Life's
Challenges May Trigger Mood Disorder
Many of life's experiences
that bring women great joy and fulfillment, such as close
relationships, a promotion, having a baby, or buying a home,
also can cause stress on her mental health, say experts at the
Office on Women's Health, US Department
of Health and Human Services.
And, sometimes, life's
problems can trigger depression. Being fired from a job, getting
divorced, losing a loved one, death in the family, and financial
trouble, to name a few, all can be difficult and coping with
the pressure may be troublesome.
These life events
and stress can bring on feelings of sadness or depression or
make a mood disorder harder to manage.
Changes in physical
health also affect mental health, states the Office
on Women's Health. Changes in the body's hormone levels
from pregnancy and childbirth, or from menopause, can cause
depression, anxiety, irritability, and tearfulness.
Depression also comes
along with many illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, stroke,
HIV, or autoimmune diseases.
Women
More Often Depressed Than Men
Women suffer twice
as often as men from most forms of depression and anxiety
disorders, and nine times as often from eating disorders,
according to government experts. The chance for depression
in females in the general population is nearly twice as high
(12 percent) as it is for males (6.6 percent).
Mood disorders is
a category of mental health problems that includes all types
of depression and bipolar disorder. Mood disorders are sometimes
called affective disorders.
What causes mood disorders
is not well known. There are chemicals in the brain, called
endorphins, that are responsible for positive moods. Other chemicals
in the brain, called neurotransmitters, regulate endorphins.
Most likely, depression
(and other mood disorders) is caused by a chemical imbalance
in the brain. Life events (such as unwanted changes in life)
may also contribute to a depressed mood.
Experts say affective
disorders often affect more than one family member, and that
many factors are involved.
The factors are usually
both genetic and environmental, where a combination of genes
from both parents, in addition to unknown environmental factors,
produce the trait or condition.
Often one gender (either
males or females) is affected more frequently than the other
in multifactorial traits. There appears to be a different threshold
of expression, which means that one gender is more likely to
show the problem over the other gender.
Anyone can feel sad
or depressed at times. However, mood disorders are more intense
and difficult to manage than normal feelings of sadness. Children,
adolescents, or adults who have a parent with a mood disorder
have a greater chance of also having a mood disorder.
However, life events
and stress can expose or exaggerate feelings of sadness or depression,
making the feelings more difficult to manage.
Once a person in the
family has this diagnosis, the chance for their siblings or
children to have the same diagnosis is increased. In addition,
relatives of persons with depression are also at increased risk
for bipolar disorder (manic depression).
The chance for manic
depression (or bipolar disorder) in males and females in the
general population is about 1 percent. Once a person in the
family has this diagnosis, the chance for their siblings or
children to have the same diagnosis is increased. In addition,
relatives of persons with manic depression are also at increased
risk for depression.
Types
of Mood Disorders
The following are
the most common types of mood disorders:
major depression
A two-week period or longer of a depressed or
irritable mood or a noticeable decrease in interest or pleasure
in usual activities, along with other signs of a mood disorder.
dysthymia
(dysthymic disorder)
A chronic, low-grade, depressed or irritable mood for at
least one year.
manic depression
(bipolar disorder)
At least one episode of a depressed or irritable mood
and at least one period of a manic (persistently elevated) mood.
mood disorder
due to a general medical condition
Many medical illnesses (including cancer, injuries, infections,
and chronic medical illnesses) can trigger symptoms of depression.
substance-induced
mood disorder
Symptoms of depression that are due to the effects
of medication, drug abuse, exposure to toxins, or other forms
of treatment.
Depending upon age
and the type of mood disorder present, a person may exhibit
different symptoms of depression.
Always consult your
physician for more information.
Online
Resources
(Our Organization
is not responsible for the content of Internet sites.)
AMA
Patient Page on Depression
American
Academy of Family Physicians
American
Psychiatric Association
Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
HealthierUS.Gov
National
Institute of Mental Health
National
Institutes of Health (NIH)
National
Library of Medicine
National
Mental Health Association
National
Women's Health Information Center
Office
of Research on Women's Health |
October 2004
Life's
Challenges May Trigger Mood Disorder
Women
More Often Depressed Than Men
Types
of Mood Disorders
Symptoms
of Mood Disorders
Seeking
Help
Online
Resources
Symptoms
of Mood Disorders
The following are
the most common symptoms of a mood disorder, however, each individual
may experience symptoms differently:
-
persistent feelings of sadness
-
feeling hopeless or helpless
-
-
-
-
feelings of wanting to die
-
loss of interest in usual
activities or activities once enjoyed
-
difficulty with relationships
-
sleep disturbances such
as insomnia, hypersomnia
-
changes in appetite or weight
-
-
-
a decrease in the ability
to make decisions
-
suicidal thoughts or attempts
-
frequent physical complaints
such as headache, stomach ache, fatigue
-
irritability, hostility,
aggression
In mood disorders,
these feelings appear more intense than what a person may normally
feel from time to time.
It is also of concern
if these feelings continue over a period of time, or interfere
with an individual's interest in family, friends, community,
or work.
Any person who expresses
thoughts of suicide should be evaluated immediately.
The symptoms of mood
disorders may resemble other conditions or psychiatric problems.
Always consult your physician for a diagnosis.
Seeking
Help
To learn more about
mood disorders, contact your local mental healthcare provider
or make an appointment for screening - Oct. 14 is National
Depression Screening Day.
Mood disorders are
a real medical disorder. A psychiatrist or other mental health
professional usually diagnoses mood disorders following a comprehensive
psychiatric evaluation.
Mood disorders can
often be effectively treated. Treatment should always be based
on a comprehensive evaluation.
According to the National
Institute of Mental Health, the first step to getting
appropriate treatment for depression is a physical examination
by a physician.
Certain medications
as well as some medical conditions such as a viral infection
can cause the same symptoms as depression, and the physician
should rule out these possibilities through examination, interview,
and lab tests.
If a physical cause
for the depression is ruled out, a psychological evaluation
should be done, by the physician or by referral to a psychiatrist
or psychologist.
A good diagnostic
evaluation will include a complete history of symptoms, such
as when they started, how long they have lasted, how severe
they are, whether the patient had them before and, if so, whether
the symptoms were treated and what treatment was given.
The physician
should ask about alcohol and drug use, and if the patient has
thoughts about death or suicide. Further, a history should include
questions about whether other family members have had a depressive
illness and, if treated, what treatments they may have received
and which were effective.
Last, a diagnostic
evaluation should include a mental status examination to determine
if speech or thought patterns or memory have been affected,
as sometimes happens in the case of a depressive or manic-depressive
illness.
Always consult your
physician for more information. |
