Mental Disorders

WHAT IS MENTAL ILLNESS?

It is difficult to determine what mental health is, but specialists have been able to determine that "...mentally healthy people have the following characteristics: a positive attitude toward self, an accurate perception of reality, a mastery of the environment, autonomy, personality balance, and growth and self-actualization" (Cavanaugh & Blanchard-Fields, 2015). In determining the mental health status of individuals, these characteristics are evaluated (Cavanaugh & Blanchard-Fields, 2015). Questionable behaviors that could indicate mental disorder or psychopathology include: "...behaviors that are harmful to individuals or others, lowers well-being, and perceived as distressing, disrupting, abnormal, or manipulative" (Cavanaugh & Blanchard-Fields, 2015). Mental disorders are easier to identify in younger to middle aged individuals. Identification and recognition of mental disorders become more difficult in older adults; this is because what is "abnormal" behavior in a younger individual may just be an adaptive behavior for geriatric individuals (Cavanaugh & Blanchard-Fields, 2015). Some of these abnormal behaviors that could be identified involve loneliness, passiveness, and aggressiveness toward others (Cavanaugh & Blanchard-Fields, 2015). Most mental health disorders have been born in adolescence-speaking in terms of brain development (Jones, 2013).

TYPES OF MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS

• Depressive & Mood Disorders: Major depressive disorders is a common and serious mental illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think, and how you act. Depression causes lack of interest in activities, feelings of severe sadness, no desire to engage with others, and can start to affect relationships, work, hygiene, and overall well-being (American Psychiatric Association, 2022).

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Although nervousness and anxiousness are normal to some extent, generalized anxiety disorders are excess feelings of fear and/or anxiety. This “fight or flight” sensation of worry and dread regularly presents itself in individuals suffering with anxiety so severe that it could potentially affect job performance , relationships, sleep, eating and general self-care (APA, 2022).

• Schizophrenia: a chronic brain disorder with symptoms that include delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, trouble with thinking, and lack of motivation. These symptoms can be so severe that performing daily tasks could be impossible (APA, 2022).

• Panic Disorders: Individuals suffering with panic disorders have frequent and unexpected panic attacks that can be characterized by a sudden wave of fear, discomfort, or loss of control even without a trigger (National Institute of Mental Health, 2022).

• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: PTSD is a psychiatric disorder that can occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event. Some of these events could include surviving a natural disaster, a serious car accident, sexual assault, abusive childhoods, or war (APA, 2022).

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WHY IS ASSESSMENT IMPORTANT?

Assessment provides opportunity to describe the behavior or characteristics of people in ways that are meaningful; "assessment is a formal process of measuring, understanding, and predicting behavior" (Cavanaugh & Blanchard-Fields, 2015). Thorough examination is vital to determine the mental health status of an individual; comprehension of medical, psychological, and sociocultural information in a variety of ways. Some ways this can be performed are through observation and documentation, intelligence tests, neuropsychological examinations, clinical interviews and mental status exams (Cavanaugh & Blanchard-Fields, 2015). Bias is something to be aware of; all too often sensory problems, mobility problems, language barriers and/environmental conditions could lead to a misdiagnosis (Cavanaugh & Blanchard-Fields, 2015).

ASSESSMENT METHODS: 

Clinical Interviews: Clinical interviews are the most common method used in data collection because it provides a direct and emotional response from the patient. This method is used to obtain historical information, to determine appropriate follow-up procedures, to build rapport with the patient, to obtain client’s informed consent to participate, and to evaluate the effects of the treatment to continue to make adjustments if necessary (ATI, 2022).

Psycho-physiological Assessment: Psycho-physiological assessments examine relations between physical and psychological functioning. Heart rate, brain wave activity (measured with EEG), muscle activity, and skin temperature all help determine answers for mental health screenings.

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Self-reporting: Self-reporting involves the patient telling from first person what they feel and what they think it could be. The problem with this method is that the reliability and validity may be compromised due to inability to properly measure.

Family/Friend Interviews: Interviews with loved ones is an excellent source of information that involves the individual and it truly provides a unique perspective and insight

Observation: Naturalistic observation

​Performance-Based Assessment​: Performance-based assessments involves individuals performing a task and monitored on performance

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MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT

Medical Treatment

There are various types of medications used to help combat the symptoms and effects of mental health disorders. Depending on the desired result, Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors, mood stabilizers, or benzodiazepines could be administered for medical treatment.

Psychotherapy

Therapy is always a solution when discussing mental health, mental well-being and mental disorders. Psychotherapy is a type of therapy that involves the patient speaking with a professional with a desire to find the root of the problem.