| Mental illnesses are medical conditions that disrupt a | | | | symptoms a person experiences and the clinical |
| person's thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to | | | | features of the illness, such as feeling hopeless or |
| others, and daily functioning. Mental illnesses can affect | | | | having delusions. But as we continue to gain a clearer |
| persons of any age, race, religion, or income. Mental | | | | understanding of how specific genes interact with |
| illnesses are not the result of personal weakness, lack | | | | illnesses or behaviors, we may be able to develop a |
| of character, or poor upbringing. Mental illness is an | | | | much more sophisticated classification system that is |
| illness just like a physical illness. | | | | directly linked to a biological cause of mental illness, |
| Disorders | | | | rather than just symptoms. |
| Categories of diagnoses in these schemes may | | | | For instance, some disorders have similar symptoms |
| include mood disorders, anxiety disorders, psychotic | | | | and clinical features but are actually very different in |
| disorders, eating disorders, developmental disorders, | | | | terms of their underlying biology. Thus, symptoms |
| personality disorders, and many other categories. | | | | related to behavior or our mental lives clearly reflect |
| Commonly recognized categories of anxiety disorders | | | | variations or abnormalities in brain function. |
| include specific phobia, Generalized anxiety disorder, | | | | Persons suffering from any of the severe mental |
| Social Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, | | | | disorders present with a variety of symptoms, may |
| Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Post-traumatic stress | | | | include inappropriate anxiety, disturbances of thought |
| disorder. | | | | and perception, and cognitive dysfunction. Often it is a |
| Psychotic disorders centrally involving this domain | | | | good idea to first describe the symptoms and/or |
| include Schizophrenia and Delusional disorder. | | | | problems to your family physician or clergy. |
| Definitions, assessments, and classifications of mental | | | | Treatment |
| disorders can vary, but guideline criterion listed in the | | | | Treatment may include psychotherapy (individual, |
| ICD, DSM and other manuals are widely accepted by | | | | family, group), skills programs (learning, social skills, |
| mental health professionals. The recognition and | | | | behavior), and psychiatric medication, and be provided |
| understanding of mental disorders has changed over | | | | in a variety of inpatient, outpatient, or day treatment |
| time. | | | | settings. This may include special schools, residential |
| Family | | | | placements, hospitals, private offices, or community |
| Mental illnesses can affect persons of any | | | | clinics. |
| age-children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly-and | | | | Psychotherapy and psychiatric medication are two |
| they can occur in any family. Relatives can play a key | | | | major treatment options, as well as supportive |
| role in the identification and treatment of the teen with | | | | interventions. Most people diagnosed with a serious |
| a mental illness, with family members themselves often | | | | mental illness can experience relief from their |
| needing help and support. | | | | symptoms by actively participating in an individual |
| You can be a better friend by looking for signs and | | | | treatment plan. |
| symptoms of mental illnesses and then helping | | | | Without treatment the consequences of mental illness |
| someone you know reach out to some of the | | | | for the individual and society are staggering: |
| following people: family doctor or pediatrician, school | | | | unnecessary disability, unemployment, substance |
| counselor or teacher, parent and other family | | | | abuse, homelessness, inappropriate incarceration, |
| members, psychologist, psychiatrist, social worker, or | | | | suicide and wasted lives; The economic cost of |
| the emergency department of the nearest hospital. | | | | untreated mental illness is more than 100 billion dollars |
| The next time you and your family member visit your | | | | each year in the United States. |
| doctor or mental health professional, discuss these | | | | Early identification and treatment is of vital importance; |
| behaviors and develop a strategy for coping. Family | | | | By ensuring access to the treatment and recovery |
| awareness, early identification and prevention are | | | | supports that are proven effective, recovery is |
| often the first steps to effective treatments. | | | | accelerated and the further harm related to the course |
| Symptoms | | | | of illness is minimized. |
| Today, we classify mental illness based on the | | | | |