Johns Hopkins Medicine - Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Director of Clinical Programs:
Karen Swartz, M.D.
Director of Research Programs:
James Potash, M.D., M.P.H. OVERVIEW Mood Disorders (also known as "Affective Disorders") are characterized by changes in mood state that do not have the usual connection with what is occurring in a person's life. People with depressive disorders may become sad, pessimistic, hopeless and despairing, even though they may seem to have no reasons for feeling that way. In a manic mood state a person may experience an abnormally elevated sense of self and energy, and even euphoria. Angry, irritable, agitated mood states may predominated in some patients with affective disorders. A person in a mixed affective state suffers from a kind of activated, energized sadness that appears to be a combination of depression and mania. CLINICAL PROGRAMS Mood Disorders are treatable. Please select a link below for information about the clinical services that we offer at Johns Hopkins: RESEARCH PROGRAM Ongoing research is being conducted at Johns Hopkins to better understand and treat Mood Disorders. Current studies being conducted at Johns Hopkins related to Mood Disorders are listed below. Please select a link for additional information about a specific study. FACULTY BOOKS Expert psychiatry faculty at Johns Hopkins study mood disorders from all perspectives and are committed to educating other health professionals and the public about these illnesses. Please click here for a list of books authored by Johns Hopkins psychiatrists. | 
