Mood Disorders

Mr. KochAP Psychology

Forest Lake High School

Mood Disorders(aka Affective Disorders)

• Condition where a person experiences extreme moods inappropriate for or inconsistent with situations

Major Depression• Disorder where person feels sad,

overwhelmed, hopeless for weeks or months

• Typically lose interest in activities & relationships and take pleasure in nothing

• Despite best efforts, everything from conversation to bathing is an unbearable, exhausting effort

• Often exaggerated feelings of inadequacy, worthlessness, hopelessness, or guilt

– Can begin suddenly or gradually– Single episode or repeated

• “Common cold” of all disorders• 9.5% of pop. in any given year• 1 in 5 over lifetime• Young adults & women most susceptible

Major Depression• To be diagnosed, must experience 5 of

following (usually for >2wks):– Persistent depressed mood most of the day– Loss of interest or pleasure in most activities– Significant weight loss or gain– Sleep changes– Speeding up or slowing down of physical &

emotional reactions– Loss of energy– Feelings of worthlessness, guilt– Reduced concentration, inability to make

meaningful decisions– Recurring thoughts of death/suicide

• (depression a factor in 40-70% of suicides)

Related Disorders• Dysthymic Disorder– Sad mood lack of interest, loss of

pleasure like Major Depression – but less intensely and for longer period of time

– Must last at least 2 years to qualify

• Post-partum Depression– Major Depression that begins

following birth of child• Seasonal Affective Disorder– Symptoms of depression connected

to lack of sunlight in winter months

Bipolar Disorder(formerly known as Manic Depressive Disorder)

• Alternating b/w extremes of mood • depression & mania

– Mania – extremely agitated, usually elated, emotional state• Usually very optimistic, extremely

energetic, certain of extraordinary powers/abilities, bursting w/ ideas• May make impulsive/unwise

decisions, irritated by those trying to reason or “slow them down”

Manic Episode

Variations of Disorder

• Bipolar I – mania & deep depression

• About 1% pop. – equal M/F• Bipolar II– major depression & hypomania

(less severe)• Also 1% pop.

• Cyclothymic Disorder– Bipolar equivalent of dysthymia – intensity less severe

Major Depression

Dysthymic Disorder

Bipolar I

Bipolar II

Cyclothymic Disorder

Causes of Mood Disorders• Appears to be a genetic link• Clear connection with chemical imbalance

• Depression – low norepinephrine & serotonin• Mania – high norepinephrine

• Social Cognitive explanations:– Self-defeating beliefs, learned helplessness

– But some research suggests depressed people assess world more accurately (but not adaptively)

– Attribution of blame– Internal vs. external?– Stable vs. unstable?– Global vs. specific?