M OOD D ISORDER By Mental Health Commission of Canada, 2010

W HAT IS M OOD D ISORDER Everyone faces lows and ups in life But that may not be depression Grief is a normal reaction to loss but sometimes grief may also be a reaction to happiness There is no timeline for people to grieve Cultural values also impacts how a person grieves A professional assessment can only decide if a person is grieving or is experiencing a mood disorder

T YPES OF M OOD D ISORDER Depressive Disorders (Depression) Postpartum depression Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) Bipolar disorder Depression in bipolar Mania in bipolar

D EPRESSIVE D ISORDERS (D EPRESSION ) Everyone may feel sad or low when bad things happen, but that’s not necessarily depression They have the ability to cope with it and come out of it in some time When the ability to cope with sad mood, loss of interest in everything as well as additional symptoms for a prolonged period of time, say about 2 weeks or more, it could be a depressive disorder It is most common mood disorder It could appear in children as well as adolescents Clinical depression has a major impact on person, community and economy as it affects the productivity

G OLDBERG D EPRESSION S CALE Internationally known scale for screening depression Key questions that might help a person recognize that they or someone else has symptoms of depression If a person rates high, he / she requires clinic assessment

S IGNS OF D EPRESSION Physical Appearance: Looks sad Speaks slow Looks unkept Slow thinking, body movement Decreased energy, tiredness & fatigue Attitude: Worthlessness Hopelessness Feeling of guilt Misinterpret trivial events Loneliness

E FFECTS OF D EPRESSION On emotion: Sadness, anxiety, guilt, anger, lack of response, hopelessness, irritability On thinking: self criticism, self blame, impaired memory, lack of concentration, difficulty in decision making, confusion, thoughts of suicide, see everyone in negativity On behavior: crying spells, withdrawal, irresponsible, loss of interest in person appearance, loss of motivation Physical effects: fatigue, lack of energy, sleeping too much or too little, overeating or loss of appetite, weight loss or gain, irregular menstrual cycle, loss of sexual desire, unexplained aches and pains

R ISK FACTORS o Breakup of relationship/ living in conflict o Having a baby o Loss of job / difficulty finding a new one o Being a crime victim o Having an accident o Living with a long term chronic illness o Caring for someone living with a disability o Unresolved bereavement; particularly in childhood o Loss of partner, friend or family member o Side effect of medicines o Premenstrual or menopause o Lack of exposure to sunlight in winters o Substance dependence  Women can be subject twice as compared to men  People with family history  Emotional people  Difficult childhood  People experienced discrimination

O THER TYPES OF D EPRESSIVE D ISORDERS Postpartum depression – baby blues About 20% of women develop Symptoms are almost same as depression but not severe Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) Typically during a particular season Especially autumn / winters Less commonly occur in summers

B IPOLAR D ISORDER (M ANIC D EPRESSION ) Extreme mood swings Experience periods of depression and mania Extended periods of “normal” behavior Amount of time taken to move from depression and mania differs for each person Early diagnosis helps to lessen the impact of the problem on the individual and families Males and females are equally affected Onset – between 15 years to 24 years Symptoms of Depression in bipolar are same as Depressive disorders

S YMPTOMS OF M ANIA Increased energy level and over activity Elevated or elated mood Needing less sleep than usual Irritability Rapid thinking and speed Lack of inhibitions Grandiose delusion Lack of insight

R ISK F ACTORS Genetic Factors: People with family history have higher chances Biochemical factors: chemical changes in the brain Stress: triggers symptoms in vulnerable people Medication: side effect of medicines

M OOD D ISORDERS AND S UBSTANCE U SE Alcohol is a depressant drug Interferes with the central nervous system and slows down its operation Disrupts sleep pattern Makes recovery difficult People are at higher risk of dying by suicide It interferes with medication People need to take higher doses Higher dose of medicine means greater side effects Cannabis, Stimulants and Ecstasy are worse for people living with depressive disorders

T HANK YOU !!