Mental disorders: diagnostics and treatment

It is no doubt that modern life forces a person to live with high levels of constant stress. And obviously, only a few can say that they never feel anxious and have strong mental health. Fears, anxiety, depression, sleep and eating disorders are the consequences of the frantic pace of life the humanity has today. Mental health issues are one of the most complex medical problems affecting people all over the world. Mental disorders include depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and other psychoses, dementia, mental retardation, and developmental disorders, including autism. On a global scale, about 280 million people suffer from depression, and over 700 000 people commit suicide yearly, according to the WHO. Around 7.8% of UK adults are affected by some type of medical health disorder, including anxiety and depression. Mental health problems are common in the United States, where nearly one in five adults live with a mental disorder. 

Unfortunately, we often forget that chronic stress may contribute to various health problems, one more serious than the other. As a result, we feel emotional exhaustion and have some worries and sleep disorders. Also, malfunctions of the gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular system may begin. Thousands of people in the world live with mental health issues without even knowing it. And of course, there are those who are aware of their health problems, but they do not want to see a psychologist or psychiatrist, finding it humiliating or completely unnecessary.

There are many signs and symptoms of mental disorders. But, first, we all are unique, and the everyone's psyche and physiology may have some peculiarities. Second, mental disorders are multifaceted, and the same symptoms can speak of completely different diseases. Moreover, a lot of mental diseases develop very slowly, making it almost impossible to diagnose them at an early stage. However, the following symptoms are most common: 

• Mood changes. As a rule, this state is accompanied by emotional outbursts (sudden and uncontrollable laughing and crying, feelings of happiness and anger). 
• Excessive fears or worries. If you feel anxious for 1-2 weeks, especially if there is no reason for this, you may have a mental disorder. 
• Memory impairment and absent-mindedness. Both extreme fatigue of the nervous system and the presence of a mental disorder can cause these symptoms. If after rest and sleep this condition nevertheless does not go away, then you should see a doctor.
• Sleep problems. Insomnia, nightmares, excessive sleepiness, or sleep, after which the person still feels run down and experiences low energy are obvious symptoms of mental disorders. 
• Hallucinations (visual, auditory, tactile, gustatory, and olfactory). For instance, a person can see people and objects that don't exist in objective reality. These are often signs of psychosis, schizophrenia, and other illnesses.
• Withdrawing from life. If a person starts avoiding his friends and loved ones or suspends doing activities he used to enjoy, he may need help.
• Abuse of substances like alcohol or drugs. Using these substances, a person tries to cope with problems. Though, on the contrary, it contributes to mental illness. 

Mental illnesses can be caused by a wide range of factors. But in all cases, a mental disorder affects the brain's functioning.  Some examples of these factors include: 

• Traumatic brain injury, benign and malignant brain tumors
• Genetics, as mental disorders may be inherited
• Some medical conditions like diabetes mellitus or cancer
• Brain chemistry such as chemical imbalances in the brain
• Childhood trauma
• Alcohol and drug misuse
• Systematic stressful situations, nervous strain

However, only a medical specialist can determine the exact cause of the development of a chronic or acute mental disorder after a comprehensive diagnosis of the body.

A person suffering from mental illness can't go it alone. Therefore, it is necessary to get help at specialized clinics, where professional psychiatrists and psychotherapists will be able to carry out the correct comprehensive diagnosis, determine the exact cause of the development of the problem, and also elaborate an adequate treatment plan.

In fact, getting an accurate diagnosis is the first step in a treatment plan. Treatment of mental disorders begins with a comprehensive diagnosis of the general physical condition of the patient, the functions of his central nervous system, including the study of the brain. In this regard, medical specialists perform laboratory tests to check the hormonal and other systems of the body, ask questions and make an overall assessment of the patient's psychological state, aimed at identifying problems that can affect the course of treatment. Qualitative treatment of mental disorders includes the prescription of medications that affect metabolic processes between brain cells, which are the cause of many pathologies. The use of pharmacological drugs in the treatment program helps to normalize the functioning of organs and body systems, and to get rid of many symptoms of the disease. As a rule, medical specialists use medication-assisted treatment in combination with psychotherapy. Psychological counseling is an integral part of treatment. Regular therapy sessions are aimed at helping the patient understand his illness and its causes, learn how handle stressful situations, deal with negative emotions, manage his thoughts and actions, and control behavior. The course of psychotherapy usually lasts several months or more, and it is prescribed individually as usual.

If you’re concerned about a friend or loved one, advise them to see a doctor. If you want to book the treatments for drug and alcohol addiction or mental disorders (depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and other psychoses), feel free to contact us. Our medical treatment center in Kyiv, Ukraine will help you or your loved ones build a meaningful healthy life.