Introduction
This page will give you a better understanding of Mental Illness. It looks at the different types of Mental Illness displayed in the list on the left. It would probably be of help if you ask a key worker to explain how this page relates to you.
For more information, visit www.mentalhealth.org.uk. The information on this page has been provided by Makingspace. www.makingspace.co.uk
What is mental illness?
DEFINITION
LEARNING DISABILITIES
NEUROSIS
DEPRESSION
ANXIETY
PHOBIAS
PANIC ATTACKS
OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER
SUBSTANCE ABUSE
PSYCHOSIS
MANIC DEPRESSIVE DISORDER
SCHIZOAFFECTIVE DISORDER
DRUG INDUCED PYSCHOSIS
PERSONALITY DISORDERS
PYSCHOPATHS
ORGANIC DISORDERS
SUICIDE

Definition
Mental illness can be described as :-
'Extreme differences or difficulties in the way a person thinks, observes the world and experiences feelings. These can be brief or occur over a long time. They can cause difficulties in a person's ability to care for themselves, to have relationships, make friends, make decisions, work or have any leisure activities'.
This definition highlights the fact that mental illness is not necessarily permanent, but when present it can have far reaching consequences in a person's life. Before considering individual types of mental illness, it is important to emphasis that:
Mental illness is common. Depending on the definition used, 1 in 4 to 1 in 10 of the adult population experiences at any one time.
Anyone can experience mental illness, especially if they are going through a stressful time in life.
Mental illness can present differently in different cultures; when people are assessed, attention must be given to their ethnic and social backgrounds.
The term, 'severe mental illness' is reserved for people who have a longstanding condition, which results in difficulties in one or more areas of their life (e.g. work, relationships). About 1% of the population have a severe mental illness. |Top

Violence and Mental Illness
The stereotype of someone with mental illness is a person who is violent, dangerous and out of control. This is an inaccurate description, as only a fraction of people with mental illness are violent. |Top

Learning Disabilities (Mental Handicap)
Mental illness must not be confused with learning disabilities (mental handicap), in which a person has permanent, irreversible damage to, or incomplete development of, brain tissue which results in a wide range of disabilities. In it's most severe form, people are unable to walk, speak or understand simple conversation. In it's milder form, learning disabilities cause educational and intellectual difficulties and problems with social interaction. |Top

Neurosis
NEUROTIC CONDITIONS are far more common than psychotic conditions. Although generally they are less severe and disabling some people are seriously affected. The common neurotic conditions and DEPRESSION and ANXIETY. Theses are emotions that we all experience; they are only regarded as a mental illness when they become severe.

Depression
The main features of depression are described under the Manic Depressive Disorder section Depression is far more common than manic depression. The severity, duration and recurrence rate depends on the treatment that the person receives, their social situation and their personality. Although people with depression can usually be treated as outpatients, occasionally people will be admitted to hospital, especially if suicidal. |Top

Anxiety
As with depression, anxiety is a universal human emotion. It is only when it is severe and persistent that it is regarded as an illness or disorder. Some people have generalised anxiety, which is not related to specific events, but is an unpleasant feeling, which is with them all the time. Alternatively, anxiety can be more episodic, occurring either spontaneously, or triggered by some external stimulus. |Top

Phobias
Phobias are a specific type of anxiety, defined as morbid, and out of proportion fears. Common phobias include agrophobia (fear of open spaces, crowds, public transport), social phobia (fear of meeting people and animal phobia (fear of snakes or cats). The person with a phobia will understandably try to avoid the feared situation, for example, a person with agrophobia will stay inside their house. Treatment is focused on trying to gradually expose the person to their fear so that they become used to it, and therefore less anxious. |Top

Panic Attacks
Panic Attacks are associated with both phobias and other anxiety states, but they can occur spontaneously in people who have not previously experienced anxiety. They are characterised by a sudden and intense sensation of fear and impending doom, frequently the person will feel that they are going to die. The fear is accompanied by physical symptoms of breathlessness, tingling in the fingers, tremor, palpitations (irregular, fast, heartbeat), giddiness and sweating. |Top

Obsessional Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Severe OCD is uncommon, but people frequently complain of some features of the disorder. Some people have a combination of obsessional thoughts and compulsive behaviour. Obsessional thoughts are distressing, repetitive thoughts, that the person knows are his/her own (unlike hallucinations) but cannot ignore; some people describe the experience as being like a 'stuck record'. The individual cannot stop the thoughts, despite knowing that they irrational, useless and distressing. They may be about contamination, violent acts towards others, embarrassing subjects or personal safety.
Compulsions are ritual actions or mental processes which a person feels compelled to repeat in order to relieve anxiety and temporarily stop obsessional thoughts. For example, the person may have an obsessional thought that their hands are dirty and repeatedly wash them over and over again (up to 100 times a day). NB Although violent and sexual thoughts may be present in OCD, and be very distressing, it is extremely rare for people to at on them. In it's most server form, OCD can prevent a person from completing even simple daily tasks, such as washing the dishes. It can take many hours just to get up in the morning if someone is compelled to perform numerous rituals, such as washing their hands 50 times. Treatment involves behavioural therapy and/or cognitive training and is usually at least partially successful in relieving the person's symptoms. |Top

Substance Abuse
Substance abuse is the continual misuse of any mind altering substance which severly interferes with the individual's physical and mental health, social situation and responsibilities.
It is not commonly treated by specialist mental health services, but rather by specific substance abuse services. If a person with mental health problems also has a substance abuse problem, the specialist mental health team would usually encourage contact for help. There are many organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors who specialise in this field.
NB Mental disorders can, and often do occur together, e.g. people with schizophrenia often get depressed, and people with anxiety may drink excessively to relieve their symptoms. |Top

Psychosis
Anyone can have a transient episode of psychosis; a bereavement, extreme stress or a traumatic experience may occasionally result in psychotic symptoms. People who develop psychotic symptoms are helped with psychological therapies and may only need medication for a short period.
If however, a person has a prolonged period of psychosis, or recurrent episodes, or recurrent episodes, it may be that they are experiencing a more serious form of mental illness. The most common medical diagnosis of serious psychosis are schizophrenia, manic depressive disorder and schizoaffective disorder. |Top

Manic Depressive Disorder (Bipolar Affective Disorder)
A prevalent mental illness which can result in severe disability is manic depression. This causes severe mood swings, which can significantly disrupt a person's life. There are a great variations in the pattern of mood swings, which can significantly disrupt a person's life. There are a great variations in the pattern of mood swings. At one extreme, people may experience bouts of depression and mania within hours of each other. Alternatively, mood swings may be years apart. Some people will persistently experience depression or mania, and have very few or no episodes of the opposite mood state. The level of disability also varies. Although many people with manic depression hold down demanding job, there are a significant minority of people whose lives are ruined, and who are as affected as someone with schizophrenia.
The causes of manic depression are not fully known. In a proportion of people, it appears to be hereditary. Major life events, such as bereavement or divorce, can trigger an episode of mania or depression, as can physical illness, especially for those who have a history of depression.
Manic Symptons
Manic episodes (also referred to as hypomanic or going high) are classically characterised by the person appearing inappropriately happy, then becoming extremely or depressed, with little or no warning. When manic, a person's thinking and speech are faster than normal. Their thoughts jump rapidly from one subject to another, which makes conversation with them difficult. They may, at times, have delusions and hallucinations similar to someone with schizophrenia, such as grandiose (where someone believes incorrectly that they are famous or have some special influence).
A manic person will usually be overactive, and sleep very little or not at all. They will be disinhibited, becoming uncharacteristically noisy, abusive, disruptive, provocative or promiscuous. This disinhibtion often causes people to make rash decisions e.g. to spend lots of money which can have serious financial and legal consequences.
Typical Manic Symptons

Depressive Symptons
When depressed, a person's mood or feelings are severly and persistently low. They often describe a lack of energy, poor sleep, poor appetite and weight loss. They also experience poor concentration, and feelings of guilt or hopelessness. They may feel that life is not worth living and plan or attempt suicide. Symptoms are often worse in the evening.
People with severe depression can have paranoid ideas or auditory hallucinations which are critical and derogatory about them. As people with depression usually lose interest in things they enjoy, cancelling commitments and social withdrawal are important signs. Usually a person will realise that they are depressed, but sometimes they will deny their problems and insist nothing a wrong.
A diagnosis of manic depressive disorder will usually will be made by a psychiatrist after a person has had two or more significant mood swings.
Typical Depressive Symptons

Many people with manic depression live normal lives , for others it is severely disabling. Mania is characterised by fast thoughts and speech and disinhibition. Depression is persistent and severe low mood, characterised by social withdrawal, lack of interest in usual enjoyments, and poor sleep and appeitite.

Schizoaffective Disorder
Occasionally a person will have symptoms of both schizophrenia and manic depression. This is called schizoaffective disorder. Each episode of illness is treated according to which symptoms the person is experiencing at the time. |Top

Drug Induced Psychosis
Most illicit drugs can induce psychotic symptoms. Some people appear to be susceptible than others. Usually drug induced psychosis is short lived; when the person stops taking the drug, their symptoms disappear. In addition, drugs such as cannabis can exacerbate the symptoms of schizophrenia and other conditions.
Psychosis
Psychosis is the most serious form of mental distress;
Anyone can have an episode of psychosis;
Common symptoms include delusions, hallucinations and difficulty thinking properly;
It can be triggered by stress, bereavement, or a traumatic experience;
Psychosis can be treated with a range of psychological and medical therapies.|Top

Personality Disorders
Psychiatrists will often use the term 'Personality Disorder' to describe someone who although not experiencing a specific mental illness, does have difficulty coping with life and whose behaviour persistently causes distress to themselves or others. There are different types of personality disorders, but common problems include having difficulty in sustaining relationships and interpreting social cues. Although personality disorders are long standing and often resistant to psychiatric treatment, people may be helped by long term support and changes to their social environment. |Top

Pyschopaths
Psychopath is primarily a legal term, used more by the media than by psychiatrists. The Mental Health Act 1983 defines psychopathic disorder as
'a persistent disorder or disability of mind (whether or not including significant impairment of intelligence) which results in abnormally or aggressive or seriously irresponsible conduct.'
There are other factors, which would influence a diagnosis, including behaviour and the degree of insight a person has into the severity of their actions and their consequences.
Because of the controversy within psychiatry about the definition of psychopathic disorder, and it's negative stereotype, most doctors now use the term anti-social personality disorder. |Top

Organic Disorders
These differ from the above disorders in that they are a direct result of an identifiable malfunction. The disorder may develop suddenly (e.g. brain damage caused by road traffic accident) or over a prolonged period (e.g. senile dementia). In some cases, total recovery is possible with treatment. If, however, the damage is irreversible, treatment is aimed at assisting the person to cope with his/her disability, and trying to prevent further deterioration. |Top

Suicide
No discussion on mental health would be complete without some mention of suicide. Around 4,500 people kill themselves in England and Wales each year (1 in 100 deaths), and many more harm themselves. During recent years there has been a marked increase in the number of young men who commit suicide, whereas the rate for women has fallen. The reasons for these changes are not known. The majority of people who commit suicide have a mental illness at the time of their death, but it will not have been noticed by those around them. People with long term severe mental illness are particularly at risk; 10% people with schizophrenia kill themselves, and the proportion is even higher for people with severe or recurrent depression. Suicide is also more likely in people who are isolated, or who misuse alcohol and drugs.
If someone has previously made an unsuccessful suicide attempt, then they are also at particular risk.
If someone tells you that they feel suicidal, always take it seriously, make sure that you tell someone else and they are offered professional help. If someone says that they are feeling desperate or hopeless don't be embarrassed to ask whether they have had any sucidal thoughts. It is possible to raise the topic gently e.g. by asking 'Do you ever go to bed at night and hope that you are not going to wake up in the morning?' or 'Have you recently wished you weren't here?'.
If someone is not suicidal raising the issue will not cause offence or put the idea into their head, but if they are, having the opportunity to talk about it will be an enormous relief and may save their relief.