1. Mental Illness Ch. 4

2. Mental Disorders Defined…
An illness that affects the mind and reduces a person’ ability to function, to change, or to get along with others.
Mental health experts see abnormal thoughts, feelings, or behaviors as signs or symptoms of a mental disorder.
1:6 people suffer from a mental illness

3. Causes of Mental Illness
Heredity
Physical Factors: brain damage from an injury, brain tumor, infection to brain, exposure to toxic chemical, or alcohol and drug use.
Experiences: early negative experiences such as a abuse or recent negative experiences such as a loss.

4. Impulse – Control Disorders Eating Disorders
Can be grouped into categories: (These are some, not all, of the categories)
Anxiety Disorders
Mood Disorders
Schizophrenia
Impulse – Control Disorders
Eating Disorders

5. Anxiety Disorders
A disorder that usually causes strong nervousness, worry, or panic and interferes with daily living and functioning.
Can be treated with medicine and/or counseling. Some can be cured completely
Anxiety can be constant over a long time or it may occur in short bursts
Include: General Anxiety Disorders, Phobias, Panic Attacks, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and Post-Traumatic Stress disorder.

6. Generalized Anxiety Disorders
Intense worry, fears, or anxiety lasting most days for at least 6 months
Thoughts and worries don’t have a specific source
Warning signs include: restlessness, fatigue, trouble sleeping, and trouble concentrating.
Many of these signs are common symptoms of stress

7. Panic Disorder (type of anxiety disorder)
An anxiety disorder that causes a person to have brief periods of extreme anxiety called panic attacks.
Panic attacks can be triggered by anxiety or specific things called Phobias (ie: spiders, flying, clowns) or by social situations (ie. Meeting new people, speaking in public)

8. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (type of anxiety disorder)
An Obsession is an unwanted thought or image that takes control of the mind and may lead to a compulsion
A Compulsion is an unreasonable need to behave in a certain way to prevent feared outcome (the obsession)
They are usually always present but tend to become more apparent when person is anxious.
Can be treated with medicine and/or counseling. Can be cured completely

9. OCD Symptoms Obsessive Thoughts Fear of dirt or germs
Fear of causing harm
Door unlock, oven on
Need for order and symmetry
Compulsions
Extreme cleaning
Excessive double checking
Ordering/arranging
Mental ritual
Praying, numbering/counting

10. Post – Traumatic Stress Disorder (type of anxiety disorder)
A disorder that can occur after someone has experienced intense fear, helplessness, or horror (rape, war, natural disaster, abuse, accidents, and captivity)
After the event, they continually experience the event, avoid individual, thoughts, or situations associated with the event and have symptoms of excessive emotions.

11. Mood Disorders
An illness where people experience extreme emotions that make it difficult to function well in daily life.
2 types:
Depression
Bipolar

12. Depression (type of mood disorder)
A mood disorder in which a person is extremely sad and hopeless for an extended time period
Can be triggered by chronic distress or genetically
Treatment can be meds and/or counseling

13. Risk Factors for Depression
Genetics
Major life change or prolonged stressful situation
Being a victim or witness of a violent crime
A previous bout of depression
A sense of hopelessness

14. Symptoms of Depression
Sadness & tearfulness for no reason
Lack of energy and motivation
Excessive or lack of sleep
Feelings of guilt and hopelessness
Thoughts of suicide
Social withdraw
Don’t care attitude

15. Bipolar (type of mood disorder)
Illness in which people have uncontrollable mood changes
Also called manic depression
Moods are on opposites end of spectrum
Manic states cause increased energy and irritation. Person is irrational
Depression state is extremely low, often not getting out a bed and tending to responsibilities
Usually needs to be medicated for stable moods

16. Self-Injury
An unhealthy way to cope with emotions, stress, or traumatic events
Includes: cutting, scratching, or burning
Reason for self-injury is to relieve painful feelings or divert emotional pain to physical pain
Self-Injury can be a symptom of a mood disorder, anxiety disorder, or eating disorder.

17. Schizophrenia
Severe disturbances in thinking, mood, awareness, and behavior.
Symptoms include hallucinations (sensing something that isn’t real), delusions (false belief), and paranoia
Ranges in severity from mild to severe
Usually require life-long treatment with medicine.

18. Impulse Control Disorders
People with impulse – control disorder cannot resist the impulse, or drive, to act in a certain way that is harmful to themselves or others. Examples include:
Kleptomania
Gambling
Shopping
Pyromania