Abstract
Major depressive disorder is classified under a larger group of related disorders of mood, which includes bipolar I and bipolar II disorder, cyclothymic disorder and dysthymic disorder (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2000). The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM IV-TR) put forth the following criteria for diagnosing a major depressive disorder seen for at least two weeks must both manifest as an abnormal mood (depressed mood, anhedonia or irritable mood in children and adolescents) and meet at least three more criteria observed for at least two weeks: feeling of fatigue; slowing or agitation in carrying out activities; poor concentration; suicidal thoughts or thoughts of dying and death; disproportionate guilt; loss of, or decrease in appetite or weight loss; increased or decreased sleep time (APA, 2000). A strong familial history may predispose an individual towards depression but is not part of the diagnostic criteria.

From the Paper
Mood Disorders: Major Depressive Disorder (Outline) I. Major features: abnormal mood; feeling of fatigue; slowing or agitation in carrying out activities; poor concentration; suicidal thoughts or thoughts of dying and death; disproportionate guilt; loss of, or decrease in appetite or weight loss; increased or decreased sleep time (APA, 2000). II. Case Example: 32 year-old female initially complaining of back pain a. Mental Status Examination b. DSM-IV Multiaxial Evaluation III. Pharmacological Treatment: Duloxetine (Cymbalta^A'A(r))

Tags:mood, disorders, depression

Abstract
This paper looks at four areas of bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression. First, it identifies what bipolar actually is. Next, it explores the different subcategories of bipolar: bipolar I, bipolar II, and cyclothymic disorder. The paper focuses on treatment of the disorder, as well as how to cope if an individual or family member suffers from bipolar disorder.

From the Paper
"Five years ago, my close friend Vanessa was diagnosed with a mental disorder. The illness, bipolar has wreaked havoc on the lives of Vanessa's friends, family and Vanessa herself. Even today, she continuously struggles to gain control of her illness. For centuries, people have dealt with mental disorders. These illnesses have affected their jobs, families, relationships and daily living. Afflicted individuals have been ousted by "normal" society due to ignorance. The purpose of this paper is to educate those "normal" people, by identifying and explaining bipolar, treatment, and ways to cope with this disorder."

Tags:cyclothymic, depression, manic, mood, swings, happy, energetic, irritability, anger

Abstract
This paper explains how the DSM-IV offers diagnostic categories and classifications for the use of identifying and diagnosing mental disorders. It goes on to discuss anxiety disorders, mood and affective disorders, dissociative disorders, and somatoform disorders, as well as the possible classifications and symptoms under these categories. In addition to explaining the disorders as per the DSM-IV, a specific disorder within each category is broken down and explained in biological, cognitive, behavioral and emotional terms.

Outline:
Anxiety Disorders
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Mood and Affective Disorders
Cyclothymic Disorder
Dissociative Disorders
Dissociative Amnesia
Somatoform Disorders
Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Conclusion

From the Paper
''The DSM-IV offers diagnostic categories and classifications for the use of identifying and diagnosing mental disorders (Hansell Damour, 2008). This paper will specifically cover anxiety disorders, mood and affective disorders, dissociative disorders, and somatoform disorders, as well as the possible classifications and symptoms under these categories. In addition to explaining the disorders as per the DSM-IV, a specific disorder within each category will be broken down and explained in biological, cognitive, behavioral and emotional terms.
''The difference between fear and anxiety is that fear is geared toward something specific such as a place or an object, while anxiety is more of a general feeling of apprehension about the future (Hansell & Damour, 2008). Some of the disorders that can grow out of excessive anxiety within a person are: obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While both fear and anxiety are both very natural occurrences in people, when these sensations are felt in an extreme sense there is the real possibility of an anxiety disorder. According to the Office of the Surgeon General (n.d.), "Anxiety, which may be understood as the pathological counterpart of normal fear, is manifest by disturbances of mood, as well as of thinking, behavior, and physiological activity" (Anxiety Disorders, para. 1).''

Tags:anxiety, fear, diagnostic

Abstract
This paper discusses how important the proper diagnosis of a patient's mood disorder is for finding the proper treatment. Disorders covered include: major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, cyclothymic, bi-polar I, and bi-polar II. The author shows how the disorders are broken down into domains and indicates the symptoms for each and how they should be treated.

From the Paper
"Bi-polar disorder affects approximately 2.3 million American adults or about 1.2 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older (Reiger, 1993). Men and women are equally likely to develop bi-polar disorder. The average age of onset for bi-polar disorders is in the early twenties (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). Bi-polar disorders include cyclothymic, bi-polar I, and bi-polar II. Distinction of the actual disorder can sometimes become difficult, therefore, it is crucial to look at all the symptoms the patient is experiencing."

Tags:bi, depressive, disorder, disorders, polar, disorders, moods, treatments

Abstract
This paper provides an overview of what bipolar disorder is, the various ways in which it can manifest itself, the suspected causes, and genetic relationship. The paper also provides a discussion of types of treatment that have proven to be the most effective in minimizing the effects of this disorder.

From the Paper
"The genes that a person inherits seem to have a strong influence on whether the person will develop bipolar disorder. Studies of twins provide evidence for this genetic influence. Among genetically identical twins where one twin has bipolar disorder, the other twin has the disorder in more than 70 percent of cases. However, among pairs of fraternal twins, who have about half their genes in common, both twins have bipolar disorder in less than 15 percent of cases in which one twin has the disorder. This degree of genetic similarity seems to account for the difference between identical and fraternal twins. Moreover, further evidence for a genetic influence comes from studies of adopted children with bipolar disorder. These studies demonstrate that biological relatives of the children have a higher incidence of bipolar disorder than do people in the general population and thus, bipolar disorder seems to run in families for genetic reasons (Cohen, n. pag.)."

Tags:cyclothymic, depressionhypomania, manic, mood, schizophrenia