Mood disorder

A mood disorder is a condition where the prevailing emotional mood is distorted or inappropriate to the circumstances.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The two major types of mood disorders are depression (or unipolar depression) and bipolar disorder.

Related Topics:
Depression - Bipolar disorder

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Depression (or unipolar depression), including subtypes:
• Major Depression
• Major Depression (Recurrent)
• Major Depression with psychotic symptoms (psychotic depression)
• Dysthymia
• Postpartum depression
• Bipolar disorder, a mood disorder described by alternating periods of mania and depression (and in some cases rapid cycling, mixed states, and psychotic symptoms). Subtypes include:
• Bipolar I
• Bipolar II
• Cyclothymia

Schizoaffective disorder is a somewhat vaguely defined term which describe patients who show symptoms of both schizophrenia and one of the mood disorders.

Related Topics:
Schizoaffective disorder - Schizophrenia

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

There are also forms of mood disorder which are specific to women, related to physiological events such as pregnancy, giving birth or the menopause - these include Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder and Postpartum Depression.

Related Topics:
Pregnancy - Birth - Menopause

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The generally accepted definitions of these terms can be found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Most psychiatrists believe that all mood disorders are in some ways related, both symptomatically and biochemically, as a part of a single spectrum of disorders. However, some psychiatrists claim that bipolar disorder may actually be biochemically closer to schizophrenia than (unipolar) depression.

Related Topics:
Bipolar disorder - Schizophrenia

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 
Mood disorder: See also ►