximately 9.5% of American adults ages 18 and over will develop a mood disorder each year.u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eWhile mood disorders can develop at any age, the average age for development is the mid-20s.u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eWomen are nearly twice as likely to suffer from a mood disorder than men. However, men and women are equally likely to develop bipolar disorder.u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eBipolar disorders affect approximately 2.6% of Americans aged 18 and older in a given year, with the first manic episode appearing in the early 20s.u003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003e

u003ch3u003eHow mood disorders are diagnosedu003c/h3u003ernMood disorders are diagnosed through physical examinations and mental health evaluations. Physical exams are given to rule out any underlying medical conditions that could be affecting your mood. Mental health evaluations are performed to determine your mood stability and overall mental health.

u003ch3u003eHow mood disorders are treatedu003c/h3u003ernTreatment for mood disorders depend on the person, their age, and the severity of their disorder. Treatments usually include medication management (the prescription of antidepressants and/or mood stabilizing medicines) coupled with some form of psychotherapy such as cognitive behavioral, interpersonal, or family therapy.

u003ch3u003eCan mood disorders be prevented?u003c/h3u003ernUnfortunately, there is no way to prevent mood disorders. However, early diagnosis and treatment can reduce the severity of symptoms and improve the quality of life for people experiencing mood disorders.

Mood disorder FAQs