Affective disorders are persistent mental health conditions that affect an individual’s emotional state. These affective disorders are depressive disorders and bipolar disorders that involve an experience of unstable emotions. A person may experience consistent sadness, which is known as depression, or a fluctuation of emotions, which is known as bipolar disorder. An individual experiencing either of these affective disorders can be helped by a psychiatrist for a thorough diagnosis and treatment. This blog elaborates on the two types of affective disorders. 

Types of affective disorders 

Depressive disorders 

Depression is a state in which one feels deeply sad and has a loss of interest in things in life for a long period of time. An individual with depression may look at themselves negatively; they seem to always be sad, overwhelmed or withdrawn, and they can remain in this same condition for weeks or even a long time. Depression can affect anybody at different age groups, but it is mostly prevalent in adolescents and young adults. The signs of depression may include: having trouble sleeping, having problems with making decisions, having thoughts of self-harm, a sudden stop to hobbies, and loss of appetite. 

The causes of depressive disorders 

Genetics and relational risks 

An individual may experience depression due to genetic problems; a person whose relatives have had depression is more likely to experience depression. A person with low self esteem is susceptible to experience depression as well as an individual with health problems like cancer, heart disease or diabetes is susceptible to facing depression. 

Biological and brain factors 

Biological factors like a brain malfunction, a disruption to the brain chemicals and hormonal changes can cause a person to undergo depression because the brain’s ability to process emotions can be disrupted. 

Lifestyle experiences and environment 

There are some circumstances that cause one to fall into depression; life events like the loss of a loved one, facing financial problems or relationship problems can have an impact on how one processes their emotions. Apart from this, accidents, abuse or substances(drugs, misuse of medications) can lead an individual to depression.

Types of depression 

• Major depressive disorder: This is a chronic state of depression, fatigue, and loss of interest in life. 
• Persistent depressive disorder: This is a long-term state of depression that can last for more than 2 years.
• Bipolar depression: It is a fluctuation of moods where one feels high energy and suddenly switches to chronic sadness. 
• Postpartum depression: This type of depression is when one experiences chronic anxiety and sadness that occurs after giving birth. 

Bipolar disorders 

Bipolar disorder is when an individual experiences an exaggerated fluctuation of emotions where they may experience extreme excitement and suddenly switch to extreme sadness. An individual with bipolar disorder tends to experience mood switches or a change in energy frequently, which tends to affect their daily life in how they handle their work, relationships or their own life. 

Biological and genetic factors 

An individual can be susceptible to bipolar disorder when they have a family history and a record of facing the problem. A disruption to brain chemicals and brain structure affects the brain’s ability to regulate emotions. 

Triggers and risk factors 

Circumstances such as life stress, a disrupted sleep schedule and the use of alcohol can trigger bipolar disorder. 

Types of bipolar disorder 

Bipolar 1: It involves one manic episode, and one may experience an episode each week. 

Bipolar 2: It involves a pattern of depressive episodes with hypomanic episodes. 

Cyclothymic disorder: This is a chronic state where one experiences frequent fluctuations of mood shifts; they experience both high energy and extreme sadness. 

Conclusion 

Affective disorders can be treated by medications and ongoing therapy to help the individual identify their triggers and regulate their emotions. Anyone is susceptible to affective disorders, which is why it is important to take note of the symptoms in order to seek help whenever one falls into depression or bipolar disorder. Manas Hospital is a renowned hospital where one can receive effective diagnosis and comprehensive treatment for affective disorders. 

FAQ’s 

How is bipolar disorder diagnosed?

The diagnosis involves physical exams, conducting psychiatric interviews and obtaining input from loved ones. 

Can one completely recover from depression?

An individual can completely recover from depression through treatments that involve medications and therapy.