Mood Disorders

Feelings can color everything from energy levels and sleep to work responsibilities and relationships. Typically, emotions fluctuate daily. However, when feelings become intense, persistent, or disproportional to actual events, a mood disorder may be at work. Defined as a disconnect between a person’s state of mind and actual circumstances, mood disorders can dramatically impact daily life and well-being. Understanding these disorders and available treatment options is the first step toward managing their impact.

What are Mood Disorders?

“Mood” refers to a person’s sustained emotional state, which influences how they think, feel, and respond to daily life ^[1]. While everyone experiences emotional shifts, a mood disorder occurs when those emotions become prolonged, intense, or misaligned with a person’s reality.

Symptoms of mood disorders vary widely, but many people experience persistent sadness, irritability, or loss of interest in activities once enjoyed. Other people may have periods of elevated energy, impulsivity, or restlessness. Furthermore, physical changes, such as difficulty sleeping, altered appetite, or unexplained fatigue, are also common symptoms ^[2].

Unfortunately, millions of people experience all or some of these symptoms, as mood disorders are prevalent. Insights from the National Institute of Mental Health reveal that roughly 21% of U.S. adults experience a mood disorder at some point in their lives ^[3].

What’s more, those with the disorders are significantly impacted. Research indicates that the condition seriously impairs 45% of people with a mood disorder, and 40% are moderately impaired ^[3]. Given the broad consequences of these conditions, it’s important to understand the various types and causes of mood disorders as well as the treatments available.

Types of Mood Disorders

Mood disorders come in many forms, each with its own pattern of symptoms and challenges. While depression and bipolar disorder are the most well-known types of mood disorders, several other conditions fall under their umbrellas. Some people experience persistent low moods that never quite lift, yet others ride waves between emotional extremes. Still others experience mood disruptions associated with specific life events or physical changes.

Despite various types of mood disorders, all of these conditions are far more than emotional responses. Instead, they’re medical conditions that affect how the brain processes and regulates emotions.

Depressive Mood Disorders

Depressive disorders involve persistent feelings of sadness, emptiness, or irritability that interfere with daily functioning ^[4]. These conditions can drain the color from life, making even simple tasks feel overwhelming. 

The main types of depressive mood disorders include ^[1][4]:

• Major Depressive Disorder: The most common form of depression, major depressive disorder impacts 5% to 17% of people during their lifetimes. It involves episodes of sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness that dominate nearly every aspect of life and occur over at least two weeks. Often, people lose interest in activities they once enjoyed and may struggle with sleep, appetite, and concentration.
• Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder: This condition affects children and teens, and it’s characterized by severe, frequent temper outbursts that seem out of proportion to the situation. Between outbursts, they remain persistently irritable or angry most of the day.
• Persistent Depressive Disorder: Previously called dysthymia, persistent depressive disorder is a chronic form of depression that features depressed mood most days and more days than not over the course of at least two years in adults and one year in those under 18. 
• Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: This disorder causes severe mood changes, irritability, and physical symptoms in the week or two before menstruation. The symptoms can significantly interfere with work, school, or relationships, but they improve within a few days after the period starts.

While depressive disorders all share persistent sadness and emptiness, mood disorders also include conditions where emotions swing to the opposite extreme.

Bipolar Disorder

Impacting roughly 2.8% of the population, bipolar disorder involves dramatic emotional shifts between highs and lows that can last for days, weeks, or months ^[1][5]. During manic or hypomanic episodes, people might feel unstoppable and need little sleep while their minds race with grand plans. However, depression often follows, where that same energy vanishes and life feels heavy. 

Common types of bipolar and related disorders include ^[6]:

• Bipolar I Disorder: A diagnosis of bipolar I disorder requires at least one manic episode (i.e., a period of abnormally elevated mood, activity, and energy) that lasts a week or more or necessitates hospitalization. While most people with bipolar I also experience depressive episodes lasting at least two weeks, these episodes are not required for a diagnosis.
• Bipolar II Disorder: People with bipolar II disorder never experience a full manic episode and instead have periods of depression and hypomania (i.e., a state of elevated mood and increased mania). Although hypomanic episodes are less severe than mania, bipolar II is often more debilitating due to more frequent and chronic bouts of depression.
• Cyclothymic Disorder: Cyclothymic disorder is characterized by a chronically unstable mood for at least two years. This condition involves numerous periods of hypomanic and mild depressive symptoms, with stable moods lasting fewer than eight weeks.

All mood disorders seem to share common roots in brain chemistry and life experiences ^[2]. Thus, understanding the varied causes and risk factors of these disorders is the first step toward effective management. 

Mood Disorder Causes and Risk Factors

Science has yet to identify a single, definitive cause for mood disorders. However, a combination of factors is believed to contribute to their development.

From a biological standpoint, brain imaging studies indicate that individuals with these conditions often have an enlarged amygdala, the brain area responsible for emotions. Additionally, a strong genetic component exists, as mood disorders tend to run in families ^[7].

However, environmental factors are also involved. Major life stressors such as the death of a loved one, chronic stress, or traumatic events are clear risk factors. Plus, science has identified links between depression and chronic illnesses like diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and heart disease ^[7].

Screening and Diagnosis

Screenings and diagnoses for various mental health disorders begin with a careful, whole‑person review. When a mood disorder is suspected, a mental health professional will usually ask questions about mood shifts, their duration, their impact on daily life, the person’s family and medical history, and any sleep issues, substance misuse, and safety concerns such as thoughts of self‑harm. A physical exam and basic lab tests may also be used to rule out medical causes that can mimic mood symptoms, such as thyroid problems or medication side effects ^[7].

Next, professionals typically perform a complete mental health evaluation that looks at patterns of depressive and manic symptoms, their timing, and triggers, which helps shape the diagnosis. Screening tools, such as brief questionnaires for depression and bipolar symptoms, may also be used to help professionals identify further areas to explore ^[1].

Note, however, that screening tools don’t provide a diagnosis on their own. Instead, the final call rests on a clinical assessment that considers symptom duration, severity, and impact over time. 

Mood Disorder Treatment

After a mood disorder diagnosis, care shifts to a treatment plan that fits each person’s symptoms, goals, and health history. Often, treatment involves a mix of medication and psychotherapy, and many people do best when both are used together. 

While treatment isn’t a magic antidote for every mood disorder, a survey from the National Alliance on Mental Illness reveals that many people experience meaningful improvements when they receive appropriate care ^[8]. The goal of care is to reduce symptoms, protect against future episodes, and support daily life. Plans typically begin with the least intensive options that are most likely to be effective, followed by follow-up visits to monitor progress and make adjustments as needed.

Medications for Mood Disorders

Medication can often ease symptoms and help prevent future episodes, particularly when used alongside psychotherapy. The specific choice of medication depends on a host of personal factors as well as the particular diagnosis. Depressive disorders are often treated with antidepressants, while care for bipolar disorders typically relies on mood stabilizers or perhaps antipsychotics to manage highs and lows ^[7]. 

Medications often prescribed to treat mood disorders include ^[7]:

• Antidepressants: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are two common types of antidepressants used to treat depression. 
• Mood Stabilizers: Often used for bipolar disorder, these medicines help steady mood swings by reducing abnormal brain activity. They may be prescribed alone or with antidepressants. Common options include lithium and certain anticonvulsants.
• Antipsychotics: Antipsychotics (e.g., aripiprazole) are often used for mania or mixed episodes in bipolar disorder. If antidepressants don’t control depression, antipsychotics are sometimes added to the treatment plan.

Prescribers often start with the safest and most effective medication options and adjust them based on the benefits, side effects, and how symptoms change over time.

Psychotherapy for Mood Disorders

Talk therapy helps people make sense of their mood patterns, build practical skills, and create steadier routines, often alongside or instead of medication. Common evidence-based psychotherapy options include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), interpersonal therapy, and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) ^[1].

Among these options, CBT is particularly effective, as it focuses on the link between thoughts, feelings, and actions, teaching people to spot unhelpful patterns and practice new skills that lift mood and improve day-to-day functioning. As a specific type of CBT, DBT blends acceptance and skills, including emotion regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness, which can reduce mood swings and impulsive behavior ^[7].

Many of these therapeutic types are offered in individual, group, or family formats, providing education, guidance, and support for entire families. 

Additional Treatments for Mood Disorders

Beyond medication, several alternative treatments offer hope for those battling the depressive form of mood disorders. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), for example, is a powerful procedure for severe, treatment-resistant cases. It involves passing a mild electric current through the brain to induce a short seizure. A series of sessions, usually two or three per week, may lead to positive outcomes ^[7].

Another option is transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), a brain stimulation therapy that’s especially helpful for people whose severe depression hasn’t responded to medication. This treatment uses magnetic energy to generate an electrical current in the brain, helping to regulate emotions ^[7].

The Road Ahead

Mood disorders can feel overwhelming, but it’s important to remember that they are both common and treatable. Millions of people worldwide live with conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, and related challenges, yet many also find relief and stability through proper care. 

Treatment often involves a combination of therapy, medication, and lifestyle support that’s tailored to each person’s needs. However, just as important as professional treatment is the role of support systems, including friends, family, and communities that provide encouragement and understanding.

With advances in both research and treatment options, the outlook for those with mood disorders continues to improve. While the journey may take time, recovery is possible. However, it requires persistence, compassion, and a belief that improvement is not only possible but probable.