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
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
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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
Other
Resources:
Find
a St. John's Mercy Physician
Women's
Services at St. John's Mercy
Women's
Health Information
St.
John's Mercy Classes and Programs
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
-
having low self-esteem
-
feeling inadequate
-
excessive guilt
-
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
-
decreased energy
-
difficulty concentrating
-
a decrease in the ability
to make decisions
-
suicidal thoughts or
attempts
-
frequent physical complaints
such as headache, stomach ache, fatigue
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.
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