A mood disorder can turn everyday life completely upside down. These conditions can cause intense emotional shifts that last for weeks, months, or even years – making it hard to maintain relationships, perform at work, or find enjoyment in activities.
Major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder are among the most common mood disorders, but several other kinds exist, each with unique characteristics and treatment approaches. Learning more about the different types can help you or a loved one recognize potential mood disorder symptoms and seek the right kind of care.
With a proper mood disorder diagnosis and evidence-based treatment for mood disorders, most people can manage their symptoms effectively and improve their quality of life. A mental health professional can offer valuable advice and guidance during this time.
This page can help you understand the types of mood disorders, their symptoms, and treatment options by exploring:
Mood disorder symptoms can get in the way of your daily functioning, relationships, and overall physical health, sometimes requiring treatment in order to get better.
Mental health professionals (such as therapists or psychiatrists) utilize the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) to diagnose different types of mood disorders. The DSM-5 categorizes these conditions based on specific symptom patterns, along with their total duration and severity.
A proper mood disorder diagnosis requires a full biopsychosocial assessment that examines your overall mood patterns and behavioral changes, along with how these symptoms impact your experiences and daily life.
Common mood disorders fall into two main categories. The first of these is depressive disorders, which involve ongoing feelings of sadness or emptiness. The second is bipolar and related disorders, which involve both periods of depression and alternating episodes of abnormally-elevated mood, known as “hypomania” or “mania” (depending on the diagnosis).
The primary mood disorder symptoms can include:1
Long-lasting sadness, irritability, and despair
AMFM is here to help you or your loved one take the next steps towards an improved mental well-being.
As stated above, several kinds of mood disorders exist, each with its own unique symptoms. In the following sections, we provide an overview of each.
People with MDD often experience high levels of fatigue, changes in their sleeping and eating patterns (which could be above or below their norm), along with feeling worthless or like things will never get better.
Many people with this condition feel as if they’ve always been this way before diagnosis, as their symptoms have persisted for so long.
PMDD is more severe than premenstrual syndrome (PMS), but its symptoms usually improve within a few days after your period starts and can disappear entirely after menstruation ends.
Bipolar I Disorder
Bipolar I disorder includes at least one manic episode lasting for a week or more, or manic symptoms that are severe enough to require hospitalization.
Manic episodes involve abnormally elevated mood, increased energy, decreased need for sleep, rapid or pressured speech, and engaging in risky behaviors.
Bipolar II Disorder
Bipolar type II involves a pattern of both depressive episodes and hypomanic episodes. Hypomania is less severe than a fully-manic episode and usually does not require hospitalization – though it is still disruptive to day-to-day life.
Like bipolar I, people with this diagnosis also experience depressive episodes.
Cyclothymic Disorder
Cyclothymia involves several periods of hypomanic and depressive symptoms that last over a period of years.6 These symptoms don’t ultimately meet the full criteria for either hypomania or a depressive episode, but nevertheless cause major distress or impairment.
Mood disorders develop as a result of many biological, psychological, and environmental reasons. No single cause can explain why someone develops any of these conditions, although research over the years has identified several key factors.
Brain imaging studies show that people with mood disorders often have differences in brain structure and function, especially in those areas that regulate emotional and stress responses.7
Genetics can also influence your risk. Having a parent or sibling with major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder increases the likelihood of developing similar conditions.8 However, this is not a guarantee that you will develop one.
Personality traits and thinking patterns can play a role as well. People who tend toward negative thinking patterns or have low self-esteem may be more vulnerable, as these psychological factors can interact with biological predispositions to create the conditions for mood disorders to emerge.
Additionally, certain medical conditions – such as thyroid issues, chronic pain, and neurological disorders – can contribute to mood changes or mimic the symptoms of mood disorders.9
Bipolar disorder, meanwhile, affects around 2.8% of adults in the U.S. each year. Among those with bipolar disorder types, around 83% of people experience major impairment in daily functioning.11 The condition is usually apparent by late adolescence or early adulthood, with an average age of onset around 25.
Persistent depressive disorder affects approximately 1.5% of people over the age of 18 domestically.12 Women are diagnosed with mood disorders at higher rates than men are, experiencing MDD twice as often. However, bipolar disorder occurs at almost equal rates across genders.
Treatment for mood disorders can vary based on symptom severity and how much the condition is impacting your life. Some people manage well with weekly therapy sessions, but others might require more intensive support to stabilize their symptoms and build up their recovery skills. Below, we discuss the different forms of care.
Outpatient treatment works best for those who can function reasonably well in their day-to-day lives. Intensive outpatient programs (IOP) and partial hospitalization programs (PHP) provide more frequent sessions throughout the week without the need to remain on-site overnight.
Residential mood disorder treatment, on the other hand, serves those whose symptoms are making it hard to get through the day. Inpatient mental health care allows professionals to monitor your symptoms closely and adjust medications quickly, delivering several therapeutic interventions each day.
Several proven and effective therapies can treat mood disorders. For example, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) helps people note and change negative thought patterns, while dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) teaches people emotional regulation skills helpful for managing mood swings.
Mood disorders can be isolating, which is why group-based therapy provides peer support and opportunities to learn from others experiencing similar challenges. Similarly, family therapy can help address dynamics that may have contributed to or be affected by mood disorder symptoms.
Medication can play an important part in treating mood disorders, depending on the level of need. Antidepressants help to correct neurotransmitter imbalances, while mood stabilizers can help to manage the symptoms of bipolar-related disorders.
Prescribers carefully select medications based on your symptom patterns and medical history. Psychiatric treatment programs monitor medication effectiveness closely and adjust dosages or combinations as needed.
Living with untreated mood disorder symptoms can be exhausting. The experienced team at A Mission For Michael provides unique and compassionate care that’s designed to meet your unique needs, with the evidence-based and holistic interventions you need to start the recovery process.
Our team is standing by to help you understand your options, and we can also assist you in navigating the insurance verification process. If you’re ready to take the next steps, contact us today to get started.
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If you’re experiencing fluctuations in mood that are affecting your daily life, it’s normal to have some ongoing questions after the information provided on this page. To help clarify things as much as possible, we’ve provided the following answers to FAQs about mood disorders.
Yes, you can have multiple types of mood disorders at the same time, or throughout your life.
For example, someone might have MDD and later develop manic episodes, inciting bipolar I disorder, or experience persistent depressive disorder with periodic major depressive episodes.
Additionally, some people also have mood disorders alongside other conditions, such as anxiety disorders and other mental health conditions.
Everyone feels sad sometimes. Emotional ups and downs are normal responses to life events. But these feelings usually pass within days or weeks and don’t impair your daily functioning.
Mood disorder symptoms, on the other hand, last for much longer periods of time and get in the way of your work, school, relationships, and daily activities.
A mood disorder diagnosis considers your total symptom severity, any physical changes like sleep or appetite, and whether or not your symptoms occur independent of life circumstances or situations.
The total time you’ll spend in treatment truly depends on your circumstances. It’s important to remember that the goal of treatment is sustained recovery and quality of life, not just short-term symptom relief.
Many people gradually step down their treatment – for example, going from inpatient to intensive outpatient to aftercare and maintenance appointments for therapy and medication management. Your treatment team will work with you to co-author your unique treatment plan and determine the right level of care.
At AMFM, we strive to provide the most up-to-date and accurate medical information based on current best practices, evolving information, and our team’s approach to care. Our aim is that our readers can make informed decisions about their healthcare.
Our reviewers are credentialed medical providers specializing and practicing behavioral healthcare. We follow strict guidelines when fact-checking information and only use credible sources when citing statistics and medical information. Look for the medically reviewed badge on our articles for the most up-to-date and accurate information.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate or out of date, please let us know at info@amfmhealthcare.com
