Mental disorders are often defined by the combination of how a person feels, acts, thinks, or perceives. These events may be associated with certain regions or functions of the brain, with the rest of the individual’s nervous system, or caused by a certain present or past social context.
The classification and the diagnosis of mental and behavioral disorders, although there is no single and definitive definition and there are different classification and diagnostic criteria, today it is usually used by consensus of the medical and therapeutic community, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV TR), published by the American Psychiatric Association, to determine whether an individual’s set of behaviors and symptoms meet the criteria to be diagnosed as a psychological disorder.
Many people, even knowing or suspecting that they have a disorder, either by self-knowledge or by suggestions from their social or family environment, often avoid undergoing a diagnosis for fear of suffering extra that social stigma can cause them; being essential to obtain a diagnosis to establish an effective treatment plan. Diagnosis never seeks to label a problem, but tries to discover root causes, solutions, treatments, therapeutic methodologies and compile all the information related to the problem.
Mental disorder categories
Although there is a wide spectrum of mental disorders, many of them difficult to classify, we show, in general terms, the most common ones in the context menu of this section. In our clinical centers of de Madrid and de la , in Las Rozas, Pozuelo, Villalba, Torrelodones, Galapagar, Boadilla, Majadahonda and El Escorial, we treat the most common mental disorders and disorders, through the application of third-generation therapeutic techniques Y psychotherapy of , adapted to our current sociocultural reality, establishing routines and disciplines in harmony with the life and environment of the patient, reducing the anguish generated by the disorder and allowing them to develop and fully integrate into their social and family group, thus maximizing their quality of life and that of their close circle.
The fear or anxiety that disables the normal functioning of the individual, can be classified as a . Likewise, specific ones can be included in this category, social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Affective processes, such as emotions or mood, can also present disorders. A mood disorder that involves intense and sustained sadness over time, continued melancholic state, or despair is classified as (also called unipolar or clinical depression).
The (also called manic depression), shows abnormally “high” states of activity and mood, known as mania or hypomania, alternating with a normal or depressed mood.
The disorders in beliefs, the use of language and the perception that one has of reality, translated into delusionsthought disorders and hallucinations, are called psychotic disorders and include schizophrenia and delusional disorders.
Personality disorders encompass a large number of types, such as eccentric individuals, paranoid personality, schizoid personality, antisocial personality, (borderline), histrionic personality or narcissistic personality, also including obsessive disorder. -compulsive, avoidant anxiety disorder, dependent personality, etc. Personality disorders, in general, tend to originate in childhood or, at the latest, in adolescence or early adulthood.
The disorders of the are manifested as an excessive preoccupation with food and weight. The most common are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder.
The so-called , such as insomnia, involve the interruption of normal sleep patterns or a feeling of tiredness, even enjoying a dream that seems normal.
The so-called disorders of , include erectile dysfunction (or impotence), vaginismus and paraphilias, translated as sexual arousal motivated by objects, situations or people that are considered abnormal or harmful to the person or others.
In impulse control disorder, individuals are abnormally unable to resist certain impulses that may be harmful to themselves or others, such as kleptomania (stealing), pyromania (setting fires), (gambling addiction), etc.
The abuse of , whether legal or illegal, persistently and continuously, even despite the health and social problems derived from its use, can also be considered as a mental disorder.
Those individuals who are subjected to serious disorders of their own identity, memory and general awareness about themselves and their environment, are included within the category of identity disorder. dissociative.
Attention deficit disorder (ADHD) usually occurs with increasing incidence among children and adolescents and may continue into adulthood. Its most common manifestations are inattention, irritability, lack of concentration, impulsiveness, frustration, lack of self-discipline, low social skills, low self-esteem, mental restlessness, etc.
When the mental state of the individual manifests itself physically in the body, affecting various organs or systems, it is called a disorder. People who suffer from this type of disorder usually have a personality that makes it difficult for them to express feelings and/or to live with generic stressors, creating a state of mind that activates or inhibits bodily processes.
Disability
The disorders can present with a very varied intensity and can occur several at the same time, whether or not they are related to each other. The effects functional that derive from mental disorders can mean a greater or lesser disability for the person who suffers them, as well as imply, to a greater or lesser extent, the need for psychological or psychiatric support. The level of disability may vary over time and in different levels and settings of the patient’s life, and may produce discrimination and social exclusion, added to the effects of the disorder itself, as well as the stress derived from hiding the disorder in the social environment, school, work, etc.
Basic disabilities associated with mental disorders may include caring for oneself, caring for one’s environment, interpersonal relationships, communication skills, the ability to form and maintain relationships, the ability to get out of the house and mingle with groups and crowds in certain particular settings, the functioning employment, such as getting a job, keeping it, and its related cognitive and social skills; behavior and performance in the study center and their relationship with students and teachers.
The suicide, which can often be attributed to an underlying mental disorder, is the leading cause of death among adolescents and adults under 35 years of age. It is estimated that there are between 10 and 20 million non-fatal suicide attempts each year worldwide.
The causes of mental disorders
Mental illnesses can be caused, conditioned or supported by genetic inheritance, discrimination, childhood trauma, the loss or separation of families and drug abuse. Therefore, they can arise from multiple sources and, in a large number of cases, there is no single cause in the person. Today the model biopsychosocialwhich incorporates biological, psychological and social factors, is the most accepted by the psychotherapeutic community.
For example, in anxiety disorder they can influence background relatives also of anxiety; temperament and attitudes, for example in pessimism; and factors related to upbringing, such as parental rejection, parental lack of warmth, a hostile environment, excessive discipline, maternal negativity, childhood abuse, drugs in the family environment, etc.
A possible abnormal operation of the neurotransmitters brain influence significantly in some mental disorders, as well as the size or activity of certain areas of the brain.
Some psychological mechanisms, such as biased reasoning, influences emotionalpersonality dynamics, temperament and coping style also influence to a greater or lesser extent the development of mental disorders.
Genetic factors may play an important role in the development of mental disorders, as well as the environment surrounding pregnancy and childbirth. A traumatic brain injury can increase the risk of developing certain types of mental disorders, as well as substance abuse or general physical health.
The social factorsalso play an important role in the development of mental disorders, such as abuse, neglect, bullying, social stress, traumatic events and other negative or overwhelming life experiences of people, such as unemployment, socioeconomic inequalities, the lack of social cohesion, and many characteristics of particular societies, religions, and cultures.
The diagnosis of mental disorders
Carrying out a correct diagnosis of a mental disorder supposes, first of all, conducting an interview with the patient to carry out a test mental status and, assess the disorder’s appearance and person, behavior, symptoms, history of mental health of the patient and the current circumstances of the patient’s living environment. Likewise, the points of view of family members, partners and friends may also be important and add value to the diagnosis. The psychotherapist performs psychological tests through questionnaires that may include standardized algorithms. It is important to determine the degree of comorbidity of the patient during the diagnosis, that is, to be able to to identify if there are several disorders cohabiting in the patient, as well as which disorders weigh more than others, in order to accurately trace the path and therapeutic methodology to follow in the treatment.