Mood disorders, also called affective disorders, are mental health conditions that primarily influence a person’s emotional state. They differ in severity from routine mood changes, causing prolonged emotional disturbances that impact relationships, work and overall wellbeing.
Types of disorder
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders identifies two categories: depressive and bipolar. Depressive disorders include forms such as major depressive disorder, characterised by persistent sadness or loss of interest lasting at least two weeks, as well as subtypes like postpartum depression and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Bipolar disorders involve cycles of mood swings that range between emotional highs and lows, with subtypes including Bipolar I, Bipolar II, and cyclothymic disorder.
Symptoms
Symptoms vary depending on the type of mood disorder, but often encompass feelings of sadness, hopelessness, irritability, and changes in sleep and appetite. Bipolar disorder symptoms include manic episodes with elevated energy and risky behaviours, as well as depressive episodes. Mood disorders can be caused by chemical imbalances in the brain as well as genetics and stressful life events.
Treatment
Treatments include medication, lifestyle changes and therapy. Mental health training has evolved in recent years, with a national focus on access and improvements in the quality of training. It is not only hospitals that are pursuing these objectives. For example, the Royal Hospital of Neuro-Disability offers a multidisciplinary programme, but there are other private providers of mental health training courses Newport and elsewhere, such as https://www.tidaltraining.co.uk/mental-health-training-courses/newport.
If mood changes interfere with daily living, then it is crucial to seek medical advice for effective support and access to talking therapies.
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