7.1

Mental Illnesses

• Mental illnesses impair people's ability to function in daily life
• They are treatable and many people affected by mental illnesses have active, productive, and fulfilling lives
• Mental illnesses can be caused by biological, social, and environmental factors
• Co-occurring disorders, also known as dual diagnosis disorders, are common among people with mental health conditions

Factors Affecting Mental Health

• Biological factors: genes, body chemistry, brain health
• Social factors: relationships, quality of life, social support
• Environmental factors: stress, trauma, exposure to toxins
• Co-occurring disorders can include substance use disorder and mental health conditions

Anxiety Disorders

• Anxiety is a feeling of nervousness and worry about unknown or future situations
• Anxiety disorders: generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, phobias
• Physical symptoms of anxiety: headaches, insomnia, trembling, sweating, numbness or tingling in parts of the body
• Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illnesses in the United States

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

• Feeling extreme and constant anxiety about parts of daily life
• Anxiety persists almost every day for at least six months
• Physical symptoms: fatigue, muscle tension, difficulty sleeping
• Constant intense anxiety makes it difficult to carry out daily tasks

Social Anxiety Disorder

• Feeling intensely anxious about social situations in which others might judge them
• Avoiding social situations to the point that it interferes with everyday life
• Physical symptoms: trembling, sweating, numbness or tingling in parts of the body

Panic Attacks

• Episodes of intense fear characterized by fast heartbeat, dizziness, shaking, trouble breathing, and chest pain
• Panic disorder: recurring panic attacks that occur for no rational reason or anytime without warning

Phobias

• Strong, unrealistic fear of an object or situation that does not pose much, if any, danger
• People with phobias take active steps to avoid objects or situations they fear
• This can interfere with daily life and relationships

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

• Factors that influence symptoms: biological sex, males: frequent movement, impulsivity, physical aggression; females: inattentiveness, daydreaming, low self-esteem, verbal aggression
• Symptoms: disrupt daily life for at least six months, make it difficult to complete everyday tasks, develop during childhood and can continue into adulthood

Executive Function Disorders (EFD)

• Chronic difficulty performing daily tasks
• Struggling to analyze, plan, organize, schedule, and complete tasks in a timely manner
• Difficulty working towards long-term goals

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

• Recurring and uncontrollable thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
• Uncontrollable thoughts (obsessions) and repeated actions (compulsions)
• Examples of obsessions and compulsions: order and symmetry, bad consequences to actions or inactions, contamination and germs, safety of loved ones

Mood Disorders

• People with mood disorders experience extreme changes in their mood
• These changes affect their thoughts, behavior, and overall well-being

Major Depressive Disorder

• Feelings of disappointment, hopelessness, and worthlessness
• Difficulty concentrating, making decisions, and experiencing pleasure
• Changes in appetite, sleep patterns, and energy levels
• Trouble maintaining relationships, work, or school performance

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

• A seasonal illness that causes symptoms similar to those of major depressive disorder
• Symptoms occur during the winter months when there is less natural sunlight
• Treatment may include professional therapy and/or light therapy

Personality and Behavioral Disorders

• Antisocial Personality Disorder: lack of empathy for other people, defiance or disrespect to authority figures

• Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder: perfectionism, control, and order

• Borderline Personality Disorder: instability in self-concept and relationships, fear of abandonment### Personality Disorders

• Paranoid Personality Disorder: characterized by extreme paranoia and mistrust of others without reason

• Narcissistic Personality Disorder: marked by an exaggerated sense of self-importance, need for excessive attention and admiration, and difficulty in relationships

• Schizoid Personality Disorder: characterized by avoidance of social activities and limited emotional expression

Substance Use Disorder

• Consequences of substance use include:
  • Risky behavior, physical health consequences, injury while intoxicated, overdose, and financial instability
  • Loss of hygiene, routine, and relationships, as well as increased risk of stroke, heart attack, and death
  • Anxiety, depression, loneliness, and suicidal thoughts
• Substance use disorder occurs with another mental illness (comorbidity)
• Stages of substance use disorder:
  • Experimentation: initial use of a substance for pleasure
  • Regular use: gradual increase in substance use
  • Tolerance: body's need for increased amounts of a substance to experience effects
  • Dependence: physical and psychological reliance on a substance
  • Withdrawal: negative symptoms when stopping or reducing substance use

Addictive Disorders

• Addictive disorders: mental illnesses characterized by psychological dependence on a process or behavior
• Examples include gambling disorder and internet gaming disorder

Review Questions

• Role of genetics and life experiences in mental illness development
• Difference between anxiety disorder and everyday anxiety
• Difference between ADHD and OCD
• Characteristics of a mood disorder
• Personality disorder characterized by extreme shifts in attitudes about others
• Challenges of stopping substance use in substance use disorder