Treatment of Mood Disorders: Primary Categories
There are two primary categories of mood disorders: depressive disorders and bipolar disorders. Understanding these classifications is a vital part of seeking the right mood disorder treatment, as each category requires a unique clinical approach that the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) also includes a category for “unspecified mood disorder” for situations that don’t fit well into the two usual classifications. There are also unspecified bipolar and depressive disorders.
Depressive Disorders
There are a large number of depressive disorders that result in an ongoing low mood that affects their quality of life. Many people have mild depression or low moods from time to time. Those with depressive disorders generally have depressive symptoms such as a lack of interest in things they used to enjoy, low energy, trouble sleeping, and feelings of worthlessness and guilt.
- Major depressive disorder: This disorder, also known as unipolar depression, typically lasts at least two weeks and often for longer than four weeks. People can struggle with major depressive disorder for many years, but effective treatment is available.
- Seasonal affective disorder (SAD): Seasonal affective disorder happens at specific times of year, usually during the late fall and winter when the sun isn’t out as often.
- Persistent depressive disorder: This long-term form of major depression causes feelings of hopelessness and emptiness.
- Depression related to a medical condition: The physical impact of an illness or health problem can cause a loss of pleasure in most activities.
- Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder: This disorder is seen in children and teens and involves constant irritability with frequent anger outbursts that are not in line with the age and experiences of the child.
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder: This disorder happens around 10 days before the menstrual period starts and ends a few days after the period begins. Individuals feel moody, overwhelmed, and out of control.
- Postpartum depression: Postpartum depression affects women during pregnancy and within the first year after childbirth. This is not simply “baby blues” but involves severe depression, persistent sadness, and anxiety, along with difficulties bonding with the baby.
- Depression related to medicine or substance use: This type of depression starts shortly after initiating the use of street drugs or prescribed medication. It can also happen during or after withdrawal from the substance.
Bipolar Disorders
Bipolar disorders cause people to have extreme emotional highs, known as hypomanic or manic episodes, and very low feelings, known as bipolar depression. These extremes are generally constant and can significantly impact daily life. People in a manic episode may be distracted, have racing thoughts, experience feelings of grandiosity, be irritable, and struggle to sleep. Those with bipolar depression will have low feelings, hopelessness, loss of interest in usual activities, and possibly thoughts of suicide.
- Bipolar I disorder: In bipolar I, you have manic episodes that last at least a week. It can impact your decision-making and cause you to make risky decisions.
- Bipolar II disorder: Those with bipolar II have elevated moods called hypomanias that last between four and six days. Generally, these episodes don’t impact your daily life, but those around you will know that you are acting differently.
- Cyclothymia: Cyclothymic disorder causes individuals to shift from high to low moods that can significantly impact daily life. However, the ups and downs are not as extreme as bipolar disorder.
- Bipolar disorder related to a medical diagnosis: Some medical conditions can cause bipolar-style symptoms, such as Cushing’s disease, strokes, traumatic brain injuries, or multiple sclerosis.
- Bipolar disorder related to substance use: Substance use can cause acute mania and depressed moods that are similar to bipolar disorder.
Is Anxiety Disorder a Mood Disorder?
Anxiety, or generalized anxiety disorder, is not a mood disorder. It’s classified as one of many different anxiety disorders, such as panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and related mental health conditions. Some people struggle with these on and off throughout their lives, which is known as lifetime anxiety disorder.
Risk Factors: What Causes Depression and Other Mood Disorders?
Mood disorders are often caused by physical and chemical differences in the brain. According to research in the National Library of Medicine, a larger amygdala and changes in the frontal cortex are common in those with mood disorders.
The research also notes these additional possible causes:
- Neurotransmitters: Serotonin and norepinephrine are lower during depressive episodes. Low serotonin is commonly associated with major depression and other depressive disorders. Dopamine is another neurotransmitter that research shows is lower during depression and higher during mania.
- Medical conditions: A wide range of medical issues can result in mood disorders, including imbalances in the thyroid hormone, cancer, brain tumors, encephalitis, multiple sclerosis, and even influenza.
- Substance use: The use of some drugs can cause severe symptoms that mimic psychotic disorders, such as cocaine, amphetamines, steroids, and procarbazine.
- Genetic factors: Mood disorders often run in families, and those whose parents had a mood disorder are much more likely to develop mood disorders themselves.
- Life circumstances: Stressful life changes, chronic stress, traumatic events, and childhood abuse or neglect are all major risk factors for developing mood disorders. These circumstances increase the risk of clinical depression in particular.
While there are many causes of mood disorders, it’s important to understand that effective, evidence-based mood disorder treatment is available to help you manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life. If you’re struggling with mood disorders and substance use, reach out to our team at Woburn Addiction Treatment. We can provide dual-diagnosis treatment to help you reclaim your life and find purpose and joy again.
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How Are Mood Disorders Diagnosed?
Proper diagnosis is the foundation for the successful treatment of mood disorders, which is why our mental health professionals begin with a physical exam and detailed evaluations to understand any underlying clinical issues. After the physical exam, they’ll give you a series of evaluations and assessments to determine what mental illnesses you might be facing.
You might be asked to track your moods and sleep patterns for a period of time to help the doctor understand what you’re experiencing. They will also look for any related conditions, like personality disorders, that can co-occur with depression or bipolar disorder, ensuring your mood disorder treatment plan is comprehensive and addresses all aspects of your mental health.
Based on the results of the assessments and symptoms you report, your mental health professional will determine the most effective treatment for mood disorder by using the DSM-5 to identify if you meet the specific criteria for a depressive or bipolar condition and, if so, whether it’s a depressive or bipolar disorder.
How Are Mood Disorders Treated?
There are a variety of ways to address mood disorders. Part of the treatment plan will depend on whether you have co-occurring issues, such as substance use disorder. At Woburn Addiction Treatment, we have a variety of outpatient treatment programs that can address a dual diagnosis.
Antidepressant Medication for Depression and Bipolar Disorder Treatment
There are several types of psychiatric medications used as part of a comprehensive treatment for mood disorder, including antidepressants that help regulate serotonin and norepinephrine to achieve emotional stability. Antidepressants like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are commonly used to treat depression and can also be used for bipolar disorders. These medications help by regulating serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain to make moods more stable.
Mood Stabilizers and Antipsychotics
Mood stabilizers are designed to regulate any unusual brain activity to reduce mood swings. Valproic acid and lithium are common mood stabilizers used by psychiatrists to help those with bipolar disorder.
Antipsychotics can help treat mania and manage psychosis. Atypical antipsychotic drugs are commonly used to target dopamine and serotonin in the brain to prevent major symptoms of bipolar and related disorders.
Talk Therapy for Mental Health
Talk therapy is a cornerstone in the treatment of mood disorders, used in conjunction with medication to help you understand and address your specific mental health challenges in a supportive environment.
One common approach is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps you identify, challenge, and change unhelpful thought patterns. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is similar but is specifically designed for those who have intense emotions, which can be helpful for bipolar disorder treatment.
Working with a mental health professional using talk therapy is a good way to uncover the roots of your mood disorder as well. For example, if specific traumatic events cause your major depression, you can reprocess those events to reduce mental health symptoms.
When major depressive disorder, depressive episodes in bipolar disorder, and other mental health concerns affect your interpersonal relationships, you might benefit from family therapy. This can help your loved ones understand how depressive, bipolar, and related disorders work. When they understand things like depressive episodes and other realities of mental health conditions, they can become part of your support network.
Other Treatments for Treatment-Resistant Depression
If you have depression that hasn’t responded to common treatments for mood disorders like cognitive behavioral therapy and improving your eating habits with a healthy diet, your doctor might try other treatments.
Your doctor may change your medication or add something like lithium or an antipsychotic — although they are used for bipolar disorder, they can help resistant depression as well. Another option is to use specialized therapies like ECT or TMS. These advanced options within our mood disorder treatment programs are often highly effective at reducing the symptoms of treatment-resistant conditions.
Treating Co-Occurring Addiction to Street Drugs
Bipolar disorder and other emotional challenges can result from substance use; therefore, an effective treatment for mood disorder must also address any co-occurring addiction to ensure a safe and lasting recovery. If you struggle with addiction along with bipolar disorder or other mood disorders, our team at Woburn Addiction Treatment can help.
We offer a range of outpatient treatment options:
- Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHPs): A partial hospitalization program is a full-day treatment program where you return home at night. Our team will address substance use issues along with bipolar disorder or other co-occurring mood disorders.
- Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs): In our IOP, you’ll attend treatment in three-hour sessions a few times a week. We’ll help you with healthy coping strategies, life skills, and peer support so you can overcome addiction and co-occurring mental illnesses.
- General Outpatient Care: In our general outpatient program, you’ll attend individual and group therapy sessions. This provides the ongoing support necessary for the long-term treatment of mood disorders and sustained sobriety.
Get the Mood Disorder Treatment You Need Today
If you struggle with bipolar disorder or other mood disorders, you don’t have to manage your symptoms alone. Our team at Woburn Addiction Treatment is here to help. If you’re struggling with addiction and co-occurring mood disorders, we have the dual-diagnosis care you need. Our personalized outpatient programs can provide you with the level of treatment that’s best for your needs.
You deserve to step into a brighter, more fulfilling future. If you’re ready to transform your life into something extraordinary, contact us today to get started.
Source
American Psychiatric Association. Unspecified Mood Disorder: DSM-5-TR Fact Sheet. American Psychiatric Association, 2022.
Muneer, Ather. “Mood Disorders.” StatPearls, StatPearls Publishing, 4 May 2023.
