What exactly is a mental disorder?
How are these conditions diagnosed?
Defining exactly what constitutes a psychological disorder can be tricky, and definitions have changed over time.
The first problem is that a mental health professional must first decide exactly how to define “disorder.”
How do you determine if there is something psychologically wrong or unhealthy about a person?
How do you decide what’s normal and what’s abnormal?
This article discusses how clinicians define and classify mental disorders.
It also explores how many people are impacted by such disorders every year.
What Are Mental Disorders?
A mental disorder is often used interchangeably with the termspsychological disorder, psychiatric disorder, or mental illness.
These conditions affect how people behave, think, and feel.
If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
How Are Mental Disorders Diagnosed?
The classification and diagnosis of mental disorders are important concerns for both mental health providers and mental health clients.
The International Classification of Diseases, published by the World Health Organization, is also frequently used.
Mental disorders can be diagnosed by a healthcare provider who has knowledge and experience in mental and behavioral health.
This might include a doctor, a psychiatrist, or a mental health professional like a psychologist.
to get to diagnose a mental disorder, a healthcare professional may ask about a person’s medical history.
It is important to rule out any possible physical cause before diagnosing someone with a mental disorder.
Once a condition has been diagnosed, healthcare providers and therapists can recommend treatments that can help.
NIMH also reports that 6% of American adults have a serious mental illness.
Statistics suggest that mental disorders are quite common and affect people of all backgrounds.
Anxiety, depression, and substance use disorders are among the most common conditions that people experience.
Medications can have side effects and should always be taken as prescribed by your doctor.
Treatments for mental disorders often involve psychotherapy and medication.
If you suspect you have a mental disorder, talk to a health care professional to learn more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Anxiety disorders are one of the categories listed in the DSM-5.
There are 157 mental disorders described in the DSM-5.
Psychotherapy is the treatment used most frequently to treat mental health conditions.
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https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness
Mental health by the numbers.NAMI.
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