Affective disorders or affect disorders can manifest as manic (uplifted) or depressed (depressed) mood and emotional states. Accordingly, they are considered mood disorders. The causes of this disorder are not yet fully understood. However, it is assumed that mainly psychological and hereditary reasons can lead to affective disorders.
What are affective disorders
Affective disorders or affect disorders can manifest as manic (uplifted) or depressed (depressed) mood and emotional states. Affective disorders or affect disorders are several different conditions that all affect a person’s affect. The latter can then develop depression, but the disease can also move to the other extreme and trigger mania. Affect is considered to be the basic mood from which the affected person deviates. In making the diagnosis, drive, spontaneity, social interaction, and the vegetative functions of the individual are considered, which include, for example, sleep or libido. There may also be limitations in thinking as part of the affective disorders.
Causes
The causes for the development of affective disorder are still largely unknown today. Organic causes have not yet been identified, which is why affective disorders are now referred to as idiopathic. However, as soon as a cause for the affective disorder becomes apparent, the diagnosis is no longer affective disorder, but another internal process. For example, depression may exist as a reaction to an event, whereas depressed mood due to affective disorder has no such environmental cause. Similarly, flattening of affect that would manifest itself in schizophrenia, for example, or that occurs in dementia, are not affective disorders because there are organic causes for them. However, precisely between depression as a reaction and affective disorders, no distinction is recognized in ICD-10, so that according to this definition, at least for affective depressive mood, a cause can be identified in the environment, which is called a trigger.
Symptoms, complaints, and signs
Various symptoms and complaints may occur during the course of an affective disorder. Characteristic of an affective disorder are manic and/or depressive states, which usually occur in phases. Such an affective episode can be depressive, manic or manic-depressive. Symptoms may alternate within an episode or occur simultaneously. The mood change is usually accompanied by other symptoms. Thus, in many cases, there are memory and attention disorders, such as concentration problems or hyperactivity. A depressive phase manifests itself, among other things, through dejection, listlessness and apathy, lack of interest and inhibited thinking or concentration. There may also be [[inner restlessness|inner agitation], sleep disturbances, loss of appetite and a decrease in libido. A manic phase is manifested by opposite symptoms, i.e., joy, increased need for sleep, increased self-confidence, and emotional arousal with euphoria or irritability. In affective disorder, depressive phases tend to occur more often. A typical sign is an increase in the suicidality of the affected person. Many sufferers express pessimism and are increasingly numb. Externally, an affective disorder can be recognized by weight loss or frequent weight fluctuations. Depressive phases also lead to a lack of personal hygiene and evoke other clear symptoms that must be clarified immediately.
Course
Affective disorders have different courses – depending on whether the course is acute, chronic, or episodic. In the acute disorder, symptoms appear suddenly and may disappear just as suddenly. If this is a one-time occurrence, it is still referred to as acute affective disorder. If, however, the complex of effects occurs again, it is called episodic affective disorder, since the complex sometimes disappears and then reappears again anyway. In the chronic form, on the other hand, the symptoms persist over a longer period of time and show either only slight or no more changes, let alone improvements in the condition.As a rule, affective disorders are characterized by producing some form of disturbance: It is either depression, mania, or bipolar disorder, in which a person’s affect constantly fluctuates between the two extremes.
Complications
A serious complication of affective disorders is suicidality, colloquially known as suicide. In particular, (major) depression increases the risk for suicide attempts. Suicidality, however, consists not only of specific plans and actions concerned with one’s own death. General thoughts of death and dying are also serious symptoms. To keep the complication under control, temporary inpatient treatment is sometimes necessary. This is especially true when sufferers no longer feel safe from themselves or cannot sincerely promise not to harm themselves. Manic episodes often lead to uncontrolled behavior. Common complications arise from high financial expenditures that can lead to debt. Increased sexual needs may promote risky sexual behavior or lead to corresponding social problems – for example, cheating. Affective disorders that persist for a longer period of time sometimes lead to difficulties in family life as well as among friends. It is often not easy for outsiders to tolerate the psychological problems in the long term and to provide support. In this sense, even milder but chronic courses can have far-reaching consequences. Like all mental disorders, affective disorders can lead to incapacity for work. In some cases, permanent occupational disability is also possible, necessitating early retirement. Further complications are possible related to drug and alcohol use, substance abuse, and other disorders that may arise as a result of the affective disorder.
When should you see a doctor?
For mild or occasional affective disorders, the extent to which the person experiences social impairment as a result should be weighed. His or her social environment can also determine whether the affected person needs treatment or can be well integrated despite his or her affective disorder. If this is the case, a visit to the doctor is not absolutely necessary. However, if there are more severe acute episodes or increasing impairment, a psychiatric specialist should always be consulted. From the patient’s point of view, the mood disorders associated with the affective disorder may at times assume such a stressful dimension that a visit to the doctor for acute treatment makes sense. Long-term treatment of the disorder is intended to balance out depressive and manic episodes. It brings the patient into a better balance. Phase prophylaxis requires repeated visits to the doctor. The doctor’s visit on the occasion of an outpatient medication plus a psychotherapy is useful in most cases. Especially in manic disorders it is helpful to give the patient a quiet place. In this place he can find peace during acute affective episodes. The treating physician must distinguish between unipolar and bipolar disorders. The drug treatment is adapted to the respective diagnosis. A visit to a psychologist can accompany the chosen drug treatment. However, psychotherapy is not useful as the sole therapy for affective disorders.
Treatment and therapy
Affective disorder is first treated according to whether it is an acute or chronic or episodic form. Acute forms do not need specific treatment if they go away on their own and do not recur. For chronic and episodic forms, a further distinction is made according to whether a depressive or manic mood or a bipolar disorder is present. Medication is then administered to provide lasting relief of the affected person’s symptoms and to ensure that the extreme tendencies or fluctuations in affect subside in the long term. Depending on the individual case, talk therapy can provide relief, but it is not decisive. After all, since there is no cause in the affected person’s environment, there is nothing he or she can do to cope with the symptoms or learn how to deal with them.
Aftercare
In most cases, there are very few or no aftercare measures or options available to the sufferer of such disorders.In this case, the affected person is primarily dependent on an early diagnosis so that no further complications or complaints arise. A doctor should be consulted at the first signs and symptoms of the disease. Also the relatives or the friends can make the person concerned with this illness on the complaints on any case attentive and persuade this to a treatment. In many cases, empathetic and intensive discussions with the affected person are also very useful in order to prevent psychological upsets or depression. As a rule, self-healing does not occur with this disease. In many cases, treatment is carried out by taking medication. In any case, the affected person must ensure that the medication is taken regularly and in the correct dosage. In severe cases, admission to a closed clinic may be necessary so that the symptoms can be treated properly. As a rule, the life expectancy of the affected person is not reduced by this disease.
Outlook and prognosis
Affective disorders such as depression or bipolar disorder are often recurrent. Affected individuals are required to take care of themselves and best avoid possible triggers for recurrences. However, this cannot always be guaranteed. The current state of research relies primarily on psychotropic drugs and psychotherapy for the treatment of affective disorders. However, even this is demonstrably no guarantee that relapses will not occur or that the patient’s condition will not deteriorate. On the other hand, there are also always amazing recovery stories from people with affective disorders who have been given negative prognoses by even the best medical professionals. There are several reasons for this: Affected people often learn to recognize early warning signs and develop their own strategies to cushion emotional fluctuations. Often, a normal life with a job and an active private life is then possible. Another important cause of psychological stability are living conditions with supportive social contacts, professional integration and stable financial circumstances. In the absence of these, the likelihood of relapse increases. Conversely, a positive turnaround often sets in when the living conditions of the affected person stabilize. It is also known that sport has a positive influence on all mental illnesses. Sufferers who have learned to incorporate regular sports activities into their daily lives generally have a better prognosis.
Here’s what you can do yourself
Supplemental vitamin D can help a person suffering from depression even if there is not actually a clinical vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D can be made by the body itself when the skin is exposed to sunlight. A healthy diet with foods rich in vitamin D can also be beneficial. In addition, it is in principle possible to take the vitamin as a dietary supplement. However, those affected should consult their doctor about taking such preparations. Natural light not only plays an important role in the formation of vitamin D. It can also be used as part of supportive therapy. It can also be used as part of supportive light therapy. In everyday life, for example, sufferers can take a morning walk to aim for a similar effect. Exercise can also have a helpful effect in depressive affective disorders. Sport promotes the synthesis and release of the neurotransmitter serotonin. However, realistic expectations are important in all measures. The above-mentioned remedies are only complementary to psychotherapeutic and/or psychiatric treatment. In addition, it is important that affected individuals do not overexert themselves or make excessive demands on themselves. For all affective disorders, it is possible for those affected to exchange information with other patients in self-help groups. In addition, it is often useful to ask for support from friends and family, especially in cases of suicidal or risky behavior.
