1. Mood Disorders
Emotional disturbances that disrupt physical, perceptual, social, and thought processes

2. Listen and think…
Describe the symptoms of the mood disturbance portrayed in each song. Similarities? Differences?
Radio Head Just
Macklemore Fallin
Pink Floyd Comfortably numb
In what ways does each song try to capture the complexities of a mood disorder?
What do you think each song is missing in its portrayal of mood disorders?

3. Key Questions
How are mood disorders different than normal, everyday changes in a person’s mood?

4. Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
Persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest in previous sources of pleasures
Diagnosis requires five symptoms
for more than two weeks
Avg duration of depressive episodes: 5 months

5. Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
Symptoms:
Hopelessness
Social withdrawal
Irritable
Sluggish/lack energy
Slowness of thought process
Negative self-image
Self-blame
Indecisiveness
Fatigue
Difficulty sleeping
Decreased sex drive
Decreased appetite

6. Prevalence of Major Depression
75-95% who experience one episode will experience again
Current prevalence: 6% of men; 9% of women
Lifetime prevalence = 17% and increasing
Dysthymic Disorder – “depression-lite”

7. Bipolar Disorder (Manic-Depression)
Experience of one or more manic episodes usually accompanied by periods of depression
Symptoms of Mania:
Inflated self-esteem
Elevated mood and energy
Loss of sleep
Hyperactivity
High optimism
Impulsivity
Shift in topics / Rapid speak
Impaired Judgment
Rapid cycling
Prevalence >1%
Equal in males and females
Normal onset age 20-29

8. What causes mood disorders?
Biological
Heredity can create predisposition
Biochemical events: Low levels of neurotransmitters (norepinephrine, and especially serotonin)
Neurological factors leading to less brain activity in left frontal lobe when depressed

9. What causes mood disorders?
Social-Cognitive Theory
Negative thinking = depression
Learned helplessness – Seligman (1974)
passive “giving up” behavior caused by repeated exposure to unavoidable events
negative set-backs attributed to personal flaws

11. Medications
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs): fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), citalopram (Celexa) and escitalopram (Lexapro).
Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs): duloxetine (Cymbalta), venlafaxine (Effexor XR) and desvenlafaxine (Pristiq).
Norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs). Bupropion (Wellbutrin) f

12. Other Treatments Psychotherapy
Talk therapy
Electroconvulsive therapy (shock therapy)

13. How Do We Help?
In your groups, come up with FIVE things (actual quotes) to say to a friend who might be struggling with depression
What to say….

14. How Do We Help?
The American College Health Association advises the following:
Do not try to “cheer up” the individual.
Do not criticize or shame, as feelings of depression cannot be helped.
Do not sympathize and claim that you feel the same way as he or she does.
Try not to get angry
Your primary objective is to let the person know you are concerned and willing to help.

15. Wrap-up: Explaining Mood Disorders
Many behavior and cognitive changes accompany mood disorders
Inactivity, motivation, negative expectations
Stress often precedes depression
With each new generation, depression is striking earlier and affecting more people
How can we break the cycle of depression?