Mood or Affective Disorders:
« Back to Glossary IndexMood or affective disorders affect emotional states over long periods of time with persistent negative emotions, like anger and irritability. Symptoms vary by individual, range from mild to severe, and can be extremely disruptive to daily life, affecting mood, sleep, eating behaviors, energy level and thinking abilities (racing thoughts, loss of concentration). Earlier DSMs described mood disorders as bipolar and depressive disorders. DSM-5 incorporates disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD), persistent depressive disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder — all of which, without treatment, can lead to an increase in morbidity (having illness) and mortality. Major depression episodes may precede or occur concurrently with persistent depressive disorder (called double depression). Most common are different types of depression, bipolar disorder, and bipolar depression. Effective treatments are medication and psychotherapy. Other conditions include depression due to another medical condition, substance or medication-induced depressive disorder, and “other specified” or “unspecified” depressive disorder. Also see Maladaptive Behaviors and Depression. Factors that contribute to mood disorders:
- Biological: Brain areas controlling emotions are the amygdala and orbitofrontal cortex. Imaging tests on people with mood disorders have shown enlarged amygdalae.
- Genetic: Those with family histories are more likely to develop mood disorders.
- Environmental: Stressful life changes—death, divorce, chronic stress, trauma, childhood abuse — are major risk factors. Linked to depression are chronic illnesses (diabetes, Parkinson’s, heart disease).
English