Mental Disorders and Suicide Flashcards
Define:
Mental disorder
An illness associated with the mind that inhibits a person’s ability to adapt to change, live harmoniously with others, and function (such as studying, making friends, or keeping a job)
Mental disorders can be caused by one or multiple factors. What are these factors?
Physical factors, heredity, early experiences, and recent experiences can cause mental disorders.
Physical factors - Brain damager, caused by a brain injury or tumor, or infection, can lead to mental disorders. Also included in this category include exposure to poisons, such as lead as well as alcohol abuse.
Heredity - Certain events might trigger mental disorders if a person has been born with a tendency of acquiring certain mental disorders.
Early experiences - Negative experiences in childhood such as abuse or neglect may expose the affected child to mental disorders in later stages of life.
Recent experiences - Recent experiences, such as the death of a loved one, are more likely to trigger mental disorders than the early experiences.
Define:
Anxiety
Fear that emerges from a source that you cannot identify or from a source that does not posst as much threat as once thought.
Examples of these disorders are generalized anxiety disorder, phobias, panic attacks, obbsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Generalizard anxiety disorder
* excessive worry, anxiety, or fear that last for at least six months
* irritable, have tense muscles, insomnia, and poor concentration
Phobias
* based on the fear of a certain situation or object
Panic attacks
* characterized by rapid heartbeat, dizziness, nausea, or stomach discomfort, choking sensation, chest pains or complications, sweating as well as trembling or shaking.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
* an obsession is an undesired image or thought that takes charge of the mind
* it can turn into a compulsion where a person unnecessarily behaves in certain ways to avoid a feared outcome
Post-traumatic stress disorder
* experience nightmares or flashbacks that elicit intense horror and fear
* PTSD causes insomnia and anxiety and eventually compels those affected to avoid scenarios that often trigger these feelings and thoughts
Define:
Mood disorder
Characterized by extremem emotions that negatively affect a person’s daily life.
Some teens and young adults may experience other mental disorders, such as mood disorders or schizophrenia, personality disorders, or impulse-control disorders.
Bipolar Disorder | Manic-Depressive Disorder
* affected person transforms unexpectedly from one extreme emotion to another . . . also known as manic-depressive disorder.
* this disorder consists of manic and depressive episodes
* manic episode is characterized by excess excitement and restlessness during which the person speaks too rapidly to be understood
* during depressive periods, those affected experience depression
Symptoms of ADHD
ADHD : attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
- fidgeting or squirming
- excessive talking
- frequently interrupting others
- cannot work quietly
- poor concentration or focus
- frequently running around
- lack of patience
Define:
Depression
An emotional situation of extreme sadness and hopelessness
Explain:
Schizophrenia
A serious mental disorder whose symptoms are reflected through a person’s mood, thinking, behavior, and awareness.
Nicknamed ‘split mind’, schizophrenic people are often disconnected from reality and may talk to themselves, exhibit inappropriate emotions, dress and behave weirdly, and withdraw from other people.
Sometimes they become unnecessarily fearful, thinking that their thoughts are under the control of someone or something. It is notable that people with schizophrenia are seldom dangerous to other people and may even come across as normal.
Impulse-control disorders
People with this disorder are unable to resist the urge or impuls to behave in ways that are harmful to themselves or others.
Explain:
Personality disorders
People with a personality disorder exhibit rigid personalities that complicate their socialization with other people.
Group A:
* People in this group are often cold and distance, such that they cannot establish close relationships. Often absorbed in their own thoughts, such people are often withdrawn from reality. Also included in group A is paranoid personality disorder, which is characterized by extreme suspicions and distrust of other people.
Group B:
* Group B people are emotionally unstable, self-centered, and extremely demanding. In contrast to themselves, these people place no value on other people. An example of a group B disorder is an antisocial personality disorder, where the affected person may act violently with no sense of guilt.
Group C:
* People in Group C are unable to make their own decisions without the approval of others. An example is dependent personality disorder, in which patients are scared of rejection.
Define
Eating disorder
A mental disorder characterized by abnormal feelings, behaviors and thoughts about food.
Explain:
Anorexia nervosa
Often eat less food to avoid weight gain.
Apart from starving themselves of food, anorexic people are likely to use weight loss pills to lose more weight.
Anorexia is more common in females and can cause them to miss their menstrual periods. Other symptoms of an anorexic person include excessive weight loss. slow heartbeat and breathing, low body tempeature, dry skin, and fine body hair.
A person with anorexia can starve to death. In some cases, a lack of essential minterals cause the heart to stop suddenly, leading to death.
Explain:
Bulimia
A common eating disorder among young women who often go on eating binges, followed by using laxitives or vomiting to remove the food from their bodies.
Health risks
* dehydration, deprivation of crucial vitamins and minerals, and kidney damage
* vomiting elicits stomach acid that can irritate the throat and erode enamel from the teeth
Explain:
Binge eating disorder
People with binge eating disorder cannot resist the urge to continue eating even when they know they are full.
Health risks
* The main physical risks of binge eating disorder are excess weight gain and unhealthy dieting.
* You are also susceptible to complications, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, among others.
Clinical depression
A mood disorder in which a person feels hopeless and sad for months or even years. They no longer find pleasure in the activities they previously enjoyed.
Depression can cause problems at school, at home, and in one’s social life. If untreated, depression can also lead to substance abuse, serious behavior problems, and even suicide.
Identify:
The symptoms of clinical depression
- apetite change acompanied by weight loss or gain
- lack of OR excessive sleeping
- change in activity levels
- lack of interest in daily activities
- loss of energy
- hopelessness and boredom
- moodiness
- constant thoughts of suicide and death
