Approximately 19 million Americans are affected by mood disorders (The two main types of mood disorders are bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder, described as mood disorders, of behavior and emotions.“ Bipolar Disorder is a complex disorder in which the main feature is a pathological mood disorder ranging from extreme euphoria, or mania, to severe depression, usually accompanied by disturbances of thought and behavior, which may include psychotic symptoms, such as delusions and hallucinations" (Craddock, Jones 1999). Major depressive disorder or unipolar depression is characterized by a consistently low mood and lack of interest in things typically enjoyed. A second classification of major depressive disorder is dysthymic disorder which is a chronic but less severe form of major depression (John W. Santrock 2007). Major depression also includes many subgroups, including seasonal affective disorder and postpartum depression. While there are many treatment options for mood disorder symptoms and promising scientific research, much is still unknown about a disorder that affects so many lives. According to Dinsmoor, RS & Odle, TG (2009), bipolar depression refers to a condition in which people experience two extremes of mood. The bipolar spectrum includes; bipolar I, bipolar 2, bipolar NOS (not otherwise specified), and cyclothymia and are all related to mood disorders but differ in the severity of symptoms. They are differentiated based on the “impact that the symptoms have on the person's social or occupational function” (Duckworth & Sachs 2011). Typically bipolar I is more severe than bipolar II, and bipolar II is more severe than cyclothymia, which is a more chronic unstable mood state in which the “highs…the middle of the card…seem to be affected.” and is often considered a second-line treatment if ETC is unsuccessful. Light therapy can also be used to treat depression that occurs during the winter months and to restore a normal sleep cycle, but it is not considered an effective treatment for mood disorders when used alone. Mood disorders are complex and there are no simple solutions. They affect people of all races, social and cultural conditions and economic conditions. Mood disorders can have profound effects on families and those affected, but there is hope. According to Craddock and Jones (1999) “However, it is almost certain that bipolar susceptibility genes will be identified in the coming years. This will have an important impact on the pathophysiology of the disease and provide important opportunities to study interactions between genetics and environmental factors”.