Types of Mental Illness PDF

What is mental illness?

A mental illness is considered a health condition that involves changes in emotion, thinking, or behavior, as guided by the American Psychiatric Association and Parekh (2018). Mental illnesses are often associated with distress and/or problems functioning within the individual's social, work, or family activities. They often result in other difficulties the individual may encounter and have an impact on their future if left untreated. Mental illness refers to all the diagnosable mental disorders. (American Psychiatric Association & Parekh, 2018).

There are some common mental illnesses that include anxiety disorders, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, and eating disorders. This is an incredibly large list that goes on. Each type of mental illness has it's own set of symptoms and diagnostic criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5).

It's important to remember that mental health exists on a spectrum. Those who experience mental illnesses can face the challenges and symptoms on a different level from their close family members or friends. However, if you notice significant changes or that it is starting to impact you or others persistently, mental health professionals can support you.

What are the symptoms of mental illness?

Different mental disorders have differing symptoms. It's important to take into account life aspects such as culture, family situations, and personal traits when considering mental health symptoms. Here are a range of symptoms that you can look out for when contemplating your mental health provided by Health Direct (2019):

• Having unusual or illogical thoughts
• Having unreasonable anger or irritability
• Having poor concentration or memory
• Being able to hear voices that no one else can hear
• An increase or decrease in sleep
• An increase/decrease in appetite, or preoccupation with food

• Having a lack of motivation
• Being isolated or withdrawing from social contact
• Using drugs
• Feelings of suicide or self-harm
• Being obsessed with a topic such as death or religion
• Not looking after personal hygiene
• Not doing usual activities
• Not doing well at school or work

It's important to remember that a lot of these symptoms can overlap. It might not be that an individual has Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) if they aren't socially engaging. These symptoms typically need to cause distress to other activities and disregulate the individual.

What causes mental disorders?

There is still a large talk among researchers to decipher what actually causes mental disorders. Typical understanding of mental disorders includes the risk being heightened due to factors inside and outside of the self. These can include; social stressors, bullying, financial issues, relationship issues, personality factors, drug and alcohol use, genetic factors, and environmental issues.

Mental disorders can also be determined by how the individual's brain functions (Health Direct, 2019). Factors of life such as your culture, environment, and family situation can impact brain functioning and can have an impact on life situations, which, in turn, can have consequences for the development of mental health disorders.

Types of mental illness

There are many different types of mental illness. Each mental health disorder has it's own set of symptoms that can impact an individual. Although, it's important to remember that symptoms can cross over and make it difficult to differentiate between the disorders.

Here are the types of mental illnesses that individuals may suffer from according to Health Direct (2019):

• Mood disorders
• Anxiety disorders
• Personality disorders
• Psychotic disorders
• Eating disorders
• Traumatic-related disorders
• Substance abuse disorders

Although there are may other mental health disorder categories that individuals might suffer from, these categories encompass the common mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, anorexia nervosa, and bipolar disorder.

How are mental disorders diagnosed?

Mental health professionals can diagnose mental illnesses. Often there are a range of tests that can be performed to make sure that individuals are being cared for 100%.

Individuals who raise concerns about their mental health may often have physical exams that consist of the doctor ruling out any physical problems that could be causing the issues. Lab tests may be used to support this as well as ruling out excessive alcohol and drug use. Finally, a psychological evaluation will take place.

During the psychological evaluation, individuals will undergo assessments that determine specific symptoms, triggers, and any personal issues that may have contributed to the current mental state. Individuals may be asked to fill out questionnaires to support doctors and psychologists (and other mental health professionals) in their quest to find out what is going on (Mayo Clinic, 2019).

It can take some time to get a diagnosis. Although it can be worrying or annoying that it takes a while, mental health professionals pride themselves on getting a diagnosis correct. If it turns out to be a misdiagnosis, individuals may have had the wrong treatment type and wrong medication and actually suffer further. Getting it right is always at the top of any medical professional's list. Make use of this psychological evaluation template to uplift your practice and improve client experiences.

What are the treatments for mental disorders?

There are many treatments for mental disorders. Treatment will often depend on what works best for both the mental health professional and the client. Here are a range of treatments that are typically available for those struggling with any mental illnesses:

Medication

Individuals living with mental health concerns may be advised to take medication for their disorders. Medication can help individuals function normally and take some stress off their life. It's important to remember that psychiatric medications do not cure mental disorders.

However, they can often improve the effectiveness of other psychological treatments. Medications may include antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, mood-stabilizing medications, and anti-psychotic medications (Mayo Clinic, 2019).

Both the client and mental health professionals will work together to decide on medication effectiveness on a case-by-case basis.

Psychotherapy

Individuals who find themselves struggling with their mental health may often be referred from their initial point of contact to a psychologist who can administer psychotherapy. During psychotherapy sessions, clients and mental health professionals often spend a significant portion of the time conversing about the mental health problem as well as active ways to combat the symptoms.

This may include talking about writing in a self-care journal when feeling anxious to identify triggers. Each session may have a directed focus depending on the type of psychotherapy utilized.

Hospital treatment

If an individual is experiencing a severe mental health disorder such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, hospital treatment may be advised.

However, this only typically happens when the mental disorder is difficult to control, and the individual may become violent towards themselves or others. Putting themselves or others in harm's way is something that can be avoided by utilizing hospital treatment plans.

During this time, hospital staff work with the individual to create a safe and caring space for them to open up in.

References

American Psychiatric Association, & Parekh, R. (2018). What Is Mental Illness? Psychiatry.org. https://psychiatry.org/patients-families/what-is-mental-illness

Health Direct. (2019). Mental illness. Healthdirect.gov.au; Healthdirect Australia. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/mental-illness

Mayo Clinic. (2019, June 8). Mental Illness - Diagnosis and Treatment - Mayo Clinic. Mayoclinic.org; Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mental-illness/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20374974