Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionSymptomsTimelineDiagnosisCausesTreatment

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Definition

Symptoms

Timeline

Diagnosis

Causes

Treatment

Substance-induced mood disorder is a kind of mood disorder that is related to alcohol, drug, or medication use. Substance/medication-induced mood disorder is the diagnostic name for alcohol or drug-induced depression.What Is Substance-Induced Mood Disorder?Most people take drugs to feel better, yet those same drugs can make them feel worse in the long run. People sometimes don’t realize that it is alcohol, drugs, or medications that are causing the way that they are feeling because they associate those substances with only positive emotions.Types of Substance-Induced Mood DisordersThere are several specific types of substance-induced mood disorders. In addition to substance/medication-induced depressive disorder, there is also:Substance/medication-induced bipolar or related disorderSubstance/medication-induced anxiety disorderSubstance/medication-induced obsessive-compulsive or related disorderSubstance/ medication-induced psychotic disorderHealthcare providers check to make sure that the depression wasn’t there before the use of alcohol, drugs, or medications thought to be responsible.This is because there are differenttypes of depressive disorders, and if the symptoms were there before the substance use, it isn’t the substance/medication-induced type of depression.Signs and Symptoms of Substance-Induced Mood DisordersSubstance- or medication-induced mood disorders cause symptoms that are the same or similar to those of mood conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, OCD, or psychosis.Substance-induced depressive disorder, for example, can lead to symptoms such as:Low moodLoss of interest in previously enjoyed activitiesFeelings of helplessness or hopelessnessIrritabilityLow energy and fatigueChanges in sleep patternsChanges in appetiteDifficulty concentratingFeelings of guilt or worthlessnessThoughts of death or suicideIf you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.Other symptoms that can occur with other types of substance- and medication-induced mood disorders include mania, psychosis, anxiety, or uncontrollable recurring thoughts.When Does a Substance-Induced Mood Disorder Start?In some cases, symptoms and signs can begin almost immediately—evenduringintoxication, In others,withdrawalbrings on symptoms.In withdrawal-related depression, the person’s mood usually picks up within a few days of drug cessation. Substance-induced depression, can start during withdrawal and continue or get worse as the person moves through the detox process.Generally, this diagnosis is rarely given for people who have a history of depression without substance use, or if the symptoms continue for more than a month afterabstaining from alcohol, drugs, or medication.Diagnosing Substance-Induced Mood DisordersTo be diagnosed with a substance/medication-induced mood disorder, people must display prominent mood disturbances after substance/medication use or withdrawal. These symptoms lead to significant distress or impair a person’s ability to function in important areas of their life.For the diagnosis of substance/medication-induced depressive disorder to be given, for example, there have to be severe symptoms that are not related to intoxication or withdrawal, which require clinical evaluation.For instance, there may be a significant change in mood that impacts people’s lives, causing, perhaps, a great deal of distress or impairing some aspect of their life, such as their social life, their employment situation, or another part of their life that is important to them.Drugs That Cause Substance-Induced Mood DisordersA wide variety of psychoactive substances can cause substance/medication-induced mood disorders. These include:AlcoholPhencyclidine and other hallucinogensInhalantsOpioidsSedativesHypnoticsAnxiolyticsAmphetamines and other stimulantsCocaineMany medications are known to cause substance-induced depression. The following disorders are recognized:Steroid-induced depressive disorderL-dopa-induced depressive disorderAntibiotic-induced depressive disorderCentral nervous system drug-induced depressive disorderDermatological agent-induced depressive disorderChemotherapeutic drug-induced depressive disorderImmunological agent-induced depressive disorderSpecific Medications That Can Cause DepressionThere are also a number of specific medications that have been implicated inmedication-induced depressionthrough surveillance studies, retrospective observational studies, or case reports. Some of these include:Antiviral agents (such as efavirenz)Cardiovascular agents (such as clonidine, guanethidine, methyldopa, reserpine)Retinoic acid derivatives (such as isotretinoin)Antidepressants, anticonvulsants, anti-migraine agents (triptans), antipsychotics, hormonal agents (corticosteroidsOral contraceptives, gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists, tamoxifen)Smoking cessation agents (varenicline)Immunological agents (interferon)Treatment for Substance/Medication-Induced Mood DisordersTreatment for substance/medication-induced mood disorders involves stopping the exposure to the substances or medications causing the condition.However, you should always talk to your doctor before you stop taking a medication. Some substances, such as alcohol or benzodiazepines, can lead to potentially dangerous withdrawal symptoms.For some substances, your doctor may be able to prescribe medications that can minimize your withdrawal symptoms or reduce drug cravings. Your doctor may also prescribe certain medications to help manage the symptoms you are experiencing, such as antidepressants or antipsychotics.Psychotherapy can also help treat symptoms of mental disorders and help you stop using the substances that caused your mood disorder. Types of therapy that can be helpful includecognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT),family therapy, ormotivational enhancement therapy (MET).

Substance-induced mood disorder is a kind of mood disorder that is related to alcohol, drug, or medication use. Substance/medication-induced mood disorder is the diagnostic name for alcohol or drug-induced depression.

What Is Substance-Induced Mood Disorder?

Most people take drugs to feel better, yet those same drugs can make them feel worse in the long run. People sometimes don’t realize that it is alcohol, drugs, or medications that are causing the way that they are feeling because they associate those substances with only positive emotions.

Types of Substance-Induced Mood DisordersThere are several specific types of substance-induced mood disorders. In addition to substance/medication-induced depressive disorder, there is also:Substance/medication-induced bipolar or related disorderSubstance/medication-induced anxiety disorderSubstance/medication-induced obsessive-compulsive or related disorderSubstance/ medication-induced psychotic disorder

Types of Substance-Induced Mood Disorders

There are several specific types of substance-induced mood disorders. In addition to substance/medication-induced depressive disorder, there is also:Substance/medication-induced bipolar or related disorderSubstance/medication-induced anxiety disorderSubstance/medication-induced obsessive-compulsive or related disorderSubstance/ medication-induced psychotic disorder

There are several specific types of substance-induced mood disorders. In addition to substance/medication-induced depressive disorder, there is also:

Healthcare providers check to make sure that the depression wasn’t there before the use of alcohol, drugs, or medications thought to be responsible.This is because there are differenttypes of depressive disorders, and if the symptoms were there before the substance use, it isn’t the substance/medication-induced type of depression.

Signs and Symptoms of Substance-Induced Mood Disorders

Substance- or medication-induced mood disorders cause symptoms that are the same or similar to those of mood conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, OCD, or psychosis.

Substance-induced depressive disorder, for example, can lead to symptoms such as:

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

Other symptoms that can occur with other types of substance- and medication-induced mood disorders include mania, psychosis, anxiety, or uncontrollable recurring thoughts.

When Does a Substance-Induced Mood Disorder Start?

In some cases, symptoms and signs can begin almost immediately—evenduringintoxication, In others,withdrawalbrings on symptoms.

In withdrawal-related depression, the person’s mood usually picks up within a few days of drug cessation. Substance-induced depression, can start during withdrawal and continue or get worse as the person moves through the detox process.

Generally, this diagnosis is rarely given for people who have a history of depression without substance use, or if the symptoms continue for more than a month afterabstaining from alcohol, drugs, or medication.

Diagnosing Substance-Induced Mood Disorders

To be diagnosed with a substance/medication-induced mood disorder, people must display prominent mood disturbances after substance/medication use or withdrawal. These symptoms lead to significant distress or impair a person’s ability to function in important areas of their life.

For the diagnosis of substance/medication-induced depressive disorder to be given, for example, there have to be severe symptoms that are not related to intoxication or withdrawal, which require clinical evaluation.

For instance, there may be a significant change in mood that impacts people’s lives, causing, perhaps, a great deal of distress or impairing some aspect of their life, such as their social life, their employment situation, or another part of their life that is important to them.

Drugs That Cause Substance-Induced Mood Disorders

A wide variety of psychoactive substances can cause substance/medication-induced mood disorders. These include:

Many medications are known to cause substance-induced depression. The following disorders are recognized:

Specific Medications That Can Cause Depression

There are also a number of specific medications that have been implicated inmedication-induced depressionthrough surveillance studies, retrospective observational studies, or case reports. Some of these include:

Treatment for Substance/Medication-Induced Mood Disorders

Treatment for substance/medication-induced mood disorders involves stopping the exposure to the substances or medications causing the condition.

However, you should always talk to your doctor before you stop taking a medication. Some substances, such as alcohol or benzodiazepines, can lead to potentially dangerous withdrawal symptoms.

For some substances, your doctor may be able to prescribe medications that can minimize your withdrawal symptoms or reduce drug cravings. Your doctor may also prescribe certain medications to help manage the symptoms you are experiencing, such as antidepressants or antipsychotics.

Psychotherapy can also help treat symptoms of mental disorders and help you stop using the substances that caused your mood disorder. Types of therapy that can be helpful includecognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT),family therapy, ormotivational enhancement therapy (MET).

4 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text revision. Washington, D.C.; 2022.Dakwar E, Nunes EV, Bisaga A, et al.A comparison of independent depression and substance-induced depression in cannabis-, cocaine-, and opioid-dependent treatment seekers.Am J Addict. 2011;20(5):441-6. doi:10.1111%2Fj.1521-0391.2011.00148.xAmerican Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition, DSM-5.American Psychiatric Association, 2013.Revadigar N, Gupta V.Substance-induced mood disorders. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. Updated October 5, 2020.Additional ReadingAmerican Psychiatric Association,Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,fifth edition, DSM-5. American Psychiatric Association, 2013.

4 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text revision. Washington, D.C.; 2022.Dakwar E, Nunes EV, Bisaga A, et al.A comparison of independent depression and substance-induced depression in cannabis-, cocaine-, and opioid-dependent treatment seekers.Am J Addict. 2011;20(5):441-6. doi:10.1111%2Fj.1521-0391.2011.00148.xAmerican Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition, DSM-5.American Psychiatric Association, 2013.Revadigar N, Gupta V.Substance-induced mood disorders. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. Updated October 5, 2020.Additional ReadingAmerican Psychiatric Association,Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,fifth edition, DSM-5. American Psychiatric Association, 2013.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text revision. Washington, D.C.; 2022.Dakwar E, Nunes EV, Bisaga A, et al.A comparison of independent depression and substance-induced depression in cannabis-, cocaine-, and opioid-dependent treatment seekers.Am J Addict. 2011;20(5):441-6. doi:10.1111%2Fj.1521-0391.2011.00148.xAmerican Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition, DSM-5.American Psychiatric Association, 2013.Revadigar N, Gupta V.Substance-induced mood disorders. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. Updated October 5, 2020.

American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text revision. Washington, D.C.; 2022.

Dakwar E, Nunes EV, Bisaga A, et al.A comparison of independent depression and substance-induced depression in cannabis-, cocaine-, and opioid-dependent treatment seekers.Am J Addict. 2011;20(5):441-6. doi:10.1111%2Fj.1521-0391.2011.00148.x

American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition, DSM-5.American Psychiatric Association, 2013.

Revadigar N, Gupta V.Substance-induced mood disorders. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. Updated October 5, 2020.

American Psychiatric Association,Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,fifth edition, DSM-5. American Psychiatric Association, 2013.

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