Mood Disorders

Introduction to Mood Disorders In any given 1-year period, almost 10 percent of the population, or about 19 million American adults, suffer from a mood disorder, such as depression or bipolar disorder. Mood disorders often interfere with normal functioning and cause pain and suffering not only to those who have one of these conditions, but also to those who care about them. A serious mood disorder can severely impact family life as well as the life of the ill person. But much of this suffering is unnecessary. Common mood disorders include bipolar disorder, depression, and seasonal affective disorder (SAD). recommended reading These articles provide in-depth information and are written to help you make the best healthcare decisions for you and your loved ones. Patient Information • Bipolar Disorder • Bipolar Disorder in Children and Adolescents • Depression • Depression in Children and Adolescents • Feeling Depressed • Postpartum Depression • Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) decision points When dealing with an illness or health problem, you have to make decisions—when to call a doctor, which test to have, and what treatment to use. Decision Points are designed to help you learn about your choices and options, and to prepare you to work with your healthcare provider to make the best decision for your care. • Should I take medications to treat depression? • Should my child take medications to treat depression? action sets Action Sets are designed to help you take an active role in managing a health condition. Action Sets provide the tools and information you can use in the day-to-day management of your health conditions. • Managing a manic episode • Managing postpartum depression RELATED TOPICS DSM The DSM is a reference book used by psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and other health and mental health care providers to understand and diagnose a mental health problem. • Mood Disorders DSM Related Conditions • Anxiety Disorders • Family Life Cycle • Fitness • Grief and Grieving • Sleep Problems, Age 12 and Older • Stress Management • Weakness and Fatigue Related Issues • Disability • Smoking Cessation • Substance-Related Disorders • Suicide medication center medication assistance This section provides you with an alphabetical listing of more than 1,000 medications, including prescription drugs and those you can purchase over-the-counter. Just select your medications to learn more about them. You can choose your medication by brand name or generic name. • Medications A-Z If you are having difficulty paying for your medications you may qualify for financial assistance or free medications. Visit the Medication Assistance Center to learn about available medication and insurance programs. Don't let financial problems stop you from getting the treatment you need; there are resources and organizations that may be able to help you. additional resources This listing provides you with Internet sites that are sponsored by government agencies or are well-known and credible national organizations. • Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance • Depression and Related Affective Disorders Association • MEDLINEplus—Bipolar Disorder • MEDLINEplus—Depression • MEDLINEplus—Seasonal Affective Disorder • National Alliance for the Mentally Ill • National Institute of Mental Health • National Mental Health Association Surfing the Internet When looking at Internet sites, remember that the information can be sponsored by anyone. Take into account the sponsoring group or individual when gathering information or help. Be especially careful about giving out personal or financial information. Learn more about surfing the web: Guide to Healthy Web Surfing – a resource from the National Library of Medicine INFORMACIÓN EN ESPAÑOL • Depresión - [Depression] • Depresión por falta de luz solar - [Seasonal Affective Disorder] • La pena - [Grief] • Problemas con el alcohol y las drogas - [Alcohol and Drug Problems] • Problemas de salud mental - [Mental Health Problems] • Problemas para dormir - [Sleep Problems] • Suicidio - [Suicide] Last modified on: 30 June 2015