ood disorder is a mental health class that health professionals use to broadly describe

all types of depression and bipolar disorders.

Children, teens, and adults can have mood disorders. However, children and teens
don’t always have the same symptoms as adults. It’s harder to diagnose mood
disorders in children because they aren’t always able to express how they feel.

Therapy, antidepressants, and support and self-care can help treat mood disorders.

What are the different types of mood disorders?

These are the most common types of mood disorders:

 Major depression. Having less interest in usual activities, feeling sad or

hopeless, and other symptoms for at least 2 weeks may indicate depression.
 Dysthymia. This is a chronic, low-grade, depressed, or irritable mood that lasts
for at least 2 years.
 Bipolar disorder. This is a condition in which a person has periods of
depression alternating with periods of mania or elevated mood.
 Mood disorder related to another health condition. Many medical
illnesses (including cancer, injuries, infections, and chronic illnesses) can trigger
symptoms of depression.
 Substance-induced mood disorder. Symptoms of depression that are due
to the effects of medicine, drug abuse, alcoholism, exposure to toxins, or other
forms of treatment.

What causes mood disorders?

Many factors contribute to mood disorders. They are likely caused by an imbalance of
brain chemicals. Life events (such as stressful life changes) may also contribute to a
depressed mood. Mood disorders also tend to run in families.

Who is at risk for mood disorders?

Anyone can feel sad or depressed at times. However, mood disorders are more intense
and harder to manage than normal feelings of sadness. Children, teens, or adults who
have a parent with a mood disorder have a greater chance of also having a mood
disorder. However, life events and stress can expose or worsen feelings of sadness or
depression. This makes the feelings harder to manage.

Sometimes, life's problems can trigger depression. Being fired from a job, getting
divorced, losing a loved one, death in the family, and financial trouble, to name a few, all
can be difficult and coping with the pressure may be troublesome. These life events and
stress can bring on feelings of sadness or depression or make a mood disorder harder
to manage.

The risk of depression in women is nearly twice as high as it is for men. Once a person
in the family has this diagnosis, their brothers, sisters, or children have a higher chance
of the same diagnosis. In addition, relatives of people with depression are also at
increased risk for bipolar disorder .

Once a person in the family has a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, the chance for their
brothers, sisters, or children to have the same diagnosis is increased. Relatives of
people with bipolar are also at increased risk for depression.

What are the symptoms of mood disorders?

Depending on age and the type of mood disorder, a person may have different
symptoms of depression. The following are the most common symptoms of a mood
disorder:

 Ongoing sad, anxious, or “empty” mood

 Feeling hopeless or helpless
 Having low self-esteem
 Feeling inadequate or worthless
 Excessive guilt
 Repeating thoughts of death or suicide, wishing to die, or attempting suicide
(Note: People with this symptom should get treatment right away!)
 Loss of interest in usual activities or activities that were once enjoyed, including
sex
 Relationship problems
 Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
 Changes in appetite and/or weight
 Decreased energy
 Trouble concentrating
 A decrease in the ability to make decisions
 Frequent physical complaints (for example, headache, stomachache, or
tiredness) that don’t get better with treatment
 Running away or threats of running away from home
 Very sensitive to failure or rejection
 Irritability, hostility, or aggression

In mood disorders, these feelings are more intense than what a person may normally
feel from time to time. It’s also of concern if these feelings continue over time, or
interfere with one's interest in family, friends, community, or work. Any person who
expresses thoughts of suicide should get medical help right away.

The symptoms of mood disorders may look like other conditions or mental health
problems. Always talk with a healthcare provider for a diagnosis.
How are mood disorders diagnosed?
Mood disorders are a real medical disorder. A psychiatrist or other mental health
professional usually diagnoses mood disorders through a complete medical history and
psychiatric evaluation.

How are mood disorders treated?