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Mood Disorders: Causes, Effects and Treatment

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Mood Disorders:
Causes, Effects and Treatment

Robert Baker

Psychology GE1116
Dr. Angela Isom
November 30, 2009

Mood Disorders:
Causes, Effects and Treatments
In today’s society, people seem to have a lot of problems that are classified as mental disorders. These disorders include: depression, schizophrenia, bipolar, and even seasonal affective disorder (SAD). The immediate stigma that is placed on most if not all mood disorders is that they are sicknesses. In the case of depression, this is not to confuse depression, a normal emotion with biological depression, an illness. Further along this line of irrational thought is the belief that they are not treatable and the person affected is in some way, shape or form disconnected from civilization as we know it. In this research paper, we will attempt to destroy these unfair stereotypes on this subject, attempt to rationalize the behaviors, and shed light on treatments for the various disorders. The research gathered will attempt to understand and answer these questions: 1. What are mood disorders and their symptoms? 2. What are the causes? 3. How can the stigma of mood disorders be removed? 4. What forms of treatment are the most successful?
What Are Mood Disorders And Their Symptoms?
In order to get a good idea of what causes mood disorders, we first must attempt to categorize what various classes of disorders there are. Our text, Psychology: A Journey (2008 p. 500), defined mood disorders as major disturbances in mood or emotion, such as depression or mania. The two major classes are: depressive and bipolar. Depressive disorders bring about extended bouts of depression, apathy, complete loss of hope, sleep deprivation, and extreme eating patterns, among symptoms. The other category of mood

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