Mood Disorder | symptoms and causes

 

ü What is a mood disorder? 

A mental health problem called a mood disorder largely impacts your emotional state. It's a condition where you frequently feel extremely happy, extremely sad or both. A few mood disorders also include other enduring feelings like anger and irritation.

Your mood may fluctuate based on the circumstances, which is natural. However, symptoms must be present for a few weeks or more in order to diagnose a mood illness. Mood problems can alter your behaviour and make it difficult for you to carry out daily tasks like going to work or school.

 

Ø Different kinds of mood disorder

• Major depressive disorder (MDD): Also known as major depression or clinical depression, this condition affects millions of people every year. Extremely depressing, hopeless, or empty times occur along with a range of physical, mental, and emotional symptoms. Mood Disorder | symptoms and causes

• Cyclothymic disorder: The diagnosis requires at least a two-year history of several episodes that have features of major depression and hypomania but do not truly fit the criteria for either of these disorders.

• Bipolar disorder and associated disorders brought on by other illnesses: Some illnesses can actually bring on the symptoms of bipolar disorder. When there is proof that the mood disturbance is a physical, not mental, effect of another medical issue, this condition is diagnosed.

• Depression brought on by a different medical condition: This diagnosis, which is similar to a bipolar disorder associated with another medical condition, is given to persons who exhibit depression-like symptoms, but the symptoms are actually caused by an underlying medical condition, such as hypothyroidism.

• Other specified or unspecified depressive illness: These diagnoses may be applied when a patient exhibits depressed symptoms but does not strictly match the requirements for any other depressive disorder.

This enables discussion of the exact justification for why the presentation does not match the requirements for any particular depressive disorder.

·   Seasonal affective disorder (SAD): SAD is a specific kind of depression that only happens in certain seasons. For many people, depressive symptoms typically begin in late autumn or early winter; for others, they may appear less frequently in spring or summer.

 Mood Disorder | symptoms and causes

Ø What signs or symptoms indicate a mood disorder?

Each mood disorder has unique signs and/or distinct symptom patterns.

Symptoms of mood disorders often impair your energy level, ability to think clearly, sleep, eating habits, and mood (such as racing thoughts or loss of concentration).

 

Typical signs of depression include:

• Feeling depressed virtually every day or most of the time.

• A lack of vigour or a lethargic feeling.

• Feeling forlorn or unworthy.

• A decline in interest in formerly enjoyable activities.

• Suicidal or death-related ideas.

• Difficulty focusing or concentrating.

• Getting too little or too much sleep.

• Appetite loss or overeating.

 

Symptoms of hypomanic or manic episodes typically include:

• Experiencing extraordinary vigour or elation.

• Speak or move quickly.

• Restlessness, agitation, or irritation.

• Taking unnecessary risks, such as overspending or driving carelessly.

• Rapid-fire thoughts.

• Trouble falling or staying asleep.

 Mood Disorder | symptoms and causes

Ø Why do mood disorders occur?

According to researchers, a number of circumstances, such as the following, might cause mood disorders to develop:

 

• Biological aspects: The amygdala and orbitofrontal cortex in your brain are in charge of managing your moods and emotions. According to brain imaging studies, the amygdala is larger in those with mood disorders.

 

• Genetic influences: Individuals with a strong family history of a mood disorder are more likely to experience a mood disorder themselves, indicating that mood disorders are probably partially inherited or inherited genetically.

 

·      Environmental aspect: Environmental variables are a major risk factor for the development of a mood illness later in life, especially depression. These include stressful life situations including the death of a loved one, chronic stress, traumatic events, and childhood abuse. Chronic diseases like diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and heart disease have also been related to depression.

Mood Disorder | symptoms and causes