Affect and mood are similar in meaning and refer to the emotions (for example, happiness or sadness). Affect tends to be used for temporary emotions, and is expressed through manner of speaking, facial expression, or behaviour. Mood is used to refer to a more permanent emotional state. The most common form of affective disorder is depression, the symptoms of which are:

* poor appetite or significant weight loss

* sleep disturbance (for example, insomnia -inability to sleep)

* fatigue (loss of energy)

*  psychomotor agitation (excessive movement and thought) or psychomotor retardation (slowing of movement and thought)

* loss of interest in stimulating activities

* decreased ability to think and concentrate

* feeling that one is of no value to others, or that one has done something wrong

* recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.

Five, or possibly four, of the above symptoms, occurring nearly every day for at least two weeks, constitute a major depression.

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