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Even in this day of advanced medical technology, distinguishing di erent medical conditions can be di cult due to the
myriad details of the physical body and the wide variety of illnesses or diseases. The process is more complicated when
trying to distinguish mental health disorders, since many of them share similar symptoms or may occur alongside other
disorders.
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The complexity of psychological disorders (/mental-health/mental-health-disorders/) also contributes to
misunderstandings about them. An example of this can be seen in the frequent confusion between mood disorders and
personality disorders. While the two types of disorders share common symptoms, they also have key aspects that can help
type search
identify how theyterm...
are unique.

Mood Disorders
A mood disorder is a mental health classi cation used to broadly describe all types of depression and bipolar disorders.
Mood disorders cause serious changes in a person’s state of mind, emotions or feelings. A mood disorder is not
represented by common changes in attitude or feelings that everyone experiences as a normal part of life. Instead, mood
disorders dramatically a ect a person’s everyday emotional condition. Mood disorders
(https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/mooddisorders.html) can increase a person’s risk for heart disease, diabetes and
other diseases.

Several common mental health Illnesses fall under the mood disorders
(http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/mental_health_disorders/overview_of_mood_disorders_85,P0
classi cation, including the following:

Major depression. Having less interest in usual activities, feeling sad or hopeless and other symptoms for at least two
weeks may indicate depression.
Dysthymia. This is a chronic, low-grade, depressed or irritable mood that lasts for at least two years.
Bipolar disorder. This is a condition in which a person has periods of depression alternating with periods of mania or
elevated mood.
Many medical illnesses, such as cancer, serious injuries or infections, as well as chronic conditions, can trigger symptoms of
depression. Although the depression was originally caused by an underlying medical problem, diagnosis of a mood disorder
may still be valid if the symptoms warrant it. In addition, mood disorders can be induced by co-occurring substance abuse
disorder, which may lead to a dual diagnosis.

Personality Disorders
Personality disorders speci cally a ect the distinctive traits, behavior styles and personal patterns that make up a person’s
character or individuality. Someone’s personality includes how they perceive the world and how they understand their own
attitudes, thoughts and feelings.

People with healthy personalities are able to cope with normal stresses and have no trouble forming relationships with
family, friends and co-workers. Those who struggle with a personality disorder have great di culty dealing with others. They
tend to be in exible and unable to respond to the changes and demands of life.

There are many di erent types of personality disorders, which are grouped or classi ed into clusters:

Cluster A – Odd or eccentric behavior. Examples are: schizoid personality disorder, paranoid personality disorder and
schizotypal personality disorder
Cluster B – Dramatic, emotional or erratic behavior. Examples are: antisocial personality disorder, borderline
personality disorder and narcissistic personality disorder
Cluster C – Anxious fearful behavior. Examples are: avoidant personality disorder, dependent personality disorder and
obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.
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Distinguishing Mood and Personality Disorders

Both mood and personality disorders may have genetic, chemical and environmental factors or causes. They both may also
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produce similar symptoms, such as depression, making it very challenging to properly identify during diagnosis.

However, for general purposes, the two types can be distinguished by keeping in mind the underlying aspect of the person
that is a ected by each kind of illness:
type search term...
Mood is a temporary state of mind or feeling. Mood is generally more stable than a particular emotion and should not
be equated with emotions, even though they are certainly involved.
Personality is the combination and interaction of a person’s thoughts, feelings and behaviors. Personality, once
formed, usually lasts for a lifetime and is more stable or consistent than mood.
With these basic distinctions in mind, the following observations can be made to help distinguish between mood and
personality disorders:

Mood disorders a ect someone’s mood, not their underlying core personality. Personality disorders are much more
pervasive and a ect someone’s fundamental character and individuality.
Mood disorders are characterized by how an individual relates to their own emotions. Personality disorders are
characterized by fundamental di erences between the individual and most other people.
Mood disorders cause severe uctuations in mood or emotional state, prohibiting people from normal functioning in
daily life. Personality disorders cause changes in character traits that make people behave in ways that are considered
outside the norm.
Mood disorders (/mental-health/mental-health-disorders/mood-disorders/) typically create instability in mood,
which vacillates frequently or suddenly. Personality disorders, like personality itself, are relatively stable and constant.

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