Abnormal Psychology in a
Changing World
SEVENTH EDITION
Jeffrey S. Nevid / Spencer A. Rathus / Beverly Greene
Chapter 8
(Pp 247-259)
Mood Disorders
and Suicide
TYPES OF MOOD (AFFECTIVE) DISORDERS
Mood disorders - Psychological disorders characterized by
disturbances in mood.
The major forms of mood disorder: depressive disorders and
bipolar disorders (mood swing disorders).
There are two major types of depressive disorders that vary in
severity: major depressive disorder, the more severe
type, and dysthymic disorder (also called dysthymia), the
milder type.
Similarly, bipolar or mood swing disorders vary in terms of
severity—the more severe disorder is called bipolar disorder,
whereas the milder disorder is termed cyclothymic disorder
(also called cyclothymia).
A Mood Thermometer
Mood states can be conceptualized as varying along a spectrum or continuum.
One end represents severe depression and the other end severe mania, which is a
cardinal feature of bipolar disorder. Mild or moderate depression is often called
“the blues” but is classified as “dysthymia” when it becomes chronic. In the middle
of the spectrum is normal or balanced mood. Mild or moderate mania is called
hypomania, which characterizes cyclothymic disorder.
Major Depressive Disorder
Major depressive disorder (major depression) - A severe
mood disorder which impairs people’s ability to meet the
ordinary responsibility of everyday life.
People with major depression may lose interest in most of
their usual activities and pursuits, have difficulty
concentrating and making decisions, have pressing thoughts
of death, and attempt suicide.
They even show impaired driving skills in driving simulation
tests (Bulmash et al., 2006).
And Now…
The Case of Everett
Lifetime prevalence rates for major
depressive disorder (MDD)
Major depressive episodes affect about twice as many women as men.
Risk Factors in Major Depression
Factors that place people at increased risk of developing
major depression include:
Age (initial onset is most common among young adults)
Socioeconomic status (people lower down the
socioeconomic ladder are at greater risk than those who are
better off)
Marital status (people who are separated or divorced have
higher rates than married or never-married people).
Gender (women are twice as likely as men to be diagnosed
with major depression)
Dysthymic Disorder
Dysthymia derives from Greek roots dys-, meaning “bad”
or “hard” and thymos, meaning “spirit.”
Dysthymic disorder - A mild but chronic type of depressive
disorder.
Dysthymia affects about 4% of the general population at some
point in their lifetimes (APA, 2000; Conway et al., 2006).
Lifetime prevalence rates for
dysthymic disorder.
Like major depression,
dysthymic disorder occurs in about twice as many women as men.
Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar Disorder - A psychological disorder characterized
by mood swings between states of extreme elation and
depression.
People with bipolar disorder ride an emotional roller coaster,
swinging from the heights of elation to the depths of
depression without external cause.
Two Types: Bipolar I and Bipolar II
Manic and Hypomanic Episodes
Manic episode - A period of unrealistically heightened
euphoria, extreme restlessness, and excessive activity
characterized by disorganized behavior and impaired
judgment.
•During a manic episode, the person experiences a sudden
elevation or expansion of mood and feels unusually cheerful,
euphoric, or optimistic.
•The person seems to have boundless energy and is extremely
sociable, although perhaps to the point of becoming overly
demanding and overbearing toward others.
•Other people recognize the sudden shift in mood to be
excessive in the light of the person’s circumstances.
Hypomanic Episode – similar symptoms but is reduced in
severity and does not include hallucinations and delusions.
Diagnostic Criteria for Bipolar I and II
Bipolar I
A. Presence (or history) of at least one Manic Episode
B. May be presence (or history) of Hypomania or Major
Depression as well.
This diagnosis conforms to the classic concept of
manic depressive illness
Bipolar II Disorder
A. Presence (or history) of one or more Major Depressive
Episodes
B. Presence (or history) of at least one Hypomanic Episode
C. There has never been a Manic Episode
Cyclothymic Disorder
Cyclothymia is derived from the Greek kyklos, which means
“circle,” and thymos, meaning “spirit.”
Cyclothymic disorder - A mood disorder characterized by
a chronic pattern of less-severe mood swings than are found
in bipolar disorder.
The periods of elevated mood are called hypomanic
episodes (from the Greek prefix hypo-, meaning “under” or
“less than”).
They are less severe than manic episodes and are not
accompanied by the severe social or occupational problems
associated with full-blown manic episodes.
And Now…
The Case of Ann