Mental and
Emotional Problems
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Mental Disorders
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A mental disorder is an illness of the mind that
can affect the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
of a person, preventing him or her from leading
a happy, healthful, and productive life.
What are Mental
Disorders?
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An estimated 26.2 percent of Americans ages 18
and older — about one in four adults — suffer
from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given
year.1 When applied to the 2004 U.S. Census
residential population estimate for ages 18 and
older, this figure translates to 57.7 million
people.2
References
1. Kessler RC, Chiu WT, Demler O, Walters EE. Prevalence, severity, and comorbidity of twelve-month DSM-IV disorders in the National
Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R). Archives of General Psychiatry, 2005 Jun;62(6):617-27.
2. U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates by Demographic Characteristics. Table 2: Annual Estimates of the Population by Selected Age
Groups and Sex for the United States: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2004 (NC-EST2004-02) Source: Population Division, U.S. Census Bureau Release
Date: June 9, 2005. http://www.census.gov/popest/national/asrh/
Why should I care about
mental disorders?
Organic Disorder
Functional Disorder
It is caused by a physical illness or an injury that
affects the brain.
Possible causes:
Brain tumors
Infections
Chemical imbalances
Exposure to drugs and toxins
Injuries resulting in brain damage
Types of Mental Disorders
Organic Disorder
Functional Disorder
It has a psychological cause and does not involve brain
damage.
Possible causes:
Heredity
Stress
Emotional conflict
Fear
Ineffective coping skills
Disturbing events in childhood or in the recent past
Types of Mental Disorders
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Anxiety Disorders
Mood Disorders
Eating Disorders
Conduct Disorders
Schizophrenia
Types of Mental Disorders
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Anxiety disorder = a condition in which real or
imagined fears are difficult to control.
Anxiety
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Types of Anxiety Disorders
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Phobia
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Obsessive-compulsive disorder
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persistent, recurrent, and unwanted thoughts
Repeated, irresistible behaviors
Panic Disorder
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strong and irrational fear of something specific
Sudden unexplained feelings of terror
Accompanied by symptoms such as trembling,
heart pounding, shortness of breath, dizziness
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
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Anxiety
A condition that may develop after exposure to a
terrifying event that threatened or caused physical
harm
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The emotional swings of a mood disorder are
extreme in both intensity and duration.
Mood Disorders
Clinical Depression
Bipolar Disorder
Clinical depression affects a person’s ability to:
Concentrate.
Sleep.
Perform at school or work.
Handle everyday decisions and challenges.
Feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or despair last for
more than a few weeks and interfere with daily
interests and activities.
Mood Disorders
Clinical Depression
Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is marked by:
Extreme mood changes.
Extreme energy levels.
Extreme behavior.
Adults may behave normally between episodes of
extreme emotion.
Teens tend to alternate rapidly between the two
extremes with few clear periods of wellness between
episodes.
Mood Disorders
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Factors that can lead to an eating disorder are:
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Psychological pressures
Possible genetic factors
Obsession with body image and thinness
Eating Disorders
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A person who suffers from an eating disorder
can experience a wide range of physical health
complications, including:
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Serious heart conditions
Kidney failure, which may lead to death.
It is critical that a person with an eating
disorder get help immediately
Eating Disorders
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Children and adolescents who act out their impulses
toward others in destructive ways may have a
conduct disorder.
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They may project an image of
toughness, but people with
this disorder usually have low
self-esteem.
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Without treatment, they will be
unable to adapt to the
demands of adulthood.
Conduct Disorders
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Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder in
which a person loses contact with reality.
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Symptoms of schizophrenia include delusions,
hallucinations, and thought disorders.
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Causes of this condition may be a combination
of genetic factors and chemical and structural
changes in the brain.
Schizophrenia
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People are reluctant to seek treatment for
mental/emotional problems because of:
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Embarrassment or shame.
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Stigma or a negative label.
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Misconceptions and stereotypes.
Many mental and emotional disturbances involve
imbalances in brain chemistry and require medical
attention.
Seeking medical attention
Who can help?
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What are some difficulties an adolescent with
an anxiety disorder might face? At school, with
friends, with family?
Discussion
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Although scientific evidence shows that mental
disorders are medical conditions, the stigma
attached to these illnesses persists. Why do you
think this is so?
Discussion