Psychological Disorders: Mood Disorders

1. Psychological Disorders: Mood Disorders

2. Two Broad Categories of Mood Disorders • Depressive Disorders • Bipolar Disorders

3. Depressive Disorders • (1) Major Depressive Disorder (major depression) • The most common type of depressive disorder. • Characterized by periods of downcast mood, feelings of worthlessness, and loss of interest in pleasurable activities. • Is more common in women

4. Depressive Disorders Continued • (2) Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) • A type of major depression that involves a recurring pattern of Winter depressions followed by elevations in mood in the Spring and Summer. • More common in extreme northern climates

5. Depressive Disorders Continued • (3) Dysthymic Disorder • A relatively mild but chronic form of depression • Can last for months or years • More common in women

6. Bipolar Disorders • Characterized by alternating moods that shift between euphoric feelings and depression. • There are two major types: • (1) Bipolar disorder • (2) Cyclothymic disorder

7. Bipolar Disorder • Formerly called manic depression • Involves mood swings that shift between elevated moods or “euphoria” “manic” episodes and depression. • People with this disorder experience normal moods also. • Examples of manic behavior: • Extreme restlessness argumentativeness • Excitability lavish spending • Talkativeness reckless driving • Taking on tasks beyond a person’s ability

8. Bipolar Continued • Mania eventually gives way to depression: • Feelings of hopelessness and despair • Suicidal feelings • About 1% of the adult population in the U.S. suffers from bipolar disorder.

9. Cyclothymic Disorder • A mood disorder characterized by milder mood swings than bipolar disorder. • It is about as common as bipolar disorder.

10. Causes of Mood Disorders There are several possible causes which may occur separately or together to cause mood disorders:

11. Biological Causes • Brain chemicals: Neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine may be too low in depressed people. • Genetic factors: There is a family connection • Faulty brain structure and function: Research is being done in this area to see if the structures responsible for emotions, etc. are different in depressed people.

12. Psychological Factors • Each approach to psychology has a theory of what causes depression. • Psychodynamic Theory (Freud) says depression is the result of anger turned inward against the self. • Learning Theory (Behaviorist) Depression is the result of changes in reinforcement levels. • Cognitive Theory: Says the way people interpret events, and distorted thinking can cause depression. • Learned Helplessness Theory: Says people become depressed when they feel powerless to control aspects of their lives