Mood Disorders

Types of Mood Disorders•Causes•Signs & Symptoms•Treatments•Medication Therapy•Psychotherapy•Living with Mood Disorder•家人和朋友如何提供帮助

Feelings of sadness and discouragement are normal emotional reactions to difficult situations. But when these feelings last more than a few weeks, or get so bad that they take control of a person's life, it could be a sign of a mood disorder.
在患有情绪障碍的患者中，很大一部分可以得到有效的治疗，而受到治疗的人会意识到一些好处。但是，许多人没有治疗，主要是因为他们没有识别出疾病或注意到模式，将症状归咎于流感，压力，睡眠不足或饮食不佳。如果未经治疗，抑郁症最终可能导致自杀。如果人们尽早识别出症状和模式并寻求治疗，他们可以避免很多不必要的痛苦。

Types of Mood Disorders

情绪障碍分为两个基本类别:大学polar and bipolar disorder. Unipolar disorder, known as depression, is one of the most common mood disorders and can range from mild to life-threatening. It can appear at any age, and one in five women and one in 10 men will experience one of the following forms of depression sometime in their lives.
临床抑郁是指足够严重的疾病，需要专业治疗。据说在单个时期遭受严重抑郁症的人患有临床抑郁症。重度抑郁症的特征是更严重或夸张的症状。

当一个人在频繁或恒定的基础上表现出抑郁症状时，该人可能患有心律失常。当一个重大的抑郁发作袭击患有心律失常的人时，这就是双重抑郁症。

最近确定的抑郁症形式 - 季节性情感障碍（SAD）是由季节性变化触发的，例如天气模式或可用的日光量。

Some forms of mood disorders are limited to women. Post-partum depression (PPD) may occur in some women after giving birth. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) causes mood swings during monthly menstrual cycles. Mood disorders may also occur in women during menopause. In any of these cases, physicians believe that the severe depressions are a sign that another affective disorder already exists.

双相情感障碍，称为躁狂抑郁症，是情绪障碍中最鲜明和最引人注目的。这不仅仅是一个简单的情绪摆动。躁狂抑郁症患者经历了从一个情绪极端或“极点”向另一个情绪极端的突然转变，通常在极端之间的正常行为时期。

The manic phase is marked by feelings of utter happiness and high energy. Feelings of despair and hopelessness are common in the depressive phase. It is estimated that one in 100 people suffer from manic-depression. It generally strikes before 35 years of age. The cycles between the low of depression and the high of mania varies from person to person, as do the other symptoms of manic-depression.

Causes

尽管研究导致beplay苹果手机能用吗了对情绪障碍的重大理解，但科学家尚未发现确切的触发机制。很可能没有单一原因。但是，最近的研究将情绪障碍与人体化学的遗传变化联系起来。这些变化通常涉及神经递质（允许脑细胞传达的化学物质），尤其是5-羟色胺和去甲肾上腺素的失衡。双极患者通常也以某种方式对某些激素做出反应，表明这些激素的产生和释放是不规则的。

Close relatives of people with mood disorders are sometimes more likely to develop either depression or manic-depression than the general population. Other factors, such as negative family relationships, serious illness, major loss or change, and substance abuse, can cause or complicate depression. Even gender and sensitivity to seasonal changes can play a role in mood disorders.

Signs and Symptoms

People who suffer from mood disorders will likely display one or more of the following behaviors:

Feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, helplessness, total indifference and/or extreme guilt
Prolonged sadness; unexplained crying spells
跳跃或烦躁；退出以前愉快的活动或人际关系
Inability to concentrate or remember details
Loss of appetite or great increase in appetite; constant fatigue, insomnia
无法解释的身体疾病
死亡或自杀企图的想法

In addition to depressive symptoms, people who suffer from manic-depressive disorder will likely display one or more of the following behaviors during the manic phase:

Excessively euphoric or expansive mood
与情况不一致的烦躁和愤怒
Hyperactivity
宏伟的想法或妄想；极端乐观
Lack of good judgment
Flights of ideas or racing thoughts; talking in a rush and changing from topic to topic; disorganized thoughts
Decreased need for sleep
突然的愤怒，烦躁或偏执狂

Treatments

情绪障碍是所有精神疾病中最可行的。几乎所有接受治疗的人都会受益。在治疗开始之前，患者应寻求全面的医学评估，以排除任何可能模仿情绪障碍的精神或身体障碍。像许多其他精神疾病一样，情绪障碍通常接受药物治疗，心理治疗或两者的结合。病人通常可以在短短几周内看到症状的缓解。

Medication Therapy

抗抑郁药用于纠正某些神经递质的失衡。五组药物最常用于抑郁症：三环抗抑郁药；单胺氧化酶抑制剂（MAOI）；选择性5-羟色胺再摄取抑制剂（SSRIS）；以及5-羟色胺和去甲肾上腺素再摄取抑制剂（SNRIS）；和其他非典型抗抑郁药。

抗抑郁药物de的有效性pends on a person's overall health, weight and metabolism, and other unique physical traits, and they are usually prescribed to fit the individual. If one medication doesn't work, the physician may try another or a combination of medications to determine the most effective regimen. Generally, antidepressants become fully effective within three to six weeks.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy involves the verbal interaction between trained professionals and patients. The therapist uses techniques to help the patient gain personal insight that will allow him or her to positively change thoughts, feelings or behaviors.

事实证明，这种“谈话治疗”的几种形式有助于治疗情绪障碍。其中包括：人际心理治疗，认知行为疗法，心理分析和心理动力学心理治疗。

Other forms of therapy are electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and light therapy. While its use has decreased as more advanced medications have been developed, ECT remains very effective for treating patients who cannot tolerate or take medications due to medical conditions, old age, malnutrition, or those who do not respond to antidepressant medications. Light therapy is used primarily for those who suffer from seasonal affective disorder. Patients using this treatment spend regular therapeutic sessions bathed in light from a full-spectrum light source.

Living with Mood Disorder

像许多其他精神疾病一样，如果未经治疗，情绪障碍可能会破坏性。沮丧会使人际关系变得复杂，尤其是与亲密的家人和朋友。受害者的就业和财务状况也有很大的风险。他们甚至可以自杀。情绪障碍会使一个人感到疲倦，毫无价值，无助和绝望。重要的是要意识到这些感觉是抑郁症的结果，并且不能准确反映一个人的真实情况。在治疗生效之前，患有严重抑郁症的人应：

limit commitments;
设定现实的目标和期望；
与其他人共度时光；
参加愉快的活动；
在做出重要决定之前，请寻求亲密朋友或家人的建议；
realize they will not "snap out" of their depression;
积极思考并拒绝消极的想法。

How Family and Friends Can Help

The most important thing family and friends can do for the depressed person is to help him or her get treatment. This may involve encouraging the patient to stay with the treatment, going with the patient to the doctor, or even monitoring whether the patient is taking medication.

Another important way to help is to offer emotional support - understanding, patience, affection and encouragement. Always listen to the depressed person. Do not ignore any remarks about suicide; report them to the doctor immediately.