When you start researching mental health concerns or symptoms, many of the results overlap. For example, a feeling of hopelessness can be a symptom of major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder. But by learning about the differences between two common types of conditions, such as mood disorders and personality disorders, you can gain a better understanding of which aligns more closely with your experience.

Mood disorders and personality disorders are often used interchangeably in everyday conversation, but they describe different types of mental health disorders. At a glance, mood disorders primarily affect how you feel, while personality disorders affect long-term patterns in how you think, relate and behave. But there’s more nuance beneath the surface.

Read on to learn the basics about the two types of disorders and the key differences that set them apart. 

What are mood disorders and personality disorders?

Let’s start off with definitions. Mood disorders cause changes in your emotional state that impact your productivity and relationships. Personality disorders cause behavioral, cognitive and emotional patterns that are outside of the societal norm. 

Mood disorder diagnoses tend to be more common in the U.S. than diagnoses of personality disorders. Approximately 9.1% of U.S. adults are diagnosed with a personality disorder each year, while mood disorder diagnoses affect 9.7% of adults each year.

Mood disorders include:

• Major depressive disorder
• Bipolar disorder

Personality disorders include:

• Borderline personality disorder
• Narcissistic personality disorder
• Avoidant personality disorder
• Histrionic personality disorder

Key differences between mood disorders and personality disorders

Understanding the difference between mood and personality disorders can help you make sense of your symptoms, and guide you toward the right kind of support.

Here are five ways to differentiate them:

• Core focus: mood vs. personality patterns

The main difference in the mood disorder versus personality disorder conversation comes down to what is most affected.

• Mood disorders center on disturbances in emotional state.

• Personality disorders involve long-standing patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving that shape how someone relates to the world.

Mood disorders involve intense shifts in sadness, energy or irritability.

Personality disorders, on the other hand, affect interpersonal relationships, self-image and impulse control over time. They are less about temporary emotional states and more about ingrained patterns.

• Duration: episodic vs. long-term patterns

Mood disorders are often episodic, meaning that symptoms may come in waves or episodes. For example, a depressive episode may last weeks or months. A manic episode in bipolar 1 may involve extreme changes in mood and energy for at least seven days. Between episodes, some people may feel relatively stable.

Personality disorders are typically persistent and long-standing. The patterns tend to begin in adolescence or early adulthood and remain consistent across many areas of life.

• How symptoms show up

Even though symptoms of both mood disorders and personality disorders can impact your cognitive and emotional well-being, they do have many different symptoms. While both can involve strong emotions, personality disorders tend to involve consistent relational or behavioral difficulties that go beyond mood shifts.

Mood disorder symptoms may include:

• Ongoing sadness or emptiness
• Loss of interest in activities
• Changes in sleep or appetite
• Extreme highs and lows in energy
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt

Personality disorder symptoms may include:

• Difficulty maintaining stable relationships
• Intense fear of abandonment
• Impulsive behaviors
• Unstable self-image
• Patterns of conflict with others

• Self-perception and Identity

Mood disorders usually affect how someone feels about themselves and their future during an episode. For example, depression can bring persistent self-criticism or feelings of hopelessness.

Personality disorders more deeply affect identity and self-concept over time. 

Someone with either disorder may struggle with:

• A fluctuating sense of who they are
• Chronic feelings of emptiness
• Difficulty understanding their role in relationships

These identity-related challenges are typically more ingrained than the self-doubt that can occur during a depressive episode.

• Triggers and environmental response

Depending on the type of disorder you have, your symptoms may appear from different stimuli.

Mood disorders can sometimes be triggered by life events, stress or biological factors. These may include major life transitions, hormonal changes or family history.

Personality disorders are not usually tied to a single event. Instead, they reflect patterns that show up across different environments, such as workplaces, family events and social gatherings.

That said, both types of disorders are influenced by a mix of biological, psychological and environmental factors.

Lightfully can help treat both mood and personality disorders

Whether you have a mood or personality disorder, there are effective treatments that can reduce the impact of symptoms on your overall quality of life. A combination of therapy and medication is commonly used for many mood disorders, while personality disorders are primarily treated with psychotherapy, with medication sometimes used to target specific symptoms. However, you may need higher levels of care, and that’s OK.

Lightfully has four levels of care that can help people with mood and personality disorders:

• Residential Treatment
• Partial Hospitalization Program 
• Intensive Outpatient Program
• Virtual Services (vPHP/vIOP)

At Lightfully, treatment is guided by Precision Care Model (PCM), a fully personalized framework that integrates evidence-based approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Each client’s treatment plan is designed specifically for them, because no two people experience mental health disorders in the same way.

Change is possible. When you’re ready to take the first step, reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of you.