Mood Disorders

Mood disorders are a category of illnesses that describe a serious change in mood. Illness under mood disorders include: major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, persistent depressive disorder, cyclothymia, and seasonal affective disorder. This debilitating illness causes mental anguish and physical ailments. Mood disorders can increase a person's risk for heart disease, diabetes, and other diseases. 

Depression is thought to be caused by a combination of environmental, psychological, biological and genetic factors. The most enduring theories involve neurotransmitters, which are chemicals in the brain, causing an imbalance that leads to depression. Depression is a treatable illness marked by changes in mood, thought and behavior. Depression is a mood disorder that is manageable with proper treatment. Depression often accompanies bipolar disorder.

Mood drug options include different types of antidepressants. You may be prescribed serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. SNRIs include duloxetine (Cymbalta) and venlafaxine (Effexor). Another available antidepressant is bupropion (Wellbutrin), which manipulates dopamine. Some people with bipolar disorder require medications other than or in conjunction with mood-stabilizing medications.