Mental disorders, especially their treatments and their effects, are of greater interest and get more attention today than ever before. In the past, mental disorders were almost a taboo subject. They were, obviously, quite a serious matter, as they often resulted in death. However, with the successful treatment or elimination of so many of today’s serious physical illnesses, mental disorder has become an obvious cause of suffering and constitutes a much higher volume of medical expenditure than ever before.
As with physical diseases, mental disorders can be both treatable and curable. However, there is no single cure for any mental disorder. The treatments available for psychological disorders are geared towards helping people to improve their functioning levels and improve their ability to cope with day-to-day activities. Treatment also involves teaching patients skills to increase their self-esteem and assist them in building up support networks.
The way in which mental disorders are diagnosed and treated today is far different from how they were diagnosed even ten years ago. Previously, doctors and psychiatrists used to look for clinical signs such as abnormal behavior, disinterest, and personality changes in order to diagnose psychological conditions. With the advent of modern medical science, however, more complex tests have been developed to help make this diagnosis more accurate. Thus, the way in which mental disorders are diagnosed and treated has changed dramatically over the years.
It is now commonly accepted that mental illnesses can be effectively treated if proper effort is put forth by the patient and his/her family. Unfortunately, very few people suffering from any kind of psychological condition receive adequate medical attention and are subsequently diagnosed with a mental disorder. There are many reasons for this drastic change in the way mental health disorders are diagnosed and treated. One of the most significant changes is that in the past, mental illnesses were usually diagnosed based on clinical symptoms alone. However, changes in the way mental health is diagnosed has made it easier for those who suffer from mental health problems to get treatment.
There are various kinds of psychological disorders and each has its own set of symptoms or characteristics. An example of a psychiatric disorder is schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a mental illness characterized by hallucinations, disorganized thinking processes, and disoriented speech and language. Psychotic persons suffer from hallucinations and delusions that cause them to be deluded and as a result, they cannot function properly in social situations. Other examples of mental illnesses include bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety.
Effective treatment of mental disorders depends upon their etiology. Schizophrenia can be related to an underlying physical illness but it can also be caused by a chemical imbalance within the brain. It can be treated with medication, social support and cognitive behavioral therapy. Some people find that group therapy, family therapy and natural remedies provide the most effective form of treatment.
Another mental disorder that is common among the millions of people living in United States is depression. Depression is more common in women than men. Symptoms of depression include excessive sadness and guilt, fatigue, loss of interest in daily activities, sleep disturbance, lack of energy, and suicidal thoughts. Those who suffer from severe forms of depression may become depressed continuously for years until they eventually become disabled or death.
Major depressive disorder is another condition that causes significant disruption in the lives of those who suffer from it. Because of this, it is the second most common mental disorder in the United States. The symptoms of bipolar disorder include extreme emotional highs (mania), extreme lows (depression) and mixed states between the two extremes. The condition lasts for about two weeks before it returns to normal levels. Approximately one percent of those who have bipolar disorder experience severe episodes that result in mania and psychosis. As you can see, major depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia are quite serious conditions in their own right and are responsible for many of the problems faced by our nation’s citizens.
