Contrary to the popular opinion of Internet support forums, stress indeed can cause mood disorders and episodes in people who are susceptible to them. Life events triggering an episode does not mean it's not a mood disorder. What needs to be looked at in order to determine if its mood related vs. natural life is the degree of loss of function. It can be said that if no loss of function or problems with interpersonal relations occurs, it's not a mood episode....but it cannot be said with any legitimacy that if your life sucks you can't be having a mood episode. My neighbor could go through the stress I am and be very down but I get the birds, crickets and television talking to me. My neighbor might find it hard to get out of bed and struggle to get things done, I don't get out of bed or eat. It's the loss of function we need to most be concerned with. That is not to say that someone who has not lost function doesn't need and deserve help to get through their stress, but it's unlikely an antipsychotic would be needed. There is a big misunderstanding regarding the role stress can play in non personality disorder related mental illness.