Affective disorders involve a single group of mental disorders that are characterized by disturbances of emotion, thought and behavior. According to the International Society for Affective Disorders, affective disorders include mood and anxiety disorders. Co-morbidity between these disorders is common. The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that 20.9 million adults ages 18 and older suffer from a mood disorder and 40 million adults suffer from an anxiety disorder each year.
Mood Disorders
The types of mood disorders associated with affective disorders include unipolar depression, also known as major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and seasonal affective disorder. People with unipolar depression suffer from constant sadness, feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, loss of pleasure and thoughts of suicide. People with bipolar disorder experience symptoms that swing back and forth between depression or feelings of sadness and worthlessness, and mania or feelings of elation and omnipotence. Seasonal affective disorder has symptoms of unipolar depression during periods of the year, particularly winter, or in locations with little daylight.
Anxiety Disorders
Generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and social phobia are types of anxiety disorders associated with affective disorders. Symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder include chronic anxiety, excessive worry and fatigue. Obsessive-compulsive disorders involve recurrent, unwanted thoughts and repetitive behaviors. Panic disorder is associated with unexpected and repeated occurrences of intense fear with shortness of breath, heart palpitations and dizziness. People with post-traumatic stress disorder feel emotionally numb and have frightening thoughts and memories after experiencing a traumatic event. Social phobia, also called social anxiety disorder, is characterized by chronic fear of being humiliated or watched and judged by others accompanied by blushing, trembling, difficulty talking and sweating.
Co-morbidities
People diagnosed with affective disorders frequently experience both mood disorders and anxiety disorders. Substance abuse is also common. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, the median ages of onset of mood disorders and anxiety disorders are 30 and 21 years, respectively, and most people with a particular type of anxiety disorder experience a second anxiety disorder.
Causes of Affective Disorders
Affective disorders can be caused by biological, psychological and socio-cultural factors. According to the National Institute of Mental Health report by the Surgeon General, genes, infections, physical trauma, nutrition, hormones and toxins are among the major biological influences on development of mental illness. Psychological trauma such as child abuse can contribute to affective disorders. Socio-cultural factors such as lack of emotional and financial support can also influence the onset of affective disorders.
Treatments
Affective disorders can be treated with psychotherapy and medication. According to scientists at the Neuropsychiatric Institute at UCLA, a combination of treatment approaches may be beneficial. Psychotherapy, also called talk therapy, can help people with affective disorders identify how their symptoms of depression and anxiety are linked with troubled emotional relationships and past traumas, change their thoughts and behaviors and cope with everyday issues. Antidepressant and anti-anxiety medications can improve the balance of chemicals in the brain associated with affective disorders.
References
- International Society for Affective Disorders: Welcome to Isad
- National Institute of Mental Health: The Numbers Count: Mental Disorders in America
- National Institute of Mental Health: Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General
- "Health Care Women International"; Sociocultural Factors in Depression; Jambunathan, J.; Jul 1992
- "Psychiatry Clinical Neuroscience"; Combining Pharmacotherapy with Psychotherapy; Pasnau, R.O.; Dec 1998
