Download Mental Illness

Mental Illness
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A medical condition that disrupts a person's thinking, feeling,
mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning.
Areas we will cover
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Autism Spectrum Disorder
ADHD
Bipolar Disorder
Borderline Personality Disorder
Eating Disorders
Major Depression
OCD
Panic Disorder
PTSD
Schizophrenia
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Tourette's Syndrome
Autism Spectrum
Disorder
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are complex developmental disorders
of brain function.
Overview
Since the causes for Autism Spectrum Disorders are unknown, an ASD
diagnosis is based purely on observations or behavioral reports. In
contrast to other medical syndromes, ASDs are not diseases: They are
developmental disorders that reflect differences in the way that children
develop from very early on to adulthood. Within the category of ASDs,
there are a number of different levels of severity.
Causes
There is no known direct cause of the disorders, which is one of the
reasons why ASDs continue to remain elusive to doctors in the field. ASDs
are complex disorders and have remained relatively inaccessible for study
Signs
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Lack of or delay in spoken language
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Repetitive use of language and/or motor mannerisms (e.g., hand-flapping, twirling
objects)
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Little or no eye contact
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Lack of interest in peer relationships
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Lack of spontaneous or make-believe play
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Persistent fixation on parts of objects
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Does not smile
Treatment
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At present, there is no specific cure for ASDs
- Medication (serotonin based)
- Behavior Interventions
- Educational Interventions
ADHD
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Overview
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A condition characterized by inattention, hyperactivity and
impulsivity.
The most commonly diagnosed behavior disorder in young people,
the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that
ADHD affects an estimated 9 percent of children aged 3-17 and 2-4
percent of adults.
Causes
While we don’t know for sure what causes ADHD, we do know that ADHD
probably results from a combination of genetic and environmental
factors. ADHD is a brain-based disorder and is strongly inherited, but
parenting styles do not cause ADHD.
Signs
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Fails to pay close attention to details or make careless mistakes in
schoolwork, work or other activities
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Fidget with their hands or feet or squirm in their seat
Signs
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Have difficulty organizing tasks and activities
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Have difficulty awaiting their turn
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Have difficulty engaging in leisure activities quietly
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Interrupt or intrude on others
Treatment
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Medication (helps 70-80%)
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Behavioral Treatment
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ADHD Coaching
Bipolar Disorder
A chronic illness with recurring episodes of mania and depression that
can last from one day to months.
Overview
This mental illness causes unusual and dramatic shifts in mood, energy
and the ability to think clearly. Cycles of high (manic) and low
(depressive) moods may follow an irregular pattern that differs from the
typical ups and downs experienced by most people.
Causes
- No known causes
- Bipolar Disorder does have a genetic component
Signs
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Mania (High)
Extremely talkative
Less need for sleep
Surges of energy
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Depression (Low)
Irritability
Hopelessness
Treatment
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Medication
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Therapy
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Learn to take responsibility
Borderline
Personality Disorder
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A serious mental illness that can be challenging for everyone
involved, including the individuals with the illness, as well their
friends and family members. BPD is characterized by impulsivity and
instability in mood, self-image, and personal relationships.
Causes
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The exact causes of BPD remain unknown, although the roles of both
environmental and biological factors are thought to play a role in
people who develop this illness.
Signs
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Inappropriate, intense or uncontrollable anger
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Recurring suicidal threats or non-suicidal self-injurious behavior, such
as cutting or burning one’s self
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Impulsive behaviors that result in adverse outcomes and
psychological distress, such as excessive spending, sexual encounters,
substance use, shoplifting, reckless driving or binge eating.
Treatment
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Medication
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Therapist
Eating Disorders
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Anorexia Nervosa
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Bulimia Nervosa
Anorexia Nervosa
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A serious and potentially life-threatening mental illness. Anorexia
nervosa is an eating disorder defined by an inability to maintain one’s
body weight within 15 percent of their Ideal Body Weight (IBW).
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An intense fear of gaining weight, a distorted image of one’s body,
denial of the seriousness of the illness
Bulimia Nervosa
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Characterized by a destructive pattern of binging (eating too much
unhealthy food) and inappropriate, reactionary behaviors (called
purging)
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Includes self-induced vomiting and the abuse of laxatives, enemas or
diuretics (e.g., caffeine). Other behaviors such as “fasting” or
restrictive dieting following binge-eating episodes are also common,
as well as excessive exercising.
Treatment
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Medication
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Doctors
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Therapist
Major Depression
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Major depression is a mood state that goes well beyond temporarily
feeling sad or blue. It is a serious medical illness that affects one’s
thoughts, feelings, behavior, mood and physical health.
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Depression is a life-long condition in which periods of wellness
alternate with recurrences of illness.
Overview
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Each year depression affects 5-8 percent of adults in the United
States.
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Depression occurs 70 percent more frequently in women than in men
for reasons that are not fully understood.
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Without treatment, the frequency and severity of these symptoms
tend to increase over time.
Signs
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Depressed Mood
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Poor Concentration
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Fatigue
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Insomnia
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Appetite Disturbances
Treatment
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Medications
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Therapist
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Exercise
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Friends and Family
OCD
Obsessive Compulsive
Disorder
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Intrusive, irrational thoughts—unwanted ideas or impulses that
repeatedly appear in a person's mind.
Overview
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More than 2 percent of the U.S. population, or nearly one out of
every 40 people, will be diagnosed with OCD at some point in their
lives.
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Two to three times more common than schizophrenia and bipolar
disorder.
Panic Disorder
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An uncontrollable and terrifying response to ordinary, nonthreatening
situations.
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People who experience recurrent panic attacks, have persistent
anxiety or fear regarding their panic attacks and change their
behavior in an attempt to avoid further panic attacks may have panic
disorder.
Overview
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People who experience recurrent panic attacks, have persistent anxiety
or fear regarding their panic attacks and change their behavior in an
attempt to avoid further panic attacks may have panic disorder.
Signs
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Constant worrying
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Fear the Fear
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Choking or smothering sensations
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Hot, sweating and cold flashes
Treatment
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Medication
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Behavioral Therapy
Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder(PTSD)
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When faced with terror, less critical body functions (e.g., the parts of
the brain where memory, emotion and thinking are processed) get
"turned off" in the service of immediate physical safety. Specifically,
this “fight or flight” response increases the heart rate, moves more
blood to muscles in order to run and adds stress hormones to help
fight off infection and bleeding in case of a wound. As a result, the
traumatic experiences are not integrated at the time they happen
because the body is focusing entirely on immediate physical safety
Overview
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PTSD can affect many different people, from survivors of rape and
survivors of natural disasters to military service men and women
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10 percent of women and 5 percent of men are diagnosed with PTSD
in their lifetimes, and many others will experience some adverse
effects from trauma at some point in their lives
Signs
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Recurrent nightmares or flashbacks
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Physical reactions to triggers that symbolize or resemble the event
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Avoidance of activities, places or people that remind the person of
the trauma
Signs
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Outbursts of anger/irritability
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Exaggerated startle response
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Difficulty concentrating
Treatment
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Medication
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Therapy
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Group Therapy
Schizophrenia
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Loss of contact with reality and usually involves hallucinations and
delusions
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Impairs a person's ability to function
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Interferes with a person's ability to think clearly, manage emotions,
make decisions and relate to others
Overview
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Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that affects 2.4 million
American adults over the age of 18.
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Suicide is a serious risk for those with schizophrenia, occurring at a
much higher rate than the general population.
Signs
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Emotional flatness
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Inability to start or finish activities
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Lack of content in speech
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Hallucinations
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Delusions
Treatment
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Medication
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Family Support
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Behavioral Therapy
Seasonal Affective
Disorder (SAD)
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Characterized by recurrent episodes of depression, usually in late fall
and winter, alternating with periods of normal or high mood the rest
of the year.
Signs
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Depression symptoms
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Usually begin in October or November and subside in March or April
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Oversleeping
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Weight gain
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Daytime fatigue
Treatment
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Light Therapy
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Medication
Tourette’s Syndrome
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A neurologic illness that begins in childhood or adolescence. The
essential feature of TS is tics—multiple movements or vocalizations
that are sudden, rapid and purposeless.
Signs
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Tics are recurrent, non-rhythmic, stereotyped (the same each time)
actions or vocalizations that can usually be suppressed for a period
when a person focuses on stopping them.
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Tics occur many times a day, nearly every day or intermittently
throughout a span of more than one year.
Treatment
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Medication
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Behavioral Therapy
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Relaxation Techniques