67.1 – Define mood disorders, and contrast major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder. Mood disorders, also known as affective disorder, involve extreme mood disruptions, such as depression or mania. Everyone experiences feelings of being depression, or ecstatic from time to time, but people with mood disorders experience mood disruptions that are not consistent with situational or circumstantial factors, and that often continue for a long time. Depression can range from occasional, manageable sadness to extreme episodes of depression that require hospitalization. Some people may feel “down” for a few days but then simply feel better, while others don’t feel like getting out of bed for several days and will not improve without professional intervention.

67.1 – Define mood disorders, and contrast major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder. Types of Depressive Disorders 1) Major Depressive Disorder (Unipolor Disorder) Person experiences extreme depression, which can last for weeks or months, during which time one or many depressive episodes are experienced; minimum or two weeks of deep depression. changes in activity level, eating habits, and hygiene that could result in rapid weight loss or gain. cognitive problems affecting focusing, remembering, or thinking. person feels worthless, hopeless, or inadequate, resulting in an inability to function socially or at work. suicidal ideations (thoughts)  2) Dysthymic Disorder less intense depression, often of longer duration than major depression. person lacks interest in activities, generally feels sad. must have depressive symptoms for a longer period than two years to be classified ay dysthymic disorder.

67.1 – Define mood disorders, and contrast major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder. The polar opposite of depression is mania, which is characterized by extreme enthusiasm, an optimistic outlook, and an energetic state of mind. When a person alternates between periods of depression and episodes of mania, the behavior is characterized as a bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorders can come in three different forms and vary according to intensity and duration.

67.1 – Define mood disorders, and contrast major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder. Types of Bipolar Disorders 1) Bipolar I Disorder (Manic Depressive Disorder) alternating between periods of deep depression, characterized by major depressive symptoms and mania (energetic, optimistic, impulsive, has belief he or she can do anything. Polar opposite of depression). brief “normal moods” between periods of depression and mania. rare, affecting only 1 percent of adults. MDD coupled with mania. 2) Bipolar II Disorder major depressive episodes alternate with periods of hypomania, less severe symptoms of mania compared to Bipolar I. rare, affects only 1 percent of adults. 3) Cyclothymic Disorder involves alternating periods of depression and mania, but less severe than characteristics associated with Bipolar I. dysthymic disorder coupled with hypomania.

67.2 – Describe how the biological and social-cognitive perspectives explain mood disorders. Causes of Mood Disorders (Biological Perspective and Social-Cognitive Perspective) Mood disorders have been shown to run in families, especially when coupled with bipolar disorders. Researchers studies identical twins and determined that when one twin developed a mood disorder, the other twin was more likely to develop the same disorder. They have also identified a malfunction of chromosome 13, which is connected to the production of serotonin, as a possible cause for mood disorders. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter responsible for sleep and mood regulation.

67.2 – Describe how the biological and social-cognitive perspectives explain mood disorders. Causes of Mood Disorders (Biological Perspective and Social-Cognitive Perspective) Brain abnormalities (especially in the brain’s neurotransmitter systems), endocrine systems, and lack of development in the frontal lobes, hippocampus, amygdala, and other area of the limbic system have all been connected to mood disorders. The neurotransmitters norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine could possible be linked to the development of mood disorders. Low amounts of these neurotransmitters have resulted in symptoms of depression, whereas overactivity by these neurotransmitters has led to symptoms of mania. Some depressive people have also shown a malfunction in the endocrine system. Studies have demonstrated that people experiencing depression have an excessive release of the stress hormone cortisol, which could be connected to impaired functioning of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland.

67.2 – Describe how the biological and social-cognitive perspectives explain mood disorders. Causes of Mood Disorders (Biological Perspective and Social-Cognitive Perspective) Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), depression that is frequently associated with the darker winter months, suggests that depression might be related to malfunctions in the body’s circadian clock. This could be explained through inaccurate detection of light via the suprachiasmatic nucleus, which may in turn trigger an excessive release of the hormone melatonin, causing a person to become increasingly tired.

67.2 – Describe how the biological and social-cognitive perspectives explain mood disorders. Causes of Mood Disorders (Biological Perspective and Social-Cognitive Perspective) Biological factors are only one component of mood disorders; psychological and social factors also play a role. Negative thinking, a pessimistic viewpoint, certain personality traits, and dysfunctional family systems can all contribute to the development of mood disorders. Women have a higher chance than men of developing a mood disorder, and some researchers believe that this is because women are more likely to have experienced a traumatic event, such as child abuse or rape.

67.2 – Describe how the biological and social-cognitive perspectives explain mood disorders. Causes of Mood Disorders (Biological Perspective and Social-Cognitive Perspective) Social-cognitive therapists believe that negative thought and moods interact causing the depression. Social-cognitive therapists suggest that learned helplessness contributes to mood disorders. People blame themselves for their depression, believing there is no point in trying, thinking life is never going to get better, resulting in their giving up or, in other words, learning to be helpless. Rumination, compulsive fretting; overthinking about our problems and their causes. Explanatory style – stable vs temporary, global vs specific, and internal vs. external.

Depressions Vicious Cycle

67.2 – Describe how the biological and social-cognitive perspectives explain mood disorders. Causes of Mood Disorders (Biological Perspective and Social-Cognitive Perspective) Mood disorders have also been linked to sociological factors such as poverty, high-crime neighborhoods, domestic violence, and other stressful situations. The diathesis-stress model has studies the effects of stress on mood disorders and revealed a positive correlation, which suggests that the more stress there is, the greater the likelihood that a mood disorder will develop, especially for those with a biological predisposition.

67.3 – Discuss the factors that affect suicide and self-injury, and identify important warning signs to watch for in suicide-prevention efforts. Suicide the most severe form of behavioral response to depression is suicide. each year some 1 million people commit suicide worldwide.   Self-Injury people who struggle with distress sometimes engage in non-suicidal self-injury.