Mood Disorders: Definition, Symptoms, and Treatment

A mood disorder is a type of mental illness that mostly affects your emotional state. They can produce long-term depression, elation, and/or fury. Treatment for mood disorders is generally a combination of medication and psychotherapy.

It's natural for your mood to shift based on the circumstances. However, symptoms must be persistent for many weeks or more in order to be diagnosed with a mood disorder. Mood problems can alter your behavior and impair your ability to do normal tasks such as work or education.

Depression and bipolar illness are two of the most prevalent mood disorders.

What are the symptoms of a mood disorder?

Each mood disorder has different symptoms and/or symptom patterns.

Symptoms of mood disorders often influence your mood, sleep, eating habits, energy level, and mental ability (such as racing thoughts or loss of concentration).

Depressive symptoms in general include:

• Feeling down most of the time, if not every day.
• A lack of energy or a sluggish sensation.
• Feeling insignificant or forlorn.
• Loss of interest in a formerly enjoyable activity.
• Suicidal or death-related thoughts.
• Inability to concentrate or focus.
• Sleeping too much or too little.
• Appetite loss or overeating.

Symptoms of hypomanic or manic episodes in general include:

• Excessively enthusiastic or elated.
• Speech or activity that is quick.
• Agitation, agitation, or irritation.
• Spending more money than normal or driving dangerously are examples of risky conduct.
• Thoughts that race.
• Insomnia is difficulty sleeping.

What causes mood disorders?

Several variables, according to researchers, contribute to the development of mood disorders, including:

Biological factors: The amygdala and orbitofrontal cortex are the brain structures in charge of directing your moods and emotions. On brain imaging studies, the with mood problems were shown to have an enlarged amygdala.

Genetic factors: People with a significant family history of a mood illness are more prone to acquire mood disorders, indicating that mood disorders are perhaps genetic/inherited.

Environmental factors: Life changes that are stressful, such as the death of a loved one, chronic stress, traumatic experiences, and childhood abuse, are substantial risk factors for the development of a mood disorder later in life, particularly depression. Chronic conditions such as diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and heart disease have also been related to depression.

What treatments are available for mood disorders?

Treatment for mood disorders is determined by the illness and symptoms. Typically, treatment consists of a mix of medication and psychotherapy (also called talk therapy). Other treatments, such as brain stimulation therapy, are also available. Consult the best psychiatrist for mood disorder treatment in Indore.

Mood-disorder medications

Among the medications that healthcare practitioners may give to treat mood disorders are:

Antidepressants: Some of the most often used medications to treat depression and bipolar disorder depressive episodes are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), which work similarly to SSRIs, are also routinely given. Although studies demonstrate that different forms of antidepressants perform equally well, depending on the individual, some antidepressants may be more beneficial. Typically, it takes four to six weeks for an antidepressant to start working. It is critical to take antidepressants as directed and to continue taking them even if you feel better.

Mood stabilizers: These drugs aid in the regulation of mood fluctuations associated with bipolar illness or other conditions. They diminish aberrant brain activity. In rare circumstances, providers may prescribe mood stabilisers in addition to anstabilizersts. Lithium and anticonvulsant medications are two of the most commonly used mood stabilisers.

Antipsychotics (stabilizers): Mania or mixed episodes in people with bipolar disorder may be treated with an atypical antipsychotic (neuroleptic) medication such as aripiprazole. If symptoms of depression cannot be treated with an antidepressant alone, providers may prescribe atypical antipsychotics.

Are you looking for a psychiatrist in Indore?  Visit Dr. Rathi’s Mind Centre, they provide excellent services for mood disorders.