What are Mood Disorders?

A mood disorder is any condition that compromises an individual’s mood regulation or connection to reality. In some cases, patients may experience uncontrollable mood swings, depression, or anxiety that leaves them unable to function normally.

Around 20 million adults in the United States have been diagnosed with a mood disorder, though some types, like bipolar disorder, are less common than others.

The numbers demonstrate a population of people in significant need. The scientific community continues to provide an emphasized focus on these conditions. As a result, there are a variety of new and informed treatment options that can help control disruptive symptoms. For some patients with treatment-resistant conditions, options like Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation or ketamine infusions may be helpful in providing relief.

Common Mood Disorders

The term “mood disorder” is used as an umbrella for a number of specific conditions that affect the mood of an individual.

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a mental condition where an individual’s mood unpredictably alternates back and forth between mania and depression.

For many people diagnosed with bipolar disorder, functioning in normal circumstances can be difficult. This makes treating their condition all the more important in order to allow the individual to experience a normal social and work life.

Depression

Depression is a common mental health condition in which an individual experiences a persistent depressed mood. They may suddenly withdraw from activities they once enjoyed or notice that they aren’t feeling anything–even in happy circumstances.

This condition is most frequently diagnosed in women, though men often experience depression but do not pursue treatment. Since depression is a condition that can affect an individual’s quality of life, it is key for them to seek treatment as soon as possible.

To learn more about depression, click here.

Anxiety Disorder

Anxiety disorder is a common condition where an individual’s reaction to stress or nervousness is heightened or disproportionate, causing disruption of functioning. People with anxiety disorder often experience destabilizing feelings of worry and fear as a result of certain thoughts, triggers, or situations.

Though feelings of anxiousness are normal, people with anxiety disorders may be left unable to function as a result of their condition.

To learn more about anxiety disorders, click here.

Treatments for Mood Disorders

Since so many people experience mood disorders, there is a wide variety of treatments available. However, it may take some trial-and-error for a patient to find the ideal option, or combination of options, that works best for them and their treatment plan.

Therapy

More often than not, therapy is the first line of treatment offered by medical and mental health practitioners. Therapy is often successful in teaching patients how to alter their behaviors and thought patterns in order to manage their condition. Similarly, therapy can teach patients how to improve their interpersonal skills and reactions to environmental factors that are out of their control.

Medications

Many patients are prescribed medications to treat and manage the symptoms of their mood disorder. There are hundreds of medications that an experienced psychiatrist can offer alone or in combination to help patients find relief.

Medications for mood disorders are helpful to stabilize patients who experience shifts in their moods or persistent feelings of depression and anxiety.

Express Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) for Mood Disorders

In situations where a patient has been diagnosed with a treatment-resistant mood disorder, meaning they have not responded to traditional treatments, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) may be beneficial.

Express TMS is able to stimulate the brain through noninvasive and painless treatment sessions. During a TMS session, a device is applied to the forehead allowing electromagnetic waves to stimulate the brain and return it to a level of normal activity.

To learn more about Express TMS, click here.

Ketamine Infusions for Mood Disorders

Ketamine infusions have been indicated as an experimental option for patients with treatment-resistant depression and active suicidal ideation. However, studies are continually exploring the use of ketamine infusions in mood disorder patients with chronic pain. Ketamine infusions are not FDA approved, and as such, are considered to be an “off-label” treatment for mood disorders.

To learn more about ketamine infusions, click here.

Contact us for more information about how Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation could help you or schedule your consult at TMS & Brain Health.

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