Mental health problems mood disorders can take various forms, from major depressive disorder to less common conditions, such as bipolar disorder and disruptive mood dysregulation disorder. Children, teens, and adults can have mood disorders. But children and teens don’t always have the same symptoms as adults. A mood disorder is a real medical condition, not something a child will likely just "get over” on his own.
Many factors contribute to mood disorders. They are likely caused by an imbalance of brain chemicals. Life events (such as stressful life changes) may also contribute to a depressed mood. Unlike a normal bad mood, a child feels occasionally, a mood disorder involves thoughts and feelings that are intense, difficult to manage, and persistent.
In many cases, females are more susceptible to developing mood disorders than males. This would indicate that there are hormonal and genetic factors at play.
A combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors causes mood disorders. Mood disorders runs in families, but it can also occur in people without a family history of the condition.
Children who have relatives with depression are at increased risk for depression. In addition, a family history of bipolar disorder may predispose a child to have bipolar disorder or other mood disorder.
Signs and symptoms of children’s mood disorder:
*Severe mood swings that are different from their usual mood swings
*Hyperactive, impulsive, aggressive or socially inappropriate behavior
*Insomnia or significantly decreased need for sleep
*Depressed or irritable mood most of the day, nearly every day during a depressive episode
Mood disorder in children
