Mood
Disorders
Mood Disorders
• Disorders characterized by severe or
constant disturbances of moods and
emotional extremes.
Two Types: Unipolar and Bipolar
Unipolar
– moods are at the depressive end
Bipolar
– experience moods at both ends
 Mood disorders are generally episodic –
they tend to come and go
Depression
• The common cold of psychological
disorders
It is like a warning that
something is wrong.
Depression
Depression
Major Depressive Disorder
• A person, for no apparent
reason, experiences two
or more weeks of
depressive moods.
Includes feelings of
worthlessness and diminished
interest or pleasure in most
activities – can lead to suicide
More common in women than in men
21% vs. 12%
Suicide
Do people who suffer from major depression commit suicide?
 People who are extremely depressed
typically do not commit suicide.
 In the depths of a depressive episode, people
usually feel too unmotivated and apathetic to
form a suicide plan and carry it out.
 Suicide is more likely when a depressed
person begins the process of recovery
and becomes more energetic.
Dysthymic Disorder
• Suffering from mild
depression every day
for at least two
years.
Seasonal Affective Disorder
• Experience
depression during
the winter months.
• Based not on
temperature, but on
amount of sunlight.
• Treated with light
therapy.
Bipolar Disorder
Formerly called manic-depression
• Person alternates between the hopelessness
and lethargy of depression and the
overexcited state of mania
Famous People with Bipolar
Bipolar Brain
Causes of Mood Disorders
Biological Factors
– genetic predisposition – neurotransmitters
(serotonin and norepinephrine) – brain
structure
Cognitive Factors
– learned helplessness – self blame – low self
esteem – rumination (dwelling about
problems)
Interpersonal Factors
– lack of social network, loss of an important
relationship, stress