Bipolar Disorder:
A mood disorder involving periods of incapacitating depression alternating with manic episodes of extreme excitement. Formerly called manic depression.

Manic episode:
A sudden, rapidly escalating emotional state characterized by extreme euphoria, excitement, physical energy, and rapid thoughts and speech.

Major Depression:
A mood disorder characterized by extreme and persistent feelings of despondency, worthlessness, and hopelessness, causing impaired emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and physical functioning.
 

Emotional symptoms:

• Feelings of overwhelming sadness
• Feelings of guilt
• Feelings of loneliness, even when with friends and family


Behavioral symptoms:
 

• Sad facial expression
• Crying
• Awkward, slow movements
• Less eye contact


Cognitive (thinking) symptoms:
 

• Memory problems
• Problems concentrating
• Problems with routine tasks such as studying or making dinner
• Feelings of low self-esteem


Physical symptoms:
 

• Low mental and physical energy
• Physical aches and pains
• Sometimes anxiety, restlessness
• Eating problems (too much or too little)
• Loss of sex drive

 

Causes of Mood Disorders

1. Genetics. Depression and bipolar disorder are often inherited from parents.

• Immediate relatives (parents, children, siblings) of a depressed person are 3 times more likely to be depressed.
• Twins: if one twin is depressed, there is a 70% chance the other twin will be, even if they were raised apart.

 

2. Biology:
 

Low levels of neurotransmitters needed for brain activity cause depressed mood and slow activity.

• Serotonin (mood)
• Norepinephrine (energy)
• Antidepressants (Prozac and Zoloft) increase the activity of Serotonin and Norepinephrine in the brain.
Fluctuating levels of neurotransmitters needed for brain activity are associated with bipolar disorder.

• Glutamate: neurotransmitter affecting levels of brain activity. It tends to go up and down more with people with bipolar disorder.
• Lithium keeps levels of glutamate at the same levels, so bipolar people don't become manic or depressed.

Stressful Life Events are a common cause of depression.

• Serious illness
• Loss of loved one
• Loss of job

 

Some Links:
A useful link for people interested in investigating depression:
http://my.webmd.com/content/tools/1/quiz_depression.htm

Here's a link to a National Institutes of Health page on bipolar disorder:
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/healthinformation/bipolarmenu.cfm