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Mood DisordersPeople normally go through sad or elated moods from time to time. For people with mood disorders, these mood states are usually severe and/or prolonged, and disrupt their daily ability to function in life. Major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and dysthymia are among the general mood disorders classified in the fourth edition (1994) of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). In classifying and diagnosing mood disorders, doctors determine if the mood disorder is unipolar or bipolar. When only one extreme in mood (the depressed state) is experienced, this type of depression is called unipolar. If the moods swing back and forth between low (depressed) and high (manic), the depression is called bipolar. Menu:
Creative Expression - Mood Disorders
Major Depression refers to a single severe period of depression, marked by negative or hopeless thoughts and physical symptoms like fatigue. In major depressive disorder, some patients have isolated episodes of depression. In between these episodes, the patient does not feel depressed or have other symptoms associated with depression. Other patients have more frequent episodes. Bipolar Depression or Bipolar Disorder (sometimes called Manic Depression) Bipolar Disorder refers to a condition in which people experience two extremes in mood. They alternate between depression (the "low" mood) and mania or hypomania (the "high" mood). These patients go from depression to a frenzied, abnormal elevation in mood. Mania and hypomania are similar, but mania is usually more severe and debilitating to the patient. Dysthymia A recurrent or lengthy depression that may last a lifetime. It is similar to major depressive disorder, but dysthymia is chronic, long-lasting, persistent, and mild. Patients may have symptoms that are not as severe as major depression, but the symptoms last for many years. It seems that a mild form of the depression is always present. In some cases, people also may experience a major depressive episode on top of their dysthymia, a condition sometimes referred to as a "double depression." Quote taken from: www.healthatoz.com/health...orders.jsp Disclaimer: This site contains information to be used only for the purpose of support and general education. It should not be used for diagnosis and/or treatment of any physical or mental conditions. It is owned, designed and maintained by a healing survivor in recovery. The author of the general text is the owner and that general text remains the property of said owner. Other materials used on the site come from various authors and will have the author credited and those materials remain the property of said authors with copyright information included when and where it is available. We assume no liability for the contents or effects of this site. Some of the content may be disturbing. Read at your own risk. If you believe you are suffering from a physical or mental condition seek help from a qualified professional physician, psychiatrist, psychologist or therapist; a crisis center; or call 911.
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