Mood Disorders

Mood Disorder Treatment in Texas - DFW, Houston, Austin and Beyond

Medically reviewed by Dr. Akinwande Akintola, MD — July 2026 · Last updated July 2026

Person in thoughtful contemplation — mood disorder treatment Texas

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Most insured patients pay $0-$30 per visit
Most new patients seen within 1-2 business days
In-network with major insurers - BlueCross, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, Aetna

Mood disorders affect the way a person feels over time and can make daily life significantly harder. They are not the result of character weakness or the wrong attitude. They are medical conditions with measurable biological underpinnings and effective treatments. NIMH estimates that roughly 21.4% of U.S. adults will experience a mood disorder at some point in their lives.

Medically reviewed by Akinwande Akintola, MD, Supervisory Psychiatrist · Written by the Lyte Psychiatry clinical team · Last updated July 2026

What Are Mood Disorders?

Mood disorders are a broad category of psychiatric conditions characterized by disruptions in emotional state that significantly affect daily functioning. This category includes major depressive disorder, persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia), bipolar I and II disorder, cyclothymic disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Each has distinct features, a different course, and requires different treatment.

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder affects approximately 2.8% of U.S. adults, according to NIMH, with nearly 83% of cases classified as severe. It is characterized by episodes of mania or hypomania alternating with depressive episodes. The manic phase can involve elevated mood, decreased need for sleep, grandiosity, impulsive behavior, and rapid thoughts. Accurate diagnosis is essential because antidepressants alone can trigger or worsen manic episodes in bipolar disorder, making correct identification of the condition before starting treatment critical.

Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)

Dysthymia is a form of chronic, low-grade depression that persists for at least two years. People with dysthymia often describe feeling chronically sad, empty, or "not quite right" for so long they assume it is simply their personality. The APA notes that dysthymia is often underdiagnosed precisely because people adapt to the baseline and do not recognize it as a treatable condition. It responds well to medication and psychotherapy.

Getting the Right Diagnosis

Misdiagnosis is common in mood disorders. Bipolar depression is frequently mistaken for major depressive disorder, leading to antidepressant treatment alone, which can trigger a manic episode. A thorough psychiatric evaluation covering the full mood episode history is the foundation of appropriate treatment. At Lyte Psychiatry, we take the time to get this right before prescribing.

Mood Stabilizers and Other Treatments

Mood stabilizers including lithium, valproate, and lamotrigine are the backbone of bipolar disorder treatment. Atypical antipsychotics including quetiapine, lurasidone, and aripiprazole have FDA approval for specific phases of bipolar disorder. For major depression and dysthymia, SSRIs and SNRIs are typically first-line. The choice of medication depends on the specific diagnosis, episode type, and individual patient factors.

Frequently Asked Questions: Mood Disorders

How common are mood disorders?

NIMH estimates that approximately 21.4% of U.S. adults will experience a mood disorder at some point in their lifetime. Major depressive disorder is the most common, affecting roughly 8.3% of adults in any given year. Bipolar disorder affects about 2.8% of adults, with most cases being severe.

What is the difference between depression and bipolar disorder?

Both involve depressive episodes that can look identical. The distinction is whether the person has ever had a manic or hypomanic episode. Bipolar I disorder requires at least one full manic episode. Bipolar II requires at least one hypomanic episode. Untreated bipolar depression treated with antidepressants alone can trigger mania. This is why thorough evaluation before prescribing antidepressants is so important.

What mood stabilizers does Lyte Psychiatry prescribe?

Lyte Psychiatry providers prescribe lithium, valproate (Depakote), lamotrigine (Lamictal), and atypical antipsychotics with mood-stabilizing properties including quetiapine, lurasidone, and aripiprazole. APA guidelines guide medication selection based on episode type and phase.

Can mood disorders be treated via telehealth?

Yes. Lyte Psychiatry provides HIPAA-compliant telehealth evaluation and medication management for mood disorders to all Texas and New Mexico residents. Same-week appointments are available. For patients on lithium, we coordinate with local labs for monitoring.

Does insurance cover mood disorder treatment?

Yes. Mood disorder treatment is covered by all major insurance plans under mental health parity laws. Lyte Psychiatry accepts BlueCross BlueShield, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, Humana, and Aetna. Most patients pay $0-$30 per session. See all insurance plans we accept →

Can cyclothymia be treated with medication?

Yes. Cyclothymia is a milder form of bipolar disorder involving recurrent hypomanic and depressive symptoms that do not meet full criteria for a manic or depressive episode. Mood stabilizers and psychotherapy can significantly reduce symptom frequency and severity. Left untreated, cyclothymia carries a risk of progressing to bipolar I or II disorder.

What is PMDD and how is it treated?

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a mood disorder tied to the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, producing severe depression, anxiety, irritability, and mood instability that resolves shortly after menstruation begins. ACOG estimates PMDD affects approximately 3-8% of women of reproductive age. SSRIs are the most effective medication treatment and can be prescribed continuously or only during the luteal phase.

How is a mood disorder diagnosed?

Diagnosis requires a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation covering current symptoms, episode history (how long, how severe, what triggered them), family psychiatric history, and medical history. There are no blood tests for mood disorders. Diagnosis is based on clinical criteria defined in the DSM-5. Getting the diagnosis right the first time prevents the harm of inappropriate treatment.

Trusted Resources & Sources

NIMH — Mood Disorders Overview

Spectrum of unipolar and bipolar mood disorders

NAMI — Mood Disorders

National Alliance on Mental Illness patient and family resources

APA — Mood Disorder Treatment

Evidence-based clinical guidelines from the APA

SAMHSA — Mental Health

SAMHSA federal behavioral health resources

Lyte Psychiatry's content is reviewed by board-certified psychiatrists and references peer-reviewed research and federal health agency data.

Your treatment options

How Lyte treats mood disorder

Lyte provides therapy, psychiatric evaluation and medication management for mood disorder across Texas. You may begin with one type of care or receive both through the same practice. Your clinician will recommend a plan based on your symptoms, health history, goals and preferences.

Therapy

Work with a licensed therapist on coping skills, patterns, relationships and the circumstances affecting your symptoms.

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Psychiatric care

A psychiatric provider can evaluate your symptoms, consider possible diagnoses and discuss whether medication or another medical treatment is appropriate.

Learn about medication management →

Combined care

When both services are useful, your therapist and psychiatric provider can coordinate within one practice instead of asking you to manage two separate care teams.

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What happens at your first appointment?

Your first visit gives you and your provider time to discuss what has been happening, how it affects daily life, your medical and mental health history, current medications and what you want help with. You will discuss possible next steps together.

Therapy visits focus on understanding your concerns and building a practical treatment plan. A psychiatric evaluation also considers whether your symptoms may be connected to a condition that could benefit from medication. A prescription is never automatic.

Before the appointment, Lyte can check your insurance benefits and explain the expected cost. Coverage and out-of-pocket amounts depend on your plan and whether the service is medically necessary. Review accepted insurance plans.

Serving patients across Texas

Lyte Psychiatry provides mood disorder treatment to patients throughout Texas. Our physical clinic at 2900 W Park Row Dr in Pantego, TX serves the greater Dallas–Fort Worth area, with access from Arlington, Grand Prairie, Irving, Garland, Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Denton, Carrollton, Lewisville and Richardson.

HIPAA-compliant telehealth is available across Texas, including Houston, Austin, San Antonio, El Paso, Lubbock, Corpus Christi, Waco, Amarillo, Midland, Odessa, Abilene, Round Rock, College Station, Tyler, Beaumont, Laredo, Killeen, Edinburg and other Texas communities.

Lyte participates with several major insurance networks, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, Humana and Aetna. Participation and benefits can vary by plan, provider and service, so the team verifies benefits before the first appointment. Self-pay rates are also available. Most new patients are seen within 1–2 business days. Call 469-733-0848 or review insurance information.

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Lyte Psychiatry serves patients across Texas, in-person in the DFW area and virtually statewide. Most patients are seen within the week.

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