Mood

A mood is an emotional state. Moods differ from emotions, feelings or affects in that they are less specific, less intense, and less likely to be triggered by a particular stimulus or event. Moods generally have either a positive or negative valence. In other words, people typically speak of being in a good mood or a bad mood.

Mood also differs from temperament or personality traits which are even longer-lasting. Nevertheless, personality traits such as optimism and neuroticism predispose certain types of moods. Long-term disturbances of mood such as clinical depression and bipolar disorder are considered mood disorders. The mood is an internal, subjective state but it often can be inferred from posture and other behaviors. “We can be sent into a mood by an unexpected event, from the happiness of seeing an old friend to the anger of discovering betrayal by a partner. We may also just fall into a mood.”

Memory impairment and mood disorders are among the most troubling sequelae following traumatic brain injury (TBI). The relationships between comorbid psychiatric disorders and memory function have not been well illustrated.

More depressive symptoms rather than anxiety symptoms and less years of education are significant predictors for posttraumatic memory dysfunction ¹⁾.