Mental disorders are generally characterized by some combination of abnormal thoughts, emotions, behaviour and relationships with others. Most of these disorders can be successfully treated . Mental illness is not the result of personal weakness or a character defect and recovery from a mental illness is not simply a matter of will and self-discipline.
Classification—
- Organic
- Acute (delirium)
- Chronic (dementia)
- Substance misuse
- Schizophrenia and delusional disorders
- Affective(mood) disorders
- Depression
- Mania
- Recurrent affective disoders
- Neurotic,stress-related and Somatoform disorder
- Anxiety disorders
- Obsessive compulsive disorder
- Acute stress disorder
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Adjustment disorder
- Dissociative (conversion disorder)
- Somatoform disorder
- Neurasthenia
- Behavioural syndromes associated with physiological disturbance
- Eating disorder
- Sleep disorder
- Sexual dysfunction
- Puerperal mental disorders
- Personality disorders
Causes—-
- Heredity (genetics)
Hereditary means that one is more likely to get the condition than if one have an affected family member.
- Biology
Abnormal balance of neurotransmitters (special chemicals in the brain).
- Psychological trauma like-
- Severe emotional, physical or sexual abuse
- Significant early loss( a parent)
- Childhood neglect
- Environmental stressors
- Divorce/dysfunctional family life
- Changing jobs or schools
- Substance abuse
Treatment—-
As many as 8 in 10 people suffering from a mental illness can effectively return to their normal activities if they receive appropriate treatment.
- Medication
- Psychotherapy
- Group therapy
- Systemic desensitization
- Flooding
- Operant conditioning
- Modelling
- Day treatment or partial hospital treatment
- Cognitive-behavior therapy
- Behavior modification
- Alternative therapies
- Water therapy
- Massage
- Biofeedback
- Creative therapies
- Art therapy
- Music therapy
- Play therapy
- Hypnotherapy
- Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
- Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS)