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Chapter 4:Mental Disorders and Suicide

What Are Mental Disorders?Kinds of Mental Disorders

SuicideTreating Mental Disorders

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What Are Mental Disorders?Recognizing Mental Disorders

MENTAL DISORDER: an illness that affects the mind and prevents a person from being productive, adjusting to life situations, or getting along with others.

Characterized by abnormal: Thoughts Feelings or behaviors that make people uncomfortable

with themselves or at odds with others.

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Disorders we will cover

Anxiety DisordersAffective DisordersEating Disorders

STIGMA

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Statistics

An estimated 26.2 percent of Americans ages 18 and older — about one in four adults — suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year = 57.7 million people

About 20 percent of children are estimated to have mental disorders

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What Are Mental Disorders?Recognizing Mental Disorders

Signs of a mental disorder usually occur frequently and over a long period of time

Signs are not always easy to identify What is normal behavior

in one culture may not be in another

There are more than 230 types of mental disorders which are recognized

1 in 10 children in the US suffer from a mental disorder severe enough to cause some level of impairment Children are defined as

those under the age of 18

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Kinds of Mental DisordersAnxiety Disorders ANXIETY is a feeling of fear that is not directed

toward any definite threat. Generalized ANXIETY DISODER is a diagnosis given to people whose worries have taken on a life of their own. -The topics of worrying are ordinary concerns: will I be able to pass the exam next week?, Is my boyfriend/girlfriend really interested in me?

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ANXIETY DISODERS

is a condition in which real or imagined fears are difficult to control.

Characterized by chronic fear… People with this disorder often arrange their lives

to avoid situations that make them feel anxious or fearful.

There are four main types of anxiety disorders:1. Phobic Disorder2. Panic Disorder3. Obsessive- Compulsive Disorder4. Post – Traumatic stress disorder

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Kinds of Mental DisordersAnxiety Disorders

1. Phobic Disorder PHOBIA: Anxiety

related to a specific situation or object – heights, social, spiders, etc.

How might fears affect normal living?

2. Panic Disorder Has an unexplained feeling

of terror – feelings accompanied by symptoms such as trembling, pounding heart, shortness of breath, dizziness.

This fear gets in the way of a person’s ability to enjoy life

Could lead to a person becoming housebound – agoraphobia – a fear of being alone away from help and avoidance of many different places and situations.

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COMMON PHOBIAS Acrohobia Agoraphobia Algophobia Astrophobia Claustrophobia Cynophobia Hydrophobia Monophobia Nyctophobia Ophidophobia Thanatophobia Xenophobia Zoophobia Belonephobia

Heights Open or public places Pain Stars/Space Small Spaces Dogs Water Being Alone Dark/Night Snakes Death and dying Strangers Animals Needles

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Anxiety Disorders

3. Obsessive- Compulsive Disorder OBSESSION: an idea or

thought that takes over the mind and cannot be forgotten

COMPULSION: repeated, irresistible behaviors

Repetitive behaviors such as Hand washing, counting,

cleaning

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Types of Anxiety Disorders

4. Post – Traumatic stress disorder - a condition that may result after exposure to a

terrifying event that threatened or caused physical harm.

The disorder is common after a personal assault –rape, bombings, earthquakes, plane crashes, military combat.

Symptoms: flashbacks, nightmares, emotional numbness, guilt, sleeplessness

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Lifetime Prevelance of Selected Psychological Disorders Among Americans

Disorder Men (%) Women (%)

Anxiety Disorders

Simple Phobia

6.7 15.7

Social Phobia 11.1 15.5

Panic Disorder 2.0 5.0

GAD 3.6 6.6

OCD 1.7 2.8

PTSD 5.0 10.4

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Kinds of Mental DisordersAffective Disorders

AFFECTIVE DISORDERS: A mental disorder in which a person’s

moods or emotions become extreme and interfere with daily life.

It is normal to feel depressed if you experience an important loss or failure

The feeling usually lifts after a couple of days or weeks and you can get on with your life

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Kinds of Mental DisordersAffective Disorders

CLINICAL DEPRESSION: A mental disorder in which a person is overwhelmed by sad feelings for months and stops being able to carry out everyday activities

Can be caused by stressors Negative attitudes learned

early in life may also contribute

Anyone who shows signs of clinical depression should seek help from a parent, teacher, guidance counselor,

physician, or mental health professional.

Signs of Clinical Depression Change in appetite

With weight loss or gain Change in sleep patterns

Difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much

Change in activity level Increased or slowed- down

Loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities

Loss of energy, feeling tired all the time

Difficulty thinking or concentrating

Recurrent thought of death and suicide

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Kinds of Mental DisordersAffective Disorders

Bi - Polar Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness. People who have it

experience dramatic mood swings. They may go from overly energetic, "high" and/or irritable, to sad and hopeless, and then back again. They often have normal moods in between. The up feeling is called mania. The down feeling is depression.

During a manic episode Overly excited Restless Rapid talking which is impossible to follow Difficulty concentrating Show poor judgment May over spend on a shopping spree May drive recklessly

Manic episodes alternate with periods of deep depression May behave normally between periods of extreme moods

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Schizophrenia is a severe, lifelong brain disorder. People who have it may hear voices, see things that aren't there or believe that others are reading or controlling their minds. In men, symptoms usually start in the late teens and early 20s. They include hallucinations, or seeing things, and delusions such as hearing voices. For women, they start in the mid-20s to early 30s. Other symptoms include:

Unusual thoughts or perceptions Disorders of movement Difficulty speaking and expressing emotion Problems with attention, memory and organization

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Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are present when a person experiences severe disturbances in eating behavior, such as extreme reduction of food intake or extreme overeating, feelings of extreme distress, or concern about body weight or shape.

Psychological pressures, possible genetic factors, and an obsession with body image and thinness can lead to an eating disorder.

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Eating Disorders

The main types of eating disorders are :

1. Anorexia nervosa

2. Bulimia nervosa

3. Binge-eating disorder

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ANOREXIA NERVOSA

A serious eating disorder in which a person refuses to eat enough food to maintain a minimum normal body weight

http://www.facetheissue.com/anorexia.html

Some people with anorexia lose weight by dieting and exercising excessively; others lose weight by misusing laxatives

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ANOREXIA NERVOSA

Symptoms: Extreme loss of body weight Intense fear of gaining weight

(even when underweight) Denial of the seriousness of

low body weight Infrequent or absent menstrual

periods (women) Avoiding meals Intense or excessive exercise

as another means of controlling weight

• Slowed heart and breathing rates

• Lowered body temperature

• Dry skin

• Brittle hair and nails

• In some cases, a lack of essential minerals may cause the heart to stop suddenly, leading to death

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Most models are thinner than 98% of American women

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Anorexia Nervosa

Statistics An estimated .5% to

3.7% of females suffer from anorexia in their lifetime

An estimated 5-15% of people with anorexia are males

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TREATING ANOREXIA

Involves three components:restoring the person to a healthy weight treating the psychological issues related to

the eating disorderreducing or eliminating behaviors or

thoughts that lead to disordered eating, and preventing relapse.

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Eating Disorders- Bulimia

BULIMIA: A serious eating disorder in which alternates eating binges with purging

Bulimia is MORE prevalent than AnorexiaDifficult to diagnose

Public behavior appears normal Bulimic behavior occurs in private

Most Bulimics do not become dangerously underweight

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Eating Disorders- Bulimia

Serious health effects Dehydration and kidney

failure chronically inflamed and

sore throat Enamel on teeth erodes Vitamin and mineral

deficiencies intestinal distress and

irritation from laxative abuse

Symptoms Eating uncontrollably Using the bathroom

frequently after meals Bloodshot eyes Sore throat Weakness/ exhaustion Vomiting blood Depression/ Mood swings Heartburn, bloating,

indigestion, constipation

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Eating Disorders- Bulimia

Enamel erosion of all teeth

Increased occurrence of cavities

Braces and restorations may not stay on teeth

Teeth become discolored Bleeding of the gums Physical changes in the

mouth are often the 1st signs of an eating disorder

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Statistics on Eating Disorders

The Desire to be Thin 42% of 1st grade girls want

to be thinner 81% of 10 year olds are

afraid of being fat The avg. American woman

is 5’4” and 140lbs. The avg. American model is

5’11” and 117 lbs.

Dieting 51% of 9 and 10 year

old girls feel better about themselves if they are on a diet

95% of all dieters regain the lost weight in 1-5 years

Americans spend over $40 billion on dieting and diet products every year

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Warning Signs to look for

If you notice a family member or friend with the following symptoms consider talking to him or her about these issues with compassion:

low self-esteemsevere dietingfrequent overeatinghoarding of fooddissatisfaction with appearance

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What to do about a friend that has an Eating Disorder

If You Have An Eating Disorder Tell someone you trust You will need support It is an addiction

If You Do Not Get Help Death from malnutrition Dangerous heart rhythms Dental Problems Liver failure Hair loss

Worried about a Friend? Express your concern in a

loving and supportive way Tell someone Avoid giving simple

solutions Express your

CONTINUED support

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Body dysmorphic disorder

A type of chronic mental illness in which you can't stop thinking about a flaw with your appearance — a flaw either that is minor or that you imagine.

When you have body dysmorphic disorder, you intensely obsess over your appearance and body image, often for many hours a day. You may seek out numerous cosmetic procedures to try to "fix" your perceived flaws but never are satisfied.

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For Additional Information

National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) www.nationaleatingdisorders.org

American Dietetic Association (ADA) www.eatright.org

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) www.nimh.nih.gov

Teen Health www.teenshealth.org

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SuicideMyths and Facts

People who talk about suicide rarely attempt it

(False!) The tendency toward suicide is

inherited and passed from generation to generation.

(False)

The suicidal person wants to die and feels that there is no turning back.

(False)

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All suicidal people are deeply depressed. (False)There is no correlation between

alcoholism and suicide (FALSE!!!) Suicidal people are mentally ill. (FALSE!!!)

Once someone attempts suicide, that person will always entertain thoughts of suicide.

(FALSE)

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SuicideMyths and Facts If you ask someone about

their suicidal intentions, you will only encourage them to kill themselves.

(False) Suicide is quite common

among the lower class. (False) Suicidal people rarely

seek medical attention. (False)

Suicide is limited to young people. (False)

Professional people do not kill themselves.

(False) When a depression lifts, there is no

longer any danger of suicide. (False)

Suicide is a spontaneous activity that occurs without warning.

(False) Because it includes the Christmas

season, December has a high suicide rate.

(False)

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SuicideThe Warning Signs

Same signs as depression Loss of energy Change in sleep patterns Withdrawal from usual

activities Radical changes in personality

Outgoing becomes withdrawn Shy person becomes

aggressive Severe depression Actions

Stops doing things he/ she enjoys

Gives away belongings Decline in school

performance

Things a person says “I don’t want to live anymore.” “They’ll be sorry when I’m gone.”

Suffered a major trauma Moving to a new place Losing boyfriend/ girlfriend Friend/ family member dies Going through family divorce

Signs can be deceptive Someone who has been severely

depressed suddenly becomes happy and carefree

May think person is better and over the depression

Why might they really be happy?

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SuicideStatistics

In 2006, U.S.A. suicides accounted for 33,000 deaths

Who dies from suicide more often, men or women? More men than women die from suicide

Gender ratio is 4:1 (4 times more men than women die from suicide)

73% of all suicides are white males 80% of all firearm suicides are white males

What is the 3rd leading cause of death among people aged 15- 24 Suicide

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SuicideHow to Help a Suicidal Person

DO Trust your feelings if you

believe the person is suicidal Take seriously a suicidal

person’s threats Tell the suicidal person how

concerned you are and how much you care about him/ her

Talk calmly with the suicidal person – show interest and compassion

Find professional help for the suicidal person

Stay with the suicidal person until help arrives

DO NOT Dare the suicidal person to go

ahead and make the attempt Judge the suicidal person Analyze the suicidal person’s

motives Argue or try to convince the

suicidal person of reasons why he/ she should not attempt suicide

Keep the suicidal person’s self- destructive thoughts or actions a secret

Leave a suicidal person alone

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SuicideHelping Yourself

If you have been feeling depressed, remember that no matter how overwhelming the problems in life may seem, SUICIDE IS NEVER A SOLUTION.

Knowing some specific symptoms of mental disorders can help a person determine if he or she should seek help

- you feel trapped with no way out –you worry all of the time

- your feelings affect your sleep, eating habits, school work, or relationships

- Your family and friends express concern about your behavior – aggressive, violent, reckless

- you are becoming involved with alcohol/drugs

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Treating Mental Disorders

Most people wait too long to seek help Where to find help

Often, a parent, relative, teacher, school counselor, physician, or religious leader can tell you about mental health professionals` and services in your community.

There are different type of mental health professionals that are capable of different treatment methods. They may include counseling as well as a drug treatment plan.

Asking for help is not a sign of weakness – it is a sign of strength as it shows responsibility for one’s own wellness.

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/suicide-in-the-us-statistics-and-prevention/index.shtml

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Suicide Fact or Myth

People who really intend to commit suicide do not let anyone know about it. ________

Suicide is proof of mental illness.____________ People who really want to commit suicide will do it regardless of any

attempts to prevent them.__________ People who made a suicide attempt but survived did not really intend to

die.__________________ http://dhhs.nv.gov/Suicide/DOCS/StatisticsResearch/A

llStateSuicideRankings/2004%20Final%20Data.pdf

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/suicide-in-the-us-statistics-and-prevention/index.shtml

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