Mood disorders are a group of mental problems in which there are strong changes in mood and emotions, which affects the scope and type of activity undertaken. Biological factors (including neurotransmitter disorders), genetic and psychological and environmental factors (stress, family problems) contribute to their development.
Types of mood disorders
Mood disorders include:
- Depression – a significant deterioration in mood, combined with loss of interest, lack of pleasure and pessimistic thinking. It is often accompanied by sleep and eating disorders, and sometimes suicidal thoughts.
- Bipolar disorder – bipolar disorder is characterized by alternating episodes of depression and mania, i.e. unnaturally elevated mood and excessive psychomotor activity. During episodes of mania, the patient may make irrational decisions and risky behaviors.
- Dysthymia – is a chronic (lasting at least two years) lowering of mood, but less intense than in depression.
- Cyclothymia – there are alternating periods of very good and very bad mood. However, they are not as severe as in the case of bipolar disorder.
Treatment of mood disorders
In the treatment of mood disorders, psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy are often combined. Cognitive-behavioral therapy, which helps to change negative patterns of thinking and behavior, brings very good results. Psychodynamic therapy also works well, which allows you to reach internal conflicts, i.e. the source of the emotions you experience. The drugs most commonly used to treat mood disorders are SSRIs and SNRIs, which affect the functioning of neurotransmitters such as serotonin or norepinephrine.