情绪障碍是一种精神健康状况，在实际生活环境和个人的精神或感觉状态之间存在脱节. 情绪障碍会对你正常运作的能力产生负面影响. 它会对生活的方方面面产生严重的影响，从个人生活到工作生活.

儿童、青少年和成年人都可能有情绪障碍. 但是儿童和青少年并不总是和成年人有相同的症状. It’s harder to diagnose mood disorders in children. 那是因为他们不能总是表达自己的感受, 儿童的症状看起来可能与成人不同.

治疗、药物、支持和自我照顾可以帮助治疗情绪障碍.

What are the different types of mood disorders?

These are the most common types of mood disorders:

• Major depression. Having less interest in normal activities, feeling sad or hopeless, 其他症状持续至少两周可能意味着抑郁.

• Dysthymia. This is an ongoing (chronic), low-grade, depressed, or irritable mood that lasts for at least 2 years.

• Bipolar disorder. With this condition, 一个人的抑郁期与躁狂期或情绪高涨期交替出现.

• Mood disorder linked to another health condition. Many health conditions (including cancer, injuries, infections, 慢性疾病)会引发抑郁症状.

• Substance-induced mood disorder. Symptoms of depression may be caused by drug abuse, alcohol use disorder, exposure to toxins, or side effects of medicines.

What causes mood disorders?

Many factors help lead to mood disorders. 它们可能是由大脑化学物质的不平衡引起的. 生活事件(如压力生活的变化)也可能导致抑郁情绪. Mood disorders also tend to run in families.

Who is at risk for mood disorders?

Anyone can feel sad or depressed at times. 但情绪障碍更为严重，持续时间也更长. 它们也比正常的悲伤情绪更难控制. Children, teens, 或者父母有情绪障碍的成年人也有更大的机会患有情绪障碍. 但生活事件和压力会暴露或加重悲伤或抑郁的感觉. This makes the feelings harder to manage.

Sometimes life's problems can trigger depression. Things such as being fired from a job, getting divorced, losing a loved one, having a death in the family, and financial trouble can be difficult. Coping with the pressure may be troublesome. 这些生活事件和压力会带来悲伤或抑郁的感觉. Or they can make a mood disorder harder to manage.

女性患抑郁症的风险几乎是男性的两倍. Once a person in the family has this diagnosis, 他们的兄弟姐妹和孩子有更高的机会得到同样的诊断.

What are the symptoms of mood disorders?

Depending on age and the type of mood disorder, 当一个人变得抑郁时，他们可能有不同的症状. 以下是情绪障碍最常见的症状:

• Ongoing sad, anxious, or “empty” mood

• Feeling hopeless or helpless

• Having low self-esteem

• Feeling inadequate or worthless

• Excessive guilt

• 对正常活动或曾经喜欢的活动不感兴趣，包括性

• Relationship problems

• Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much

• Changes in appetite or weight

• Decreased energy

• Trouble focusing

• Less able to make decisions

• Frequent physical complaints (for example, headache, stomachache, or tiredness) that don’t get better with treatment

• Running away or threats of running away from home

• Very sensitive to failure or rejection

• Irritability, hostility, or aggression

• 反复想到死亡或自杀、计划死亡或希望死亡 
  (Note: 有这种症状的人应该立即接受治疗!)

In mood disorders, 这些感觉比一个人偶尔可能感受到的更强烈. 如果这些感觉持续一段时间，也值得关注. 或者如果他们干扰了某人对家庭、朋友、社区或工作的兴趣.

任何有自杀念头的人都应该立即接受医疗帮助. 如果你不能马上去找你的初级保健医生, 去社区里信誉良好的心理健康机构. Don't put it off.

情绪障碍的症状可能看起来像其他疾病或精神健康问题. 一定要咨询医疗保健提供者以获得诊断.

How are mood disorders diagnosed?

Mood disorders are serious illnesses. A psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, advanced practice registered nurse, 或者有执照的临床社会工作者可以在完成完整的健康史和精神评估后诊断情绪障碍.

How are mood disorders treated?

Mood disorders can often be treated with success. Treatment may include:

• Antidepressant and mood-stabilizing medicines. 这些药物在治疗情绪障碍方面效果很好, especially when combined with psychotherapy.

• Psychotherapy (最常见的是认知行为或人际关系治疗). 这种疗法的重点是改变人们对自己和环境的扭曲看法. It also helps to improve relationship skills. 它可以帮助人们识别环境中的压力源，并学习如何避免或管理它们.

• Family therapy. 情绪障碍会影响家庭情感的方方面面, physical, occupational, and financial). 专业支持可以帮助确诊患者和家庭成员.

• Other therapies. 这些可能包括经颅刺激和电痉挛治疗难治性抑郁症(难治性抑郁症).

在任何治疗过程中，家庭都起着至关重要的支持作用.

患有情绪障碍的人可能会有稳定的时期和症状复发的时期. 长期、持续的治疗可以帮助患者保持健康并控制症状.

When correctly diagnosed and treated, people with mood disorders can live stable, productive, healthy lives.

Can mood disorders be prevented?

在这个时候，没有办法预防或减少情绪障碍. 但早期诊断和治疗可以减轻症状的严重程度. 还能促进人的正常生长发育，提高生活质量. 如果你或你关心的人有情绪障碍的症状，和你的医疗保健提供者谈谈.

Key points about mood disorders

• 情绪障碍是一类严重的精神疾病. 这个术语广泛地描述了所有类型的抑郁症和双相情感障碍.

• 儿童、青少年和成年人都可能有情绪障碍.

• Many factors help lead to mood disorders. 它们可能是由大脑化学物质的不平衡引起的.

• 大多数患有情绪障碍的人都有持续的悲伤感. They may feel helpless and hopeless.

• 如果不进行治疗，症状可能持续数周、数月甚至数年. They can affect quality of life.

• Mood disorders are most often treated with medicine, psychotherapy or cognitive behavioral therapy, family therapy, or a combination of medicine and therapy.

• Long-term, 全面的后续护理将有助于确保所需的全面支持, productive life.