🧠 BPSY 80 - Abnormal Psychology
Mood Disorders
What Are Mood Disorders?
Mood disorders, also known as affective disorders, are a group of psychiatric conditions
where the primary symptom is a disturbance in a person’s emotional state. This can
mean experiencing prolonged sadness (depression) or exaggerated elevation of mood
(mania). These disruptions are severe enough to impair daily functioning and
relationships.
two main categories of mood disorders are:
- Depressive disorders
- Bipolar and related disorders
📌Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
Definition:
A severe depressive episode that lasts at least 2 weeks, characterized by extreme
sadness, loss of interest in activities, and other cognitive and physical symptoms.
Key Features:
•No manic or hypomanic history (otherwise, it could be bipolar).
•Episodic in nature – symptoms may disappear and return.
•Average number of episodes is four over a lifetime.
•Common symptoms:
•Loss of appetite or overeating
•Sleep disturbances (insomnia or hypersomnia)
•Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
•Difficulty concentrating
•Suicidal thoughts or behavior
, Clinical Note:
•MDD is the most commonly diagnosed depressive disorder.
•It is biopsychosocial in nature – meaning biological, psychological, and social factors all
play a role.
Specifiers for MDD:
1. With Psychotic Features – hallucinations or delusions
2. With Anxious Distress – restlessness, panic
3. With Mixed Features – manic-like symptoms with depression
4. With Melancholic Features – anhedonia, morning worsening
5. With Catatonia – motor disturbances
6. With Atypical Features – mood reactivity, hypersomnia, weight gain
📌 Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD / Dysthymia)
Definition:
A chronic form of depression where symptoms last at least two years, but may be less
severe than MDD.
Key Features:
•Depressed mood for most of the day, more days than not.
•May have periods of more severe symptoms (double depression).
•Never symptom-free for more than 2 months at a time.
Clinical Note:
•Often goes unnoticed or untreated because symptoms are mild and people “get used
to feeling low.”
•Associated with early onset and higher risk of suicide.
Mood Disorders
What Are Mood Disorders?
Mood disorders, also known as affective disorders, are a group of psychiatric conditions
where the primary symptom is a disturbance in a person’s emotional state. This can
mean experiencing prolonged sadness (depression) or exaggerated elevation of mood
(mania). These disruptions are severe enough to impair daily functioning and
relationships.
two main categories of mood disorders are:
- Depressive disorders
- Bipolar and related disorders
📌Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
Definition:
A severe depressive episode that lasts at least 2 weeks, characterized by extreme
sadness, loss of interest in activities, and other cognitive and physical symptoms.
Key Features:
•No manic or hypomanic history (otherwise, it could be bipolar).
•Episodic in nature – symptoms may disappear and return.
•Average number of episodes is four over a lifetime.
•Common symptoms:
•Loss of appetite or overeating
•Sleep disturbances (insomnia or hypersomnia)
•Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
•Difficulty concentrating
•Suicidal thoughts or behavior
, Clinical Note:
•MDD is the most commonly diagnosed depressive disorder.
•It is biopsychosocial in nature – meaning biological, psychological, and social factors all
play a role.
Specifiers for MDD:
1. With Psychotic Features – hallucinations or delusions
2. With Anxious Distress – restlessness, panic
3. With Mixed Features – manic-like symptoms with depression
4. With Melancholic Features – anhedonia, morning worsening
5. With Catatonia – motor disturbances
6. With Atypical Features – mood reactivity, hypersomnia, weight gain
📌 Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD / Dysthymia)
Definition:
A chronic form of depression where symptoms last at least two years, but may be less
severe than MDD.
Key Features:
•Depressed mood for most of the day, more days than not.
•May have periods of more severe symptoms (double depression).
•Never symptom-free for more than 2 months at a time.
Clinical Note:
•Often goes unnoticed or untreated because symptoms are mild and people “get used
to feeling low.”
•Associated with early onset and higher risk of suicide.
