My goal of this website is in educating the public with regards to the physiology behind mental illness. Some of the major mental illnesses are most often caused by medical conditions that affect our mental health. The vast majority of these are due to the brain’s inability to over or under produce and regulate the neurotransmitters and hormones. Thyroid conditions, post-myocardial infarction, diabetes, menopause, post-menopause are just a few of the underlying physiological disorders that will trigger or at least create symptoms of mental illness such as depression and anxiety. Often our diets, trans-fats, lack of exercise also will contribute to mental illness. Genetic mental illnesses have been the subject of many studies such as ADHD genetic research. Some studies seem to suggest that the environment changes the DNA which creates an inextricable link between genetics and the environment. Is anxiety genetic? This study claims that stress on the fetus can turn certain genes on or off to create a predisposition for anxiety. One thing is for sure: mental illnesses had to enter the family gene-pool from external or environmental sources at some point in time. And this being the case, these conditions still hold true today!
Major Mental Illnesses are Very Treatable
The good news is that most of these major mental illnesses are very treatable; however, require participation on behalf of the individual to accept the diagnosis and cooperate during treatment. Destigmatizing mental illness is one of my goals and will greatly encourage patients to seek help sooner. on average 50% of all people suffering from mental illness will postpone treatment for up to 11 years due to the social stigma of these diseases. Medication augmentation will often be required to treat a condition when the individual is seemingly not responsive to any particular medication. This discernment on behalf of the practitioner is acquired through years of treating hundreds if not thousands of patients. New medications and treatments are becoming available and “off label” used are discovered on a routine basis; you want to trust yourself to the care of someone who has the experience, continuing education, and the ability to discern between the kinds of mental illnesses. You also want a practitioner that will investigate other physiological conditions that might be responsible for the symptoms as well. In many cases, if the correct medication is selected by the practitioner, patients will often experience an improvement in their condition in just a matter of days. Often many of the new antidepressants will be up to 70% effective upon their first use for major mental illnesses such as depression or the anti-anxiety drugs.
What are some of the Major Mental Illnesses?
Depression -is a medical condition, not a personal weakness. It is also very common. Major depression affects about 6.7% of the U.S. population…
Anxiety – there are many types of anxiety disorders that include panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, social anxiety disorder, specific phobias, and generalized anxiety disorder…
ADHD - is an illness characterized by inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. The most commonly diagnosed behavior disorder in young persons, ADHD affects an estimated three percent to five percent of school-age children. ADD is now referred to as ADHD…
OCD – is has been considered as a type of anxiety, however, might be in separate disorder in the new DSMV. This disorder is characterized by compulsive behavior and thoughts…
Bipolar Disorder - is a medical illness that causes extreme shifts in mood. These changes may be subtle or dramatic and typically vary greatly over the course of a person’s life as well as among individuals…
Schizophrenia - is a serious medical illness effecting over 2 million American adults. Although it is often feared and misunderstood, schizophrenia is a treatable medical condition…
Schizoaffective Disorder – this is one of the more common and disabling mental illnesses. This illness manifests itself through a combination of symptoms of schizophrenia and an affective (mood) disorder. Today, most agree that this disorder is a form of schizophrenia…
This is just a summary of the major mental illnesses that are discussed in great depth on this website from a clinical and practical view. I believe you will find the mental health articles nothing short of fascinating and will glean much benefit from the information on this website. If you live in the Phoenix area and are looking for a psychiatrist in Scottsdale, please call my office to discuss fees and appointment times. My insurance policies are listed on this site as well.
