Mood Disorders

Mood Disorders

Understanding and Defining Mood Disorders

Mood disorders encompass several types of disorders. “The essential feature of these mental disorders also referred to as effective disorders is persistent or episodic exaggeration of mood state (American Psychiatric Association, 1994).” Individuals with Bipolar Disorder experience severe mood swings disrupted by periods of normal behavior. Bipolar disorder has a tendency to run in families.

Prevalence of Mood Disorders

The following statistics relate to the prevalence of Bipolar disorder:

1.7% adults in the US (USSG: US Surgeon General)

Average length of hospital stay was 20.4 days in Canada 1999 (Centre for Chronic and Control, Health Canada) ...