One Reason Why Disorders Are Not Easy to Classify

Mental Disorders

Also called: Mental illness

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Summary

What are mental disorders?

Mental disorders (or mental illnesses) are conditions that affect your thinking, feeling, mood, and behavior. They may be occasional or long-lasting (chronic). They can affect your ability to relate to others and function each day.

What are some types of mental disorders?

There are many different types of mental disorders. Some common ones include:

• Anxiety disorders, including panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and phobias
• Depression, bipolar disorder, and other mood disorders
• Eating disorders
• Personality disorders
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia

What causes mental disorders?

There is no single cause for mental illness. A number of factors can contribute to risk for mental illness, such as:

• Your genes and family history
• Your life experiences, such as stress or a history of abuse, especially if they happen in childhood
• Biological factors such as chemical imbalances in the brain
• A traumatic brain injury
• A mother's exposure to viruses or toxic chemicals while pregnant
• Use of alcohol or recreational drugs
• Having a serious medical condition like cancer
• Having few friends, and feeling lonely or isolated

Mental disorders are not caused by character flaws. They have nothing to do with being lazy or weak.

Who is at risk for mental disorders?

Mental disorders are common. More than half of all Americans will be diagnosed with a mental disorder at some time in their life.

How are mental disorders diagnosed?

The steps to getting a diagnosis include:

• A medical history
• A physical exam and possibly lab tests, if your provider thinks that other medical conditions could be causing your symptoms
• A psychological evaluation. You will answer questions about your thinking, feelings, and behaviors.

What are the treatments for mental disorders?

Treatment depends on which mental disorder you have and how serious it is. You and your provider will work on a treatment plan just for you. It usually involves some type of therapy. You may also take medicines. Some people also need social support and education on managing their condition.

In some cases, you may need more intensive treatment. You may need to go to a psychiatric hospital. This could be because your mental illness is severe. Or it could be because you are at risk of hurting yourself or someone else. In the hospital, you will get counseling, group discussions, and activities with mental health professionals and other patients.

• Mental Health Screening (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
• Mental Health: What's Normal, What's Not? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish

• Body Dysmorphic Disorder (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Depersonalization-Derealization Disorder (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Dissociative Disorders (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Factitious Disorder (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Hypochondria (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
• Intermittent Explosive Disorder (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Kleptomania (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
• What's the Difference between Normal Stress and an Adjustment Disorder? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish

• Mental Health Screening Center (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance)

• Behavioral Health Equity (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
• FastStats: Mental Health (National Center for Health Statistics)
• Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States: Results from the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
• Learn About Mental Health (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Mental Illness Statistics (National Institute of Mental Health)

• Women and Mental Health (National Institute of Mental Health)

• Adjustment disorder (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Conversion disorder (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Illness anxiety disorder (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Somatic symptom disorder (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

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Source: https://medlineplus.gov/mentaldisorders.html

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