Major Affective Disorders

Affective disorders are psychiatricillnesses.  Major depressive disorder, bipolar disorders, and anxietydisorders are the most common affective disorders. The effects of thesedisorder are   difficulties in interpersonal relationships and the risk forsubstance abuse are major concerns. Affective disorders can result in symptomsranging from the mild and inconvenient to the severe and life-threatening.

Major depressive disorder, alsoknown as unipolar depression disorder, is a common, severe, andsometimes life-threatening psychiatric illness. It causes prolongedperiods of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion, with a considerable riskof self-destructive behavior and suicide. Major studies haveidentified Major depressive disorder is one of the leading causes of  disability and premature death.

Bipolar affective disorders are  various types and exhibit different symptoms bipolarI and bipolar  II disorder, cyclothymicdisorder, and hypomania disorder. Other names for bipolar affective diseaseinclude manic-depressive disorder, cyclothymia, manic-depressive illnessand bipolar disorder. People with bipolar disorder experience periods of manicepisodes alternating with periods of deep depression. Bipolar disorders arechronic and recurrent affective diseases that may have degrees of severity, thatworsen with time if not treated. Severe crises can lead to suicidal attemptsduring depressive episodes  or to physical violence against oneself orothers during manic episodes. In many patients, however, episodes are mild andinfrequent. Mixed states may also occur with elements of mania anddepression simultaneously present. Some people with bipolar disorders showa rapid cycling between manic and depressive states.

The symptoms of affectivedisorders or mood disorders is shown in children and adolescents, as well asadults. However, children and adolescents do not necessarily experience orexhibit the same symptoms as adults. It is more difficult to diagnose mooddisorders in children, especially because children are not always able toexpress how they feel. At any age, mood disorders put individuals at risk forother conditions at any age these symptoms may persist long after the initialepisodes of depression are resolved.

What causes mood disorders is notwell known. There are chemicals in the brain that are responsible for positivemoods. Most likely, depression and other mood disorders are caused by achemical imbalance in the brain. Life events may also contribute to a depressedmood.

Affective disorders sometimes runin families and are considered to be inherited. The factors that produce thetrait or condition are usually both genetic and environmental, involving acombination of genes from both parents.

Anyone can feel sad or depressedat times. However, mood disorders are more intense and difficult to manage thannormal feelings of sadness. Children, adolescents, or adults who have a parentwith a mood disorder have a greater chance of also having a mood disorder. Lifeevents and stress can trigger feelings of sadness or depression, making thefeelings more difficult. These life events and stress can bring on feelings ofsadness or depression or make a mood disorder harder.