Diagnosis & Treatment
- a medical examination. Your physician will attempt to rule out any medical issues that might be causing your symptoms.
- experiments in the lab. These could include, for instance, an evaluation of your thyroid function or a drug and alcohol screen.
- a mental assessment. A physician or mental health specialist discusses your symptoms, thoughts, feelings, and behavioral patterns with you. To assist in addressing these inquiries, you might be required to complete a questionnaire.
- Identifying the type of mental illness you have
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), which is published by the American Psychiatric Association, provides a complete list of the distinguishing symptoms for every mental disorder. Mental health practitioners use this handbook to diagnose mental illnesses, and insurance companies use it to calculate treatment costs.
The primary categories of mental disorders are:
- Diseases related to neurodevelopment. This program addresses a wide range of issues that typically surface during early childhood or before a kid enters grade school. Learning difficulties, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and autism spectrum disorder are a few examples
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- The spectrum of schizophrenia and other psychotic illnesses. Psychotic disorders are characterized by separation from reality, as evidenced by delusions, hallucinations, and disordered speech and thought patterns. Although detachment from reality can occasionally be connected with other groups of diseases, schizophrenia is the most prominent example.
- Bipolar illness and associated conditions. This category comprises conditions marked by recurrent manic episodes, or bursts of intense energy, enthusiasm, and activity, and depressive episodes.
- Bipolar and Related Disorders. This category comprises conditions marked by recurrent manic episodes, or bursts of intense energy, enthusiasm, and activity, and depressive episodes.
- Depression-related conditions. These include emotional problems that can interfere with your capacity to operate and influence your feelings of happiness and despair. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder and severe depressive disorder are two examples.
- Disorders related to anxiety. Anxiety is a feeling that is defined by excessive concern and the expectation of danger or bad luck in the future. It may involve actions taken to keep oneself away from anxious situations. Panic disorder, phobias, and generalized anxiety disorder are included in this class.
- disorders connected to obsessive-compulsive behavior. Preoccupations, obsessions, and repetitive thoughts and behaviors are characteristics of these disorders. Hair-pulling disorder (trichotillomania), hoarding disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder are a few examples.
- problems linked to stress and trauma. These are disorders of adjustment in which an individual struggles to cope either during or following a stressful life experience. Acute stress disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are two examples.
- Dissociative conditions. These are conditions, such dissociative identity disorder and dissociative amnesia, where your sense of self is compromised.
- Disorders associated with somatic symptoms. When a person has one of these conditions, they may experience physical symptoms that lead to significant emotional anguish and functional difficulties. These symptoms may or may not be related to another medical illness that has been diagnosed, but the response to the symptoms is abnormal. Somatic symptom disorder, sickness anxiety disorder, and factitious disorder are among the disorders.
- Eating problems and feeding issues. Anorexia nervosa and binge-eating disorder are two eating disorders that have an impact on nutrition and overall health.
- Disorders of elimination. These conditions are associated with the inadvertent or deliberate expulsion of urine or stool. Enuresis, or bedwetting, is one instance.
- sleep-wake problems. These include sleep disorders like insomnia, sleep apnea, and restless legs syndrome that are severe enough to need medical attention.
- dysfunctions sexual. These include sexual response diseases such female orgasmic dysfunction and premature ejaculation.
- Dysphoria regarding gender. This is the distress that accompanies an individual expressing a wish to identify as a different gender.
- conduct, impulsive control, and disruptive problems. These illnesses include kleptomania and intermittent explosive disorder, which are issues with behavioral and emotional self-control.
- addiction and substance abuse illnesses.
- addiction and substance abuse illnesses. These include issues brought on by abusing narcotics, alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco. Gambling disorders are also included in this class.
- neurological conditions that affect cognition. Neurocognitive diseases impair reasoning and thought processes. Delirium is one of these acquired (as opposed to developing) cognitive issues. Other neurocognitive disorders brought on by illnesses or injuries like Alzheimer’s disease or traumatic brain injury are also included.
- diseases of personality. A persistent pattern of emotional instability and harmful conduct that interferes with daily functioning and interpersonal relationships is indicative of a personality disorder. Narcissistic, antisocial, and borderline personality disorders are a few examples.
- diseases that are paraphilic. Sexual attraction that impairs oneself or creates potential or actual harm to another person is one of these diseases. Pedophilic disorder, voyeuristic disorder, and sexual sadism disorder are a few examples.
- Other mental disorders. This class includes mental disorders that are due to other medical conditions or that don’t meet the full criteria for one of the above disorders
Treatment
Your treatment depends on the type of mental illness you have, its severity and what works best for you. In many cases, a combination of treatments works best.
If you have a mild mental illness with well-controlled symptoms, treatment from your primary care provider may be sufficient. However, often a team approach is appropriate to make sure all your psychiatric, medical and social needs are met. This is especially important for severe mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia.
Your medical group
Members of your treatment team could be:
- primary care physician or family practice
- a nurse practitioner
- medical assistant
- Psychiatrist: medical professional who identifies and manages mental diseases
- A psychotherapist, like a professional counselor or psychologist
- chemist
- Social worker
- relatives
Psychiatric drugs frequently greatly reduce symptoms even when they cannot treat mental illness. Moreover, psychiatric drugs can enhance the efficacy of psychotherapy and other therapies. The right drugs for you will rely on your unique circumstances and the way the drug interacts with your body.
Prescription psychiatric drug classes that are most frequently used include some of the following:
- drugs that fight depression. Antidepressants are used to treat anxiety, depression, and occasionally other disorders. They can aid in the improvement of symptoms like melancholy, hopelessness, low energy, trouble focusing, and disinterest in activities. Antidepressants don’t lead to dependency or addiction.
- medicines that reduce anxiety. Anxiety disorders including panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder are treated with these medications. They might also lessen restlessness and agitation.
- drugs that stabilize mood. Mood stabilizers are most frequently used to treat bipolar disorders, which are characterized by manic and depressive episodes that alternate. Mood stabilizers and antidepressants are occasionally used to treat depression.
- antipsychotic drugs. Antipsychotic medications are commonly employed in the treatment of psychotic conditions like schizophrenia. Antipsychotic drugs can be combined with antidepressants to treat depression or used alone to treat bipolar disorders.
Speaking with a mental health expert about your ailment and related difficulties is part of psychotherapy, commonly known as talk therapy. You learn about your condition as well as your emotions, thoughts, behaviors, and moods during psychotherapy. Gaining understanding and information will help you acquire coping and stress-reduction techniques.
Psychotherapy comes in a variety of forms, each with a unique strategy for enhancing mental health. Although psychotherapy can frequently be successfully finished in a few months, long-term care may be required in certain circumstances. It can happen in a group setting, one-on-one, or with family members.
It is important that you are at ease with your therapist and have faith in their ability to hear and understand what you have to say. Furthermore, it’s critical that your therapist understands the life journey that has helped shape who you are and how you live in the world.
Brain-stimulation treatments
Brain-stimulation treatments are sometimes used for depression and other mental health disorders. They’re generally reserved for situations in which medications and psychotherapy haven’t worked. They include electroconvulsive therapy, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, deep brain stimulation and vagus nerve stimulation.
Make sure you understand all the risks and benefits of any recommended treatment.
Hospital and residential treatment programs
Sometimes mental illness becomes so severe that you need care in a psychiatric hospital. This is generally recommended when you can’t care for yourself properly or when you’re in immediate danger of harming yourself or someone else.
Options include 24-hour inpatient care, partial or day hospitalization, or residential treatment, which offers a temporary supportive place to live. Another option may be intensive outpatient treatment.
Substance misuse treatment
Substance abuse issues frequently coexist with mental disorders. It frequently obstructs medical care and exacerbates mental disease. You require treatment if you are unable to quit taking drugs or alcohol on your own. Consult your doctor about available treatments.
Participating in your own care
Together, you and your primary care physician or mental health specialist can determine the best course of action based on your unique situation, your preferences, the side effects of your medications, the intensity of your symptoms, and other variables. When a mental illness is severe enough, you might not be able to make decisions for yourself until you recover enough to be supported by a caregiver or loved one.
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