MENTAL DISORDERS

Nationwide 50 million Americans suffer from a mental illness in a given year

Mental Illness is more common than:

Cancer

Diabetes

Heart Disease

Psychiatric disorders are the number 1 reason for hospital admissions nationwide

CAUSES

Biological Causes

Biochemical Disturbances

Genetics

Infections- can cause brain damage

Brain defects or injury

Prenatal damage

Poor nutrition, exposure to toxins

CAUSES

Psychological Causes

Severe psychological trauma suffered as a child, such as emotional, physical or sexual abuse

An important early loss, such as the loss of a parent

Neglect

Poor ability to relate to others

CAUSES

Environmental Factors

Death or divorce

A dysfunctional family life

Living in poverty

Feelings of inadequacy, low self-esteem, anxiety, anger or loneliness

Changing jobs or schools

Social or cultural expectations (For example, a society that associates beauty with thinness can be a factor in the development of eating disorders.)

Substance abuse by the person or the person's parents

Stigmization

35% of people with diagnosable disorders seek treatment

The single most common barrier to seeking treatment is Shame

Types of Anxiety Disorders

Panic Disorder

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Social Anxiety Disorder

Specific Phobias

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Symptoms of Anxiety

Feelings of panic, fear and uneasiness

Uncontrollable, obsessive thoughts

Repeated thoughts or flashbacks of traumatic experiences

Problems sleeping

Cold or sweaty hands

Shortness of breath

An inability to be still and calm

Dry mouth

Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet

Nausea and muscle tensions

How common is Anxiety

• Anxiety disorders affect about 19 million adult Americans.

• Most anxiety disorders begin in childhood, adolescence and early adulthood.

• They occur slightly more often in women than in men, and occur with equal frequency in Caucasians, blacks

and Hispanics.

Treatment for Anxiety

Medication-Medicines used to reduce the symptoms of anxiety disorders include anti-depressants and anxiety-reducing

medications.

Psychotherapy (a type of counseling) addresses the emotional response to mental illness. It is a process in which trained mental health professionals help people by talking through strategies for understanding and dealing with their disorder.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy: People suffering from anxiety disorders often participate in this type of psychotherapy in which the person learns to recognize and change thought patterns and

behaviors that lead to troublesome feelings.

Types of Depression

Situational/Adjustment

Seasonal

Clinical Depression

Bipolar (Manic-Depressive Illness)

Dysthymia

Seasonal Depression

Seasonal depression, called seasonal affective disorder (SAD), is a depression that occurs each year at the same time, usually starting in fall or winter and ending in spring or early summer. It is more than just "the winter blues" or "cabin fever."

Symptoms of winter SAD may include the seasonal occurrence of:

Fatigue

Increased need for sleep

Decreased levels of energy

Weight gain

Increase in appetite

Difficulty concentrating

Increased desire to be alone

Dysthymia Depression

Dysthymia, sometimes referred to as chronic depression, is a less severe form of depression but the depression symptoms linger for

a long period of time, perhaps years. Those who suffer from dysthymia are usually able to function normally, but seem

consistently unhappy.

Symptoms of dysthymia include:

Difficulty sleeping

Loss of interest or the ability to enjoy oneself

Excessive feelings of guilt or worthlessness

Loss of energy or fatigue

Difficulty concentrating, thinking or making decisions

Changes in appetite

Thoughts of death or suicide

Clinical Depression

1.5 million young adults in US each year

Fewer than half seek treatment

1 of 4 women and 1 of 10 men develop depression during their lifetime

Often begins in early adult years

Family history, substance abuse, and stress increase risk

Clinical Depression

An illness, not a weakness

Serious disturbances in work, social, and physical functioning including suicidal thought

Not relieved by circumstances

May last for months or years untreated

Persistent and intense mood change

Clinical Depression

Extreme sadness, guilt, shame

Decreased concentration, poor academic performance or work performance

Decreased interest/enjoyment in daily activities

Increased irritability, arguments

Change in sleep, appetite, energy

Social withdrawal

Hopelessness, helplessness, suicidal thought

Bipolar Disorder

2% general population over a lifetime

Half of cases begin before age 20

Episodic extremes between states

depressed state and excitable,

euphoric/irritable, impulsive state

Strong family linkage

Occurs equally in men and women

Symptoms Bipolar

Symptoms of mania ("the highs"):

Excessive happiness, hopefulness, and excitement

Sudden changes from being joyful to being irritable, angry, and hostile

Restlessness

Rapid speech and poor concentration

Increased energy and less need for sleep

Increased impulsivity

Treatment for Biopolar

Mood stabilizer medication

Psychotherapy

May require emergency hospitalization

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Common obsessions include:

Fear of dirt or contamination by germs.

Fear of causing harm to another.

Fear of making a mistake.

Fear of being embarrassed or behaving in a socially unacceptable manner.

Fear of thinking evil or sinful thoughts.

Need for order, symmetry or exactness.

Excessive doubt and the need for constant reassurance

Treatment OCD

Therapy: Various types of psychotherapy, including individual, group and family therapy

Medication

Psychotic Disorders

Schizophrenia, disorder is a type of "psychosis" in which a person cannot tell what is real from what is imaginedHallucinations are unusual sensory experiences or

perceptions of things that aren't actually present, such as seeing things that aren't there, hearing voices, smelling odors

Delusions are false beliefs that are persistent and organized, and that do not go away after receiving logical or accurate information. For example, a person who is certain his or her food is poisoned, even if it has been proven that the food is fine, is suffering from a delusion.

How common Psychotic Disorders

About 1% of the population worldwide suffers from psychotic disorders. These disorders most often first appear when a person is in his or her late teens, 20s or 30s. They tend to affect men

and women about equally

Treatment Psychotic Disorders

Medication

Psychotherapy: Various types of psychotherapy, including individual, group and family therapy, may be used to help support the person with a psychotic disorder.

Reference Pages

http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/mental-health-types-illness

A topical approach to Life Span Development, John W Santrock