Abnormal Psychology and Therapies

Mood Disorder
Psychological disorders in which there is a primary disturbance in mood are called mood disorders. There are two main types of mood disorder: depressive disorder and bipolar disorder. Major depressive disorder is when the individual suffers depression without ever experiencing mania, this includes the experience of unhappiness, fatigue, problems in thinking, and other symptoms for ate least the span of two weeks. Bipolar disorder is characterized by extreme mood swings that include one or more episodes of mania. Biological explanations of mood disorders concentrate on heredity, brain processes, and deregulation of neurotransmitters. Those individual experiencing severe major depressive disorder show a decrease in the metabolic activity of the cerebral cortex. Moreover, those who are depressed experience less deep sleep. Another factor which may contribute to the development of mood disorders is psychosocial factor. According to behavioral psychologists, depression can be a result of helplessness. Depressed individuals show ruminative coping style, wherein the focus is on the sadness and hopelessness of the circumstances. The cognitive perspective discusses that mood disorder resulted from negative thoughts. Optimistic thinking protects against depression while pessimistic thinking contributes more to depression. Bowlby proposes that the sociocultural factor concerning mood disorders is the attachment experience of an individual. For example, individuals who experience poverty are more likely to have depression than those who are rich. In some cultures, depression is more common and intense. Another cause is gender, wherein women are twice as likely as men to experience depression. The development of depression may lead to suicide. Suicide may be a genetic factor. On the other hand, stress and trauma can also be associated with suicide, as well as cultural patterns and sociocultural factors.