Mood Disorders Psychological disorders characterized by emotional extremes (i.e. depression, mania, or both).

Major Depression A.K.A. unipolar depression. Unhappy for at least two weeks with no apparent cause. Feelings of worthlessness and diminished interest in most activities. May have suicidal thoughts.

Major Depression Most episodes last less than 6 months. Stressful events often precede depression. Depression is the #1 reason people seek mental health. Women twice as vulnerable to major depression.

Depression

Dysthymic Disorder Suffering from mild depression every day for at least two years. “Chronic depression.”

Postpartum Depression Depression after childbirth (“baby blues”). Sadness, fatigue, insomnia, reduced libido, etc. Usually the first few months after giving birth. 5% to 10% of women.

Seasonal Affective Disorder Experience depression during the winter months. Based not on temperature, but on amount of sunlight. Treated with light therapy.

Bipolar Disorder Formally called manic depression. Involves periods of depression and manic episodes. Manic episodes involve feelings of high energy (but they tend to differ a lot…some get confident and some get irritable). Engage in risky behavior during the manic episode.

Famous People with Bipolar

Bipolar Brain

Norepinephrine Increases arousal and boosts moods. Scarce during depression and overabundant during mania. Drugs that alleviate mania, reduce norepinephrine.

Serotonin Also scarce during depression. Prozac, Zoloft and Paxil all block the reuptake of serotonin which relieves the depression.

Suicide