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Mental and Emotional Problems

Mental Disorders

A mental disorder is an illness of the mind that can affect the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of a person, preventing him or her from leading a happy, healthful, and productive life.

What are Mental Disorders?

An estimated 26.2 percent of Americans ages 18 and older — about one in four adults — suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year.1 When applied to the 2004 U.S. Census residential population estimate for ages 18 and older, this figure translates to 57.7 million people.2

References 1. Kessler RC, Chiu WT, Demler O, Walters EE. Prevalence, severity, and comorbidity of twelve-month DSM-IV disorders in the

National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R). Archives of General Psychiatry, 2005 Jun;62(6):617-27. 2. U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates by Demographic Characteristics. Table 2: Annual Estimates of the Population by Selected

Age Groups and Sex for the United States: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2004 (NC-EST2004-02) Source: Population Division, U.S. Census Bureau Release Date: June 9, 2005. http://www.census.gov/popest/national/asrh/

Why should I care about mental disorders?

Types of Mental Disorders

Organic Disorder Functional Disorder

It is caused by a physical illness or an injury that affects the brain.

Possible causes:

Brain tumorsInfectionsChemical imbalancesExposure to drugs and toxinsInjuries resulting in brain damage

Types of Mental Disorders

It has a psychological cause and does not involve brain damage.

Possible causes:

HeredityStressEmotional conflictFearIneffective coping skillsDisturbing events in childhood or in the recent past

Functional DisorderOrganic Disorder

Anxiety Disorders Mood Disorders Eating Disorders Conduct Disorders Schizophrenia

Types of Mental Disorders

Anxiety disorder = a condition in which real or imagined fears are difficult to control.

Anxiety

Anxiety

Types of Anxiety Disorders Phobia

strong and irrational fear of something specific

Obsessive-compulsive disorder persistent, recurrent, and unwanted thoughts Repeated, irresistible behaviors

Panic Disorder Sudden unexplained feelings of terror Accompanied by symptoms such as

trembling, heart pounding, shortness of breath, dizziness

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder A condition that may develop after exposure

to a terrifying event that threatened or caused physical harm

The emotional swings of a mood disorder are extreme in both intensity and duration.

Mood Disorders

Mood Disorders

Clinical depression affects a person’s ability to:

Concentrate. Sleep.Perform at school or work.Handle everyday decisions and challenges.

Feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or despair last for more than a few weeks and interfere with daily interests and activities.

Bipolar DisorderClinical Depression

Mood Disorders

Bipolar disorder is marked by:

Extreme mood changes. Extreme energy levels.Extreme behavior.

Adults may behave normally between episodes of extreme emotion.Teens tend to alternate rapidly between the two extremes with few clear periods of wellness between episodes.

Bipolar DisorderClinical Depression

Factors that can lead to an eating disorder are:

Psychological pressures Possible genetic factors Obsession with body image and thinness

Eating Disorders

A person who suffers from an eating disorder can experience a wide range of physical health complications, including:

Serious heart conditions Kidney failure, which may lead to death.

It is critical that a person with an eating disorder get help immediately

Eating Disorders

Children and adolescents who act out their impulses toward others in destructive ways may have a conduct disorder.

They may project an image of toughness, but people with this disorder usually have low self-esteem.

Without treatment, they will be unable to adapt to the demands of adulthood.

Conduct Disorders

Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder in which a person loses contact with reality.

Symptoms of schizophrenia include delusions, hallucinations, and thought disorders.

Causes of this condition may be a combination of genetic factors and chemical and structural changes in the brain.

Schizophrenia

People are reluctant to seek treatment for mental/emotional problems because of:

Embarrassment or shame.

Stigma or a negative label.

Misconceptions and stereotypes.

Many mental and emotional disturbances involve imbalances in brain chemistry and require medical attention.

Seeking medical attention

Who can help?

What are some difficulties an adolescent with an anxiety disorder might face? At school, with friends, with family?

Discussion

Although scientific evidence shows that mental disorders are medical conditions, the stigma attached to these illnesses persists. Why do you think this is so?

Discussion