Psychiatric Illnesses

Psychiatric illnesses are common mental and emotional conditions that affect a person’s mood, thoughts and behaviors. They can cause a wide range of symptoms and significantly affect a person’s quality of life, and may lead to health and social problems if left untreated. While the specific cause of these conditions is unknown, they are often linked to heredity, biological factors, life experiences and biochemical causes.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 1 in 5 adults experiences a mental health condition each year. There are many different mental health conditions, including depression, ADHD, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, autism, eating disorders, borderline personality disorder, dissociative disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder, OCD, schizophrenia, and schizoaffective disorder. Symptoms of mental disorder usually present themselves before the age of 24, and about 50% of mental disorders begin to develop before age 14.

If you suspect that you or a family member shows warning signs of mental illness, it’s important to seek care as soon as possible to improve the possibility of recovery. Treatment may include psychotherapy, medications, brain stimulation procedures, and healthy lifestyle changes.

Additional Expert Sources:
National Alliance on Mental Illness
American Psychiatric Association