Key Terms in Mood Disorders

Affect

Observable expression of emotion, especially facial expression.

Anhedonia

Loss of interest or pleasure in activities that were once enjoyed.

Avolition

Lack of drive or motivation to pursue goal-directed tasks.

Cyclothymia

A chronic mood disturbance involving periods of hypomanic and depressive symptoms that do not meet full criteria for episodes, lasting at least 2 years.

Depression

A state of persistent sadness, hopelessness, and low energy affecting daily functioning.

Flight of Ideas

Rapidly shifting, disconnected thoughts, often seen in mania.

Grandiosity

Inflated self-esteem or exaggerated sense of importance and abilities.

Hypomania

A period of elevated mood and energy that is less severe than mania and does not require hospitalization.

Mania

A state of abnormally elevated or irritable mood, high energy, impulsivity, and possible psychotic symptoms, lasting at least 1 week.

Psychosis

Loss of contact with reality, often including hallucinations or delusions.

Primary Mood Disorders

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Bipolar I Disorder, Bipolar II Disorder, and Cyclothymic Disorder.

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Presence of a major depressive episode lasting at least 2 weeks with symptoms such as sadness, guilt, and cognitive impairments.

Bipolar I vs. Bipolar II

Bipolar I includes at least one manic episode (with or without depressive episodes); Bipolar II includes at least one hypomanic episode and one major depressive episode, but no manic episodes.

Cyclothymic Disorder

Chronic fluctuating mood symptoms that don't meet full criteria for hypomanic or depressive episodes, lasting at least 2 years.

Biological Causes

Abnormalities in brain structures (e.g., limbic system), neurotransmitter imbalances, and genetic predispositions.

Psychosocial Factors

Stressful life events, trauma, poor support systems, and maladaptive coping mechanisms.

Brain Areas in MDD

Amygdala, hippocampus, anterior cingulate cortex, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.

Mixed Episode

A state in which both manic and depressive symptoms occur almost daily for at least 1 week.

Course of Mood Disorders

Often recurrent and chronic; early diagnosis and treatment improve outcomes.

Treatments

Medications (antidepressants, mood stabilizers, antipsychotics), psychotherapy (CBT, IPT), and sometimes ECT or TMS for treatment-resistant cases.