What is Mental Illness?
Mental illness comes in a variety of forms accompanied
by a number of relatedhelpful_links.htm symptoms. To learn more
about some of these illnesses, including, types, causes, symptoms
and treatments, the staff of UT Harris County Psychiatric Center
put together a comprehensive, alphabetized list, shown below.
For more information, simply scroll down and click on the appropriate
illness description. The mental illness' descriptions included
in this list are for informative purposes only. For a qualified,
professional diagnosis, please contact UTHCPC Outpatient Services
at 713-500-8800, UHCPC Inpatient Admissions at 713-741-3883 or
your private physician.
A • B • C • D • E• M • O • P • S • T
Alzheimers Disease
One of the most disabling afflictions among older people is Alzheimers
disease. It is estimated that one in 20 adults over 65 and
one in five adults over 80 suffer from the disease today.
Anxiety Disorder
Anxiety disorders are the most common of all mental illnesses,
and they are also the most treatable. Unfortunately, only about
one quarter of the victims ever seek treatment.
Bipolar
Disorder (manic depression)
Bipolar disorder, also known as Manic-depressive disorder, is
a serious, chronic mental disorder. It is estimated that one
in 100 people suffer from manic-depression and it generally
strikes before 35 years of age.
Childhood Disorders
When children develop mental or emotional disorders, parents
often blame themselves, but childhood disorders are likely
caused by a combination of many factors. Often these conditions
can be treated effectively, allowing our children to grow into
happy, productive adults.
Depression
Depression is one of the most common of all mental illnesses.
It can appear at any age, and one in five women and one in
10 men will experience depression sometime in their lives.
Almost 90 percent of those who suffer from depression can be
effectively treated.
Depression, Late-Life
Depression is common among the elderly. In fact, more than 20
percent of those over the age of 65 suffer from some degree
of depression. An additional 10 percent of the elderly diagnosed
with dementia may actually be suffering from depression.
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are psychological illnesses born from the desire
to achieve the "ideal figure." The majority of those
afflicted with eating disorders are adolescent and young adult
women.
Manic-depressive Disorder
see Bipolar Disorder
Mental Illnesses
Mental illnesses are some of the most misunderstood afflictions
in today's society. Too many people think of mental illness
as a "weakness." Nothing could be further from the
truth. These are true illnesses and brain diseases.
Mental Health, Late-Life
Having sound mental health as an adult does not make a person
immune from psychiatric problems later in life. Elderly individuals
can also suffer from mental illness, but proper treatment and
care can reduce or eliminate the symptoms, returning people
to functioning, happier lives.
Mood Disorders
Feelings of sadness and discouragement are normal emotional reactions
to difficult situations. But when these feelings last more
than a few weeks, or get so bad that they take control of a
person's life, it could be a sign of a mood disorder.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder afflicts millions of Americans
and can strike at any age. Treatment is available, and advances
in medications and therapies have successfully returned many
people with obsessive-compulsive disorder to productive, satisfying
lives.
Panic Disorder
Panic disorder, one in the family of anxiety disorders, is different
from normal anxiety. While other anxiety disorders cause ongoing
feelings of fear of impending doom, panic disorder is marked
by sudden, unexpected attacks of intense terror.
Phobias
Fear is a natural reaction to danger. But when your fears are
so great that they disrupt your daily life, you probably suffer
from a phobia. Phobias are among the most common of all mental
illnesses, and they are usually the most successfully treated.
Physical Fitness & Mental
Health
Physical fitness involves much more than having the body of a
fashion model. True physical fitness is a state of overall
well-being and a measure of one's ability to perform normal
physical activity. When you're physically healthy, you are
more likely to be mentally healthy as well.
Schizophrenia
Much less common than other chronic diseases, schizophrenia occurs
in around 150 of every 100,000 people, or about one to one
and a half percent of the population, and usually appears during
adolescence or young adulthood.
Substance Abuse
Substance abuse is the misuse of a mood-altering substance and
is one of the most common and costly problems in society today.
Just about everyone has or will be faced with making decisions
about substance use or abuse, however it touches our lives.
Education is the first and most critical step toward making
the right decision.
Suicide, Late Life
For many people, senior years are a time to enjoy life, to travel,
to do things they weren't able to before retirement. They look
back on their lives with satisfaction. But for some others,
growing older is a painful, difficult process.
Teen Suicide
For many, teen years are some of the most difficult in life.
Our bodies go through changes; relationships become complex;
we begin to learn social roles; and more than ever we're expected
to grow up earlier. These changes and demands may leave a teenager
feeling helpless, confused and pessimistic about the future.
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