What are the main mental disorders (check the full list)

Mental disorders are dysfunctions in the functioning of the mind, which can affect anyone and at any age and are usually caused by complex changes in the central nervous system.

There are several types of mental disorders, which are classified into types, and some of the most common ones include those related to anxiety, depression, diet, personality or movements, for example. Next, we will talk about the main mental disorders in the population, and at the end there is a complete list of other existing types.

1. Anxiety

Anxiety disorders are very common, present in about 1 in 4 people who go to the doctor. They are characterized by a feeling of discomfort, tension, fear or a bad feeling, which are very unpleasant and are usually caused by the anticipation of a danger or something unknown.

The most common forms of anxiety are generalized anxiety, panic syndrome and phobias, and they are very harmful both for affecting the person's social and emotional life, and for causing uncomfortable symptoms, such as palpitation, cold sweat, tremors, lack of air, feeling of suffocation, tingling or chills, for example, and the greater risk of developing depression or addictions to alcohol and medication.

What to do: Psychotherapy with the psychologist is recommended, in addition to follow-up with the psychiatrist who, in some cases, may indicate the use of drugs that relieve symptoms, such as antidepressants or anxiolytics. It is also oriented towards physical activity and, in addition, investment in natural methods or leisure activities such as meditation, dance or yoga, for example, can be useful. Learn more about ways to treat anxiety.

2. Depression

About 15% of people experience depression at some point in life. Depression is defined as the state of depressed mood that persists for more than 2 weeks, with sadness and loss of interest or pleasure in activities, and may be accompanied by signs and symptoms such as irritability, insomnia or excessive sleep, apathy, weight loss or weight gain, lack of energy or difficulty concentrating, for example. Understand how to know if it is sadness or depression.

What to do: to treat depression, follow-up with the psychiatrist is indicated, who will indicate the treatment according to the severity of the condition and the symptoms presented. The main way to treat depression is the combination of psychotherapy with the psychologist and use of antidepressant drugs prescribed by the psychiatrist, which include Sertraline, Amitriptyline or Venlafaxine, for example.

3. Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is the main psychotic disorder, characterized as a syndrome that causes disorders of language, thinking, perception, social activity, affection and will. It is more common in young people, in their late teens, although it can appear over other ages, and some of the most common signs and symptoms are hallucinations, behavioral changes, delusions, disorganized thinking, changes in movement or superficial affect, for example.

Although the cause of schizophrenia is not known exactly, it is known that it is related to genetic changes that cause defects in the neurotransmitter systems of the brain, and that it can be hereditary. Find out what are the main types of schizophrenia and how to confirm.

What to do: psychiatric follow-up is necessary, which will indicate the use of antipsychotic medications, such as Risperidone, Quetiapine, Clozapine and Olanzapine, for example. In addition, family orientation and follow-up with other health professionals, such as psychology, occupational therapy and nutrition, for example, are essential for the treatment to be completely effective.

4. Eating disorders

Anorexia nervosa is characterized by intentional weight loss caused by refusal to eat, distortion of one's image and fear of gaining weight. Bulimia, on the other hand, consists of eating large amounts of food and then trying to eliminate calories in harmful ways, such as by inducing vomiting, using laxatives, intense physical exercises or prolonged fasting.

Eating disorders are more common in young people, and have been increasingly frequent due to the culture of aesthetic appreciation. Although Anorexia and Bulimia are the most well-known eating disorders, other problems related to eating include Orthorexia, which is the excessive concern for eating healthy foods, Vigorexia, which is the obsession with the muscular body, or binge eating, for example. Find out what are the main eating disorders.

What to do: there is no simple treatment to cure eating disorders, requiring psychiatric, psychological and nutritional treatment, and medications are usually indicated only in cases of associated diseases, such as anxiety or depression. Support and counseling groups can be good ways to complement treatment and get good results.

5. Post-traumatic stress

Post-traumatic stress is the anxiety that arises after being exposed to some traumatic situation, such as an assault, a death threat or loss of a loved one, for example. Usually, the affected person persistently relives what happened with memories or dreams, and presents intense anxiety and psychological distress. Check out how to know if it is post traumatic stress.

What to do: the treatment is done with psychotherapy, where the psychologist tries to help to understand which events are causing the involuntary fears and how they can release the traumatic memories of these events. For example, in the case of someone who has been the victim of a bank robbery, psychotherapy can allow the perception of the event to be altered. Thus, the person begins to realize that the irrational fear he feels that he will always be assaulted when he enters a bank, is not real. However, in some cases, it may also be necessary to go to the psychiatrist to recommend the use of medications, such as antidepressants or anxiolytics to relieve symptoms.

5. Summing

Somatization is a disorder in which the person has multiple physical complaints, referring to different organs of the body, but which are not explained by any clinical change. Usually, they are people who constantly go to the doctor with many complaints, and in the medical evaluation, physical examination and exams, nothing is detected.

In most cases, people with somatization disorder have anxiety and mood changes, in addition to being impulsive. When in addition to feeling the person comes to simulate or intentionally cause symptoms, the disease is called factitious disorder.

What to do: Psychiatric and psychological monitoring is necessary, so that the person can alleviate the symptoms. Medications such as antidepressants or anxiolytics may be necessary in some cases. Learn more about somatization and psychosomatic illnesses.

6. Bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder is a psychiatric illness that causes unpredictable fluctuations in mood, ranging from depression, which consists of sadness and despondency, to mania, impulsivity and an excessively extroverted characteristic.

What to do: Treatment is usually done with mood-stabilizing drugs, such as lithium carbonate, which should be recommended by the psychiatrist. Understand how to identify and treat this disease.

7. Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Also known as OCD, this disorder causes obsessive and compulsive thoughts that impair the person's daily activity, such as exaggeration in cleaning, obsession with washing hands, need for symmetry or impulsiveness for accumulating objects, for example.

What to do: The treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder is guided by the psychiatrist, with the intake of antidepressant drugs, such as Clomipramine, Paroxetine, Fluoxetine or Sertraline, and cognitive behavioral therapy is also recommended. Find out more details on how to identify and treat this disease.

Other mental disorders

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the list of the main ones includes:

Psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia or delusional disorder; Personality Disorders, such as paranoid, anti-social, borderline, histrionic or narcissistic, for example; Disorders related to substance use, such as illicit drugs, alcohol, medications or cigarettes, for example; Neurocognitive disorders, such as delirium, Alzheimer's or other dementias; Neurodevelopmental Disorder, such as intellectual disabilities, communication disorders, autism, attention deficit and hyperactivity or movement disorders; Dissociative Disorder, such as Depersonalization / Desrealization Disorder or dissociative amnesia; Gender dysphoria, related to sexual development; Disruptive, Impulse Control and Conduct Disorders, such as Cleptomania, Pyromania or explosive disorder; Sexual dysfunctions, such as premature or delayed ejaculation; Sleep-wake disorder, such as insomnia, hypersomnolence or narcolepsy; Elimination Disorder, such as urinary or fecal incontinence; Paraphilic disorders, related to sexual desire; Movement disorders related to drug effects.