home Audience 2 Mental illnesses: a complete list and description of diseases. Types of psychological disorders and their signs There was a mental disorder

Mental illnesses: a complete list and description of diseases. Types of psychological disorders and their signs There was a mental disorder

are characterized by disturbances in mental and intellectual activity of varying degrees of severity and emotional disorders. Psychotic disorders are understood as the most striking manifestations of mental illnesses, in which the patient’s mental activity does not correspond to the surrounding reality, the reflection of the real world in the mind is sharply distorted, which manifests itself in behavioral disorders, the appearance of abnormal pathological symptoms and syndromes.

Covers psychoses and other mental disorders arising from trauma, brain tumors, encephalitis, meningitis, syphilis of the brain, as well as senile and presenile psychoses, vascular, degenerative and other organic diseases or lesions of the brain.

Mental disorders include post-traumatic stress disorder, paranoia, as well as mental and behavioral disorders associated with reproductive function in women (premenstrual syndrome, pregnancy disorders, postpartum disorders - “birth blues”, postpartum depression, postpartum (puerperal) psychoses). Post-traumatic stress disorder is a disorder of mental activity due to psychosocial stress that is excessive in intensity.

Causes of mental disorders

Neuropsychiatric disorders due to the numerous causes that cause them are extremely diverse. These are depression, and psychomotor agitation, and manifestations of alcoholic delirium, withdrawal syndrome, and various types of delirium, and memory impairment, and hysterical attacks and much more. Let's look at some of these reasons.

Neuroses

The first step to exhaustion of the nervous system is basic anxiety. Agree, how often we begin to imagine incredible things, drawing various horrors, and then it turns out that all the worries are in vain. Then, as a critical situation develops, anxiety can result in more serious nervous disorders, which leads to disturbances not only in a person’s mental perception, but also to failures of various internal organ systems.

Neurasthenia

A mental disorder such as neurasthenia occurs in response to prolonged exposure to a traumatic situation and is accompanied by high human fatigue, exhaustion of mental activity against the background of excessive excitability and constant grumpiness over trifles. Moreover, excitability and irritability are protective methods against the final destruction of nerves. People with a sense of duty and anxiety, as well as those who do not get enough sleep and are burdened with many worries are especially prone to neurasthenia.

Hysterical neurosis

Hysterical neurosis occurs as a result of a strong traumatic situation, and a person does not try to resist it, but, on the contrary, “runs away” into it, forcing himself to experience the full severity of this experience. Hysterical neurosis can last from several minutes, hours to several years, and the longer the period it spreads, the stronger the mental disorder can be, and only by changing a person’s attitude towards his illness and seizures can the cessation of this disease be achieved.

Depression

Neurotic disorders also include depression, which is characterized by a lack of joy, a pessimistic perception of life, sadness and reluctance to change anything in one’s life. It may be accompanied by insomnia, refusal to eat, refusal of sexual intercourse, and lack of desire to do one’s business, including what one loves. Often the manifestation of depression is expressed in a person’s apathy to what is happening, melancholy; he seems to be in his own dimension, not noticing the people around him. For some, depression prompts them to turn to alcohol, drugs, and other substances that are harmful to their health. The worsening of depression is dangerous because the patient, losing criticality and adequacy of thinking, can commit suicide, unable to bear the burden of the severity of this disease.

Chemical substances

Also, the cause of such disorders can be exposure to various chemical substances, these substances can be some medications, food components, and industrial poisons. Damages to other organs and systems (for example, the endocrine system, vitamin deficiencies, exhaustion) cause the development of psychoses.

Traumatic brain injuries

Also, as a result of various traumatic brain injuries, transient, long-term and chronic mental disorders, sometimes quite severe, can occur. Brain oncology and other severe pathologies are almost always accompanied by one or another mental disorder.

Toxic substances

Toxic substances are another cause of mental disorders (alcohol, drugs, heavy metals and other chemicals). Everything listed above, all these harmful factors, under some conditions can cause a mental disorder, under other conditions - only contribute to the occurrence of the disease or its exacerbation.

Heredity

Also, family history increases the risk of developing mental illness, but not always. For example, some kind of mental pathology may appear if it occurred in previous generations, but it can also appear if it never existed. The influence of hereditary factors on the development of mental pathology remains far from being studied.

Mental disorders are a condition in which changes in a person’s psyche and behavior are observed. In this case, the behavior cannot be characterized as normal.

The term “mental disorders” itself has different interpretations in medicine, psychology, psychiatry and law. The fact is that mental disorder and mental illness are not identical concepts. The disorder characterizes a disorder in the human psyche. Mental disorders cannot always be defined as a disease. For these cases the term “mental disorder” is used.

Mental disorders are caused by changes in the structure or function of the brain, which can occur for several reasons:

Exogenous factors and causes. These include external factors that can influence the human body: industrial poisons, drugs, alcohol, radiation, viruses, traumatic brain and psychological injuries, vascular diseases.
Endogenous factors and causes. These are internal factors that influence at the chromosomal hereditary level. These include: gene mutations, hereditary diseases, chromosomal disorders.

Despite the clear division of the etiology of mental disorders, the causes of most of them have not yet been identified. It is completely unclear which factor from the identified groups causes certain disorders. But it is clear that almost every person has a tendency towards mental disorders.

The leading factors of mental disorders include biological, psychological and environmental.

Mental disorders can accompany a number of somatic diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, vascular diseases of the brain, infectious diseases, and stroke. Disorders can be caused by alcoholism and.

Everyone knows such phenomena as autumn depression, which can “unsettle” a person. Needless to say, stress, troubles, and deep emotional experiences can also cause a number of mental disorders.

For the convenience of analyzing mental disorders, they are grouped according to etiology and clinical picture.

This classification characterizes the main mental disorders, grouping them according to causation.

Mental disorders are surrounded by a number of myths. The main myth concerns the incurability of mental disorders. Most people tend to think that the psyche, which has once undergone a change (disorder), is incapable of recovery.

In fact, this is far from the case. Properly selected drug treatment can not only eliminate the symptoms of the disorder, but also restore a person’s psyche. At the same time, psychotherapeutic intervention and behavioral therapy can cure the disorder with a high degree of effectiveness.

The modern information system tends to classify any deviations from adequate normal behavior as mental disorders. Mood swings and inappropriate reactions to stress or adaptation disorders are just that and should not be classified as disorders.

However, these manifestations may be symptoms of mental disorders, the essence of which is not in external manifestations, but in deeper mechanisms. The symptoms of mental disorders are very diverse.

The most common are:

sensopathy: disturbance of nervous and tactile susceptibility;
: exacerbation of irritants;
hepaesthesia: decreased sensitivity;
senestopathy: sensations of squeezing, burning, etc.;
: visual, auditory, tactile;
(when the object is felt inside);
distortions in the perception of the reality of the world;
disturbances in thought processes: incoherence, lethargy, etc.;
rave;
obsessions and phenomena;
fears (phobias);
disorders of consciousness: confusion, ;
memory disorders: amnesia, dimnesia, etc.;
obsessions: obsessive words, melody, counting, etc.;
obsessive actions: wiping things, washing hands, checking the door, etc.

Mental disorders are still the object of research by scientists in the field of psychiatry and psychology. The causes of the disorders are identified, but are not absolute. Most disorders appear as a result of the interaction of a number of factors: external and internal.

The same factors can cause severe mental illness in one person and simply distress in another. The reason for this is the stability of the psyche and the receptivity of a person.

It is very important to distinguish a mental disorder from overwork or a nervous disorder. At the first signs of distress, you need to seek help from a specialist, without replacing treatment with sedatives, which will not bring any effectiveness.

Treatment of mental disorders occurs in the complex use of medications, behavioral therapy and pedagogical correction in certain types. Relatives and friends are required to strictly follow all the doctor’s instructions and be patient with an unhealthy person.

The effectiveness of treatment depends not only on the chosen methods, but also on the creation of a favorable psychological climate for the patient.

Mental disorders are human conditions that are characterized by a change in the psyche and behavior from normal to destructive. The term is ambiguous and has different interpretations in the fields of law, psychology and psychiatry.

A little about concepts

According to the International Classification of Diseases, mental disorders are not entirely identical to concepts such as mental illness or mental illness. This concept gives a general description of various types of human mental disorders. From a psychiatric point of view, it is not always possible to identify biological, medical and social symptoms of a personality disorder. Only in some cases can a mental disorder be based on a physical disorder of the body. Based on this, ICD-10 uses the term “mental disorder” instead of “mental illness”.

Etiological factors

Any disturbance in a person’s mental state is caused by changes in the structure or function of the brain. Factors influencing this can be divided into two groups:

Exogenous, which includes all external factors influencing the state of the human body: industrial poisons, narcotic and toxic substances, alcohol, radioactive waves, microbes, viruses, psychological trauma, traumatic brain injury, vascular diseases of the brain;
Endogenous – immanent reasons for the manifestation of psychological exacerbation. They include chromosomal disorders, gene diseases, hereditary diseases that can be inherited due to an injured gene.

But, unfortunately, at this stage of scientific development, the causes of many mental disorders remain unknown. Today, every fourth person in the world is prone to mental disorder or behavior change.

The leading factors in the development of mental disorders include biological, psychological, and environmental factors. Mental syndrome can be transmitted genetically in both men and women, which causes frequent similarities in the characters and individual specific habits of some family members. Psychological factors combine the influence of heredity and environment, which can lead to personality disorder. Raising children with incorrect family values increases their chances of developing a mental disorder in the future.

Mental disorders most often occur in people with diabetes mellitus, vascular diseases of the brain, infectious
diseases, in the state of a stroke. Alcoholism can deprive a person of sanity and completely disrupt all psychophysical processes in the body. Symptoms of mental disorders also appear with the constant use of psychoactive substances that affect the functioning of the central nervous system. An autumn aggravation or troubles in the personal sphere can unsettle any person and put him into a state of mild depression. Therefore, especially in the autumn-winter period, it is useful to take a course of vitamins and medications that have a calming effect on the nervous system.

Classification

For ease of diagnosis and processing of statistical data, the World Health Organization has developed a classification in which types of mental disorders are grouped according to etiological factor and clinical picture.

Groups of mental disorders:

Group	Characteristic
Conditions caused by various organic diseases of the brain.	This may include conditions after traumatic brain injury, strokes or systemic diseases. The patient may be affected by both cognitive functions (memory, thinking, learning) and may experience “plus symptoms”: delusions, hallucinations, sudden changes in emotions and moods;
Persistent mental changes caused by alcohol or drug use	This includes conditions that are caused by taking psychoactive substances that do not belong to the class of narcotics: sedatives, hypnotics, hallucinogens, solvents and others;
Schizophrenia and schizotypal disorders	Schizophrenia is a chronic psychological disease that has negative and positive symptoms and is characterized by specific changes in the state of the individual. It manifests itself in a sharp change in personality, the commission of ridiculous and illogical acts, a change in interests and the emergence of unusual hobbies, a decrease in performance and social adaptation. The individual may completely lack sanity and understanding of the events occurring around him. If the manifestations are mild or considered borderline, then the patient is diagnosed with schizotypal disorder;
Affective disorders	This is a group of diseases for which the main manifestation is a change in mood. The most prominent representative of this group is bipolar affective disorder. Also included are manias with or without various psychotic disorders, and hypomania. Depressions of various etiologies and courses are also included in this group. Persistent forms of affective disorders include cyclothymia and dysthymia.
Phobias, neuroses	Psychotic and neurotic disorders include panic attacks, paranoia, neuroses, chronic stress, phobias, and somatic deviations. Signs of a phobia in a person can manifest themselves in relation to a huge range of objects, phenomena, and situations. The classification of phobias typically includes: specific and situational phobias;
Behavioral syndromes that are associated with physiological disorders.	These include various disorders of eating (anorexia, bulimia, overeating), sleep (insomnia, hypersomnia, somnambulism and others) and various sexual dysfunctions (frigidity, lack of genital response, premature ejaculation, increased libido);
Personality and behavior disorder in adulthood	This group includes dozens of conditions, which include violation of gender identity (transsexualism, transvestism), disorder of sexual preference (fetishism, exhibitionism, pedophilia, voyeurism, sadomasochism), disorder of habits and desires (passion for gambling, pyromania, kleptomania and others). Specific personality disorders are persistent changes in behavior in response to a social or personal situation. These conditions are distinguished by symptoms: paranoid, schizoid, dissocial personality disorder and others;
Mental retardation	A group of congenital conditions characterized by delayed mental development. This is manifested by a decrease in intellectual functions: speech, memory, attention, thinking, social adaptation. By degrees, this disease is divided into mild, moderate, moderate and severe, depending on the severity of clinical manifestations. Reasons that can provoke this condition include genetic predisposition, intrauterine growth retardation, trauma during childbirth, lack of attention in early childhood.
Psychological developmental disorders	A group of mental disorders that includes speech impairment, delayed development of learning skills, motor function, and psychological development. This condition debuts in early childhood and is often associated with brain damage: the course is constant, smooth (without remission or deterioration);
Impaired activity and concentration, as well as various hyperkinetic disorders	A group of conditions characterized by onset in adolescence or childhood. Here there is a behavior disorder, attention disorder. Children are disobedient, hyperactive, and sometimes even somewhat aggressive.

Myths

Recently, it has become fashionable to classify any mood swings or deliberately pretentious behavior as a new type of mental disorder. Selfies can also be included here.

Selfie is the tendency to constantly take pictures of yourself with a mobile phone camera and post them on social networks. A year ago, news flashed in the news that psychiatrists from Chicago had identified the symptoms of the development of this new addiction. In the episodic phase, a person takes photographs of himself more than 3 times a day and does not post the pictures publicly. The second stage is characterized by taking photographs of yourself over 3 times a day and publishing them on social networks. In the chronic stage, a person takes pictures of himself throughout the day and posts them more than six times a day.

These data have not been confirmed by any scientific research, so we can say that this kind of news is designed to attract attention to one or another modern phenomenon.

Symptoms of mental disorder

The symptoms of mental disorders are quite large and varied. Here we look at their main features:

View	Subspecies	Characteristic
Sensopathy - a violation of tactile and nervous sensitivity	Hyperesthesia	increased sensitivity to normal stimuli,
	Hypesthesia	decreased sensitivity to visible stimuli
	Senesthopathy	a feeling of squeezing, burning, tearing, spreading from different parts of the body
Different types of hallucinations	True	The object is in real space, “outside his head”
	Pseudohallucinations	Perceived object "inside" the patient
	Illusions	Distorted perception of a real object
	Changing the perception of your body size	Metamorphopsia

Possible deterioration of the thought process: its acceleration, incoherence, inhibition, perseveration, thoroughness.

The patient may develop delusions (a complete distortion of ideas and non-acceptance of other points of view on a given issue) or simply obsessive phenomena - an uncontrolled manifestation in patients of difficult memories, obsessive thoughts, doubts, and fears.

Disorders of consciousness include: confusion, depersonalization, derealization. Mental disorders may also have memory impairments in their clinical picture: paramnesia, dysmnesia, amnesia. This also includes sleep disorders and disturbing dreams.

The patient may experience obsessions:

Distracted: obsessive counting, recalling names and dates in memory, decomposing words into components, “sterile philosophizing”;
Figurative: fears, doubts, obsessive desires;
Taking possession: a person gives out wishful thinking. Often occurs after the loss of a loved one;
Obsessive actions: more like rituals (washing hands a certain number of times, tugging at a locked front door). The patient is confident that this helps prevent something terrible.

In the modern world, not all people manage to always remain calm and positive. We often do not pay attention to the bad mood of the people around us and even our closest relatives. And in vain! What signs can be seen in men in the initial stages of the disease?

Mental disorders - what are they?

Mental disorders are a variety of human mental states that do not correspond to the norm. Often, such diseases begin to be treated only in critical stages with clear manifestations of inappropriate behavior and thinking. In our country, many people still take mental illnesses lightly.

Many people prefer to attribute the manifestation of symptoms of mental illness to their opponent. At the same time, many signs of mental disorders in men can be noticed without being a specialist. Be more attentive to yourself and your loved ones. Don't be lazy and don't be afraid to seek professional help if you notice any suspicious symptoms.

Main external signs

Popular proverbs urge not to judge others by their appearance. And this is not always the right decision. If a person suddenly stops taking care of himself, begins to neglect the rules of personal hygiene, and often looks untidy and sloppy, this is already a reason to think about his mental state. A neat and attractive appearance is one of the indicators of mental well-being and internal balance.

What is noteworthy is that the sick person himself can be aware of what is happening. To criticism regarding his appearance, he can respond with something with the meaning that “appearance is not the main thing.” This portrayal of self-confidence coupled with indifference are also signs of mental disorders in men. As symptoms of such diseases, we can also mention personality degradation in general. During this process, a person loses interest in everything that happens to him and around him.

Behavioral symptoms

In everyday life, it is easiest to notice the main manifestations in the behavior of the sick person. The most striking symptom is a rapid change of mood. Sadness, joy, apathy, anger, anxiety and other emotions change, like in a kaleidoscope. At the same time, they are not connected with real events.

Quite often, people suffering from mental disorders are aggressive. Aggression can manifest itself in different ways, for one person it is only excessive rudeness in words, for another it is physical impact on surrounding objects, attempts to organize fights. Hypertrophied jealousy is also often observed in mental disorders. This is a common sign of mental illness among the stronger sex. If a man is constantly jealous of his woman without any real reason, this is a reason to seek professional psychological help.

Emotional manifestations

How does a person feel with mental illness? Do not forget that mental disorders can occur with a variety of symptoms. Some diseases are characterized by agitation of consciousness, while others are characterized by apathy. Almost every person with psychological problems comes to the idea that “no one understands him.” The sick person feels lonely and unwanted.

In some cases, a critical attitude towards others may be observed. With this symptom, a person sincerely considers those around him to be guilty of all his problems. Despite the instability, most often people suffering from mental disorders experience something unpleasant. Most often these are emotions such as sadness, sadness, anxiety, fear.

A variety of phobias and psychological complexes can also develop against the background of more serious diseases. Interestingly, many patients note changes at the physiological level. Sleep disturbances, migraines, causeless pain, cramps - all this can be indirect manifestations of mental disorders. Sometimes problems with eating behavior are also observed. The sick person may begin to eat more than usual, or, on the contrary, refuse food.

Cognitive symptoms of psychological disorders

Any mental disorder occurs with a noticeable deterioration in mental abilities. Memory impairment is especially noticeable. The sick person may forget some facts and events. The ability to operate with existing knowledge decreases, logical thinking is impaired. In some cases, there may be a slowdown in the reaction, and in others, on the contrary, an acceleration of thought processes. Obvious signs of mental disorders in men: inability to adequately assess what is happening, worsening adherence to principles.

Many diseases occur with the formation of obsessions, criticism of which is met with a strong negative reaction. Often a person in such a state feels literally like an “unrecognized genius.” Based on this, a clear passion for philosophy is possible. Moreover, it can be expressed in the study of the works of recognized sages or the creation of one’s own “teaching”. Most mental illnesses occur with a distorted perception of reality and oneself. People suffering from them are immersed in the world of their own, often not entirely adequate, fantasies and cease to be aware of the boundaries and importance of reality.

Perceptual manifestations of mental illness

Serious mental illnesses occur with a whole bunch of vivid symptoms. The most popular among them is hallucinations. The sick person may see or hear something that does not exist in reality. Hallucinations come in a variety of forms. Sometimes it is a disembodied voice that sounds “in your head” or in a dark room. Some patients see very real objects, animals or even familiar people. Others talk about observing irrational pictures, unreal beings.

In 70% of cases, hallucinations are frightening and disturbing. At the same time, the sick person fully believes in their reality. Most people who experience this symptom are happy to talk about their visions and experienced emotions. Some patients try to find a rational explanation for their visions. This applies primarily to auditory hallucinations, when the patient hears strange sounds and cannot accurately determine their source.

The most common mental disorders in the modern world

When studying the main signs of a mental disorder, you probably remembered at least one friend who has some of the listed symptoms. And this is not surprising, the life of a modern person is filled with worries and stress. With constant rush and an abundance of worries, it is difficult to always remain positive and maintain peace of mind. It sounds scary, but depression is considered common today. But this mental disorder, despite its outward harmlessness, can cause death.

Women are more emotional than men. Perhaps it is precisely because of their openness and desire to share the emotions they experience that representatives of the fair sex are less likely to suffer from serious mental illnesses than their husbands. If you believe the statistics of mental disorders, among men, 60% first encounter this problem at a young age. The remaining 40% are representatives of the stronger sex who became ill in adulthood.

The most common mental disorders in men are: neuroses, syndromes, phobias, anxiety disorders and schizophrenia. Only a specialist can make an accurate diagnosis. But if you suspect that someone close to you is suffering from a mental disorder, it is in your power to record the most striking symptoms and convince the sick person to seek professional help.

Schizophrenia: symptoms and signs in men, features of the disease

Each of us has heard the name of this disease at least once. This is a fairly serious mental disorder that can be successfully corrected if therapy is started in the early stages. The pathology is characterized by loss of interest in life. How does schizophrenia manifest? Symptoms and signs are similar in men of all ages. A responsible person gradually stops thinking about work or study, and gradually loses interest in his family. The schizophrenic also abandons all personal interests and hobbies.

Many patients develop symptoms of autism. This is, first of all, isolation, reluctance to contact other people. A sick person seems to be trying to isolate himself from the world with an invisible wall, to remain alone with his own thoughts, experiences and problems. Signs of anxiety disorders in men can easily be confused with schizophrenia. This diagnosis occurs with deterioration of mental abilities, impaired concentration and attention. As the disease progresses, the person begins to think illogically and his speech may become incoherent.

They don’t like to leave the house; anxious thoughts haunt them. The mood of a man with this diagnosis is often depressed and apathetic; sometimes loved ones may notice causeless fear. In particular cases, schizophrenia occurs with impaired motor functions, neuroses and hallucinations. This pathology is characterized by seasonal exacerbations. Painful symptoms in schizophrenics become more pronounced in spring and autumn.

Causes of mental illness

Today, official medicine is not always able to establish the root causes of diagnosed mental illnesses. And yet there are a number of provoking factors. These are: stress, increased mental and emotional stress, a tense environment at work or at home, serious shocks. We should also not forget about genetic predisposition, brain diseases and other medical factors.

The first signs of a mental disorder in men may appear against the background of systematic use of alcohol and drugs. More often, drug addiction and alcoholism provoke the development of psychosis, delirium tremens, delusions of jealousy and other specific disorders. Very often, the cause of mental illness can be traumatic brain injury. Mental disorders are observed against the background of epilepsy and somatic disorders. With these pathologies, the psycho-emotional state of a person is extremely unstable.

There is a high percentage of people suffering from mental disorders among patients with malignant tumors and cerebrovascular diseases. In these cases, mental problems arise against the background of physiological disorders, the most common of which is increased blood pressure. A separate group of diseases are age-related mental disorders. Symptoms in men of diseases in this category are diagnosed in the older age group. We are talking about diseases such as paranoia, Alzheimer's disease, marasmus, dementia, Pick's disease and some others.

Treatment of mental disorders

The majority of our compatriots still do not perceive mental disorders as serious illnesses. And this is an unforgivable mistake. We make an appointment with a doctor with bronchitis or heart pain, because we are afraid of serious complications, even death. And at the same time, we completely ignore bad mood and anxiety, attributing these symptoms to natural reactions of consciousness or banal laziness. But mental disorders can be much more dangerous than a runny nose or high temperature.

If you are careful enough, it is not difficult to spot signs of mental illness in men. The test can be done at home. If at least 2-3 symptoms are observed in a person for quite a long time, it is simply necessary to show him to a specialist!

Which doctor should I contact if I suspect a mental disorder? You should start by visiting a psychotherapist. During a confidential conversation, this specialist will be able to make a diagnosis, and if necessary, refer you to a psychiatrist. There is no universal formula for how to treat mental disorders in men. In each case, the supervising doctor develops an individual treatment plan.

Many mental disorders can be cured with the help of psychotherapeutic techniques and psychological exercises. In some cases, drug therapy is also prescribed. Most mental disorders are completely treatable. It is important that treatment is carried out under the supervision of a specialist and started as early as possible.

Mental illnesses are a whole group of mental disorders that affect the state of the human nervous system. Today, such pathologies are much more common than is commonly believed. Symptoms of mental illness are always very variable and varied, but they are all associated with a disorder of higher nervous activity. Mental disorders affect a person’s behavior and thinking, his perception of the surrounding reality, memory and other important mental functions.

Clinical manifestations of mental diseases in most cases form entire symptom complexes and syndromes. Thus, a sick person may experience very complex combinations of disorders, which only an experienced psychiatrist can evaluate to make an accurate diagnosis.

Classification of mental illnesses

Mental illnesses are very diverse in nature and clinical manifestations. A number of pathologies may be characterized by the same symptoms, which often makes timely diagnosis of the disease difficult. Mental disorders can be short-term or long-term, caused by external and internal factors. Depending on the cause of occurrence, mental disorders are classified into exocogenous and exogenous. However, there are diseases that do not fall into either group.

Group of exocogenic and somatogenic mental diseases

This group is quite extensive. This does not include a variety of mental disorders, the occurrence of which is caused by the adverse effects of external factors. At the same time, factors of an endogenous nature may also play a certain role in the development of the disease.

Exogenous and somatogenic diseases of the human psyche include:

drug addiction and alcoholism;
mental disorders caused by somatic pathologies;
mental disorders associated with infectious lesions located outside the brain;
mental disorders arising from intoxication of the body;
mental disorders caused by brain injuries;
mental disorders caused by infectious brain damage;
mental disorders caused by cancer of the brain.

Group of endogenous mental diseases

The emergence of pathologies belonging to the group of endogenous ones is caused by various internal, primarily genetic factors. The disease develops when a person has a certain predisposition and the participation of external influences. The group of endogenous mental illnesses includes diseases such as schizophrenia, cyclothymia, manic-depressive psychosis, as well as various functional psychoses characteristic of older people.

Separately in this group we can distinguish the so-called endogenous-organic mental diseases, which arise as a result of organic damage to the brain under the influence of internal factors. Such pathologies include Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, senile dementia, Huntington's chorea, atrophic brain damage, as well as mental disorders caused by vascular pathologies.

Psychogenic disorders and personality pathologies

Psychogenic disorders develop as a result of the influence of stress on the human psyche, which can arise against the background of not only unpleasant, but also joyful events. This group includes various psychoses characterized by a reactive course, neuroses and other psychosomatic disorders.

In addition to the above groups, in psychiatry it is customary to distinguish personality pathologies - this is a group of mental diseases caused by abnormal personality development. These are various psychopathy, oligophrenia (mental underdevelopment) and other defects of mental development.

Classification of mental illnesses according to ICD 10

In the international classification of psychoses, mental illnesses are divided into several sections:

organic, including symptomatic, mental disorders (F0);
mental and behavioral disorders arising from the use of psychotropic substances (F1);
delusional and schizotypal disorders, schizophrenia (F2);
mood-related affective disorders (F3);
neurotic disorders caused by stress (F4);
behavioral syndromes based on physiological defects (F5);
mental disorders in adults (F6);
mental retardation (F7);
defects in psychological development (F8);
behavioral and psycho-emotional disorders in children and adolescents (F9);
mental disorders of unknown origin (F99).

Main symptoms and syndromes

The symptoms of mental illness are so diverse that it is quite difficult to somehow structure their characteristic clinical manifestations. Since mental illnesses negatively affect all or virtually all nervous functions of the human body, all aspects of his life suffer. Patients experience disorders of thinking, attention, memory, mood, depressive and delusional states.

The intensity of symptoms always depends on the severity and stage of a particular disease. In some people, the pathology can occur almost unnoticed by others, while other people simply lose the ability to interact normally in society.

Affective syndrome

Affective syndrome is usually called a complex of clinical manifestations associated with mood disorders. There are two large groups of affective syndromes. The first group includes conditions characterized by pathologically elevated (manic) mood, the second – conditions with depressive, that is, depressed mood. Depending on the stage and severity of the disease, mood swings can be either mild or very pronounced.

Depression can be called one of the most common mental disorders. Such conditions are characterized by extremely depressed mood, volitional and motor retardation, suppression of natural instincts such as appetite and the need for sleep, self-deprecating and suicidal thoughts. In especially excitable people, depression may be accompanied by outbursts of rage. The opposite sign of a mental disorder can be called euphoria, in which a person becomes carefree and content, while his associative processes do not accelerate.

The manic manifestation of the affective syndrome is accompanied by accelerated thinking, rapid, often incoherent speech, unmotivated elevated mood, as well as increased motor activity. In some cases, manifestations of megalomania are possible, as well as increased instincts: appetite, sexual needs, etc.

Obsessiveness

Obsessive behavior is another common symptom that accompanies mental disorders. In psychiatry, such disorders are designated by the term obsessive-compulsive disorder, in which the patient periodically and involuntarily experiences unwanted, but very obsessive ideas and thoughts.

This disorder also includes various unreasonable fears and phobias, constantly repeating meaningless rituals with the help of which the patient tries to relieve anxiety. A number of signs can be identified that distinguish patients suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder. Firstly, their consciousness remains clear, while obsessions are reproduced against their will. Secondly, the occurrence of obsessive states is closely intertwined with a person’s negative emotions. Thirdly, intellectual abilities are preserved, so the patient realizes the irrationality of his behavior.

Impaired consciousness

Consciousness is usually called a state in which a person is able to navigate the world around him, as well as his own personality. Mental disorders very often cause disturbances of consciousness, in which the patient ceases to perceive the surrounding reality adequately. There are several forms of such disorders:

View	Characteristic
Amnesia	Complete loss of orientation in the surrounding world and loss of idea of one’s own personality. Often accompanied by threatening speech disorders and increased excitability
Delirium	Loss of orientation in the surrounding space and one’s own personality, combined with psychomotor agitation. Delirium often causes menacing auditory and visual hallucinations.
Oneiroid	The patient’s objective perception of the surrounding reality is only partially preserved, interspersed with fantastic experiences. In fact, this state can be described as half-asleep or a fantastic dream
Twilight stupefaction	Deep disorientation and hallucinations are combined with the preservation of the patient’s ability to perform purposeful actions. In this case, the patient may experience outbursts of anger, unmotivated fear, aggression
Outpatient automatism	Automated form of behavior (sleepwalking)
Turning off consciousness	Can be either partial or complete

Perception disorders

Typically, it is perception disorders that are easiest to recognize in mental illness. Simple disorders include senestopathy - a sudden unpleasant bodily sensation in the absence of an objective pathological process. Seneostapathy is characteristic of many mental diseases, as well as hypochondriacal delirium and depressive syndrome. In addition, with such disorders, the sensitivity of a sick person may be pathologically decreased or increased.

Depersonalization is considered a more complex disorder, when a person stops living his own life, but seems to be watching it from the outside. Another manifestation of pathology can be derealization - misunderstanding and rejection of the surrounding reality.

Thinking disorders

Thinking disorders are symptoms of mental illness that are quite difficult for the average person to understand. They can manifest themselves in different ways: for some, thinking becomes inhibited with pronounced difficulties when switching from one object of attention to another, for others, on the contrary, it becomes accelerated. A characteristic sign of a thinking disorder in mental pathologies is reasoning - repetition of banal axioms, as well as amorphous thinking - difficulty in orderly presentation of one's own thoughts.

One of the most complex forms of thinking disorders in mental illnesses are delusional ideas - judgments and conclusions that are completely far from reality. Delusional states can be different. The patient may experience delusions of grandeur, persecution, and depressive delusions characterized by self-abasement. There can be quite a lot of options for the course of delirium. In severe mental illness, delusional states can persist for months.

Violations of will

Symptoms of impaired will in patients with mental disorders are quite common. For example, in schizophrenia, both suppression and strengthening of will can be observed. If in the first case the patient is prone to weak-willed behavior, then in the second he will forcibly force himself to take any action.

A more complex clinical case is a condition in which the patient has some painful aspirations. This may be a form of sexual preoccupation, kleptomania, etc.

Memory and attention disorders

Pathological increase or decrease in memory accompanies mental illness quite often. So, in the first case, a person is able to remember very large amounts of information, which is not typical for healthy people. In the second, there is a confusion of memories, the absence of their fragments. A person may not remember something from his past or prescribe to himself the memories of other people. Sometimes entire fragments of life fall out of memory, in which case we will talk about amnesia.

Attention disorders are very closely related to memory disorders. Mental illnesses are very often characterized by absent-mindedness and decreased concentration of the patient. It becomes difficult for a person to carry on a conversation or concentrate on something, or remember simple information, as his attention is constantly scattered.

Other clinical manifestations

In addition to the above symptoms, mental illness can be characterized by the following manifestations:

Hypochondria. Constant fear of getting sick, increased concern about one’s own well-being, assumptions about the presence of some serious or even fatal disease. The development of hypochondriacal syndrome is associated with depressive states, increased anxiety and suspiciousness;
Asthenic syndrome - chronic fatigue syndrome. It is characterized by a loss of the ability to conduct normal mental and physical activities due to constant fatigue and a feeling of lethargy that does not go away even after a night’s sleep. Asthenic syndrome in a patient is manifested by increased irritability, bad mood, and headaches. It is possible to develop photosensitivity or fear of loud sounds;
Illusions (visual, acoustic, verbal, etc.). Distorted perception of real-life phenomena and objects;
Hallucinations. Images that appear in the mind of a sick person in the absence of any stimuli. Most often, this symptom is observed in schizophrenia, alcohol or drug intoxication, and some neurological diseases;
Catatonic syndromes. Movement disorders, which can manifest themselves in both excessive excitement and stupor. Such disorders often accompany schizophrenia, psychosis, and various organic pathologies.

You can suspect a mental illness in a loved one by characteristic changes in his behavior: he has stopped coping with the simplest everyday tasks and everyday problems, he has begun to express strange or unrealistic ideas, and he is showing anxiety. Changes in your usual daily routine and diet should also be of concern. Signs of the need to seek help will include outbursts of anger and aggression, prolonged depression, thoughts of suicide, alcohol abuse or drug use.

Of course, some of the symptoms described above can be observed from time to time in healthy people under the influence of stressful situations, overwork, exhaustion of the body due to illness, etc. We will talk about mental illness when pathological manifestations become very pronounced and negatively affect the quality of life of a person and his environment. In this case, the help of a specialist is needed, and the sooner the better.