Psychological Disorders

Psychological disorder

The term psychological disorder is sometimes used to refer to what is more frequently known as mental
disorders or psychiatric disorders. Mental disorders are patterns of behavioral or psychological
symptoms that impact multiple areas of life. These disorders create distress for the person experiencing
these symptoms. The DSM-IV explains, “…the concept of mental disorder (like many other concepts in
medicine and science) lacks a consistent operational definition that covers all situations.”

Classification
Psychiatric classification attempts to bring order to the enormous diversity of mental symptoms,
syndromes, and illnesses that are encountered in clinical practice. Epidemiology is the measurement of
the prevalence, or frequency of occurrence, of these psychiatric disorders in different human
populations.

Diagnosis is the process of identifying an illness by studying its signs and symptoms and by considering
the patient’s history. Much of this information is gathered by the mental health practitioner (e.g.,
psychiatrist, psychotherapist, psychologist, social worker, or counselor) during initial interviews with the
patient, who describes the main complaints and symptoms and any past ones and briefly gives a
personal history and current situation. The practitioner may administer any of several psychological
tests to the patient and may supplement these with a physical and a neurological examination. These
data, along with the practitioner’s own observations of the patient and of the patient’s interaction with
the practitioner, form the basis for a preliminary diagnostic assessment. For the practitioner, diagnosis
involves finding the most prominent or significant symptoms, on the basis of which the patient’s
disorder can be assigned to a category as a first stage toward treatment. Diagnosis is as important in
mental health treatment as it is in medical treatment.

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Types of Psychological Disorders

1. ADHD

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a brain disorder that affects how you pay attention, sit
still, and control your behavior. It happens in children and teens and can continue into adulthood.ADHD
is the most commonly diagnosed mental disorder in children. Boys are more likely to have it than girls.
It’s usually spotted during the early school years, when a child begins to have problems paying attention.
ADHD can't be prevented or cured. But spotting it early, plus having a good treatment and education
plan, can help a child or adult with ADHD manage their symptoms.
a) Symptoms in children

Symptoms are grouped into three types:

 Inattentive. A child with ADHD:

- Is easily distracted, Doesn't follow directions or finish tasks, doesn't seem to be listening, doesn't pay
attention and makes careless mistake, forgets about daily activities, has problems organizing daily tasks,
doesn’t like to do things that require sitting still, often loses things, tends to daydream.

 Hyperactive-impulsive. A child with ADHD:

-Often squirms, fidgets, or bounces when sitting, doesn't stay seated, has trouble playing quietly, is
always moving, such as running or climbing on things (In teens and adults, this is more often described
as restlessness.), talks excessively, is always “on the go,” as if “driven by a motor”, has trouble waiting
for their turn, blurts out answers, interrupts others.

 Combined. This involves signs of both other types.

Symptoms in adults:

Symptoms of ADHD may change as a person gets older. They include:

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-Often being late or forgetting things, anxiety, low self-esteem, problems at work, trouble controlling
anger, impulsiveness, substance misuse or addiction, trouble staying organized, procrastination, easily
frustrated, often bored, Trouble concentrating when reading, mood swings, depression, relationship
problems.
b) ADHD Causes
Experts aren’t sure what causes ADHD. Several things may lead to it, including:
 Genes. ADHD tends to run in families.
 Chemicals. Brain chemicals in people with ADHD may be out of balance.
 Brain changes. Areas of the brain that control attention are less active in children with ADHD.
 Poor nutrition , infections, smoking , drinking, and substance abuse during pregnancy . These
things can affect a baby’s brain development.
 Toxins, such as lead. They may affect a child's brain development.
 A brain injury or a brain disorder. Damage to the front of the brain, called the frontal lobe, can
cause problems controlling impulses and emotions.
 Sugar doesn’t cause ADHD. ADHD also isn’t caused by too much TV, a stressful home life, poor
schools, or food allergies.
c) ADHD Treatment
 Medication.

Medications called stimulants can help control hyperactive and impulsive behavior and improve your
attention span.

 Therapy.

These treatments focus on changing behavior. Special education helps a child learn at school. Having
structure and a routine can help children with ADHD a lot. Behavior modification teaches ways to
replace bad behaviors with good ones. Psychotherapy (counseling) can help someone with ADHD learn
better ways to handle their emotions and frustration. It could help improve their self-esteem.
Counseling may also help family members better understand a child or adult with ADHD. Social skills
training can teach behaviors, such as taking turns and sharing.

 Medical device.
 Support groups of people with similar problems and needs can help you learn more about
ADHD and how to manage your symptoms. These groups are helpful for adults with ADHD or
parents of children with ADHD.

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2. Depression

Depression is classified as a mood disorder. It may be described as feelings of sadness, loss, or anger
that interfere with a person’s everyday activities. People experience depression in different ways. It may
interfere with your daily work, resulting in lost time and lower productivity. It can also influence
relationships and some chronic health conditions. It’s important to realize that feeling down at times is a
normal part of life. Sad and upsetting events happen to everyone. But, if you’re feeling down or
hopeless on a regular basis, you could be dealing with depression. Depression is considered a serious
medical condition that can get worse without proper treatment. Those who seek treatment often see
improvements in symptoms in just a few weeks.
a) Symptoms

Depression can be more than a constant state of sadness or feeling “blue.” Major depression can cause
a variety of symptoms. Some affect your mood, and others affect your body. Symptoms may also be
ongoing, or come and go. The symptoms of depression can be experienced differently among men,
women, and children differently.

 Men may experience symptoms related to their:

Physical well-being, such as fatigue, pains, headache, digestive problems. Mood, such as anger,
aggressiveness, irritability, anxiousness, restlessness. Emotional well-being, such as feeling empty, sad,
hopeless. Behavior, such as loss of interest, no longer finding pleasure in favorite activities, feeling tired
easily, thoughts of suicide, drinking excessively, using drugs, engaging in high-risk activities. Cognitive
abilities, such as inability to concentrate, difficulty completing tasks, delayed responses during
conversations. Sleep patterns, such as insomnia, restless sleep, excessive sleepiness, not sleeping
through the night.

 Women may experience symptoms related to their:

Mood, such as irritability. Emotional well-being, such as feeling sad or empty, anxious or hopeless.
Behavior, such as loss of interest in activities, withdrawing from social engagements, thoughts of

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suicide. Cognitive abilities, such as thinking or talking more slowly. Sleep patterns, such as difficulty
sleeping through the night, waking early, sleeping too much. Physical well-being, such as decreased
energy, greater fatigue, changes in appetite, weight changes, aches, pain, headaches, increased cramps.

 Children may experience symptoms related to their:

Mood, such as irritability, anger, mood swings, crying. Emotional well-being, such as feelings of
incompetence (e.g. “I can’t do anything right”) or despair, crying, intense sadness. Behavior, such as
getting into trouble at school or refusing to go to school, avoiding friends or siblings, thoughts of death
or suicide. Cognitive abilities, such as difficulty concentrating, decline in school performance, changes in
grades. Sleep patterns, such as difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much. Physical well-being, such as loss
of energy, digestive problems, changes in appetite, weight loss or gain.

The symptoms can extend beyond your mind.

b) Causes

Family history. You’re at a higher risk for developing depression if you have a family history of
depression or another mood disorder. Early childhood trauma. Some events affect the way your body
reacts to fear and stressful situations. Brain structure. There’s a greater risk for depression if the frontal
lobe of your brain is less active. However, scientists don’t know if this happens before or after the onset
of depressive symptoms. Medical conditions. Certain conditions may put you at higher risk, such as
chronic illness, insomnia, chronic pain, or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Drug use. A
history of drug or alcohol misuse can affect your risk.
c) Treatment

Living with depression can be difficult, but treatment can help improve your quality of life. Talk to your
healthcare provider about possible options. You may successfully manage symptoms with one form of
treatment, or you may find that a combination of treatments works best. It’s common to combine
medical treatments and lifestyle therapies.

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3. Anxiety

Anxiety is a normal emotion. It’s your brain’s way of reacting to stress and alerting you of potential
danger ahead. Everyone feels anxious now and then. For example, you may worry when faced with a
problem at work, before taking a test, or before making an important decision. Occasional anxiety is OK.
But anxiety disorders are different. They’re a group of mental illnesses that cause constant and
overwhelming anxiety and fear. The excessive anxiety can make you avoid work, school, family get-
togethers, and other social situations that might trigger or worsen your symptoms. With treatment,
many people with anxiety disorders can manage their feelings.
a) Symptoms

Mood, such as irritability, anger, mood swings, crying. Emotional well-being, such as feelings of
incompetence (e.g. “I can’t do anything right”) or despair, crying, intense sadness. Behavior, such as
getting into trouble at school or refusing to go to school, avoiding friends or siblings, thoughts of death
or suicide. Cognitive abilities, such as difficulty concentrating, decline in school performance, changes in
grades. Sleep patterns, such as difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much. Physical well-being, such as loss
of energy, digestive problems, changes in appetite, weight loss or gain.
b) Causes

The causes of anxiety disorders aren't fully understood. Life experiences such as traumatic events
appear to trigger anxiety disorders in people who are already prone to anxiety. Inherited traits also can
be a factor.
c) Treatment

Treatments will consist of a combination of psychotherapy, behavioral therapy, and medication.

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4. Dissociative Disorder

Dissociative disorders are mental disorders that involve experiencing a disconnection and lack of
continuity between thoughts, memories, surroundings, actions and identity. People with dissociative
disorders escape reality in ways that are involuntary and unhealthy and cause problems with functioning
in everyday life.
a) Symptoms

Signs and symptoms depend on the type of dissociative disorders you have, but may include:

Memory loss (amnesia) of certain time periods, events, people and personal information. A sense of
being detached from yourself and your emotions. A perception of the people and things around you as
distorted and unreal. A blurred sense of identity. Significant stress or problems in your relationships,
work or other important areas of your life. Inability to cope well with emotional or professional stress.
Mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
b) Causes

Dissociative disorders usually develop as a way to cope with trauma. The disorders most often form in
children subjected to long-term physical, sexual or emotional abuse or, less often, a home environment
that's frightening or highly unpredictable. The stress of war or natural disasters also can bring on
dissociative disorders.

Personal identity is still forming during childhood. So a child is more able than an adult to step outside of
himself or herself and observe trauma as though it's happening to a different person. A child who learns
to dissociate in order to endure a traumatic experience may use this coping mechanism in response to
stressful situations throughout life.

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c) Treatment

Treatment of dissociative disorders usually consists of psychotherapy, with the goal of helping the
person integrate different identities, and to gain control over the dissociative process and symptoms.
Therapy can be long and difficult, as it involves remembering and learning to deal with past trauma.
Cognitive (that is, dealing with a patient’s conscious intellectual activity) behavioral therapy has been
found to be effective. Hypnosis may be another helpful treatment. A newer therapy called Eye
Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) focuses specifically on the role that disturbing
memories play in the development of mental disorders.

No particular medications treat dissociative disorders, although antidepressants may be needed to treat
symptoms of depression.

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