Mood disorders

A mood disorder is a mental disorder that mainly affects an individual's emotional state. People with mood disorders typically experience prolonged periods of extreme happiness, extreme sadness, or both.

It is normal for someone’s mood to change, depending on the situation. However, a mood disorder is characterized by symptoms that last for several weeks or longer. Mood disorders can cause changes in your behaviour and can affect your ability to deal with routine activities, such as school or work.

Types of Mood disorders

Major depressive disorder
Major depressive disorder is a condition that can affect many areas of your life. It impacts your behaviour mood, as well as various physical functions, such as appetite and sleep.

Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder is a mental disorder characterized by severe high and low moods, and changes in energy, sleep, thinking, and behaviour. Individuals with bipolar disorder can have periods in which they feel overly manic and energized and other periods of feeling sluggish, depressed and depleted of energy.

Cyclothymic disorder
Cyclothymia is a relatively mild mood disorder, less extreme than bipolar disorder. In cyclothymic disorder, moods change from short periods of mild depression and hypomania- an elevated mood.

Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia)
A persistent depressive disorder is a continuous long-term (chronic) form of depression. You may lose interest in normal routine activities, feel hopeless, lack productivity, have low self-esteem and an overall feeling of inadequacy.

Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder
A disorder that causes chronic, severe and persistent irritability in children. It often includes frequent temper outbursts that are inconsistent with the child's developmental age.

Depression induced by medication or substance abuse
These are depression symptoms that develop during or soon after substance use or withdrawal or after exposure to a medication.