Mental health disorders

Mental health disorders are a range of conditions that affect mood, thinking, and behavior. They may occur occasionally or last a long time, and they can affect anyone, regardless of age or background. Mental health disorders can cause significant distress and impairment in personal, social, and occupational functioning.

Types of Mental Health Disorders

There are several types of mental health disorders, including:

• Depression: A common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. It causes feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities once enjoyed.

• Anxiety disorders: A group of mental health disorders characterized by feelings of anxiety and fear, including generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder.

• Bipolar disorder: A disorder associated with episodes of mood swings ranging from depressive lows to manic highs.

• Schizophrenia: A serious mental disorder in which people interpret reality abnormally, which may result in some combination of hallucinations, delusions, and extremely disordered thinking and behavior.

• Eating disorders: Conditions characterized by abnormal or disturbed eating habits, such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder.

Causes

The exact cause of most mental health disorders is unknown, but many of these conditions are thought to be caused by a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors.

Treatment

Treatment for mental health disorders usually involves a combination of medication and psychotherapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a common type of talk therapy that helps individuals recognize and change thought patterns that lead to harmful behaviors. Medications, such as antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, and mood stabilizers, are often used in conjunction with therapy.

See Also

• Mental health
• Psychiatry
• Psychology

References

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