ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY
WEEK 6 – CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 7: MOOD DISORDERS AND SUICIDE
Feelings of depression (and joy) are universal,
which makes it all the more difficult to understand
disorders of mood—disorders that can be so
incapacitating that violent suicide may seem by
far a better option than living.
An Overview of Depression and Mania
• Problems have been grouped under the
heading mood disorders because they
are characterized by gross deviations in
mood.
• MAJOR DEPRESSIVE EPISODE
- most commonly diagnosed and
most severe depression
FIRST FUNDAMENTAL STATE IN
MOOD DISORDERS
DSM-5 criteria describe it as :
o extremely depressed
mood state that lasts at
least 2 weeks and includes
cognitive symptoms (such
as feelings of
worthlessness and
indecisiveness) and
o disturbed physical
functions (such as altered
sleeping patterns,
significant changes in
appetite and weight, or a
notable loss of energy) to
the point that even the
slightest activity or
movement requires an
overwhelming effort.
- Typically accompanied by a
general loss of interest in
things and an inability to
experience any pleasure from
life, including interactions with
family or friends or
accomplishments at work or at
school.
- Most central indicators of a full
major depressive episode are
the physical changes (some-
times called somatic or
vegetative symptoms), along
with the behavioral and
emotional “shutdown,” as
reflected by low behavioral
activation
- people with depression show
dysfunctional reward
processing and anhedonia
(loss of energy and inability to
engage in pleasurable
activities or have any “fun”)
- This anhedonia reflects that
these episodes represent a
state of low positive affect and
not just high negative affect
- Duration:
o Major depressive
episode, if untreated,
is approximately 4 to
9 months
SECOND FUNDAMENTAL STATE
IN MOOD DISORDERS
o abnormally
exaggerated elation,
joy, or euphoria
o Mania
individuals find
extreme pleasure in
every activity
o DSM-5 highlights this
feature by adding
“persistently
increased goal-
directed activity or
energy” to the “ A ”
criteria
o Flight of Ideas
Speech is typically
rapid and may
become incoherent,
because the
individual is
attempting to express
so many exciting
ideas at once
o DSM-5 criteria for a
manic episode require
a duration of only 1
week, less if the
episode is severe
enough to require
hospitalization — if
the individual was
engaging in a self-
destructive buying
spree
o Irritability is often
part of a manic
episode, usually near
the end
o Duration:
The duration of an
untreated manic
