Mood Disorders

Nearly one in five people in the United States develops a mood disorder during their lifetime. If you’re down in the dumps often or experience extreme mood swings, a mood disorder may be the underlying cause. At Cecilia Medical Center in Ellicott City, Maryland, their skilled team diagnoses and treats depression, bipolar disorder, and other mood disorders. Schedule an in-person or telehealth evaluation by calling the office or requesting a visit online today. 

What are mood disorders?

Mood disorders are mental health conditions affecting your emotional state. They can cause sadness, extreme happiness, severe mood swings, irritability, or anger. 

While changing emotions are a normal part of life, extreme mood changes may negatively affect your job, grades at school, relationships, or daily routine. Treatment with the Cecilia Medical Center experts can help stabilize your mood, enhancing your quality of life. 

What are examples of mood disorders?

The different types of mood disorders include:

Bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition causing intense mood shifts. You may be very sad one minute and overjoyed the next.

Depression

Depression is a mood disorder that causes ongoing or extreme feelings of sadness. Examples of depressive disorders include persistent depressive disorder, postpartum depression, and seasonal affective disorder (SAD). 

Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD)

DMDD can cause anger and irritability that are inappropriate or out of proportion to the situation. 

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)

PMDD is a mood disorder that often appears 7-10 days before menstruation in women and disappears several days after menstruation begins. PMDD might be associated with hormone changes and cause anger, irritability, anxiety, depression, or insomnia. 

What may increase the risk of mood disorders?

Mood disorder risk factors may include:

• Brain changes
• Family history of mood disorders
• Being female
• Trauma
• Abuse
• Stress
• Chronic medical condition
• Loss of a loved one

Cecilia Medical Center treats mood disorders in children aged 6 and older, teenagers, and adults. 

How are mood disorders diagnosed?

The Cecilia Medical Center team diagnoses mood disorders and other mental health conditions by completing a psychiatric evaluation using DSM-5 criteria. They assess your moods, emotions, lifestyle, thoughts, and behaviors. Your specialist customizes a mood disorder treatment plan that’s best suited for the type of mood disorder you may have.

How are mood disorders treated?

Your personalized mood disorder treatment plan may consist of:

• Healthy lifestyle counseling
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Psychodynamic therapy
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
• Other forms of therapy
• Medication management
• Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) referrals
• Light therapy

Your Cecilia Medical Center specialist follows up in person or virtually to ensure a stable mood and long-lasting success.

Schedule an in-person or telehealth evaluation at Cecilia Medical Center by calling the office or requesting one online today.