All forms of depression and bipolar disorders are collectively referred to as mood disorders by medical practitioners.
Individuals
of all ages might experience mood disorders. The symptoms that adults
experience are not necessarily the same in kids and teenagers. Because they
aren't always able to verbalize their emotions, children with mood disorders
are more difficult to identify.
Mood Disorder | Treatment, Diagnosis & Risk factor
ü Treatment:
Following are the ways to treat Mood Disorder:
Ø Medications:
The majority
of mood-stabilizing drugs increase levels of serotonin or norepinephrine.
Antidepressants are frequently taken for depressive disorders to raise these
neurotransmitter levels.
Antidepressants
frequently alter energy levels, enhance sleep, and have been shown to be
successful in elevating mood. Antidepressants of all kinds are shown to perform
equally well, but depending on the patient, some may be more successful than
others.
If
antidepressants are recommended, it's crucial to follow the directions and keep
taking them even after you start to feel better. After taking the drug for 4-6
weeks, most people report experiencing a considerable improvement.
Lithium, a
sort of mood stabiliser, is frequently initially recommended to people with
bipolar disorder who experience mania. By lowering aberrant brain activity,
mood stabilisers are drugs that are used to help control the mood fluctuations
associated with bipolar disorder.
In most
cases, they aid in shielding a person from the tremendous highs of a manic
episode and the terrible lows of a depressed episode. In addition to treating
psychosis, antipsychotics, once known as tranquillizers, can also be used to
treat bipolar disorder and depression.
They can be
particularly helpful for bipolar patients who have manic or mixed episodes. If
symptoms of depression cannot be controlled by an antidepressant alone, they
may also occasionally be used to treat the condition.
Mood Disorder | Treatment, Diagnosis & Risk factor
Ø Psychotherapy:
Healthcare
professionals frequently advise a combination of medication and psychotherapy
for more successful treatment, despite the fact that drugs on their own can
help with some of the symptoms of mood disorders.
Cognitive
behavioural therapy is a common form of psychotherapy that has worked well for
many people (CBT). With the guidance of a therapist, a patient engages in
cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to challenge harmful attitudes and
behaviours and replace them with constructive ones.
This may
entail questioning some of the detrimental thought patterns and learning to
spot them when they emerge in normal circumstances. For people with depression,
this therapy has proven to be extremely useful.
Mood Disorder | Treatment, Diagnosis & Risk factor
Ø Therapies for
brain stimulation:
When
medication or psychotherapy has failed to help a patient with severe
depression or bipolar illness, electroconvulsive treatment, a type of brain
stimulation therapy, has been employed.
Electrodes
affixed to the scalp or forehead conduct an electric current across the brain
during this treatment. The average number of sessions for the treatment is 2 or
3 per week, with 6 to 12 sessions being needed for maximum success.
Another form
of treatment is known as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (RTMS),
which targets particular brain nerve cells with brief electromagnetic pulses
using non-invasive magnetic coils.
The
treatment has been shown to be effective in easing symptoms of serious
depression in patients who do not react to at least one antidepressant
medication.
Ø Lifestyle:
Aside from
taking drugs and receiving therapeutic treatments for mood disorders, people
can alter their lifestyles to assist manage their symptoms or prevent the
development of mood disorders altogether. Some of these ways of life adjustments
include:
• Keeping a
regular sleep pattern and making sure you receive enough rest.
• In some
cases, lowering stress levels at work or home.
• Keeping a
mood journal to record signs of impending manic or depressed episodes.
• Steering
clear of alcohol and illegal drugs.
• Consuming
a nutritious, well-balanced diet.
• Regular
physical activity, especially aerobic activity.
• Practicing
yoga, mindfulness, meditation, or other types of relaxation.
Diagnosis:
A mental
health specialist, such as a psychiatrist, should appropriately assess and treat
mood disorders. You should get help right away if any of your symptoms are
negatively affecting your life, especially if you are thinking about taking
your own life.
In order to
rule out any physical causes for your symptoms, a doctor will undertake a physical
examination, lab testing, and a psychiatric evaluation.
What Are the Risk Factors for Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar
disorder typically first manifests in a person during late adolescence or early
adulthood. Rarely, it may occur while the child is younger. A family history of
bipolar disorder may exist.
It is
equally likely to affect males and women. Having four or more distinct mood
episodes in a year is known as "rapid cycling," and it is slightly
more common in women than in males. In addition, bipolar women tend to
experience more depressive episodes than bipolar males.
Women
typically develop the bipolar disorder later in life, and they are more likely to
have bipolar disorder II and have seasonal mood swings.
Women are
also more likely to experience dual medical and mental health problems. Thyroid
disease, migraines, and anxiety problems are a few examples of these medical
conditions.
The
following factors increase your risk of having bipolar disorder:
• A family
member suffering from bipolar disorder.
•
Experiencing a period of extreme stress or trauma
• Abuse of
drugs or alcohol
• Specific
medical conditions
When manic
or sad, many people with the disease abuse alcohol or other substances.
Seasonal depression, concurrent anxiety disorders, posttraumatic stress
disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder are more prevalent in people with
bipolar disorder.
Mood Disorder | Treatment, Diagnosis & Risk factor Mood Disorder | Treatment, Diagnosis & Risk factor
