The treatment of a psychological illness varies depending on the type of disorder and the person suffering from it. Treatment may include a variety of therapeutic approaches, such as therapy and medicines. Occasionally, people suffering from a mental illness need more intensive treatment, such as a psychiatric hospital. In such cases, the disorder may be so severe that it interferes with the patient’s ability to work and engage in social activities. Those seeking treatment in a psychiatric hospital may also receive counseling, group discussion, or activities with other patients.
Diagnostic criteria are often based on Euro-American thinking, and their application across cultures is not proof of their validity. The introduction of cultural factors into the DSM-IV is an example of this bias, and the ‘culture-bound’ label is often given to non-mainstream concepts. Yet, in other psychiatric diagnostic criteria, such cultural qualifications are not given. As a result, the stigma attached to psychiatric diagnosis has increased.
While some clinicians believe that only one type of organic depressive illness exists, others promoted the idea that there are multiple versions, including manic and depressive episodes. This was later referred to as’major depressive disorder’. In both forms, the person suffers from episodes of extreme sadness, hyperactivity, and lack of desire to sleep. The less severe form of mania, hypomania, is characterized by periods of extreme sadness and lack of energy. Both forms are treatable with medication and psychosocial support.
The development of clinical notions of psychological illness was largely influenced by the developments of the industrial age. As a result, insane asylums began to expand rapidly across Western countries. Various classification schemes were created by different authorities, including the introduction of psychoanalysis and Kraepelin’s system. As a result, asylum “inmates” were referred to as “patients” and asylums became hospitals. However, this movement has been criticized by many critics, who say that psychiatry is based on an outdated idea.
Acute psychological disorders are the most severe of all types. They cause significant distress and interfere with an individual’s ability to function normally. Symptoms can be either permanent or relapsing. Psychological disorders are also characterized by atypical behavior that can be dangerous to the person’s well-being. While some of these symptoms can be normal, it is possible that they are symptomatic of a psychological illness. So, how do you know if a particular behavior is symptomatic of a serious psychological disorder?
People who suffer from PTSD are frequently reminded of traumatic events. These experiences may occur in the form of flashbacks, nightmares, intrusive images, and sensory impressions. These memories evoke intense distress in the person, which can lead to core symptoms of the disorder, such as difficulty concentrating, poor sleep, and emotional numbness. People who suffer from PTSD usually suffer months of depression and other serious symptoms before they can recover.
A history of psychiatric disorders reflects prevailing medical models of mental health. The dominant masculinity model reinforces the concept of strong providers and is often the primary cause of many disorders. Most physicians were male at the time, and their work was bound by the same constraints as their patients. Despite the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in men, women still dominate the statistics of these illnesses. This makes the history of medical research an essential part of the process of understanding the origins of psychological illness.