Guide to Mood Disorders: Symptoms, Types, Causes, and Treatment

Have you ever been in a situation where your thoughts jump from one thought to another, which might be normal for you, but others noticed your behavior wasn’t normal? Most of us feel sad from time to time, and it can get better. But if you remain sad most of the time, it can be a sign of a mood disorder.

Mood disorders are psychiatric conditions that can cause severe shifts in mood. They can be characterized by the highs and lows of a person’s emotional state. People struggling with this condition experience emotional shifts for at least a couple of weeks. It may lead to several conditions, such as depression and bipolar disorder, which have profound effects on mental and emotional health and can also affect physical health if left untreated.

This condition can negatively influence your ability to function normally in everyday tasks. As per the research by the National Institute of Mental Health, an estimated 9.7% of U.S. adults have struggled with a mood disorder in the past year. Anyone can experience this condition, whether an adult or a child. However, the symptoms may vary, as children show fewer signs and remain underdiagnosed.

Read this article to learn more about mood disorders and how they affect life!

What is a Mood Disorder?

Mood disorders are a psychiatric condition; it’s an umbrella term that refers to several psychiatric disorders that severely affect a person’s emotional state. It leads to long periods of extreme happiness, euphoria, mania, sadness, and depression. People experiencing this state experience persistent emotions, such as irritation, overwhelming sadness, worthlessness, guilt, and crankiness. It causes severe issues with daily life and primarily causes disturbances that go beyond normal mood swings and also affect their relations with others. This condition falls under the category of depressive disorders and bipolar spectrum disorders.

However, most people struggling with this state have suicidal thoughts and other harmful behaviors as well. Women are more likely to experience this condition than men. As per the research by the National Institute of Medicine, individuals with other chronic medical conditions are also more vulnerable to experiencing this disorder.

What are the Symptoms of Mood Disorders?

The symptoms depend on age, as children and adults have different symptoms. Here are some of the most common symptoms of a mood disorder:

Mood disorder in Adults

• Excessive sadness
• Helpless
• Low self-esteem
• Worthlessness
• Extreme guilt
• Relationship issues
• Sleeping too much or being unable to sleep
• Trouble focusing
• Unable to make decisions
• Frequent physical complaints such as headaches, stomachaches

Symptoms of Mood Disorder in Children

• Constant irritability
• Extreme anger outbursts
• Sudden loss of interest in favorite activities
• Unexplained physical complaints
• Changes in sleep cycle
• Changes in academic performance

What are the Major Types of Mood Disorders?

There are several types of mood disorders, and each type is represented by a person’s emotional patterns. People with this condition have extremely intense emotions over a longer period of time, and it usually occurs because of imbalances in brain chemicals. As per the update of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) in 2013, this condition revolves around two groups: bipolar and related disorders and depressive disorders.

Some of the common types are as follows:

Depressive Disorders

Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders in which people experience extreme sadness and hopelessness. People in this condition also struggle with difficulty thinking, remembering, eating, and sleeping. Some of the common types of depression include:

• Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

People experiencing MDD remain sad most of the time. However, feeling sad for a certain period of time is normal, but if their sadness causes issues with managing day-to-day life, then it’s a problem. If the symptoms remain for more than two weeks, you might be struggling with this condition. Here are some of the common symptoms that may help to diagnose MDD:

• Continuous feelings of sadness or emptiness
• Trouble sleeping, or insomnia
• Decreased concentration
• Guilt or worthlessness
• Changes in appetite
• fatigue
• Loss of interest in the activities you enjoyed before
• Ideas of suicide
• Restlessness

• Postpartum depression

It is a type of depression that arises during pregnancy or occurs after giving birth to the child. It is because women experience hormonal, physical, emotional, financial, and social changes after having a baby. However, these changes are more prone to developing postpartum depression.

• Persistent depressive disorder

Persistent Depressive Disorder is also known as Dysthymic Disorder. It is a chronic type of depression that is similar to MDD. However, the symptoms are more prolonged in this case, as people must have a depressed mood for at least two years. The symptoms may sometimes lessen in severity during some of the common symptoms.

• Changes in appetite
• Trouble sleeping
• Decreased concentration
• Difficulty with decision-making
• Feelings of hopelessness
• Low energy
• Fatigue
• Low self-esteem

• Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

It’s a type of depression that usually occurs during particular seasons of the year. SAD typically starts in the late autumn or in winter, and it’s not that common for SAD episodes to begin during the late spring or summer. The lack of sunlight is usually a contributing factor to this disorder. However, this condition usually resembles those of major depression, and this may tend to disappear during spring and summer. Some of the common symptoms are increased sleep, weight gain, and isolation.

• Depression with psychosis

People in this state experience severe depression along with the symptoms of psychosis, such as hallucinations, paranoia, or delusions. However, individuals who experience depression with psychotic episodes are more prone to suicide.

• Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)

It’s a type of depression that usually occurs before menstrual days. It causes severe challenges with mood and leads to irritability. It usually occurs a week before the cycle. Here are some of the common symptoms:

• Irritability
• Mood fluctuations
• Hopelessness
• Depressed mood
• Anxiety

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a lifelong mental health condition in which people experience extreme shifts in mood, energy, thought patterns, and behavior. People experience extreme mania, or hypomania, and depressive episodes; these are the periods of abnormal, irritable mood with increased energy. Some of the common symptoms of bipolar disorder include:

• Unable to concentrate
• Impulsivity
• Grandiosity
• Fighting with the thoughts
• Increased energy
• Sleeping issues
• Talkativeness

Bipolar disorder is characterized by several types, including:

• Bipolar I disorder

Bipolar disorder I is a condition in which a person experiences at least two episodes of mania. However, some people with bipolar I have episodes of both mania and depression, but it isn’t necessary to establish a diagnosis.

• Bipolar II disorder

This disorder is previously known as Manic Depressive Disorder. People in this state experience cycles of depression similar to those of bipolar I, as well as the occurrence of one or more major depressive episodes. Bipolar II disorder makes a person experience hypomania, which is a less severe form of mania. However, the hypomanic state is not as extreme or disruptive as manic episodes. People struggling with BIpolar II are often unable to handle daily responsibilities.

• Cyclothymia disorder (cyclothymia)

It’s a type of bipolar disorder in which a person has an extreme, chronic, unstable mood state. It causes one to experience hypomania and mild depression for at least two years. As per recent research, 15 to 50% of these people eventually develop Bipolar I or Bipolar II Disorder.

Other Mood Disorders

• Medical health conditions

These are also linked to other chronic medical conditions. These conditions can be cancer, injuries, infections, and chronic illnesses. This is because these conditions affect the mood and lead to depression or anxiety.

• Substance-induced mood disorder

Some substances and other drugs can also affect the mood and lead to several this disorder disorders. It can also occur as a side effect of medicines.

What are the Causes of Mood Disorders?

There are several factors that may increase the vulnerability to developing this disorder. Some of the common causes include:

Genetics

Individuals who have a close family member who struggles with a mood disorder increase the vulnerability. This is because this disorder is a highly inherited conditions that run in families. As per the research on mood disorders, bipolar disorder, and major depression.

Brain Chemicals & Structure

Changes in the levels or actions of brain chemicals like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine may also lead to the development of mood disorders. Individuals with Bipolar Disorder tend to have an increased level of dopamine, while people with Major Depressive Disorder have decreased levels of serotonin. So, the imbalance in the brain chemicals tends to regulate a person’s mood, and a minor change in brain chemicals can lead to the development of this condition. Also, the different parts of the brain that are responsible for regulating feelings and emotions are the amygdala and orbitofrontal cortex. So the differences with this can also affect mood and lead to the development of this disorder.

Environmental Factors

People who have struggled with high-pressure settings, experienced traumatic circumstances, and even suffered from chronic stress are vulnerable to developing mood disorders. Individuals who have experienced or been a part of abuse or lost a loved one are also prone to this condition, especially depression. Moreover, it can also occur in people who have been struggling with finances or are undergoing a chronic condition such as Parkinson’s disease or heart disease.

Hormonal fluctuations

Mood disorders also occur because of hormonal changes. As the hormones in the different stages of life, such as puberty, pregnancy, and menopause, can severely affect the mood. The conditions that usually occur because of hormonal changes are postpartum depression; also, these conditions might affect the mental region as well.

How can Mood Disorders be Diagnosed?

Mood disorders can only be diagnosed by a mental health professional using DSM-5 criteria. If you feel like you or your child is experiencing symptoms of a mood disorder, get help from a mental health professional immediately. A psychiatrist performs a physical examination to diagnose the underlying causes of symptoms and looks at the symptoms. They may check the medical and family history to know the root cause, and also conduct a questionnaire session with the patient and the caregivers.

They use criteria in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders to diagnose this disorder.

Treatment of Mood Disorders

This condition is a highly treatable condition with the right combination of medications and psychotherapies. A mental health professional designs a personalized treatment plan as per the severity and needs of an individual. However, the choice of treatment depends on the type of mood disorder.

Psychotherapy for Mood Disorders

Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy. It’s a setting in which a mental health professional and patient sit together in a safe environment and talk about all the concerns. A psychiatrist uses a variety of treatment techniques that help a person identify and change unhealthy feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. It can only be conducted by a certified mental health professional. Some of the common therapies that can help with mood disorders include:

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), is an evidence-based therapy that is really helpful in managing mood disorders. It’s a structured and general orientation as it helps manage thought patterns and makes one think in another way. It’s a collaborative approach between a patient and a mental health professional in which they identify thinking and behavioral patterns and change them for the better. CBT intervenes in the thoughts that manage the emotional concerns and changes them into the desired ones.

Dialectical behavior therapy is a type of therapy that helps in managing emotional regulation. It is based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and is considered to be really helpful specially in people who experience emotions very intensely. DBT helps by teaching practical skills to manage extreme distressing feelings, tolerate distress without making things worse.

Additionally, Interpersonal therapy is also an excellent choice for treating mood disorders. As it focuses on communication and helps in improving current interpersonal relationships, it leads to improved mood. This therapy is really helpful in managing grief and relationship issues.

Moreover, Psychodynamic therapy, this therapy is really helpful in managing childhood issues that may lead to mood disorders later in life. Difficult and repetitive thoughts remain in the unconscious mind and affect the mood. Other helpful options for treating this condition include family therapy, supportive psychotherapy, and group therapy.

Every treatment option has its own benefits, while the choice of treatment often depends on the specific mood condition, its severity, and the personal circumstances.

Medications

Medications are considered to be the best for managing certain conditions associated with mood disorders. As MDD and Persistent Depressive Disorder are managed with medications, they are necessary when a patient presents with psychotic characteristics.

Moreover, families play a crucial role in managing this psychiatric condition. Patients with mood disorders may sometimes get better and sometimes return to the same exact situation. This is why long-term, ongoing treatment helps in managing it. People with this condition can live stable, productive, healthy lives after receiving proper diagnoses and treatments.

Please notethat medications can only be prescribed by certified mental health professionals, as they prescribe medication by looking at the side effects and severity of the symptoms. 

Healing is within Reach

Understanding your condition is the first step towards healing. If you feel like you or any of your loved ones are experiencing the signs of a mood disorder or any other mental health condition, please know that recovery is possible! With the right support and treatment, you can heal and move forward with your life.

At Emotiva Healthcare, we have an exceptional team of mental health professionals who offer evidence-based, compassionate treatments. We offer a warm and welcoming space where you can talk about your concerns without the fear of judgment. Our experts do a thorough evaluation in California before moving forward with the treatments. We cover a wide range of insurance, so you don’t have to worry about the bills. You can also get telepsychiatric treatments if you have difficulty commuting or have a busy schedule.

So, step into a healthier tomorrow and book your consultations now!