Book excerpt: Courses in psychological distress and disorders are among the most popular courses in psychology programs, and mood and anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent disorders covered in these classes and encountered by mental health professionals. Although there are books on mood and anxiety disorders, on particular aspects of them, and on their presentation in specific populations, such works do not provide students new to the field with a comprehensive and accessible ready reference for understanding these disorders with respect to their phenomenology, etiology, and treatment, and through an inclusive lens that consistently considers how these symptoms appear and are construed across cultures, addressing societal factors such as race, culture, equity, and oppression. It is hoped that The SAGE Encyclopedia of Mood and Anxiety Disorders will fill this gap, allowing students and other interested readers to become familiar with past and current approaches and theories and to enhance their understanding of the sociocultural factors that affect how we discuss, approach, and treat these types of psychological distress. As such, consideration of sociocultural factors will infuse the three-volume set. The encyclopedia will consist of approximately 450 entries (essays), arranged alphabetically within three volumes.