We all experience changes in mood from time-to-time - it’s a normal part of life. But, when mood changes are intense, persistent, or frequent, they can impact our ability to function.

Mood disorders, also known as affective disorders, is a clinical term for a category of mental health conditions in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the diagnostic manual published by the American Psychiatric Association that therapists use for identification. The mood disorder category includes the two subcategories of depressive and bipolar conditions, where the main area affected is a person’s emotional state.

If mood problems are impacting your daily life, it’s important to seek help from a qualified mental health professional for a psychiatric evaluation. In most cases, mood disorders can be successfully managed with therapy and medication.

Mood Disorders Overview - Types

There are two main categories to diagnose mood disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5): bipolar disorder (also called manic depression) and depressiove disorders. 

Bipolar disorders: The category of bipolar disorders is characterized by mood swings from periods of depression to hypomanic or manic episodes varying in length and intensity. This includes the following conditions:

• Bipolar I disorder: This involves dramatic mood shifts from one extreme to the other: between episodes of major depression and mania. During mania, people have lots of energy and a very high mood -- which could be experienced as happiness or irritability.
• Bipolar II disorder: This disorder is characterized by fluctuations in moods, between episodes of major depression and hypomania. Hypomania also involves periods of high mood and energy, but of a lesser severity than mania.
• Cyclothymic disorder: Often thought of as a milder form of bipolar disorder, the depressive and hypomanic symptoms of cyclothymic disorder do not meet the criteria for the above diagnoses.

Depressive disorders: The most common mood disorders tend to be chronic major depressive disorder and dysthymic disorder, although several different diagnoses fall under the depressive disorders category, including:

• Major depressive disorder: This is the most common of the mood disorders, characterized by episodes of low mood that impact daily functioning. As well as feeling sad, people also experience a combination of additional symptoms, such as low energy or appetite, poor sleep, feelings of worthlessness, or a loss of interest or pleasure. These symptoms are present for at least two weeks and affect how people think and behave.
• Persistent depressive disorder (also called dysthymic disorder): This is a form of chronic clinical depression. Many of the same depressive symptoms impact daily functioning in persistent depressive disorder, but on a continuous basis, for at least two years.
• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD):  in PMDD symptoms of depression are experienced in connection with the menstrual cycle.

Depression and bipolar disorder are the main classifications of mood disorders, although there are many related disorders. These mental disorders include postpartum depression, seasonal affective disorder, and substance-induced mood disorder. Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder, which is among new mood disorders diagnosed in children, is characterized by a severe form of irritable mood and anger. Psychotic disorders are issues with brain function and may experience mood disorder symptoms but are not diagnosed affective disorders.

Anxiety disorders, like panic disorder or generalized anxiety disorder, can coexist with common mood disorders and share many of the same depression symptoms (see below), although they may appear similar, people with anxiety disorders do not generally develop mood disorders.