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Chapter 5
What are Mental Disorders?
Mental Disorders
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Illness of the mind that can affect thinking,
feeling, behaviors and disrupt normal life
In the past, mental disorders were
misunderstood
Mental disorders are imbalances in the
chemistry of the brain
Types of Disorders
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Organic disorder – caused by physical illness
or an injury
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Examples – syphilis, meningitis, lupus, brain
tumors, alcoholism, and stroke
Functional disorder – caused by psychological
disorders such as stress, emotional conflict,
fear, or poor coping skills
Anxiety Disorders
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Illness in which real, imagined, or
persistent fears prevent a person from
enjoying life
Types of anxiety disorders – phobias,
obsessive-compulsive disorders, panic
disorders, and post traumatic stress
disorders
Phobia
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Specific fear that is so strong a person goes
to extreme measures to avoid it
Prevents people from carrying out daily
activities
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
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Pattern of repeated behaviors or thoughts
Obsessions – persistent, recurring,
unwanted thoughts
Compulsions – urgent ,repeated,
irresistible behaviors
Panic Disorders
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Condition in which fear or anxiety prevails
and gets in the way of functioning and
enjoying life
Symptoms include trembling, racing heart,
shortness of breath, dizziness, or feel of
losing control and dying
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
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Condition caused by witnessing or being
involved in a traumatic event that produces
long lasting aftereffects
Veterans, rape survivors, survivors of
natural disasters
Somatoform Disorders
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Condition in which a person complains of
disease symptoms, but no physical cause
can be found
Hypochondria – fear of presumed diseases
that aren’t present
Affective Disorders
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Mood disorder that involves mood swings
or mood extremes - often inherited
Clinical Depression – hopelessness or
despair that lasts for more than a few
weeks
Bipolar Disorder – psychological illness
characterized by severe mood swings
between extreme depression or happiness
Personality Disorders
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Variety of psychological conditions that
interfere with a person’s ability to get along
with others
Antisocial personality disorder – constant
conflict with society. This person may
display uncaring, cruel, and irresponsible
behavior
Personality Disorders
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Passive Aggressive Disorder – people that
are uncooperative and resent being told
what to do, yet they rely on others direction
Schizophrenia – split personality
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Symptoms- inappropriate behavior, abnormal
emotional responses, hallucinations, talk to
themselves, hear voices, withdrawal, and lost
sense of time
Lesson 2 – Suicide Prevention
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Teen Depression – results from new
challenges and life changes that can
overwhelm a person
Feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, and
sadness
Suicide Risk Factors
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Over 50% of suicidal youths are considered
depressed
Substance abuse, violence, or physical,
emotional, or sexual abuse
Prior suicide attempts, firearms in the
house, jail time, exposure to other suicide,
family history of emotional disorder
Warning Signs
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Verbal Signs – “I wish I were dead”, “I
want have to put up with this much
longer”, “I want be a problem for you
much longer”
Nonverbal Signs – depression, lack of zest
for life, withdrawal, poor grades, giving
away possessions, increased risk taking,
change in appearance, sudden upbeat
mood, drug and alcohol abuse
Preventing Suicide
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Take any potential suicide talk seriously
Stress the temporary nature of the problem
Make it clear that you want the persons
pain to end, but not with suicide
Ask the person if they have specific plans
Suggest talking to a trusting adult or
counselor
Do not agree to keep it a secret
Kinds of Help
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Psychiatrist – doctor who specializes in
mental disorders and can prescribe
medication
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Psychotherapy – ongoing dialogue between
doctor and patient in order to solve a problem
Psychoanalysis – analysis of the patients past
in order to get to the root of a problem
Medical psychotherapy – use of medication to
treat mental disorders
Kinds of Help
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Neurologist – physician who specializes in
organic disorders of the brain
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The neurologist becomes involved in organic
disorders to determine if surgery is required
Kinds of Help
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Clinical Psychologist – diagnoses and treats
emotional and behavior disorders but
cannot prescribe medication
Counselors -