Abbreviated Mood Definitions

Mood

Temper of Mind; a temporary state of the mind in regard to passion, feeling or humor

Manic

Mental or physic hyperactivity, disorganization of activity and elevation of mood. Manic episodes typically begin suddenly, with rapid escalation of symptoms over a few days. A distinctive period of abnormally and persistently elevated, or irritable mood, lasting at least 1 week. The disturbance causes marked impairment with occupation, social activities or relationships.

Three or more symptoms present to a significant degree:

  • Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity
  • Decreased need for sleep
  • More talkative than usual
  • Flight ideas or racing thoughts
  • Distractibility to irrelevant issues
  • Increase in goal-directed activity
  • Psychomotor activity
  • Excessive involvement in activities likely to cause painful consequences;
  • Unrestrained buying sprees
  • Foolish business investments
  • Sexual indiscretions

    • Hypomanic

    An abnormality of mood resembling mania. but of lesser intensity. A distinct period of persistently elevated, expansive or irritable mood, lasting throughout 4 days, but is not severe enough to cause marked impairment in social or occupational functioning.

    Three or more symptoms present to a significant degree:

  • Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity
  • Decreased need for sleep
  • More talkative than usual
  • Flight ideas or racing thoughts
  • Distractibility to irrelevant issues
  • Increase on goal-directed activity
  • Psychomotor activity
  • Excessive involvement in activities likely to cause painful consequences;
  • Unrestrained buying sprees
  • Foolish business investments
  • Sexual indiscretions

    • Normal

    An indistinctive state of mind which does not more than usual or expected activity. The state of mind may be situational or non-situational. Typical high and low moods which almost everyone exhibits in daily life.

    Depression or Dysthymic

    A chronically depressed mood that occurs for most of the day more days than not (as observed by observation of others). These symptoms are so pervasive, the individual may not notice or report them, unless prompted. About 6% of the population will experience this disorder.

    Two or more symptoms present to a significant degree:

  • Poor appetite or overbearing
  • Insomnia or hypersomnia
  • Low energy or fatigue
  • Low self esteem
  • Poor concentration, low interest
  • Difficulty of incapability in decision making
  • Feeling of hopelessness, Self-criticism
  • Lack of interest in events
    • The individual has not been diagnosed with depression
    The disturbance causes marked impairment with occupation, social activities or relationships
    Hospitalization may be needed to prevent harm to self or others

    Major Depressive Episode

    A feeling of intense sadness, either without identifiable symptoms, or the result of a recent loss or other sad event but is out of proportion to that event, and lasts beyond an appropriate length of time. Symptoms cause marked impariement in the ability to work, sleep, eat and enjoy once pleasurable activities.

    Five or more symptoms present to a significant degree:

  • Depressed mood most of the day
  • diminished interest or pleasure in almost all activities
  • Significant weight and/or appetite gain or loss
  • Insomnia or hypersomnia
  • Psychomotor agitation of retardation
  • Fatigue
  • Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
  • Diminished ability to think or concentrate or indecisiveness
  • Recurrent thoughts of death, recurrent suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, or specific plan

    • Note: These symptoms have been extracted from the DSM-IV, © 1994 American Psychological Association