A mood disorder primarily affects a person’s emotional state. A mood disorder is characterized by the elevation or lowering of a person's mood, such as depression or bipolar disorder which significantly impacts an individual's functioning.
Depression is characterized by persistently depressed mood or loss of interest in activities, changes in sleep, appetite, energy level, concentration, daily behavior, or self-esteem. Depression can also be associated with thoughts of suicide. Possible causes include a combination of biological and environmental sources of distress. Traumatic experiences also increase risk of depressive symptoms. There are several different types of depression.
Bipolar Disorder is characterized by mood swings ranging from depressive episodes to manic episodes. A combination of genetics, environment, and altered brain structure and chemistry may play a role in the development of symptoms.
An individual in a manic episode may experience symptoms such as high energy, reduced need for sleep, increased risk taking behaviors as well as feelings of grandiosity. They may even experience psychotic symptoms, losing touch with reality. Depressive episodes may include symptoms such as low energy, low motivation, and loss of interest in daily activities. Mood episodes can last days to months at a time and may also be associated with suicidal thoughts and self harm. Symptoms range in severity on the bipolar spectrum, which includes Bipolar I, Bipolar II, Cyclothymia and Unspecified Bipolar Disorder.
Typically, treatment entails a combination of pharmacology and psychotherapy. Medication management may consist of at least one mood-stabilizing drug and/or atypical antipsychotic. Therapeutically, our clinicians offer individual, family, and group therapies.
Here at Philadelphia Integrative Psychiatry we tend to recommend non-traditional treatment options, such as nutrition counseling and or use of supplements. Additionally, we soon will be offering Esketamine, a derivative of ketamine that is branded as Spravato, which is now FDA approved. Esketamine can help treatment resistant depression as well as TMS, or Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, which is one of the strongest treatments for depression in those who have tried multiple medications without benefit.
