Mental illness

Table of contents

Mental illness: causes, symptoms and treatment

What are mental illnesses

Symptoms of mental illness

Classification of mental illness

1. Anxiety disorders

Generalized anxiety disorder

Panic disorder

Agoraphobia

Specific phobias

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder

2. Mood disorders

Major depression

Bipolar disorder

Personality disorders

Bulimia nervosa

Anorexia nervosa

Somatization disorders

Cognitive disorders

Dementia

Impulse control disorders

Pyromania

Cleptomania

Pathological gambling (gambling addiction)

Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders

Delusional disorder

Short psychotic disorder

Schizophrenic disorder

Schizophrenia

Schizoaffective disorder

Causes of mental disorders

Treatment of mental illness

Psychotherapy

Prevention of mental illness

conclusions

Mental illness: causes, symptoms and treatment

Emotional well-being is the basis of mental health and it is what helps us to have a good life and to face daily challenges. At the same time, mental health is a term used to indicate the absence of a mental illness.

In this article we will discuss:

What are mental illnesses;

Symptoms of mental illness;

Classification of mental illness;

Causes of mental illness;

Treatment for mental illness;

Prevention in mental illness.

What are mental illnesses

When we talk about mental illness, we are talking about a broad concept that encompasses many things

disorders that affect the way we feel, think and behave. The occurrence of mental illness is influenced by:

Hereditary factors;

External environment;

Daily habits;

Brain biochemistry.

Psychiatrists say that mental illness can occur regardless of age, gender or social status. The available data show that 25% of Romanians suffer from a mental illness at some point.

Unfortunately, people with mental illness face stigma from others, which makes it difficult to heal, where appropriate, and integrate into society.

Symptoms of mental illness

Mental illness can be classified into several types, each with its own symptoms, but some of these conditions have certain common symptoms, such as:

reduced or excessive appetite;

insomnia or hypersomnia (sleeps too much);

distance from close people;

giving up regular activities and hobbies;

permanent fatigue;

lack of empathy;

medically unexplained pain;

hopelessness, helplessness;

possible visual, auditory hallucinations (voices he can't stop)

drug or alcohol use;

feelings of confusion, irritability, anger, anxiety, sadness or fear;

frequent quarrels with family members;

unpleasant, recurring thoughts that cannot be controlled;

suicidal thoughts;

physical injury to others;

the difficulty or impossibility of carrying out daily activities and tasks.

Classification of mental illness

The main categories of mental illness are:

1. Anxiety disorders

People with anxiety disorders experience a heightened and excessive sense of fear about certain situations or objects.

They also experience physical symptoms such as tachycardia, sweating, dry mouth, tremor, muscle tension, and a feeling of fear and panic.

The diagnosis of anxiety is made if the person cannot control his reaction to the situation or if this reaction is inappropriate, or if the anxiety interferes with the normal performance of the person's daily activities.

Generalized anxiety disorder

The person experiences a constant feeling of worry, often excessive, including related to everyday things, where there does not seem to be any reason to worry.

Panic disorder

The person experiences one or more panic attacks. Panic attack is a sudden episode of excessive fear (death or insanity), accompanied by extreme physical sensations: tachycardia, dizziness, impending fainting, tremor, blurred vision, sore throat, difficulty breathing, sweating, dryness mouths and others. The person is convinced that a disaster is coming.

Agoraphobia

It is a disorder characterized by a person's fear of going to public places, of being surrounded by many people, a fear of situations that could cause panic from which he could not escape, and a fear of not being judged by others.

Specific phobias

There are fears about certain situations, objects, plants, animals. Examples: claustrophobia (fear of narrow spaces), acrophobia (fear of heights), arachnophobia (fear of spiders), etc.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

When a person has unpleasant, unwanted and recurring thoughts (obsessions) that lead to the need for repetitive actions (compulsions) we talk about OCD.

Examples of this can be: excessive hand washing, checking things or cleaning, but not only that.

If these actions are not performed, strong feelings of stress and anxiety are triggered and can significantly interfere with that person's daily activities and relationships.

The diagnosis of OCD can be made when obsessions consume more than an hour a day and seriously affect the person's quality of life.Post-traumatic stress disorder

It occurs in response to a trauma experienced by that person; it relives a traumatic event, repetitively. Trauma can be an extreme situation, such as surviving an accident or the experience of a soldier who has been on the war front, but not only that.

A person may feel trauma and other, less extreme, events in his or her life. That person still feels that his life is in danger and that he has no control over what is happening to him, even though the traumatic event has long since ceased.

2. Mood disorders

People who suffer from these mental illnesses will experience significant changes in mood, from manic moods, with overflowing, exaggerated energy, to depressed moods, with deep sadness and lack of energy.

Major depression

The person can no longer enjoy activities that they used to enjoy and go through

prolonged periods of extreme sadness, with states of uselessness, painful helplessness and lack of desire to live.

Bipolar disorder

It is characterized by the alternation between episodes of euphoria and episodes of depression, each of which has a variable duration, from a few days to a few months. These episodes involve significant changes in the mood.

Mania occurs when a person goes through a period in which energy levels are high and experiences intense euphoria, accompanied by risky and impulsive behavior.

During this period the person is very active, talks a lot, can no longer focus much on a topic or activity, is very creative (not necessarily in a good way), feels little or no need for sleep or food.

On the other hand, depression involves a period of extreme sadness and lack of energy, with lethargy, insomnia or hypersomnia, changes in appetite (decrease or increase), anxiety, low self-esteem, irritability and suicidal thoughts.

Left untreated, bipolar disorder worsens and in some cases can even lead to death, either by suicide or accidentally.

Although bipolar disorder is an incurable condition, its symptoms can be managed and alleviated so that the quality of life is minimally affected.

Personality disorders

They are problems of perception of the environment and of relationships with others. It manifests itself in a faulty way of thinking and behaving. Classification:

Group A:

Paranoid personality disorder, characterized by:

distrust and suspicion of people; permanent feeling that they are being treated badly by others;

unjustified belief that others are a danger;

hostile reactions, tendency to revenge;

Schizoid personality disorder

isolation from others, detachment, fear of invading their territory and violations of freedoms;

difficulty in forming personal relationships, emotional inhibition;

inappropriate reactions in different situations;

Schizotypal personality disorder

eccentric behaviors: unusual dress, language, thinking, and behavior;

belief in superstitions, extrasensory experiences, mystical and magical signs;

lack of empathy and serious relational deficiencies;

grave distorsionări cognitive;

Group B

Antisocial personality disorder

indifference to the rights, feelings and security of others;

active resistance to social rules, predisposition to lie, theft, cheating, exploitation of others;

aggressive, violent, impulsive, irresponsible behavior, inability to complete long projects;

Borderline personality disorder

impulsive and risky behavior, exaggerated;

extreme instability of mood, self-image and relationships with others;

very low resistance to frustration, tendency to self-harm;

Histrionic personality disorder

permanent tendency to capture the attention of others, egocentrism, excessive concern for physical appearance;

excessive emotional reactions, dramatization of relationships;

high level of influence;

Narcissistic personality disorder

ego inflation, manifestation of a sense of superiority over others;

total lack of empathy, disrespect for the needs and feelings of others;

exaggerating one's own achievements or skills and requesting exceptional treatment;

Group C

Avoidance personality disorder

hypersensitivity to criticism and rejection, lack of self-confidence, anxiety about evaluation;

exaggerated feeling of inferiority and high social embarrassment;

avoiding activities that require interpersonal contact and avoiding risks;

Addicted personality disorder

excessive dependence on others, the need to be constantly cared for, protected, encouraged, not taking responsibility, lack of initiatives;

manifesting a submissive or overly attached behavior to others,

fear of abandonment and loneliness, lack of self-confidence.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

exaggerated desire for order and perfection;

rigidity, excessive self-control in interpersonal relationships;

rules applied ad-literam;

profession and work in the first place;

Eating Disorders

Bulimia nervosa

People feel the need to eat fast and a lot, and then induce purging either by vomiting or laxatives. Bulimic people are very afraid of gaining weight, but they can't control their appetite.

Anorexia nervosa

This type of mental disorder is found almost exclusively among women. People who suffer from anorexia eat very little, exercise excessively, and often even take certain medications to lose weight.

Although these people may be very weak, their self-perception is the opposite and they are very critical. Poor nutrition is reflected in a weakened body and lack of energy. Left untreated, anorexia is life-threatening. In fact, anorexia is a psychiatric emergency.

Somatization disorders

Somatization involves the development of symptoms of a disease in the absence of a medical cause. Although the person cannot be diagnosed with any medical condition, he / she faces suffering, dysfunctions, pain.

The symptoms experienced in these cases cause a very high level of emotional stress.

That person feels that he is not believed by others, which affects his life.

Cognitive disorders

Dementia

This is not a disease in itself, but rather a term that reflects several disorders of the nervous system, caused by damage or other damage to the nerve cell. The risk of developing a form of dementia increases with age, but dementia is not a mandatory part of the natural aging process.

Types of dementia

Alzheimer's disease

It is an irreversible type of dementia, present in most people with dementia. This disease involves the appearance of neurodegenerative lesions, which damage communication between neurons and lead to their destruction.

Dementia with Lewy bodies

It is a neurodegenerative condition associated with an abnormal brain structure. Lewy bodies are clusters of proteins (also found in people with Parkinson's disease) that prevent the normal transmission of signals between neurons.

Parkinson's disease

People with advanced Parkinson's disease may develop dementia. It is manifested by difficulties in thinking and reasoning, increased irritability, paranoia and depression;

Vascular dementia

It is caused by a decrease in blood flow to the brain, which can be the result of a stroke.

Mixed dementia

It involves the simultaneous existence of two or more types of dementia.

Huntington's disease

It is a form of dementia characterized by involuntary and uncontrolled muscle movements (hence the nickname Huntington's chorea, because the movements appear as a strange dance).

Fronto-temporal dementia

It is caused by damage to the frontal and temporal lobes and is manifested by difficulties in language and behavior, as well as by the cancellation of any inhibitions.

Alcohol and substance use disorders

It is necessary to clarify the difference between abuse and addiction. Abuse refers to excessive consumption, be it alcohol or any other substance. Addiction is characterized by a constant need to consume the substance.

Defining features of addiction:

the person feels the need to increase the dose to achieve at least the same feeling of pleasure;

the person enters withdrawal when he suddenly stops or significantly reduces consumption;

the person wants to stop using substances, but fails;

the person gives up the activities that he or she used to do and enjoyed;

the person may resort to theft to obtain money for the addictive substance;

the person is at risk of intoxication.

Impulse control disorders

Pyromania

It refers to people who feel an uncontrollable desire to burn or destroy by fire, and who find in these acts a great satisfaction.

Cleptomania

It is called the disease of theft and refers to the strong, uncontrollable urge of a person to steal objects, unrelated to their value and without pursuing any material profit or needing them.

Pathological gambling (gambling addiction)

It involves the appearance of a problematic pathological behavior, persistent and recurrent, which significantly affects the person's life. The person manifests wide cognitive distortions, is impulsive, competitive, restless, gets bored easily, often seeks the approval of others, can become extravagantly generous when he wins, often becomes depressed and thinks of suicide.

Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders

All disorders in the psychotic spectrum are defined by the following diagnostic criteria:

Delusional ideation, hallucinations, disorganized thinking and speech, intensely disorganized motor behavior (resistance to commands, stiff, inadequate or bizarre postures) or abnormal (including catatonia) and negative symptoms (decreased emotional expression, abolition-decreased motivation to initiate activities ).

In addition, each of the following disorders has specific elements.

Delusional disorder

It involves the presence of one or more delusional ideas that persist for at least a month. The type of ideas varies from erotomania, to grandeur, jealousy, somatic, to persecution or mixed.

The person may come to understand the health problem theoretically, but this is where the understanding ends. People are often dysphoric or slightly irritable, sometimes even angry or violent.

Short psychotic disorder

It has three specific elements: very short onset (2 weeks), psychotic episode lasting between one day and a maximum of one month and complete remission of all symptoms, return to premorbid functioning.

Schizophrenic disorder

It has a total duration of 1-6 months, being, in fact, a diagnosis of the transition between short psychotic disorder and schizophrenia. Apart from the difference in duration, there is no major difference between the diagnosis of schizophrenia and the diagnosis of schizophreniform disorder.

Schizophrenia

It is, in fact, a heterogeneous clinical syndrome, because the signs and symptoms that make up the clinical picture are very varied from one individual to another.

The main symptoms of schizophrenia are: inadequate affect, dysphoric mood (present as depression, anxiety or anger), disturbed sleep patterns, lack of interest in food, depersonalization, derealization, somatic concerns, anxiety, various phobias, impaired cognitive impairment. information processing, decreased working memory, decreased language function).

Schizoaffective disorder

It is defined by the fact that, in addition to the specific picture of schizophrenia, there must be a major affective episode (depressive or manic) and by the fact that the affective symptoms must be manifested throughout the active and residual duration of the disease.

Causes of mental disorders

Mental illness is caused by both internal and external factors.

Heredity factors

People who have or have had family members with a mental illness are more likely to develop a mental illness. Certain genes may increase the risk of developing mental illness, and certain situations in life may promote the onset of a disorder;

Exposure to certain environmental factors before birth : toxins, alcohol, drugs;

Brain biochemistry

Neurotransmitters are those chemicals that are naturally present in the brain that carry signals between various parts of the brain and between it and the body. When neural networks are affected, for various reasons, the function of the nervous system is altered, distorted, which can lead to mental illness.

Experiencing traumatic events: childhood violence, abuse, harassment, war, epidemics, deaths.

Prolonged exposure to stress

Treatment of mental illness

Many mental illnesses are unfortunately incurable, but can be controlled. The treatment is variable and personalized, but it must include psychiatric consultation and medication, as well as psychological therapy.

Specific medications can cure, in some cases, and in most cases alleviate the symptoms of the mental illness. They are administered only on the recommendation of a specialist and it is important to know that adherence to the dosage and duration of treatment are crucial for the relief of symptoms and the maintenance of the best possible health.

The four main categories of psychiatric drugs are:

Antidepressants;

Anxiolytics (anti-anxiety);

Antipsychotics;

Mood stabilizers;

Psychotherapy

It is one of the most effective methods of treatment for mental illness.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a commonly used method because it focuses on problem solving, by restructuring thinking and behavior.

Other useful therapies may include group psychotherapy, family psychotherapy, exposure psychotherapy.

Prevention of mental illness

Adopting a healthy lifestyle, avoiding alcohol abuse and drug use, adopting a balanced diet, ensuring a restful sleep and regular sports.

conclusions

It can be difficult for a person to live with a mental illness, which is why it is necessary to seek specialized medical help as soon as possible, in order to keep the symptoms under control and to ensure the best possible quality of life.