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What are the Different Types of Mental Illness and Disorders?

Susan Abe
Susan Abe

Not long ago, mental illness and disorders were roughly categorized into one of three types: personality disorders, neuroses and psychoses. These categories were thought to approximate the degree of a patient's separation from reality along a continuum of sorts. Now, mental illness and disorders are classified more by their types of presentation or their origins. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) in the US and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) outline names of disorders, a minimum number of symptoms to exhibit and a description of the illness’s presentation. Examples of frequently occurring mental illness and disorders include mood disorders, addiction disorders and eating disorders.

Mood disorders are among the most prevalent mental illnesses and include the diagnoses of depression, its opposite presentation of mania and the fluctuation between the two known as bipolar disorder. Time is not wasted evaluating the degree of a patient's separation from an objective reality for classification purposes. Rather, a comparison of the patient's subjective belief versus objective reality is assessed only to ascertain the efficacy of treatment, usually by medications that stabilize mood swings. Many patients with mood disorders have been self-medicating with alcohol and other drugs for years before formal diagnosis and treatment. While some talk therapy may be helpful to mood disorder patients, large numbers are aided by medication and physical activity.

Compulsive hand washing may be a sign of OCD, a common mental disorder.
Compulsive hand washing may be a sign of OCD, a common mental disorder.

Anxiety disorders are another very common type of mental illness and disorders and can range from idiosyncratic oddities to life altering conditions. This classification includes generalized phobias, anxiety disorder, social anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD). Some anxiety-related mental illnesses and disorders might simply mean that a sufferer avoids public speaking engagements or skips the reptile house at her local zoo. Others, however, can leave the patient literally housebound — as in agoraphobia — or living a life severely constricted by avoiding anxiety-provoking situations. As with mood disorders, those with anxiety disorders frequently self-medicate with alcohol prior to medical diagnosis and pharmacological treatment.

Depression is a fairly commonly diagnosed mental illness.
Depression is a fairly commonly diagnosed mental illness.

Addiction, substance abuse, anorexia and bulimia can comprise a separate classification of mental illness and disorders in the uncontrollable relationship of the substance or focus of addiction to the sufferer. Conversely, some references lump alcohol and drug addiction into a separate category of impulse control disorders, which might include antisocial behavior, pyromania or shoplifting. Regardless of how these types of mental illness and disorders are classified, treatment includes separation of the patient from the substance or activity and medications to smooth out mood fluctuations that often precede poor impulse control.

A doctor can prescribe medication and deliver psychological therapy for mental illness if necessary.
A doctor can prescribe medication and deliver psychological therapy for mental illness if necessary.

Personality disorders are among the most common and least amenable to treatment of the various types of mental illness and disorders. Whether demonstrated as borderline, narcissistic or passive-aggressive personality disorders, these disorders represent extremely rigid personalities and very limited means of dealing with others socially. These individuals rarely seek help for themselves and tend to interpret the usual drama surrounding them as the fault of others.

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    • Compulsive hand washing may be a sign of OCD, a common mental disorder.
      By: ia_64
      Compulsive hand washing may be a sign of OCD, a common mental disorder.
    • Depression is a fairly commonly diagnosed mental illness.
      By: Artem Furman
      Depression is a fairly commonly diagnosed mental illness.
    • A doctor can prescribe medication and deliver psychological therapy for mental illness if necessary.
      By: Alexander Raths
      A doctor can prescribe medication and deliver psychological therapy for mental illness if necessary.
    • Pyromania is an impulse control disorder.
      By: goodween123
      Pyromania is an impulse control disorder.
    • If an individual experiences angry and violent outbursts due to minor incidents, he or she may be suffering with intermittent explosive disorder.
      By: WavebreakmediaMicro
      If an individual experiences angry and violent outbursts due to minor incidents, he or she may be suffering with intermittent explosive disorder.
    • Phobias are linked to certain triggers, like the fear of heights.
      By: Sergey Mostovoy
      Phobias are linked to certain triggers, like the fear of heights.
    • Mood swings and emotional instability are classic symptoms of bipolar disorder.
      By: Phase4Photography
      Mood swings and emotional instability are classic symptoms of bipolar disorder.
    • "Personality disorder" is a blanket term used to classify various disorders, including borderline personality disorder.
      By: ivolodina
      "Personality disorder" is a blanket term used to classify various disorders, including borderline personality disorder.
    • Narcissism is a disorder where people are overly obsessed with how they are perceived by others.
      By: umpalumpas
      Narcissism is a disorder where people are overly obsessed with how they are perceived by others.
    • Impulse control disorders may present in the form of chronic shoplifting.
      By: Gina Sanders
      Impulse control disorders may present in the form of chronic shoplifting.
    • Many people with mental illness can benefit from seeing a mental health counselor.
      By: alexsokolov
      Many people with mental illness can benefit from seeing a mental health counselor.
    • Bulimia is an eating disorder that involves frequent purging.
      By: lightwavemedia
      Bulimia is an eating disorder that involves frequent purging.
    • Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental illnesses.
      By: Andrew Lever
      Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental illnesses.
    • Those with a passive-aggressive personality disorder may be limited in the ways they deal with others socially.
      By: Andrey Burmakin
      Those with a passive-aggressive personality disorder may be limited in the ways they deal with others socially.