While there is no single cure for psychological illness, there are effective treatments. The key to effective treatment is early diagnosis and assessment. This guideline focuses on primary care and offers recommendations for identifying common disorders, assessing symptoms, and determining the need for treatment. This can help improve access and ease the pathway to care.
Psychological illnesses affect every aspect of a person’s life. They can be difficult to manage, and they can be especially stressful for family members and loved ones. For this reason, it is important to get the support you need from loved ones and the community. The Discher and Associates team understands the unique challenges of these illnesses. These disorders disrupt one’s thinking, emotions, relationships, and daily functioning.
The costs of depression are enormous, not only for the individual suffering from depression, but for the health care system and the wider society as a whole. Not only is the direct cost of treatment for depression high, but it also has a negative impact on workplace productivity. The ONS report states that people who suffer from depression lose one-fifth of their working days due to the illness. According to the Centre for Economic Performance, the total costs of psychological illness amount to over PS12 billion a year.
In general, depression is a debilitating mood disorder. It limits an individual’s ability to function in their daily lives and their ability to contribute to society. Its wider social effects include increased dependence on welfare, diminished self-esteem, and diminished social relationships. Chronic depression, on the other hand, can lead to long-term impairments in social functioning and may impede access to appropriate health care.
Depression and bipolar disorder affect approximately 6.7 percent of adults, and 16.6% of adults will experience them at some point in their lifetime. Although this seems like a small number, it is an incredibly high rate. Further, the prevalence rates of depression and bipolar disorder differ widely by age and location. This means that some of us may have more severe symptoms than others.
The differences in access to treatment for psychological illness may be related to social factors and cultural norms. In high-income countries, primary care is often the first line of care for individuals suffering from psychological illnesses. For instance, in France, ambulatory centers provide primary care and home visits. In Norway, local governments fund multidisciplinary mental health teams that provide community outreach. This kind of team-based treatment model is also available in some U.S. regions, but the cost is still a barrier to accessing the services.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by repetitive behaviors that interfere with daily activities. These behaviors are not pleasant and are often triggered by unwanted and intrusive thoughts. As a result, individuals with OCD usually perform ritualistic behavior to ease their anxiety.