Key facts
- Mood disorders are a group of conditions, including depression and bipolar disorder, that disrupt emotional state for an extended time.
- They are among the most common mental health conditions worldwide and affect people of every age.
- A mood disorder is a medical condition, not a personal failing or a mood you can simply will away.
- Psychotherapy, medication, or both help most people, and early treatment improves outcomes.
What are mood disorders?
A mood disorder is a mental health condition in which your emotional state is disturbed for a sustained period in a way that interferes with everyday life. Mood naturally shifts in response to events, but with a mood disorder the change is more intense, lasts much longer, and is harder to shake. The two broad patterns are depression, marked by persistent low mood and loss of interest, and mania or hypomania, marked by abnormally elevated or irritable mood and energy. Some conditions involve one pattern, and some involve both.
Mood disorders are common. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) reports that mood disorders affect a substantial share of U.S. adults over the course of a lifetime, and the World Health Organization (WHO) describes depressive disorders as a leading cause of disability globally. If you are living with one, you are in very large company.
Clinicians diagnose mood disorders using the criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), published by the American Psychiatric Association. In broad terms, a diagnosis depends on the type, duration, and intensity of mood symptoms, the presence or absence of manic episodes, and the degree to which symptoms disrupt daily functioning, after a clinician has ruled out a medical cause, medication effect, or substance use. This page paraphrases that framework in plain language; only a qualified professional can make an actual diagnosis.
Types of mood disorders
Mood disorders cover several distinct conditions. The most common include:
- Major depressive disorder: episodes of persistent low mood, loss of interest, and physical and cognitive changes lasting two weeks or more. See our full guide to depression.
- Bipolar disorder: alternating periods of depression and mania or hypomania, with elevated mood, high energy, and impulsivity. See our guide to bipolar disorder.
- Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia): a lower-grade but long-lasting depression that continues for two years or more.
- Seasonal affective disorder: depression that follows a seasonal pattern, most often beginning in fall or winter. See seasonal affective disorder.
- Postpartum depression: a depressive episode during pregnancy or in the weeks and months after childbirth.
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder: severe mood symptoms in the week or two before menstruation that resolve once it begins.
Symptoms
Symptoms depend on whether the mood is low, elevated, or shifting between the two. Depressive symptoms include:
- Persistent sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness
- Loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities
- Changes in sleep, appetite, or weight
- Fatigue and low energy
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
- Thoughts of death or suicide
Manic or hypomanic symptoms, which appear in bipolar disorder, include:
- Abnormally elevated, expansive, or irritable mood
- Increased energy and reduced need for sleep
- Racing thoughts and rapid speech
- Inflated self-confidence or grandiosity
- Impulsive or risky behavior
When these symptoms persist, represent a clear change from your usual self, and interfere with daily life, they may point to a mood disorder. As the Mayo Clinic notes, mood disorders can affect children, teenagers, and adults differently, and symptoms range from mild to severe.
Causes and risk factors
There is no single cause. Mood disorders usually arise from a combination of factors:
- Biology: brain chemistry, hormones, and genetics. Mood disorders, especially bipolar disorder, often run in families.
- Life events: trauma, loss, chronic stress, or major change.
- Health: chronic illness, chronic pain, thyroid problems, and some medications can contribute.
- Substance use: alcohol and drugs can trigger or worsen mood symptoms.
These factors interact rather than act alone. A genetic vulnerability may stay quiet until a stressful period or hormonal shift brings symptoms forward. Mood disorders frequently appear alongside anxiety, and the two can be treated together. Because some physical conditions can mimic a mood disorder, a medical evaluation is part of a thorough assessment.
How mood disorders are treated
Mood disorders are highly treatable. Most people improve substantially with treatment, and a combination of approaches often works best. The right plan depends on the specific diagnosis, its severity, and your preferences, so it is worth discussing the options with a professional.
Psychotherapy
Talk therapy helps you understand and manage the thoughts, behaviors, and relationship patterns tied to your mood. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps you recognize and reframe unhelpful thinking. Interpersonal therapy addresses relationship and role changes that can feed low mood. For bipolar disorder, approaches that focus on stabilizing daily routines and sleep, alongside medication, are particularly helpful.
Medication
Medication is often central, especially for moderate to severe conditions. Antidepressants, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), are commonly used for depressive disorders. Mood stabilizers, such as lithium and certain anticonvulsants, are mainstays for bipolar disorder, where antidepressants alone can be problematic. Medication should always be managed by a prescriber. Learn more about antidepressants.
Lifestyle and self-care
Consistent sleep, regular physical activity, social connection, and limiting alcohol all support stability. For bipolar disorder in particular, keeping a steady daily rhythm helps reduce the risk of mood episodes. These measures complement, but do not replace, professional treatment.
When to seek help
Reach out to a doctor or mental health professional if changes in your mood last more than two weeks, feel out of proportion to events, or interfere with work, relationships, or daily life. Seek help immediately if you have thoughts of harming yourself or notice periods of unusually high energy, little need for sleep, and risky behavior. Mood disorders are treatable, and getting help early makes recovery easier.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a mood disorder and just feeling moody?
Everyone has ups and downs that pass within hours or days. A mood disorder involves a sustained shift in mood, lasting weeks or longer, that is out of proportion to events and interferes with work, relationships, and daily functioning.
Are mood disorders treatable?
Yes. Mood disorders are among the most treatable mental health conditions. Most people improve significantly with psychotherapy, medication, or a combination, and many reach lasting stability with the right ongoing care.
Can a mood disorder be inherited?
Genetics play a meaningful role, especially in bipolar disorder. Having a close relative with a mood disorder raises your risk, but it is not a guarantee. Life events and biology interact, so family history is one factor among several.
Related conditions
Therapists who specialize in mood disorders
Connect with a licensed therapist on Psychology.com who works with mood disorders.
- 180 Wellness
- A FAMILY MATTER
- Advance Thru Psychotherapy and Family Development
- Amy Keller
- Arlyn P. Stern LCSW
- Asktheinternettherapist.com
References
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): Depression
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): Any Mood Disorder statistics
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): Bipolar Disorder
- Mayo Clinic: Mood disorders
- World Health Organization (WHO): Depressive disorder (depression) fact sheet
- American Psychiatric Association (APA): What is depression?