What disorder is characterized by abnormal shifts in mood and requires medication and psychotherapy for treatment?

Mood disorders are characterized by significant changes in a person's emotional state, including episodes of depression, mania, or both. These disorders can severely impact an individual's daily functioning and relationships.

Effective treatment for mood disorders often involves a combination of medication, such as antidepressants or mood stabilizers, and psychotherapy. This dual approach helps address the biochemical aspects of the disorder as well as the psychological factors, providing a more comprehensive strategy for managing symptoms and improving overall well-being.

Conditions such as sociopathy, personality disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, while they may also require treatment approaches that include therapy and sometimes medication, do not specifically encompass the characteristic abnormal mood shifts that define mood disorders. Thus, the focus on mood regulation in treatment highlights the central role of mood disorders in this question.