Mental Illness :: essays research papers

Mental disorder is a term used for a group of disorders causing fear round disturbances in thinking, feeling and relating. They result in substanti eithery diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life. (Mental Illness Defined) There are some divers(prenominal) perspectives on the causes of cordial distemper. The perspectives include the biologic, psychodynamic, humanistic and empirical, behavioral, cognitive, and sociocultural. Advances in headland resourcefulness techniques have helped scientists study the role of brain structure in mental unsoundness. nearly studies have shown brain abnormalities in certain mental illnesses. Some people with schizophrenia have enlarged brain ventricles. In addition, a variety of medical conditions whitethorn cause mental illness. Brain terms and strokes can cause loss of memory, impaired concentration and speech, and unusual changes in behavior. Brain tumors, imbalance of hormones, deficiencies in diet, and infecti ons from viruses are other factors. Freud believes that mental illness is caused by unconscious and unresolved conflicts in the mind. Both the humanistic and existential perspectives view abnormal behavior as resulting from a persons failure to find meaning in life and fulfill his or her potential. The behavioral perspective explains mental illness, as well as completely of human behavior, as a learned response to stimuli. Despite all of these different theories, most modern day psychologists agree that mental illness is caused by a combination of these things. (Mental Illness)Schizophrenia results not from a wiz cause, but from a variety of factors. Most scientists believe that it is a biological disease caused by genetic factors, an imbalance of chemicals in the brain, structural brain abnormalities, or abnormalities in the prenatal environment. In addition, stressful life events may contribute to the development of schizophrenia in those who are predisposed to the illness.well- nigh 1 percent of people develop schizophrenia at some time during their lives. It is estimated that about 1.8 million people in the United States just have schizophrenia. (Schizophrenia) The prevalence of schizophrenia is the same regardless of gender, race, and culture.For many schizophrenic patients the symptoms gradually become less severe as they grow older. somewhat 25 percent of people with schizophrenia become symptom-free later in their lives.A variety of symptoms characterize schizophrenia. The most prominent include symptoms of psychosissuch(prenominal) as delusions and hallucinationsas well as bizarre behavior, strange movements, and disorganised thinking and speech. (Brain Disorders schizophrenia) Many people with schizophrenia do not blot that their mental functioning is disturbed. Usually a family member points it out.