Mental and Emotional Disorders By: Alexus Velasquez

Mental Disorders A mental disorder or mental illness is a psychological or behavioral pattern generally associated with subjective distress or disability that occurs in an individual, and which is not a part of normal development or culture. Such a disorder may consist of a combination of affective, behavioral, and perceptual components. The recognition and understanding of mental health conditions have variations in the definitions, assessments, and classifications of mental disorders, although standard guideline requirements are widely accepted. A few mental disorders are diagnosed based on the harm to others, regardless of the subject's awareness of distress. Mental disorders are conceptualized as disorders of brain circuits likely caused by developmental processes shaped by complex relations of genetics and experience.

Emotional Disorders Emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) is a broad category which is used commonly in educational settings, to group a range of more precise apparent difficulties of children and adolescents. EBD may be controversial as the observed behavior may depend on many factors. The 5 models that are used in EBD are: Biophysical Psychodynamic Cognitive Behavioral Ecological

How to treat Mental and Emotional Disorders Mental and emotional disorders are classified as a psychological conditions marked primarily by sufficient disorganization of personality, mind, and emotions to seriously impair the normal psychological and often social functioning of the individual. Individuals diagnosed with mental or emotional disorders are typically deemed unable to function in society. A mental or emotional illness, like many chronic illnesses, requires ongoing treatment. As a result, many mental or emotional conditions can be effectively treated with one or a combination of the following therapies: Medication Psychotherapy Group therapy Day treatment or partial hospital treatment Specific therapies, such as cognitive-behavior therapy and behavior modification Other treatments available include: Alternative therapies, such as water therapy, massage and biofeedback Creative therapies, such as art therapy, music therapy or play therapy Hypnotherapy Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS)

Who needs treatment? According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), in a one-year period, about 50 million Americans can be diagnosed with a mental health problem that is serious enough to interfere with their normal, daily functioning. That’s 22 percent of the population. To be even more specific… Some 8 to 14 million Americans suffer from depression each year. About one in five persons will suffer at least one episode of major depression in their lifetimes. About 12 million children under 18 suffer from mental disorders such as autism, depression, and hyperactivity. About 2 million Americans suffer from schizophrenic disorders. Nearly one-fourth of the elderly suffer some form of mental illness. About 20 percent of the complaints for which Americans seek medical care are related to anxiety disorders, such as panic attacks, phobias, or obsessive- compulsive disorder.

The costs of treating mental and emotional disorders Untreated mental illness effects more than the individual or their family. It costs the entire community. The toll mental illness takes each year in loss of life, and pain and suffering of families is only part of the story. Untreated mental illness costs money. The American economy loses an estimated $113 billion a year due to untreated and mistreated mental illness. Lost productivity amounts to $105 billion of these losses, and $8 billion is spent on welfare and crime. The cost of untreated mental illness far surpasses the price of treatment!

Health Triangle Mental/Emotional: Its difficult to control your emotions. The emotional strain can enhance the disorder. Social: The pressures that come from a social environment can cause embarrassment and can also enhance the disorder. Physical: A bodies organs and other physical features can be strained from the pressures of a disorder.

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