Psychological Disorders: Psychological Disorders: Mood DisordersMood Disorders

Two Broad Categories of Mood Two Broad Categories of Mood DisordersDisorders

Depressive DisordersDepressive Disorders Bipolar DisordersBipolar Disorders

Depressive DisordersDepressive Disorders

(1) Major Depressive Disorder (major (1) Major Depressive Disorder (major depression)depression)• The most common type of depressive The most common type of depressive

disorder.disorder.• Characterized by periods of downcast Characterized by periods of downcast

mood, feelings of worthlessness, and mood, feelings of worthlessness, and loss of interest in pleasurable activities.loss of interest in pleasurable activities.

• Is more common in womenIs more common in women

Depressive Disorders ContinuedDepressive Disorders Continued

(2) Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)(2) Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)• A type of major depression that A type of major depression that

involves a recurring pattern of Winter involves a recurring pattern of Winter depressions followed by elevations in depressions followed by elevations in mood in the Spring and Summer.mood in the Spring and Summer.

• More common in extreme northern More common in extreme northern climatesclimates

Depressive Disorders ContinuedDepressive Disorders Continued

(3) Dysthymic Disorder(3) Dysthymic Disorder• A relatively mild but chronic form of A relatively mild but chronic form of

depressiondepression• Can last for months or yearsCan last for months or years• More common in womenMore common in women

Bipolar DisordersBipolar Disorders

Characterized by alternating moods Characterized by alternating moods that shift between euphoric feelings that shift between euphoric feelings and depression. and depression.

There are two major types:There are two major types:• (1) Bipolar disorder(1) Bipolar disorder• (2) Cyclothymic disorder(2) Cyclothymic disorder

Bipolar DisorderBipolar Disorder

Formerly called manic depressionFormerly called manic depression Involves mood swings that shift between Involves mood swings that shift between

elevated moods or “euphoria” “manic” elevated moods or “euphoria” “manic” episodes and depression.episodes and depression.

People with this disorder experience People with this disorder experience normal moods also.normal moods also.• Examples of manic behavior:Examples of manic behavior:

Extreme restlessnessExtreme restlessness argumentativenessargumentativeness ExcitabilityExcitability lavish spendinglavish spending TalkativenessTalkativeness reckless drivingreckless driving Taking on tasks beyond a person’s abilityTaking on tasks beyond a person’s ability

Bipolar ContinuedBipolar Continued

Mania eventually gives way to Mania eventually gives way to depression:depression:• Feelings of hopelessness and despairFeelings of hopelessness and despair• Suicidal feelingsSuicidal feelings

• About 1% of the adult population in the About 1% of the adult population in the U.S. suffers from bipolar disorder.U.S. suffers from bipolar disorder.

Cyclothymic DisorderCyclothymic Disorder

A mood disorder characterized by A mood disorder characterized by milder mood swings than bipolar milder mood swings than bipolar disorder.disorder.

It is about as common as bipolar It is about as common as bipolar disorder.disorder.

Causes of Mood DisordersCauses of Mood Disorders

There are several possible causes There are several possible causes which may occur separately or which may occur separately or together to cause mood disorders:together to cause mood disorders:

Biological CausesBiological Causes

Brain chemicals: Neurotransmitters Brain chemicals: Neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine may be too serotonin and norepinephrine may be too low in depressed people.low in depressed people.

Genetic factors: There is a family Genetic factors: There is a family connection connection

Faulty brain structure and function: Faulty brain structure and function: Research is being done in this area to see Research is being done in this area to see if the structures responsible for emotions, if the structures responsible for emotions, etc. are different in depressed people.etc. are different in depressed people.

Psychological FactorsPsychological Factors Each approach to psychology has a theory Each approach to psychology has a theory

of what causes depression.of what causes depression.• Psychodynamic Theory (Freud) says depression Psychodynamic Theory (Freud) says depression

is the result of anger turned inward against the is the result of anger turned inward against the self.self.

• Learning Theory (Behaviorist) Depression is the Learning Theory (Behaviorist) Depression is the result of changes in reinforcement levels.result of changes in reinforcement levels.

• Cognitive Theory: Says the way people Cognitive Theory: Says the way people interpret events, and distorted thinking can interpret events, and distorted thinking can cause depression.cause depression.

• Learned Helplessness Theory: Says people Learned Helplessness Theory: Says people become depressed when they feel powerless to become depressed when they feel powerless to control aspects of their livescontrol aspects of their lives