mentalillness

Mental illness is an illness that affects or is manifested in a person's brain. It may impact on the way a person thinks, behaves, and interacts with other people.

The term "mental illness" actually encompasses numerous psychiatric disorders, and just like illnesses that affect other parts of the body, they can vary in severity. Many people suffering from mental illness may not look as though they are ill or that something is wrong, while others may appear to be confused, agitated, or withdrawn.

It is a myth that mental illness is a weakness or defect in character and that sufferers can get better simply by "pulling themselves up by their bootstraps." Mental illnesses are real illnesses--as real as heart disease and cancer--and they require and respond well to treatment.

The term "mental illness" is an unfortunate one because it implies a distinction between "mental" disorders and "physical" disorders. Research shows that there is much "physical" in "mental" disorders and vice-versa. For example, the brain chemistry of a person with Major Depression is different from that of a non-depressed person, and medication can be used (often in combination with psychotherapy) to bring the brain chemistry back to normal. Similarly, a person who is suffering from hardening of the arteries in the brain--which reduces the flow of blood and thus oxygen in the brain--may experience such "mental" symptoms as confusion and forgetfulness.

In the past 20 years especially, psychiatric research has made great strides in the precise diagnosis and successful treatment of many mental illnesses. Where once mentally ill people were warehoused in public institutions because they were disruptive or feared to be harmful to themselves or others, today most people who suffer from a mental illness--including those that can be extremely debilitating, such as schizophrenia --can be treated effectively and lead full lives.

Some of the commonly known mental illnesses are Depression; Manic Depression (also known as Bipolar Disorder); Anxiety Disorders, including specific Phobias (such as fear of heights), Social Phobia, Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder; Schizophrenia and other Psychotic Disorders, such as Delusional Disorder; Substance Abuse and disorders related to substance abuse; Delirium; Dementia, including Alzheimer's disease; Eating Disorders, such as Bulimia and Anorexia; Sleep Disorders; Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder; Learning Disorders; Sexual Disorders; Dissociative Disorders, such as Multiple Personality Disorder; and Personality Disorders, such as Borderline Personality Disorder and Antisocial Personality Disorder.

The above information has been provided by
American Psychiatric Association. Let's Talk Facts Pamphlet Series
http://www.psych.org/main.html

A large proportion of the burden of disease resulting from neuro-psychiatric conditions is attributable to major depression, the leading cause of disability globally in 1990 and believed to be increasing in both developing and developed regions. Alcohol use is another major cause of disease burden, particularly for adult men. It is the leading cause of disability for men in the developed regions and the fourth leading cause in developing regions.

Rank of selected conditions among all causes of disease burden, estimates for 1998
Disease or injury	Rank in cause list
Disease or injury	World	High-income countries	Low- and middle-income countries
Major Depression	4	2	4
Alcohol Dependence	17	4	20
Bipolar Disorder	18	14	19
Psychoses	22	12	24
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder	28	18	27
Dementia	33	9	41
Drug Dependence	41	17	45
Panic Disorder	44	29	48
Epilepsy	47	34	46

The World Health Report 1999: Making a Difference.
published by WHO in Geneva on 17 May 1999

Mental Health Statistics (USA)

More than 51 million Americans have a mental disorder in a single year, although only about 8 million (16 percent) seek treatment. (NIMH & CMHS, 1994)

Studies indicate that 1 in 5 children and adolescents (20 percent) may have a diagnosable disorder. Estimates of the number of children who have mental disorders range from 7.7 million to 12.8 million. (CMHS, 1993). These youth are estimated to have severe emotional or behavioral problems that significantly interfere with their daily functioning.

Less than one-third of the children under age 18 with a serious emotional disturbance receive mental health services. Often, the services are inappropriate. (Children's Defense Fund) (CMHS-Mental Health, U.S., 1994)

During the course of any given year, while more than 40 million adult Americans are affected by one or more mental disorders, 6.5 million Americans are disabled by severe mental illnesses. (NIMH, 1990)

An estimated 19.9 million Americans-8.8 percent of the population experience phobias.

About 9.1 million-5.1 percent-live with major depression.

Some 3.9 million have obsessive compulsive disorder;

2.0 million have schizophrenia;

2.4 million have panic disorder; and

2.0 million experience bipolar disorders. (NMHA, 1993), (Mental Health, U.S., 1994)

As least two thirds of elderly nursing home residents have a diagnosis of a mental disorder such as major depression. (NIMH, 1990)

Up to 25 percent of the population with AIDS will develop AIDS-related cognitive dysfunction. Two-thirds of all people with AIDS will develop neuro-psychiatric problems. (Mental Health Liaison Group, 1993)

A majority of the 29,000 Americans who commit suicide each year are believed to have a mental disorder. Suicide is the eighth leading cause of death in the U.S. and the third leading cause of death among people aged 15 to 24. (NIMH, 1994)

Nearly one-third of the nation's estimated 600,000 homeless individuals are believed to be severely mentally ill adults. (CMHS, 1992)

References and Links:

American Psychiatric Association.   Let's Talk Facts Pamphlet Series
        http://www.psych.org/main.html
National Institute of Mental Health
        National Mental Health Association
         http://www.nmha.org/
World Health Organization. The World Health Report 1999:
        Making a Difference, Geneva 17 May 1999