PSYC 235 Chapter 7: Mood Disorders Readings

• School: Queen's University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 235
• Professor: Christopher Bowie

Document Summary

Mood disorder: characterized by large deviations in mood. Major depressive disorder: an extremely depressed mood state that lasts at least two week and includes cognitive symptoms and disturbed physical functions. It is defined by the absence of hypomanic or manic symptoms prior to the depressive episode. Criteria: five (or more) of the following symptoms have been present during the same. Recurrent (clycothymia): if two or more major depressive episodes occurred and were separated by at least two month during which the individual was not depressed. Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia): differs in its course from major depressive disorder as it lasts for at least 2 years. Double depression: patients who suffer from major depressive episodes and persistent depressive disorder. Clinicians use mild, moderate and severe to describe depression. Onset: the mean age of onset of major depressive disorder is 25, and this number seems to be decreasing. Integrated grief: acute grief that evolves into the acknowledgement of the finality of death.