Mood disorders

Mood disorders cover a range of mental health conditions that cause unusual shifts in mood and levels of energy which can significantly affect your ability to function. We are here to help you better understand and manage your condition.

Our treatment programs aim to help you understand why you feel the way you do, how you can better manage your moods and how this can help you lead an active, healthy and rewarding life.

The two main types of mood disorders are:

depressive disorders – symptoms include persistent and severe feelings of sadness, accompanied by lack of motivation, inability to experience joy as well as feelings of worthlessness
bipolar disorder – extreme fluctuations in mood ranging from euphoric highs and/or elevated irritability, referred to as mania or hypomania and extreme lows referred to as depression. Both lead to a marked change in behaviour that is unusual for the person experiencing it.

Our programs for mood disorders

Our programs are based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which has been shown to be a highly effective treatment for mood disorders. The principle behind this evidence-based approach is that how we think affects the way we react emotionally and behaviourally.

Topics you may cover as part of the program include:

understanding the nature and causes of depression and bipolar disorder
making behavioural changes and focusing on a balanced lifestyle to regulate mood
an introduction to mindfulness
how to recognise patterns of thinking and challenging negative thinking
developing emotion regulation skills
relapse prevention.

We treat major depressive disorders and bipolar disorders as inpatients (people who are admitted to hospital) or outpatients (people not admitted to hospital – normally day programs or group programs). Your referring doctor will refer you to the program that best suits your needs.

Benefits of treatment for mood disorders

Developing an understanding of how to effectively regulate your emotions
Developing awareness of negative thinking patterns and the effect on behaviour
Using mindfulness to help develop awareness into intrusive thoughts

These benefits depend on your particular circumstances and require your full participation. You should consult a specialist in this area before deciding whether treatment is suitable for you.