Mood disorders are a category of illnesses that describe a significant and often abrupt mood change. Though many subtypes are recognized today, there are three major states of mood disorders: depressive, manic, and bipolar.

Major depressive disorder (clinical depression) is characterized by an overall depressed mood.

Manic or elevated moods are characterized by great excitement and enthusiasm toward anything for no particular reason (mania or hypomania).

Bipolar is the cycling between both depressed and manic moods.

These disorders vary in intensity and severity. For example, dysthymic disorder is a lesser but chronic form of clinical depression. On the other hand, cyclothymic disorder is similar to bipolar disorder, but the symptoms are less pronounced.

Some examples of mood disorders include:

• Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) — A form of depression most frequently associated with fewer daylight hours in the far northern and southern latitudes from late autumn to early spring
• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder — Mood swings and irritability that occur during a woman’s premenstrual phase and subside with the onset of menstruation
• Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder — A disorder characterized by chronic, severe, and persistent irritability in children, often manifested by inappropriately frequent outbursts of anger
• Depression related to medical illness — Directly related to the physical effects of another medical condition, a persistent depressed mood, and a significant loss of pleasure in most or all activities
• Depression induced by substance use or medication ― Depression symptoms that manifest during or shortly after drug use, withdrawal, or medication exposure.

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

• Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
• Changes in appetite and/or weight
• Decreased energy
• Feeling inadequate or worthless
• Excessive guilt
• Repeating thoughts of death or suicide, wishing to die, or attempting suicide
• Ongoing sad, anxious, or “empty” mood
• Feeling hopeless or helpless
• Having low self-esteem
• Loss of interest in usual activities or activities that were once enjoyed, including sex
• Relationship problems
• Trouble concentrating
• Decrease in the ability to make decisions
• Frequent physical complaints (body aches, headache, or fatigue) 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 usually 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. And if you know someone who expresses thoughts of suicide, talk to them and advise them to seek medical help.

The symptoms of mood disorders may look like other conditions or mental health problems. Always talk with a healthcare provider for an accurate diagnosis.

Why do mood disorders occur? Researchers and medical professionals cannot provide a definitive response to this question, but they believe that biological and environmental factors are at play.

Biological
The amygdala and orbitofrontal cortex control your feelings and emotions. Brain imaging tests have revealed that individuals with mood disorders have a swollen amygdala.

Genetics
If members of your family have been diagnosed with mood disorders, your likelihood of developing these conditions, while still low, is higher than that of a person with normal parents. This indicates that mood disorders are likely inherited.

Environmental
Researchers and doctors also believe traumatic life events also contribute to the development of mood disorders. Medications and substance abuse can sometimes be the cause of a mood disorder too. Moreover, chronic conditions have also been linked with mood disorders; people with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and others often have mood disorders.

Mood disorders are treated primarily through medications and psychotherapy. Even with treatment, it is not uncommon for mood disorders to persist throughout a lifetime or to come and go on occasion. Education about mood disorders helps individuals suffering from these conditions recognize patterns of behavior and thought indicative of a mood disorder resurfacing – and prompt them to seek additional treatment.

Antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications are prescribed to individuals coping with mood disorders to alleviate emotional distress.

Mood-Stabilizing Medication
Depression is typically treated with antidepressant medications. Antidepressants work to restore neurotransmitters that make the brain function normally. The specifically targeted neurotransmitters are serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. The most commonly prescribed antidepressants for depression are fluoxetine (Prozac), citalopram (Celexa), sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil), and escitalopram (Lexapro). These drugs are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

Bipolar disorder is first treated with mood-stabilizing medications. The mood stabilizers most commonly prescribed for the illness are lithium, valproic acid (Depakote), carbamazepine (Tegretol), lamotrigine (Lamictal), and oxcarbazepine (Trileptal).
You may also be prescribed serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. SNRIs include duloxetine (Cymbalta) and venlafaxine (Effexor). Another available antidepressant is bupropion (Wellbutrin), which manipulates dopamine.

Psychotherapy (Talk Therapy)
This treatment is focused on changing thought patterns and behaviors. Cognitive behavioral therapy is often considered the benchmark treatment for individuals with mood disorders. It has been found to have significant positive treatment effects, and in some cases, psychotherapy alone is enough to treat a mood disorder.

Some mood disorders, such as bipolar depression, are usually treated with lifelong medication of mood stabilizers combined with psychotherapy.