Mental Disorder

Mental disorder is a general term for health conditions that affect how a person thinks, feels, or behaves, causing measurable difficulty in daily life, work, education, or social relationships. These conditions vary in duration and severity: some are short-term, while others last for years or a lifetime.

Diagnosis is based on observed symptoms and their duration, not on a single laboratory test that can determine it definitively. This means that the definition depends on written diagnostic criteria, which change when new research emerges.

Classification Systems

Two major systems are widely used. One is the ICD (International Classification of Diseases), published by the World Health Organization. The other is the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), published by the American Psychiatric Association. Both provide defined criteria: the type of symptoms, the number required, and their duration.

Common Types

These include anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, eating disorders, and conditions resulting from substance use. There are also conditions related to developmental stages such as autism and ADHD, though some experts debate whether these should be called 'neurodiversity' rather than 'mental disorder'.

Causes and Treatment

Current explanations point to a combination of factors: biological, environmental, and social, such as past trauma, poverty, or loss. Treatment varies by condition: medication, talk-based therapy such as CBT, social support, and lifestyle change. In areas with limited mental health services, most care falls to the family.