The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) explains mood disorder not otherwise specified (NOS) as a mood disorder that impairs an individual but does not meet each criterion required for the diagnosis of a specific mood disorder. Therefore, when a person presents mood-related symptoms but does not present each of the criteria for any particular kind of mood disorder, his healthcare provider might diagnose him with mood disorder NOS or one of the more specific NOS diagnoses. Treatment usually depends on the more prevalent symptoms or, when possible, the more specific diagnosis.
Mood disorders are psychological conditions characterized by mood disturbances acting as the fundamental symptoms. Broadly speaking, disorders dealing with depression and mania are the two most recognized groups, and within those groups are more specific disorders. Typically, medical professionals use the diagnostic codes within the DSM-IV to diagnose them. When a person does not meet requirements set forth in the diagnostic codes for a particular mood disorder, he might be diagnosed with this more general disorder.
Although a straight diagnosis of mood disorder not otherwise specified is possible, a more specific psychiatric diagnosis also is possible. Probably the two most common of the disorders in this family are depressive disorder not otherwise specified (DD-NOS) and bipolar disorder not otherwise specified (BD-NOS). Each of these disorders feature symptoms prevalent in their namesakes. For example, a person might be diagnosed with DD-NOS if he displays symptoms of other depressive disorders, such as major depressive disorder or dysthymia, but does not meet the exact criteria for one of those. Likewise, a person might be diagnosed with BD-NOS if he experiences symptoms on the bipolar spectrum, such as depression and mania, but does not meet the criteria for any of the specific bipolar disorder diagnoses.
Generally, treatment for mood disorder not otherwise specified is similar to treatment for other types of mood disorders. A person diagnosed with a mood disorder might receive therapy, medications, or more commonly a combination of both. Of course, the type of therapy and medication most likely will depend on the predominant symptoms. For example, a person diagnosed with depressive disorder not otherwise specified might receive a combination of therapy and medications designed to treat symptoms of depression. On the other hand, a person diagnosed with bipolar disorder not otherwise specified might receive a combination of therapy and medications designed to treat the symptoms of both depression and mania.