Mood Disorders and Treatments

Depression is called the “common cold” of mental health because many people are affected, and women, are more likely to be depressed than men. Of the two main types, major depression is more severe compared to dysthymia, which has more mild symptoms but is chronic. Another mood disorder, bipolar disorder, is characterized by alternating swings between mania to depression. Finally, seasonal affective disorder strikes people during the fall and winter and is linked to reduction in light during those months.