Mood Disorders
Mood Disorders (Depression)
There are two general categories of mood disorders
- Unipolar Depressive Disorder
- Bipolar Disorder
Unipolar Depressive Disorder
People with Unipolar depression experience only the symptoms of depression ie
- Sad mood
- Loss of interest
- Disruption in sleep and appetite
- Motor retardation
- Agitation
- Loss of energy
- Feeling of worthlessness and guilt
- Suicidal thoughts
Within Unipolar depression the two major diagnostic categories are
- Major Depression
- Dysthymic Disorder
Young and middle-aged adults have the highest rates of depression.
Bipolar Mood Disorder
The two major diagnostic categories of Bipolar Mood Disorder are
- Bipolar Disorder
- Cyclothymic Disorder
Bipolar Mood Disorders are less common than Unipolar Depressive Disorders but they are equally common in men as well as in women. The onset of Bipolar Disorder is most often in late adolescence or early adulthood. Most people have multiple episodes.
Treatment
Behavioral treatment focuses on increasing positive reinforces and decreasing aversive events by helping clients change their environments, learn social skills, and by learning mood management skills
Cognitive – Behavioral Treatment combines techniques of behavior therapy with techniques to identify and challenge depressive thinking patterns
Interpersonal therapy seeks to identify and overcome problems with grief, role transitions, interpersonal role disputes and deficits in interpersonal skills that contribute to depression.
Cognitive therapy lowers future risk of depression and its effective in approximately 70% of the cases. Cognitive therapy focuses on
- Identifying automatic thoughts
- Disputing these thoughts
- Making reattribution’s
- Learning to avoid ruminative behavior
- Challenging core beliefs that limit the person’s ability to grow and be happy
