Mental disorders
A mental disorder which is also called a mental illness or psychiatric disorder is a mental or behavioral pattern or anomaly that causes either suffering or an impaired ability to function in ordinary life (disability), and which is not a developmental or social norm.
Mental disorders are generally defined by a combination of how a person feels acts, thinks or perceives. This may be associated with particular regions or functions of the brain or the rest of the nervous system, often in a social context.
Mental disorder is one aspect of mental health. The scientific study of mental disorders is called psychopathology. A mental disorder is a disease that causes mild to severe disturbances in thought or behavior, resulting in an inability to cope with life’s ordinary demands and routines.
Symptoms
- Prolonged depression (sadness or irritability)
- Feelings of extreme highs and lows
- Excessive fears, worries and anxieties
- Dramatic changes in eating or sleeping habits
- Strong feelings of anger
- Delusions or hallucinations
- Growing inability to cope with daily problems and activities
- Suicidal thoughts
- Numerous unexplained physical ailments
- Substance abuse
Causes
Mental illnesses may be caused by a reaction to environmental stresses, genetic factors, biochemical imbalances, or a combination of these.
Treatment
A mental disorder, like many chronic illnesses, requires ongoing treatment. Fortunately, much progress has been made in the last two decades in treating mental disorder. As a result, many mental conditions can be effectively treated with one or a combination of the following therapies. With proper care and treatment many individuals learn to cope or recover from a mental illness or emotional disorder. The following will help in treating mental disorder.
- Medication.
- Psychotherapy
- Group therapy.
- Day treatment or partial hospital treatment.
- Specific therapies, such as cognitive-behavior therapy and behavior modification.