Nowadays everyone knows the term ‘depression’. The word is so popular these days that it is often thrown around. People then say that they suffer from depression, when in reality it is undiagnosed and is just a blip. In today’s world, more and more people suffer from mood disorders. However, depression is just one of the mood disorders that people can suffer from. Table of contents
- What exactly are mood disorders?
- The existing mood disorders according to the DSM-IV-TR are:
- Other mood disorders
- Therapy
What exactly are mood disorders?
The term mood refers to a long-lasting emotional state experienced by someone. This differs from an emotion in the sense that an emotion is of a shorter duration and can almost always be seen by someone. The mood that a person experiences influences that person’s perception and behavior. In general, people can have different moods and have control over them. People with a mood disorder suffer from their mood because they cannot control their mood (or think they do not have control). Their mood disorder also has adverse consequences on their lives, such as daily functioning, functioning at work and in their social life. This affects how they see themselves, how they see the world and how they think about their future. The mood disorders distinguished by psychologists are classified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of mental disorders-IV-Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR).
The existing mood disorders according to the DSM-IV-TR are:
Major depression disorder/Major depressive disorder (MDS)
About 17% of the population has had MDS. This is the highest prevalence of psychiatric disorders. Women suffer from it twice as much as men. This may be explained by hormonal differences, pregnancy and differences in psychosocial stressors. This mood disorder can develop at any age. There have even been cases of young children suffering from depression. Major depression disorder can be divided into:
- Single episode : This is diagnosed when at least five symptoms are present for at least two weeks in a row.
- recurrent : this is diagnosed when two episodes occur at least two months apart.
Characteristics of a depressive episode are:
- depressive mood (feeling sad and/or empty, tearful face). In children and adolescents this can also include irritability.
- significant reduction in interest or pleasure in (almost) all activities.
- marked loss or gain of body weight.
- insomnia (inability to sleep) or hypersomnia (excessive sleeping).
- Fatigue (almost) every day.
- feelings of guilt or worthlessness.
- reduced ability to concentrate, think clearly and make decisions.
- thoughts related to suicide.
Dysthemia
Between 5-6% of the population suffers from dysthemia. This prevalence is the same for men and women. Dysthemia is a long-term (at least 2 years) depressive mood. The severity of the mood is less serious than with major depressive disorder, but this disorder can develop into that. The disorder usually develops in childhood or adolescence.
Characteristics of dysthemia are:
- feelings of ignorance, guilt, irritability and anger.
- low self-esteem.
- feelings of hopelessness.
- poor appetite or overeating.
- insomnia or hypersomnia.
- low energy or feeling constantly tired.
- poor concentration or indecisiveness.
- no presence of an actual depressive episode.
Bipolar disorder
About 1% of the population suffers from bipolar disorder. The prevalence is the same for men and women. However, there is a difference between men and women: women have more depressive episodes and men more often manic episodes during the course of the disease. Two types can be distinguished:
- Bipolar disorder 1 : This is a course with depressive and manic episodes. Mania is characterized by an overly euphoric and cheerful or irritable mood. During this episode, people are very impulsive and exhibit irresponsible behavior, often drinking alcohol and dressing inappropriately. They feel like they can take on the world.
- Bipolar disorder 2 : This disorder has a course of depressive and hypomanic episodes. Hypomanic episodes have the same characteristics as a manic episode, but are less intense (read: shorter duration and less limiting for functioning).
Cyclothemia
About 3% to 5% of people suffer from cyclothemia. More women than men suffer from this disorder. Cyclothemia is a long-term (at least 2 years), less severe version of bipolar disorder. This means that someone has alternating periods of mild depressive episodes and hypomanic episodes. These episodes are usually short and can turn unpredictably. In children and adolescents, the disorder is diagnosed after a period of at least one year. This disorder usually begins when people are 15-25 years old. People with cyclothemia, like dysthemia, have a greater risk of major depressive disorder.
Other mood disorders
Minor depressive disorder/Minor depressive disorder
The prevalence has been estimated at 5% of the population. Not much is known about this disorder yet. The disorder, like major depressive disorder, is episodic (not chronic like dysthemia), but with fewer symptoms and the symptoms are also less severe.
Post psychotic dysphoric disorder
The prevalence of this disorder has been estimated at 10-70% in people who have a psychotic disorder. It is assumed that about a quarter of schizophrenic patients experience this after a psychosis. A lot of research still needs to be done into this disorder.
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder
It is estimated that 2% to 10% of women have this disorder. This disorder occurs at a certain point in the menstrual cycle and therefore only applies to women. During this period, women suffer from mood symptoms (depression or severe mood swings), behavioral symptoms (different eating habits) and physical symptoms (headache, back problems, stomach ache). This is sometimes a controversial disorder among researchers.
Recurrent brief depressive disorder
The prevalence of this disorder is also unknown, but is estimated at 10% in people in their twenties. This disorder is characterized by a 2-week-long depressive episode that often recurs at approximately 18-day intervals. More research is also needed for this mood disorder.
In addition, there is substance-induced mood disorder. This mood disorder is caused by ingestion of drugs or other chemicals such as alcohol. Finally, there is also a mood disorder caused by a general medical condition.
Therapy
Treatment varies per mood disorder, per person and per severity. When a person has a high chance of committing suicide, the fastest-acting solution is chosen. This is medication (antidepressants), such as SSRIs and MAOIs. If this is not the case, a form of therapy is often chosen such as cognitive (behavioral) therapy, interpersonal therapy or psychodynamic therapy. The effectiveness depends on the nature, severity and the person. A combination of medication and therapy can also be given. When these forms of therapy and medication do not work, the last option is electric convulsive therapy (ECT). The brain receives small shocks.
Bipolar disorders are often helped with lithium. This ensures that moods remain stable. Unfortunately, it often happens that patients do not want to take lithium, because they no longer have manic episodes.
Finally, there is another mood disorder called seasonal affect disorder (SAD). These people suffer from a mood disorder (usually depression) during a certain season (usually winter). These individuals can be helped with light therapy.
read more
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- The Frégoli syndrome
- Klüver-Bucy syndrome/organic personality disorder