Affective disorders are disturbances in mood, including depression, mania, bipolar disorder and dysthymia.
They are a set of psychiatric disorders that are also called mood disorders.
Symptoms vary by individual and can range from mild to severe.
Trained mental health professionals can diagnose affective disorder. This is done with a psychiatric evaluation.
Depression is a medical term that describes ongoing feelings of extreme sadness and hopelessness. It’s more than simply feeling down for a day or two.
A person who has depression may experience episodes that last for several days or even weeks.
Over 264 million people worldwide are estimated to be living with depression. It could take on multiple forms.
The most common type of depression is Major depressive disorder (MDD).
Previously called clinical depression, MDD includes long-term and persistent episodes of low mood, hopelessness, fatigue and other symptoms.
Persistent depressive disorder.
Also called dysthymia, this type of depression is characterized by less severe depression symptoms occurring for at least 2 years.
Major depressive disorder with seasonal patterns.
Commonly known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), this subtype of depression most often occurs during the winter months when there’s less daylight.
Some types of depression are peculiar to females due to hormonal changes at various stages of life.
Some of them are:
Perinatal depression which occurs during pregnancy.
Postpartum depression which occurs after a woman gives birth.
Some women also experience depression alongside other symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).
Men may also experience postpartum depression.
However, this isn’t associated with hormonal change like in women.
Depression may also develop as a secondary condition to an underlying medical issue like:
Chronic pain syndrome
DiabetesThyroid disease
Heart disease
Lupus
Rheumatoid arthritis
Multiple sclerosis
Parkinson’s disease
Bipolar disorder is a mental condition where a person experiences extreme shifts in mood. The mood changes may include episodes of depression along with periods of mania and hypomania.
The various types of bipolar disorder include:
Bipolar I – this is defined by episodes of mania that last for at least 7 days. The affected person may also experience depression episodes that last for 2 weeks or more, though depression may not occur in bipolar I.
Bipolar II – this type includes episodes of depression lasting at least 2 weeks along with milder mania, called hypomania. Cyclothymia – this is a mild form of bipolar disorder
But it includes periods of depression and hypomania. However, there’s no clear timeline for each episode. It’s also called cyclothymic disorder.
A person may be diagnosed if they’ve experienced cycling hypomania and depression for 2 years or more.
Symptoms of affective disorders vary, but some of them are:
Depression–Prolonged sadness
Irritability or anxiety
Lethargy and lack of energy
Lack of interest in usual activities
Significant changes in eating and sleeping habits
Difficulty concentrating
Feelings of guilt
Aches and pains that have no physical explanation
Suicidal thoughts
Unusual and chronic mood changes
Bipolar disorder –A person may experience the following during mania:
Needing less sleep
Exaggerated self-confidence
Irritability
Aggression
Self-importance
Impulsiveness
Recklessness
Delusions or hallucinations.
The causes of affective disorder aren’t fully understood
Neurotransmitters, or brain chemicals, play a significant role in affecting mood. When they’re imbalanced in some way, or don’t signal properly to the brain, an affective disorder can result. What exactly causes the imbalance isn’t fully known.
Life events can trigger affective disorders. A traumatic event or personal loss can cause depression or another affective disorder. Use of alcohol and drugs is also a risk factor.
There also seems to be a genetic factor. If a family member has one of these disorders, every other member of that family is at great risk of developing it as well. In other words, they’re hereditary. However, a person may not necessarily develop an affective disorder simply because their family member has one.
Source: Healthline: April 2, 2020.
