**DISCLAIMER: this is not meant to diagnose anyone nor should my book be used to diagnose yourself. If you are worried you may have a mood disorder of any kind, please see a mental health professional.
Mood disorders and depressive disorders are very similar. The difference is depressive disorders usually involve just depression or disorders like it (ex: persistent depression, seasonal affective disorder)
Mood disorders include both bipolar disorders and depressive disorders.
Definition of depression- a disorder that makes one feel intense feelings of sadness and hopeless. It affects the way a person thinks, works and feels. It causes a loss of interest in activities. Everyone feels sad sometimes but those feelings go away. With depression it won't go away as easily and can last longer. It's not the same as sadness.
Major depressive disorder (aka clinical depression, depressive disorder, unipolar depression, or just depression):
Feeling sad or hopeless
Depressed mood
Loss of energy or fatigue
Feeling worthless or guilty
Sleep disturbance (too much or too little)
Irritability
Slow speech/movement
Loss of interest in usual activities
Suicidal thoughts or attempts
Difficulty concentrating
Change in weight or appetite
In order to be diagnosed, a patient must report experiencing a depressed mood for most of the day, daily, for at least two weeks. MDD also includes atypical, catatonic, postpartum onset, seasonal pattern (seasonal affective disorder/depression), psychotic depression, and melancholic depression. These are specifiers for MDD.
Persistent depressive disorder(aka dysthymia)- a less severe, but more chronic than major depression.
Depressed mood for most of the time for at least two years
Same symptoms as major depression
In kids and teens, they might be more irritable than depressed
At least two or more of the following are present: insomnia, low energy, low self esteem, poor appetite or over eating, poor concentration, hopeless.
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder(aka PMDD):
Extreme mood shifts that disrupt a female's life around the time of her period. The symptoms show up a week before your period and last a few days after it begins.
Symptoms:
Mood swings
Depression or feeling hopeless
Intense anger
Anxiety or irritability
Loss of interest in activities
Hard to concentrate
Fatigue
Change of appetite
Feeling out of control
Sleep problems
Cramps/bloating
Tender breasts
Headaches
Joints or muscle pain
Hot flashes
Atypical , postpartum, melancholic, psychotic, seasonal , and catatonic depression (types of major depression)
Atypical:
Sleep changes (excessive sleep to insomnia)
Weight gain due to comfort eating
Heaviness in limbs
Social impairment
Melancholic:
Lose interest in relationships and activities
Withdraw and isolation
Trouble sleeping
Feeling guilty
Catatonic:
Mute
Inmobile
Bizarre movements
Psychotic depression- depressed mood with delusional or hallucinations.
Postpartum depression- intense sadness after giving birth. It's more disruptive and lasts longer than regular baby blues.
Seasonal affective disorder(aka SAD)- depressive episodes are triggered in winter, autumn, or end of spring. Must have at least two episodes in the colder months, with none in other times of the year, for over two years or longer.
unspecified depressive disorder-This is where the symptoms of depression are met, but they don't meet the full criteria. This is usually used when there's not enough info to make another diagnosis or when the clinician doesn't give a reason why the criteria wasn't met.
Other specified depressive disorder- similar to unspecified depression, but the reason why the criteria was met was given.
Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder-this is diagnosed in children and teens. Kids with this disorder appear to be aggressive or irritable.
Medical and substance induced depression - depression due to substance abuse or another medical condition.
The Three Types Of Bipolar Disorder:
Bipolar 1: one or more manic or mixed episode. A depressive episode is not required for diagnosis but it is common.
Bipolar 2: recurrent depressive and hypomanic episodes
Cyclothymia/ Cyclothymic Disorder:recurrent hypomania and mild/moderate depression, but no full manic or major depressive episodes.
What is mania?:
The opposite of depression basically. Symptoms include:
Increased energy
Increased activity
Euphoric mood
Distractable
Difficultly concentrating
Racing thoughts
Talks quickly
Sleeps less
Increased sex drive
Spending sprees
Poor judgement
Unrealistic beliefs in one's abilities
Extreme irritability
Intrusive
Proactive
Aggressive behavior
May abuse substances
Denies there is a problem
Symptoms of hypomania:
Inflated self esteem
Decreased need for sleep
More talkative than usual
Racing thoughts
Increase in goal directed activity
Spending sprees
Having sex
Foolish business investments
Other types of involvement in pleasure actions
The difference between a hypomanic and manic episode episode is that hypomanic episodes may change functioning, but they do not cause serious impairment or at least not severe enough to cause hospitalization. There are also no psychotic features. Psychotic features may happen in bipolar disorder, usually during a manic episode but can happen during a depressive episode. This basically involves psychosis.
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Depression, anxiety, EDs, and other mental health issues.
Non-FictionThis story is about depression disorders, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, personality disorders, other mental illnesses, self harm, suicide, bullying, and the stigma of mental illness. This book was written to help others and educate people. It...
