Mood Disorders
This chapter discusses the mood disorders. Major depressive disorder is characterized by neurovegetative changes, anhedonia, and suicidal ideation. Persistent depressive disorder is a milder form of depression, lasting for at least 2 years, with little or no remission during that time... Psychotic features can occur in both depressive and manic episodes. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder is diagnosed through use of a prospective daily symptom ratings log showing a cyclical pattern over at least 2 consecutive months. Patients with mood episodes with mixed features have a high risk of suicide. Some patients with bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder may develop catatonic features characterized by marked psychomotor disturbance. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the usual first-line medication treatment for patients with major depressive disorder. For patients with bipolar disorder the mainstays of somatic therapy are lithium and the anticonvulsants valproate and carbamazepine.