How long do treatments for mood disorders work?

Depends: In some people, the treatment can work for years, in some people, especially with new onset medical conditions or substance abuse, the meds can stop working. Sometimes the meds stop working on their own. Most of the time the reason they stop working is because people stop them. Also, in bipolar disorder, antidepressants often work and then stop working if the person is not on a mood stabilizer.

Mood: Treatment starts with acute phase, continues into maintenance phase, then gradually meds. Are tapered thru the recovery phase . These phases roughly last 3-6 months, 6-12 months, then a year to indefinite, depending on initial response, etiology, social and other factors.