Mood disorders involve disturbances in emotions that cause discomfort and impair functioning. Depression is characterized by sadness and withdrawal, while mania involves elevated mood and hyperactivity. Mood disorders can be unipolar, involving only depression, or bipolar, involving both manic and depressive episodes. Depression is more common than mania and affects females more than males. Risk of recurrence increases with each mood episode. Treatment involves medication, psychotherapy, and electroconvulsive therapy. Suicide is often associated with mood disorders and involves intentional self-harm as an escape from psychological pain. Risk factors include depression, substance abuse, and communication of suicidal intent.