This disorder was formerly known as ‘manic depression’, characterised by extreme emotional highs and extreme emotional lows. This is a very common mental disorder which is accompanied by a variety of physical, cognitive, and emotional symptoms.

Whilst it is normal to experience sadness or grief in times of traumatic life events, if this depression continues even when the events are over or if there is no apparent cause to the sadness, this may classify as clinical or major depression. Major depressive disorder is characterised by prolonged and persistent periods of extreme sadness. Types of mood disorders Major depressive disorder Whilst the rate for bipolar disorders is significantly lower, many researchers agree that many instances of manic moods (describing the emotional ‘highs’ of bipolar disorder) often go unnoticed or are deemed unproblematic, meaning that many people may go undiagnosed. Specifically, in the US for instance, 17% of the population is thought to suffer from depression over the course of their lifetime, with bipolar disorders affecting 1% of the general population. Mood disorders are found to affect about 20% of the general population at any given time. Conditions which affect mood can range from feeling extremely low to extremely high.

Mood disorders are a broad umbrella term used to include all different types of depressive and bipolar disorders. Whilst it is normal to experience periods of different moods, mood disorders are characterised by emotional extremes and difficulties in regulating mood.Īlthough moods can be temporary, when these moods persist to extremities and cause significant dysfunction, these can cause long-term disturbances. Moods are long-term emotional states, compared to emotions alone which can be fleeting and short-term. By Olivia Guy-Evans, published March 08, 2022

Different moods