Discuss the history or background of the

illness, including myths, misconceptions, and

treatments of the past. What are the signs
and symptoms of the selected mental
illness? Identify the neurotransmitters
associated with the illness, and discuss how
they are related to the signs and symptoms.
Use Table 15-3 on p.325 for assistance.
How is the illness diagnosed? What tests and
professionals are involved? What
treatments are available for the illness? How
can the patient’s environment promote or
detract from successful treatment?o How

Mental
Illness Paper
Assignment Week *8

Tanya LaVonne Kabore

 I could not decide on which mental illness I wanted to discuss, so I decided to discuss a variety and

the spectrum of a few mental disorders. What exactly is a mental illness disorder? A mental illness

disorder, also known as a psychological disorder, is a pattern of behavioral or psychological symptoms

that impact multiple life areas and / or create distress for the person experiencing these symptoms. The

diagnosis and classification is an important and vital concern for both mental health patients and mental

health providers. Currently there is no single, definitive definition of mental disorders, but a number of

different classifications and diagnostic criteria have emerged. Many mental health providers and

clinicians utilize the “Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders" which is also known as

(DSM-IV TR). The diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders is published by the American

Psychiatric Association, to determine whether a set of behaviors and / or symptoms meets the criteria

for diagnosis as a psychological disorder. The “International Classification of Diseases” (ICD-16),

published by the World Health organization is also frequently used.

Many people avoid diagnosis because they are ashamed and because of fear of the social stigma that

is in many cases associated with having a psychological disorder. Receiving a diagnosis is a vital part of

finding a treatment plan that is effective for the patient. The diagnosis of a psychological disorder is not

about applying a label to a problem, it is about discovering the many treatments, solutions, and

information that is available and related to the problem.

The DSM-IV TR describes about 250 different mental and psychological disorders; most of them

fall under a category of related and / or similar disorders. Some of the prominent diagnostic categories

include, but are not limited to; anxiety disorders, dissociative disorders, somatoform disorders, mood

disorders, schizophrenia, and personality disorders. There is certain criterion for determining abnormal

behavior. “Mental health professionals apply a number of criteria in determining behavior that they

consider abnormal or disordered. These criteria include the following: unusualness, faulty perception or

interpretation of reality, significant personal distress, self-defeating behavior, dangerousness, and social

unacceptability in a given culture.”(Nevid and Rathus, 2005).

The classification scheme for psychological disorders and / or mental conditions, that is
mostly used is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual also known as (DSM),of the American Psychiatric

Association. The most recent edition of the DSM is the DSM-IV-TR. The DSM-IV-TR uses a
“multiaxial”

system of assessment. “It provides information about a person’s overall functioning, not just a

diagnosis.”(Nevid and Rathus, 2005). Axis 1 relates to the clinical syndromes of the patient. Axis II

identifies with the personality disorders of the patient. Axis III relates to the general medical conditions

that affect the functioning and treatment of the patient. Axis IV identifies psychosocial and

environmental problems that may have contributed to the development of a new mental disorder,

recurrence of a prior disorder, or that may have exacerbated an existing condition. Axis V relates to the

global assessment of functioning and is basically an overall judgment 1-100 based on a scale of the

person’s current level of functioning.

Psychological disorders and mental conditions range from relatively mild disorders to more severe

and chronic disorders. “Anxiety is an emotional state that is accompanied by subjective, behavioral, and

physical features. Subjective features of anxiety include worrying, fear of the worst things happening,

fear of losing control, nervousness, and the inability to relax. The behavioral features of anxiety are

dominated by avoidance of situations or cues associated with the source of anxiety. Physical features of

anxiety reflect arousal of the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system.”(Nevid and

Rathus,2005). The physical features of anxiety include sweating, trembling, elevated blood pressure, a

pounding and / or racing heart, a flushed face and faintness. The classification of anxiety disorders

includes panic disorder, generalized anxiety, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder and traumatic

stress disorders. The causal factors of anxiety disorders are psychological and biological views. “Some

phobias are learned on the basis of classical conditioning. In these cases, previously neutral stimuli

becomes conditioned stimuli that evokes a conditioned response, and / or learned fear. Other learning

factors, such as observational learning, also play a role in the development of phobic behavior. Evidence

underscores the important role that biological factors play in anxiety disorders. Genetic factors are

implicated in many anxiety disorders, such as phobic disorders, panic disorder, generalized anxiety

disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.”(Nevid and Rthus,2005).

 Dissociative disorders are a class of psychological disorders involving changes in consciousness or

Self- identity. There is a separation of mental processes such as emotions, thoughts, memory, identity,

and / or consciousness-the processes that make the person feel whole, in dissociative disorders. There is

also a dissociative disorder called dissociative identity disorder which was formally known as multiple

personality disorder. “Dissociative identity disorder is a disorder in which a person appears to have two

or more distinct personalities and / or identities, which may alternate in controlling the person.”(Nevid

and Rathus, 2005).

Another type of dissociative disorder is dissociative amnesia. Dissociative amnesia is a

dissociative disorder that is marked by the loss of personal memories or self-identity. Dissociative fugue

is also a type of dissociative disorder. Dissociative fugue is a dissociative disorder in which a person

experiences amnesia and then travels to another place, having lost all of their memory of their past life.

The last dissociative disorder is called depersonalization disorder. Depersonalization disorder is a

dissociative disorder in which one experiences recurrent and /or persistent feelings of detachment from

one’s own experiences and /or one’s own body. The causal factors of dissociative disorders are that in

many cases the disorders can be easily faked in which the patient fakes their symptoms. “Others may

have adopted the role of a multiple personality-a role that may be inadvertently cued and reinforced by

therapists and others.”(Nevid and Rathus,2005).

There is also a disorder called somatoform disorder. The two major types of somatoform

disorders are conversion disorder and hypochondriasis. Conversion disorder is a disorder in which

anxiety and / or unconscious conflicts are converted into physical symptoms that often have the effect

of helping one cope with conflict and / or anxiety. Hypochondriasis is a psychological disorder that is

characterized by the persistent belief that one has a serious medical disorder despite the lack of medical

findings. A person with a somatoform disorder may present with a physical problem such as numbness,

paralysis, or a mysterious pain that defies any medical explanation. In many cases people with a

somatoform disorder may have a persistent belief that they have a serious disease and / or illness,

despite the fact that there is a lack of medical evidence. The causal factor of somatoform disorder is
basically the cognitive factor. “Evidence is emerging that point to a role for cognitive factors, such as

distorted thinking patterns.”(Nevid and Rathus,2005).

Mood disorders are a class of psychological disorders which are characterized by severe,

significant, and persistent disturbances of one’s mood. There are two major types of mood disorders.

The two major types of mood disorders are major depression and bipolar disorder. The patient who has

been diagnosed with major depression may have a dampened mood, changes in appetite, changes in

sleep patterns, and a lack of interest or pleasure. A person who has bipolar disorder, which is also

known as manic- depression, will have mood swings that range from deep depression to ecstatic elation.

The causal factors of mood disorders are a combination of life stresses, psychological factors, and

biological factors.

The fifth major type of psychological disorder is called schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a severe and

persistent psychological disorder that is characterized by a break with reality, disturbances in thinking,

disturbed behaviors, and emotional responses. There are three types of schizophrenia: paranoid,

disorganized, and catatonic. One that has been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia experiences

delusions and hallucinations. One that has been diagnosed with disorganized schizophrenia experiences

incoherent speech, disorganized behavior, loosening of associations, fragmentary delusions and or

hallucinations, and flattened and / or highly inappropriate emotional responses. One that is diagnosed

with catatonic schizophrenia may exhibit disturbed motor activity. The causal factors of schizophrenia

remain elusive but many researchers believe that it is a brain disorder that occurs from a combination of

factors that include heredity, abnormal brain development, and stressful life experiences.

The sixth and final major classes of psychological disorders are called personality disorders.

Personality disorders are characterized by enduring patterns of maladaptive behaviors that are sources

of distress to the individual or others. According to the DSM system, there are ten specific types of

personality disorders. They are organized into three general clusters according to their general

behavioral features:

“Cluster A: Odd or eccentric behavior. This cluster includes paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal
personality disorders.

Cluster B: Behavior that is overly dramatic, emotional, or erratic. This cluster consists of

antisocial, borderline, histrionic and narcissistic personality disorders.

Cluster C: Anxious or fearful. This cluster includes avoidant, dependent and obsessive-

compulsive personality disorders.”

The causal factors in some personality disorders are generic factors. “Personality traits are to

some heritable, and many personality disorders seem to be extreme variations of normal personality

traits. It is also known that antisocial personality disorder tends to run in families. All in all, genetic and

environmental factors may be implicated in the development of antisocial personality disorder, as they

are in many other psychological disorders.”(Nevid and Rathus,2005).

References:

1. National Institute of Mental Health. (2008). The numbers count: Mental disorders in

America.

2. Found online at http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/the-numbers-count-mental-

disorders-in-america/index.shtml#Intro.

3. http://www.mentalhealth.com/p20-grp.html