Information About Mental Illness And The Brain

In studies of twins, ADHD is significantly more likely to be present in an identical twin than a fraternal twin. Mental illnesses are not triggered by a change in a single gene; scientists believe that the interaction of several genes may trigger mental illness. Furthermore hair loss, the combination of genetic, environmental, and social factors might determine whether a case of mental illness is mild or severe.

Thinking About Details For Healthcare

We have all had some exposure to mental illness, but do we really understand it or know what it is? A mental illness can be defined as a health condition that changes a person’s thinking, feelings, or behavior and that causes the person distress and difficulty in functioning.

They include electroconvulsive therapy, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, deep brain stimulation and vagus nerve stimulation. We have all seen movies about the madman and his crime spree, with the underlying cause of mental illness. We sometimes even make jokes about people being crazy or nuts, even though we know that we shouldn’t.

  • As a teacher, you may occasionally have students who show symptoms of or who have significant risk factors for a mental illness.
  • Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition (DSM-IV)A book published by the American Psychiatric Association that gives general descriptions and characteristic symptoms of different mental illnesses.
  • For a diagnosis of ADHD, the behaviors must appear before an individual reaches age seven, continue for at least six months, be more frequent than in other children of the same age, and cause impairment in at least two areas of life .
  • A psychiatrist evaluates a person’s mental health along with his or her physical health and can prescribe medications.
  • Physicians and other mental health professionals use the DSM-IV to confirm diagnoses for mental illnesses.

Core Criteria Of Health News – The Inside Track

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.

After the individual’s overall health is evaluated and the condition diagnosed, the doctor will develop a treatment plan. Treatment can involve both medications and psychotherapy, depending on the disease and its severity. Genes also play a role in determining whether someone develops a mental illness. The illnesses that are most likely to have a genetic component include autism, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and ADHD. For example, the observation that children with ADHD are much more likely to have a sibling or parent with ADHD supports a role for genetics in determining whether someone is at risk for ADHD.

Leave a comment