We often think of a mood as a temporary feeling or state of mind, e.g. he was in a happy mood or she was in a sad mood. Mood disorders, however, are often longer-lasting and tend to affect an individual’s life for a prolonged period of time.

In psychology, people with mood abnormalities fall under psychopathology—the umbrella term for people who have psychological thought processes, neurochemical imbalances, and unhealthy social environments. This module explores the different types of mood disorders, such as stress, depression, anxiety, adjustment disorders, and phobic behaviours (phobias).

Learners will also have an understanding of how to support people with such disorders, including following different therapies and techniques.