This loose use of the term confuses a normal mood swing with a clinical syndrome
Depressive disorders can bring sever and long-lasting psychological pain that may intensify as time goes by.
Major depressive episodes – exist in both Major Depressive Disorder and Bipolar disorders
Extremely sad mood or anhedonia (loss of interest or pleasure in life’s activities)
Symptoms last for > 2 weeks
Cognitive symptoms (loss of concentration, feelings of guilt, worthlessness)
Physical dysfunction (sleep disturbance, appetite disturbance, psychomotor slowing or agitation, fatigue, pain in some)
Duration – 4-9 months, untreated.
Manic Episode- exist only in Bipolar 1 dosroder
Elevated or expansive or irritable mood (exaggerated elation, joy, euphoria)
1 week, or less if it requires hospitalization cognitive symptoms (racing thoughts, pressured speech, grandiose ideas, distractibility, sometimes hallucinations and delusions)
Behavioral- focusing on pleasurable activities with high potential for negative consequences
Physical dysfunction- hyperactivity, sleep disturbance
Duration- 3 to 6 months, untreated
Hypomaniac episodes- less severe version that doesn’t cause marked impairment or require hospitalization.
Unipolar disorders
Depression
Dysthymic disorder
New to DSM 5
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder
A diagnosis given to women who repeatedly experience clinically significant depressive symptoms during the week before menstruation
Disruptive mood regulation disorder
Characterized by a combo of persistent depressive symptoms and recurrent outbursts of severe temper
Bipolar disorders
Bipolar 1
Bipolar 2
Cyclothymia
Diagnostic considerations
Accompanying symptoms
Overlap between disorders
Severity
Mild
Moderate
Severe without psychotic features
Severe with psychotic features
Course
Recurrent
Alternating
Seasonal
Major Depressive Disorder, single episode
No