Mood Disorders

Everybody experiences episodes of anxiety and depression as normal reactions to life stressors. When anxiety or depression becomes the dominant emotion and affects the quality of life, a medical evaluation may be necessary to determine if one could benefit from treatment. There are a variety of medications available for those that suffer from depression. Support groups for depression and anxiety are often helpful when the depression does not reach the point of clinical depression, such as during episodes of grieving. Sometimes, however, mood disorders arise without a significant trigger, may be genetic in origin, or the individual may have a predisposition to these conditions. Research studies that test new medications are often available to people seeking intervention for mood disorders.

Many people are treated with antidepressants and are not sure if the doctor is treating anxiety or depression. This is because many medications are effective in both conditions. Also, when depressions levels go up, anxiety levels go up as well. Depression is a disorder that tends to be recurrent. Many people with a tendency toward depression have several episodes over their lifetime. Usually there are periods between the depressive episodes when the mood returns to normal. The predominate symptom in major depressive disorder is low or sad mood, or a decreased ability to enjoy previously enjoyable activities. In anxiety disorders worries and irritability, coupled with inability to relax, and feeling stressed or tense, are the predominant symptoms. Both conditions result in difficulty sleeping, muscle aches and pains, including stomach upset, headaches and muscle tension. Appetite may be increased or decreased. Desire for sex may also be reduced. Depression and anxiety can be very physical disorders.

Other medical conditions may cause anxiety and depression. Conditions like multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, and chronic pain change neurotransmitters in the brain to cause depression. Medical treatment for depression can be beneficial when a medical condition is a contributor to clinical depression. Antidepressants have other effects besides the elevation of mood and may have beneficial effects on pain. Clinical trials of antidepressants in pain syndromes have found that certain antidepressants are better than others in alleviating pain.

Adult attention deficit disorder (known as ADD or ADHD) is becoming more widely diagnosed as parents bring in children for evaluation and realize that they are suffering from the same symptoms. While many symptoms of ADHD overlap with other diagnoses, such as anxiety or bipolar disorder, an evaluation by a physician who specializes in the treatment of mood disorders can clarify the clinical picture. As ADD or ADHD does not begin in adulthood, adults concerned about possible ADD or ADHD must review their childhood for symptoms of attention deficit or hyperactivity. Some people may have the attention deficit without signs of hyperactivity; others may have both components of the condition. As ADD/ADHD runs in families and may accompany other mental health disorders, it is important to undergo a full psychiatric evaluation. New medications are being tested in clinical research studies that may reduce the symptoms of poor attention, concentration, and hyperactivity.

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