| Mood | Enduring period of emotionality. |
| Anhedonia | Failure to respond to pleasurable events or absence of desire for pleasure, associated with some mood and schizophrenic disorders. |
| Mood disorder | Group of disorders involving severe and enduring disturbances in emotionality ranging from elation to severe depression. |
| Structure of mood disorders | 1) Unipolar: only one extreme mood is experienced; either depression or mania (depression is more common than mania alone).
2) Bipolar: Both depression and mania are experienced |
| Major depressive episode - clinical description | An extremely depressed mood accompanied with anhedonia. Lasts most of the day, nearly everyday for at least two weeks. At least four of the following: indecisiveness, feelings of worthlessness, fatigue, appetite change, restlessness, feeling slowed down. |
| Major depressive episode - diagnostic criteria (Pt. 1) | 1) At least five of the following symptoms present during the first two week period that marked the change in behviour : depressed mood, anhedonia, significant weight loss, insomnia or hypersomnia, psychomotor agitation, loss of energy, feelings of worthlessness, diminished ability concentrate, recurrent thoughts of death/suicidal ideation.
2)symptoms cause clinically significant impairment or distress. |
| Major depressive disorder - diagnostic criteria | 1) At least one major depressive episode.
2) Never been a manic or hypomanic episode (does not apply if these symptoms are attributable to medication or substance abuse or physiological conditions).
3) Occurrence not better explained by another diagnosis. |
| Persistent depressive disorder - clinical description | At least two years of depressive symptoms (depressed mood most of they day for more days than not). Chronic. No more than months symptom free. |
| Diagnostic specifier for depressive episodes | 1) Psychotic specifier: delusions and/or hallucinations.
2) Anxious specifier: depression accompanied with several significant symptoms of anxiety (poorer outcome).
3) Mixed features specifier: depression with manic symptoms.
4) Melancholic specifier: depressive episode with a lack of reactivity to positive stimuli. |
| Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder | Severe temper outburst back-dropped by angry and irritable moods (designed to combat over-diagnosis in bipolar disorders in kids). |
| Manic episode - clinical description | Elevated, expansive mood for at least a week. Inflated self-esteem, decreased need for sleep, excessive talkativeness, flight of thoughts, easily distracted, increase in goal oriented behaviour (psychomotor agitation), risky behaviour. |
| Manic episode - diagnostic criteria | 1)Elevated mood lasting most of the day everyday for a week.
2) During the period of mood disturbance 3 (or more) of the following symptoms are present: inflated self-esteem, decreased need for sleep, talkativeness, flight of ideas, distractability, increase in goal directed behaviour. |
| Bipolar I disorder | The occurrence of one manic episode or mixed manic episode, often recurrent, or alternating with major depressive episodes. |
| Bipolar II disorder | Occurrence of hypomanic episodes, frequently alternating with major depressive episodes (absences of manic episode). Bipolar II has a greater tendency of recurrent cycles of mood disturbances. |
| Hypomanic episode | Milder form of mania with similar symptoms yet less severe and less disruptive (hypo means 'under"). Occurring for at least four days without psychotic symptoms or the need for hospitalisation. Hypomanic episodes define cyclothymic and bipolar II disorders. Not necessarily problematic on its own. |
| Cyclothymic disorder | Chronic (at least 2 years) mood disorder characterised by alternating mood elevation and depression levels that are not as severe as manic or depressive episodes. |
| Unipolar mood disorder | Mood disorder charaterised by depression or mania but not both, most cases involve unipolar depression. |
| Mixed features | Condition in which the individual experiences both elation and depression or anxiety at the same time. Also known as dysphoric manic episode. |
| Seasonal affective disorder | Mood disorder involving a cycling of episodes corresponding to the seasons of the year, typically with depression occurring in the winter. |
| Premenstrual dysohoric disorder (PMDD) | Condition charaterised by mood disturbances, typically lability (rapid and exaggerated mood swings), and uncomfortable physical symptoms associated with menstruation. |
| Integrated grief | Grief that evolves from acute grief into a condition in which the individual accepts the finality of a death and adjusts to the loss. |
| Complicated grief | Characterised by debilitating feelings of loss and emotions so painful a person has trouble resuming a normal life. |
| Causes of a mood disorder - familial | The risk is higher if a relative has a mood disorder. Severe mood disorders have a strong genetic contribution. Heritability rates are higher for females than males. |
| Causes of a mood disorder - neurobiological influences | 1) Neurotransmitter system: serotonin and its relation to other neurotransmitters (eg noradrenaline and dopamine), associated with a lack of serotonin. Permissive hypothesis - low serotonin permits other neurotransmitters to vary wildly increasing vulnerability.
2) Endocrine system: elevated cortisol; decrease neurogenesis in the hippocampus. |
| Causes of a mood disorder - psychological influences | 1) Stressful life events
2) Learned helplessness: lack in the belief one has control over ones life
3) Negative thinking/coping styles (cognitive error triad) |
