Worst Mental disorders — Pt 1

How well do you know these mental disorders?

Photo by Adrian Swancar on Unsplash

Serious mental disorder is also characterized by its duration and the impairment it causes. These include diseases that cause psychotic symptoms, such as schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, and extreme types of other disorders, such as major depression and bipolar disorder. Serious mental conditions can be treated, and with proper care and disease control, people with these problems can achieve rehabilitation.

What are the worst Mental disorders?

Some of the worst Mental disorders are listed below:

• Schizophrenia disorder
• Schizoaffective disorder
• Bipolar disorder
• Major Depression
• Antisocial Disorder
• Dissociative Identity disorder
• Misophonia
• Borderline Personality disorder

Let’s look at these worst mental disorders in detail.

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a severe psychiatric illness in which people oddly perceive fact. Schizophrenia can manifest a combination of hallucinations, visions, and highly disordered thought and behavior that impairs day-to-day functioning and might even be debilitating.

Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Positive symptoms

• Hallucinations
• False thinking
• False beliefs
• Bizarre behavior
• Disordered speech
• Delusions

Negative symptoms

• Apathy
• Loss of interest
• Poor follow-through
• Loss of pleasure
• Illogical and limited amount of speech
• Lack of facial and vocal expressions

Cognitive symptoms

• Attention difficulties and psychomotor speed
• Slower information processing, memory, decision making, and organizing

Mood: Problems with depression, anxiety, frustration, and mood swings

People with schizophrenia frequently lack the knowledge that their problems result from a psychiatric illness needing medical treatment. And it’s always up to family or friends to get support.

Causes of Schizophrenia

Difficulties with some naturally produced chemicals in the brain, including neurotransmitters called dopamine and glutamate, may contribute to schizophrenia. Neuroimaging studies have indicated variations in the brain structure and central nervous system of schizophrenics. While researchers are not sure of the importance of these changes, they suggest that schizophrenia is a mental disorder.

Schizoaffective disorder

Schizoaffective disorder is a mental health disorder that is characterized by a blend of symptoms of schizophrenia, such as hallucinations or delusions, and signs of mood disorder, such as depression or mania.

The two forms of schizophrenia disorder — both of which contain certain signs of schizophrenia — are:

• Bipolar type, with bouts of mania and sometimes severe depression.
• Depressive form, with only major depressive episodes

Symptoms of Schizoaffective disorder

Clinical signs of schizoaffective disorder depend on the type — bipolar or depressive — which may include, but are not limited to:

• Delusions — to have false, set convictions, despite proof to the contrary
• Hallucinations, such as hearing things or even seeing images that just aren’t there
• Dysfunctional communication and speech
• Strange or odd behavior
• Depressive symptoms, like feeling hollow, unhappy, or worthless.

Cause of Schizoaffective disorder

The precise causes of schizoaffective disorder are being researched, but genetics are likely to be a factor.

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a psychiatric condition characterized by severe mood swings. Symptoms can involve an exceptionally high mood called mania. They may also contain periods of depression. Bipolar disorder is also known as bipolar disorder or manic depression.

People with bipolar disorder may have difficulty handling regular activities at school or in the workplace, or maintaining relationships. There is no remedy, but there is a range of treatment services available that can help relieve symptoms.

Bipolar disorder is a common psychiatric disorder, but it is a bit puzzling to medical researchers. It’s not quite sure what causes some people to develop the condition, not others.

Symptoms of Bipolar disorder

Manic signs of bipolar disorder include the following:

• Significantly reduced sleep need
• Inflamed self-esteem or grandiosity
• Racing Thinking
• Distractability
• Increase in goal-oriented tasks
• More talkative than normal or more pressured voice.
• Excessive participation in pleasing behaviors that are frequently self-defeating

Potential causes of bipolar disorders include:

• Genetics:

If your family member has bipolar disorder, you are much more likely to inherit the disease than others (see below). However, it is important to bear in mind that most people who have bipolar disorder do not inherit bipolar disorder in their genetic history.

• Your brain

Your brain structure may affect your disease risk. Anomalies in the anatomy or functioning of the brain can increase your risk.

• Environmental issues

It’s not just what’s in your body that makes you more likely to experience bipolar disorder. Outside factors can also contribute. These considerations can include:

• Extreme stress
• Traumatic Experience
• Physical illness

Medication

Recommended medicines can include:

• Mood stabilizers, like lithium (Lithobid)
• Antipsychotic medications, such as olanzapine (Zyprexa)
• Antidepressants-antipsychotics, such as fluoxetine-olanzapine (Symbyax)

Benzodiazepines, a form of an anti-anxiety drug, such as alprazolam (Xanax), which can be used for short-term care.

• Psychotherapy
• Cognitive-behavioral Therapy
• Psychoeducation
• Interpersonal and Social rhythm therapy
• Electroconvulsive Therapy
• Sleep medications
• Supplements
• Acupuncture
• Lifestyle changes

Major Depression

A constant feeling of hopelessness and despair is a warning that you may have severe depression, also known as clinical depression.

With major depression, it can be hard to work, study, rest, eat and enjoy friends and activities. Some people experience clinical depression only once in a lifetime, and others have it many times throughout a lifespan. Major depression can also arise in families from one generation to the next, but sometimes it can affect individuals with no family history of illness.

Symptoms of Depression

• Fatigue nearly every day
• Feelings of worthlessness or remorse nearly every day.
• Impaired attention and indecision
• Insomnia or hypersomnia (excessive sleep) nearly every day.
• Significantly reduced interest or enjoyment in almost all activities almost every day (called anhedonia, this symptom may be demonstrated by reports from significant others)
• Unrest or feeling slowed down
• Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide
• Significant loss of weight or gain (a transition of more than 5 years)

At risk for Depression

As per the National Institute of Mental Health, major depression affects about 6.7% of the U.S. population over 18 years of age. Overall, at some point in life, between 20 percent and 25 percent of adults may experience a major depressive episode.

Major depression often affects older people, adolescents, and infants, but in these demographics, it also goes undetected and untreated.

Treatment of Depression

Severe or clinical depression is a serious but treatable condition. Based on the intensity of the symptoms, your primary care physician or psychiatrist may suggest antidepressant medication. They can also recommend psychotherapy or talk therapy to resolve the emotional condition.

Antisocial Disorder

Antisocial personality disorder also referred to as sociopathy, is a mental disorder in which an individual consistently has little concern for right and wrong and violates the rights and feelings of others. People with an antisocial personality disorder appear to antagonize, exploit, or treat others with extreme or callous attitude. They do not show any regret or shame for their actions.

Individuals with antisocial personality disorder sometimes violate the law and become offenders. They can lie, act aggressively or irrationally, and also have issues with the use of alcohol and drugs. As a consequence of these characteristics, people with this condition normally can not meet family, job, or school-related obligations.

Symptoms and signs of antisocial personality disorder can include:

• Disregard for right and wrong
• Persistent dishonesty or deceiving
• To be uncaring, misanthropic, and disdainful towards others
• Using charm or wit to exploit others for personal benefit or enjoyment
• Arrogance, a feeling of superiority and extreme opinion
• Repeated legal issues, including illegal activity
• Frequently violating the rights of others through threats and deceit

Causes of Antisocial Disorder

The precise cause of antisocial personality disorder is not known, but:

• Genes can make you vulnerable to developing antisocial personality disorder — and life circumstances can cause your growth.
• Shifts in the way the brain works may have occurred during brain development.

Treatment of Antisocial disorder

An antisocial personality disorder is hard to treat, but for certain patients, long-term therapy and close follow-up can be helpful. Look for medical and mental health providers with expertise in the treatment of antisocial personality disorder.

Treatment depends on the specific condition of each person, their desire to take part in the intervention, and the seriousness of the symptoms.

• Psychotherapy
• Medications

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD), is a psychiatric disorder characterized by having at least two distinct and relatively permanent personality states. The condition is characterized by memory gaps beyond what is described by normal forgetfulness.

Symptoms of DID

According to the DSM-5, the following conditions must be met for a person to be diagnosed with a dissociative identity disorder:

• A person experiencing two or more different identities or personality states (each with its persistent pattern of perception, of, and thinking about, the world and self). This is characterized by some cultural groups as an experience of possession.
• Interruption of identity entails a shift in the sense of self, the sense of power, and changes in actions, awareness, memory, vision, awareness, and cognitive function.
• There are significant gaps in the individual’s memory of personal experiences, including individuals, locations, and activities, both in the distant past and in the recent past. These repeated delays are not compatible with normal forgetfulness.
• Symptoms cause clinically relevant depression or disability in psychological, occupational, or other critical areas.

Causes of DID

The illness may emerge at any age. Individuals with DID may have post-traumatic symptoms (nightmares, hallucinations, or startle reactions) or post-traumatic stress disorder. Several studies indicate that DID is more prevalent in close blood relatives of people who also have the condition than in the overall population.

Treatment of DID

The main treatment for DID is long-term psychotherapy to separate and combine multiple identities into one. Some therapies include cognitive and artistic therapy. Though there are no medications to directly cure this condition, antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, or tranquilizers can be used to help manage the psychological symptoms involved with it.

Misophonia

Misophonia is a disorder in which emotional and psychological reactions are caused by sounds such as dripping water, munching, horns, pencil scratching, and other repeated noises. Every individual has different trigger noises, and they may get very angry or upset when he hears them. It can last for years or a lifetime and affects all sorts of age groups.

Symptoms of Misophonia

• Anxiety
• Unpleasant
• An intense need to escape
• Disgust
• Rage
• Anger
• Hatred
• Panic
• Fear
• Emotional distress

Treatment of Misophonia

Treatment can include suggestions for therapy or lifestyle with an insulated living area or acoustic proofing.

Borderline Personality disorder

A borderline personality disorder is a mental health disorder that changes the way you think and feel about yourself and others, creating issues in daily life. It involves issues of self-image, trouble controlling thoughts and behaviour, and a history of dysfunctional relationships.

With borderline personality disorder, you have an extreme fear of rejection or uncertainty, and you may find it difficult to accept being alone. Yet unreasonable frustration, impulsiveness, and recurrent mood swings can drive others away, even if you’d like to have care and sustaining relationships.

Symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder

Signs and symptoms can include the following:

• An overwhelming fear of abandonment, even drastic steps to prevent actual or perceived separation or rejection.
• A pattern of dysfunctional, intense relationships, such as idealizing someone for a moment, and then suddenly thinking that a person doesn’t care enough or is cruel.
• Rapid shifts in self-identity and self-image, including changing priorities and beliefs, and seeing yourself as poor or as though you don’t exist at all.
• Periods of stress-related hysteria and loss of touch with reality, lasting from a few minutes to a few hours;
• Impelling and dangerous behavior, such as gambling, imprudent driving, unsafe sex, spending sprees, binge eating or substance abuse, or sabotaging success by unexpectedly leaving a successful job or breaking a positive relationship.
• Suicide threats or actions or self-injury, often in reaction to the fear of separation or rejection.
• Broad mood swings last from a few hours to a few days and can include extreme happiness, irritability, guilt, or anxiety.
• Ongoing empty Feelings
• Inappropriate, extreme rage, such as always losing your temper, being sarcastic or bitter, or experiencing physical challenges.

Causes of Borderline Personality Disorders

Like with most mental health disorders, the origins of borderline personality disorder are not well known. In addition to environmental factors, such as the record of child abuse or neglect, a borderline personality disorder can be related to:

• Genetics

Some studies of twins and families show that personality disorders may be hereditary or closely correlated with other mental health disorders among family members.

• Abnormalities in the brain.

Some research has shown improvements in certain regions of the brain involved in the control of emotions, impulse control, and aggression. Also, some brain chemicals that help to control mood, such as serotonin, do not operate optimally.

Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder

A borderline personality disorder is usually treated with psychotherapy, although medication can be added.

Treatment will help you learn the skills you need to handle and cope with your illness. You may need to be handled for any other mental disorders that often arise along with borderline personality disorders, such as depression or drug abuse. With care, you can feel much better about yourself and enjoy a more healthy and satisfying life.

Psychotherapy

• Dialectical behavior therapy
• Schema-Focused therapy
• Mentalization-based therapy
• Transference-Focused therapy

If you or anyone you know experience or show signs of the above disorders enlist professional help immediately.

Betterhelp — BetterHelp offers access to registered, trained, and experienced Practitioner Psychologists and counsellors.

Talkspace — Depending on your therapy goals, your Talkspace therapist will help you process thoughts and feelings, understand your motivations, develop coping strategies, and more. You’ll connect through live sessions, ongoing messaging, or both.