Mood Disorders
Quips and Quotes
Depression: When you’re taking more than you’re
giving.
Anonymous
Mood disorders are the most common of all
psychological disorders, something we all experience
from time to time. This lesson focuses on mood
disorders, most particularly the acute aspect of mood
disorders, depression.
Lesson Objectives
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What are the types of mood disorders?
What is depression?
How can you tell if you or a friend might be depressed?
Why do people get depressed?
What can you do if you are depressed?
What is the relationship between depression and suicide?
Suggested
Instructional
Strategies
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Discussion: Let's talk about depression
o Using the Interactions article Let's talk About Depression as a basis,
discuss with the students the signs, symptoms and causes of depression.
o How is depression different from sadness, feeling “down” and
melancholy feelings?
o What roles and responsibilities do people have if they sense that a friend
or family member is depressed?
Presentation: Invite a local Mental Health professional or health nurse into your
classroom to discuss mood disorders and depression.
Discussion: Mood and social perception
o What role and importance does mood have on how we perceive other
people? What causes students to be in a good or bad mood? Are there
particular situations that seem to heighten emotional sensitivity? Are
there particular times of the day when students feel moody? Why is this?
o Discuss the implications of this statement in terms of how people behave
in the world.
Research: Learned helplessness
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Direct
Independent
Interactive
Indirect
Experiential
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What is learned helplessness? How is learned helplessness different from
apathy and laziness? What are the influences and causes of learned
helplessness?
Jigsaw: Theoretical perspectives on mood disorders
o Assign one of the six theoretical perspectives to each small group of
students. Based on its theoretical perspective, have each group explain
mood disorders. What treatments and therapies would the group
recommend based on its interpretation of the causes of, or reasons for
mood disorders?
Making Connections
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Refer to Topic 2.3.2, Attitudes for additional information.
Refer to Topic 2.6, Personality for additional information.
Refer to Topic 2.3.3, Motivation for additional information.
Resources
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Interactions : Let’s talk About Depression
Website about depression
Website for the National Institute for Mental Health
Lesson 4.6.1: Teacher Information
What are the types of mood disorders?
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The term dysthymic disorder comes from the Greek for “low spirits”. Hence it is a moderate depression. In any given year,
between four and 12 percent of the population are affected by it. Typical symptoms of dysthymic disorder are lack of energy,
unhappiness, loss of interest in activities and people, loss of sense of humour, sadness and rock-bottom feelings of self-worth
(McMahon and Romano, 1998, p. 520).
Bipolar disorders, which originally were known as manic-depressive disorders, get their name from the fact that patients’
behaviour vacillates between two extremes: mania and depression. The manic phase is characterized by rapid speech, inflated
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self-esteem, impulsiveness, euphoria and decreased need for sleep. Patients in the manic phase are easily distracted, get angry
when things do not go their way, and seem to have boundless energy. A person in the depressed phase, which often follows
the manic phase, is moody and sad, with feelings of hopelessness (Lefton et al., 2000, p. 541).
Depressive disorders are a general category of mood disorders in which people on a day-to-day basis show extreme and
persistent sadness, despair and loss of interest in life’s usual activities. The main difference between depressive disorders and
bipolar disorders is that people with depressive disorders show no vacillation between excitement and depression; they tend to
be depressed more often than not (Lefton et al., 2000, p. 541).
A characteristic called learned helplessness is frequently associated with becoming depressed. People with this characteristic
have accepted the generalized idea that there is nothing they can do about their situation (McMahon and Romano, 1998, p.
523).
What is depression?
Depression can range from occasional, normal “down” periods to episodes severe enough to require hospitalization. A person
suffering major depressive disorder feels sad and overwhelmed for weeks or months. Exaggerated feelings of inadequacy,
worthlessness, hopelessness or guilt are common. Changes in eating and sleeping habits, resulting in weight loss or, sometimes,
weight gain often accompany major depressive disorder. Problems in working, concentrating, making decisions and thinking clearly
are also typical (Bernstein and Nash, 1999, p. 455).
How can you tell if you or a friend might be depressed?
Here’s how to tell if you or a friend might be depressed.
First, there are two kinds of depressive illness: the sad kind, called major depression, and manic-depression or bipolar illness, when
feeling down and depressed alternates with being speeded-up and sometimes reckless.
You should get evaluated by a professional if you’ve had five or more of the following symptoms for more than two weeks or if any
of these symptoms cause such a big change that you can’t keep up your usual routine....
When You’re Depressed...
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You feel sad or cry a lot and it doesn’t go away.
You feel guilty for no reason; you feel like you’re no good; you’ve lost your confidence.
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Life seems meaningless or like nothing good is ever going to happen again. You have a negative attitude a lot of the time, or it
seems like you have no feelings.
You don’t feel like doing a lot of the things you used to likelike music, sports, being with friends, going outand you want to be
left alone most of the time.
It’s hard to make up your mind. You forget lots of things, and it’s hard to concentrate.
You get irritated often. Little things make you lose your temper; you over-react.
Your sleep pattern changes; you start sleeping a lot more or you have trouble falling asleep at night. Or you wake up really
early most mornings and can't get back to sleep.
Your eating pattern changes; you’ve lost your appetite or you eat a lot more.
You feel restless and tired most of the time.
You think about death, or feel like you’re dying, or have thoughts about committing suicide (National Institute for Mental
Health, 2002, p. 1).
Why do people get depressed?
Sometimes people get seriously depressed after something like a divorce in the family, major financial problems, someone you love
dying, a messed up home life, or breaking up with a boyfriend or girlfriend.
Other times like with other illnesses depression just happens. Often teenagers react to the pain of depression by getting into
trouble: trouble with alcohol, drugs, or sex; trouble with school or bad grades; problems with family or friends. This is another reason
why it's important to get treatment for depression before it leads to other trouble (National Institute for Mental Health, 2002, p. 3).
What can you do if you are depressed?
Most people with depression can be helped with psychotherapy, medicine, or both together.
Short-term psychotherapy, means talking about feelings with a trained professional who can help you change the relationships,
thoughts, or behaviours that contribute to depression.
Medication has been developed that effectively treats depression that is severe or disabling. Antidepressant medications are not
“uppers” and are not addictive. Sometimes, several types may have to be tried before you and your doctor find the one that works
best.
Treatment can help most depressed people start to feel better in just a few weeks.
So remember, when your problems seem too big and you're feeling low for too long, YOU ARE NOT ALONE. There's help out there
and you can ask for help. And if you know someone who you think is depressed, you can help: Listen and encourage your friend to
ask a parent or responsible adult about treatment. If your friend doesn't ask for help soon, talk to an adult you trust and respect –
especially if your friend mentions suicide (National Institute for Mental Health, 2002, p. 3).
What is the relationship between depression and suicide?
Most people who are depressed do not commit suicide. But depression increases the risk for suicide or suicide attempts. It is not true
that people who talk about suicide do not attempt it. Suicidal thoughts, remarks, or attempts are ALWAYS SERIOUS...if any of these
happen to you or a friend, you must tell a responsible adult IMMEDIATELY...it's better to be safe than sorry (National Institute for
Mental Health, 2002, p. 3).