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Common Illnesses That Psychiatrist Treat

There are several mental illnesses that are common for psychiatrist to treat. The most common mental illnesses are:

ADHD - Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Autistic Disorder

Bipolar Disorder

DBD - Disruptive Behavior Disorders

Major Depressive Disorder - also called Clinical Depression

ADHD

This common condition affects youth. The symptoms continue into adulthood. The symptoms generally are: distractibility, impulsiveness, and also hyperactivity. Other terms that may be used are: minimal brain dysfunction/damage (MBD), hyperkinetic reaction, and hyperkinesis.

Autistic Disorder

Also called Autism can exhibit some of the following symptoms:

A qualitative impairment of social interaction that has been manifested by two of the following behaviors:

A marked impairment of the use of multiple nonverbal behavior such as eye - to - eye gaze, facial expression, body postures and gestures that regulate social interaction.

A failure to develop peer relationships that are age appropriate.

A lack in the ability to seek out activities of enjoyment, of interest or achievements with others.

Lacks social or emotional reciprocity.

Impairments in communication that are characterized by a delay in the occurance of the spoken language.

Lack of make-believe play or other social imitative play that is age appropriate

Repetitive behavior, interests or activities that are of a preoccupation with abnormal intensity or focus which may involve hand or finger flapping, twisting or other complex whole-body movements.

A pre-occupation with parts of objects

Bipolar I and Bipolar II

Bipolar I is characterized by one or more Manic Episodes or Mixed Episodes and Bipolar II is characterized by one or more Major Depressive Episodes that are accompanied by at least one Hypomanic Episode

Bipolar is a mood disorder. Symptoms may vary but usually include: a period of abnormal and persistent elevated, irritable mood that lasts for at least 1 week. They generally will exhibit an inflated self-esteem, have decreased need for sleep, are more talkative than usual, or have racing thoughts. They are easily distracted and may have an excessive involvement in pleasurable activities such as sexual indiscretions, foolish investments, or unrestrained buying sprees.

Mood disturbances that may have an impact on the ability to function at work or school, or to have the ability to function in a relationship.

DBD - Disruptive Behavior Disorders

It is believed that there are both genetic and environmental factors involved in the development of DBD. Common symptoms are repetitive acting-out behavior such as aggression to people and animals, bullies or threatens others, uses weapons to cause serious physical harm, being physically cruel to people or animals, forcing someone to perform a sexual act, destruction of property, engaging in fire setting activities, deceitfulness and theft of property. There may not be all of these symptoms and the actual diagnosis takes time, as a pattern of behavior must be observed over a period of at least 12 months.

Major Depressive Order

Major Depressive Order is characterized by having five or more symptoms within a 2 week period of time that include any five of the following symptoms:

Depressed mood most of the day for nearly every day which may include feeling sad, empty or tearful.

Diminished interest or pleasure in things or activities that used to bring pleasure.

Significant weight loss or gain that is of a 5% of body weight or more in a month's time.

Inability to sleep or sleeping too much nearly every day.

Feelings of restlessness, fatigue or loss of energy

Feelings of worthlessness or excessive and inappropriate guilt

Recurrent thoughts of death, not just the fear of dying but specific thoughts of committing suicide, making a suicide attempt or having a plan to committ suicide.

The symptoms cause a significant impairment in the individual's ability to function at work or school.

The symptoms are not associated with an event such as a disaster or a loss and the symptoms last longer than 2 months.