Understanding Anxiety, Trauma, Bipolar and Other Disorders

Classifying Disorders

Disorders within the category

Behavioral criteria for the category

Possible causes

Prevalence

Anxiety disorders

Some of the major forms of the disorders include social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, phobias and generalized anxiety disorder

Excessive worry or anxiety and difficulty in controlling the worry. The worry is associated with at least three of the following:

Lack of concentration, restlessness, fatigue, muscle tension, irritability, and sleep disturbance

May be caused by challenges related to one's brain function

Caused by changes in the brain structure in the areas that control anxiety

Possible causes are a combination of factors like environmental stress and changes in the brain

These disorders are the most common mental disorders in America affecting approximately 40 million people aged 18 and above (20% of the national population).

Occur as early as childhood.

Likely to occur more women than in men

Trauma- and stressor-related disorders

This is a new category comprising of combat neurosis, shell shock, post-traumatic stress disorder among others

Persistent re-experiencing of a traumatic event, exposure to a traumatic event, persistent avoidance of reminders of the event, increased arousal, distress, symptoms persist at least one month

Inherited mental health illness, life experiences like severity of trauma experienced in childhood, inherited personality components like temper

Overall prevalence is 12% with the highest rates recorded among criminals than non-criminals.

Bipolar and related disorders

Bipolar disorders are associated with changes in emotions depending on the phase of the sickness. In the initial phase, the person has a loss of energy, despondent mood, concentration problems and feelings of guilt. Suicidal thoughts are common. In the advanced stages, the person becomes euphoric, loses concentration and ideas come too fast. Fear, anger, irritability and being out of control become overwhelming. Recklessness, impaired judgment, hallucinations, and delusions are experienced.

Bipolar 1 is characterized by major depressive episodes, Bipolar 11 is characterized by hypomania and Not Otherwise Specified (NOS) Bipolar is characterized by lack of a particular pattern.

One may show extremely unpredictable behavior: extremely happy or easily irritated.

One becomes restless, talks a lot more than usual, trouble when concentrating and reduced sleeping hours.

Neurotransmitters -- lack of balance in brain chemicals known as neurotransmitters.

Hormones -- presence of imbalanced hormones can trigger the disorders. This is also related to consumption of some drugs especially antidepressants.

Change is sleep routine may trigger this disorder.

Genetics -- the disorders is much common among people who have a blood relation with the condition.

Environmental factors -- the significant loss, abuse, stress or other traumatic events may play a role

It has a relatively small prevalence. The largest, biggest and well-designed epidemiological research reveals a prevalence rate of 5% in the American population.

Depressive disorders

Loss of interest, depressed mood, loss of pleasure in daily activities; impaired function (occupational, social and educational); mood represents changes from the victim's baseline

The most common type is major depression. Suicidal thoughts mark it, loss if interest in daily activities, weight gain or loss and difficulties in getting sleep.