The 18 types of mental illness

We know a wide variety of mental illnesses of very different types. Although each disorder has its own characteristics that distinguish between them, in many cases they have points in common, such as the etiology or symptoms, which mean that they can be grouped into specific categories, being able to be classified into different types.

This type of nosological classifications is used by various professionals in the health field in order to understand and work on the different types of disorders. Thus, in this article we are going to talk about the main types of mental illnesses.

The types of mental illness

Classifying the different types of mental illness is a complex task that requires a deep research task. Throughout history, various associations and groups of experts have tried to classify them, with more or less acceptance by the scientific community. These categorizations allow the theoretical knowledge to be organized more easily understandable, although there is a risk of ignoring or separating specific aspects that could be closely linked.

Then a brief description of most of the basic types of mental illness is given that the latest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or DSM-V offers. Although it is not the only existing classification, since organizations such as the WHO have their own system in this regard in the ICD-10 (specifically in Chapter F, where the different mental disorders are detailed), the classification system and diagnostic criteria tend to be very similar.

The list present here is only one of the possible classifications of the types of mental illnesses that have been carried out, and may vary much the main groupings according to who makes them and producing modifications in controversial occasions with respect to versions previous.

1. Neurodevelopmental disorders

Mental illnesses linked to neurodevelopmental disorders form a type of mental illness characterized by the presence of a series of deficits and Difficulties in different abilities and capacities that are manifested during the maturational development of the person, the first symptoms appearing during the childhood.

These difficulties represent a mishap due both to the difficulty itself and to the possible slowing of ripening and the effects that both short and long term can cause in vital aspects of the person. Within this category we can find difficulties such as the intellectual disability, the autism spectrum disorder, the ADHD or learning, communication or motor disorders.

2. Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders and Other Psychotic Disorders

The study of psychotic disorders it has been a fundamental pillar within psychology and mental illness research.

This type of disease presents a common symptomatology, and it is the presence of both positive symptoms, that is to say that add or exaggerate some aspect to normative behavior, such as negative, in which the capacity of the subject.

Among the best known positive symptoms is the presence of perceptual hallucinations Y cognitive delusions of different types, while among the negatives, anhedonia, impoverishment of language and alogy are common. On the other hand, within this typology of disorders, the schizophrenia, but we can also find the schizoaffective disorder, delusional disorder.

3. Bipolar Disorder and Related Disorders

The Bipolar disorder is a type of mental illness characterized by the alternation between two opposite emotional poles, mania (or hypomania if the symptoms are minor) and depression.

This alternation produces a severe emotional exhaustion in the patient, who goes from being completely euphoric and with a very high level of energy to a situation of sadness, demotivation and hopelessness. Besides bipolar disorder and its different subtypes we can find other disorders within this category, such as cyclothymic disorder.

4. Depressive disorders

The major depression it is one of the most prevalent psychological disorders in the world, being the most prominent disorder within the category of depressive disorders.

The basic characteristics of this type of mental illness are based on the presence of a state of pathological and persistent sadness accompanied by anhedonia or lack of pleasure and / or apathy. It is frequent that a great passivity occurs at the vital level due to lack of motivation and hopelessness. In fact, more than sadness, what characterizes depressive disorders is a lack of initiative and interest, something that is often reflected in a symptom known as abulia.

In addition to major depressive disorder, other types of pathologies can be found, such as dysthymia, postpartum depression and even premenstrual syndrome.

5. Anxiety disorders

The most common type of mental disorder both in consultation and in the general population, anxiety disorders can be identified due to high level of psychophysiological arousal that they cause together with the presence of a high negative affect or discomfort.

These characteristics are often accompanied by a strong attempt to avoid the things or situations that cause anxiety, which can be very limiting disorders in daily life. This class of mental disorders includes, among others, panic disorder (with or without agoraphobia), generalized anxiety disorder and the different types of phobias (social, specific, etc.).

On the other hand, it must be taken into account that it is possible to develop phobias before practically any stimulus or idea whenever certain conditions are met.

6. Obsessive-compulsive and related disorder

This type of disease of the environment of TOC is characterized by the presence of a rigid and inflexible behavior profile, the presence of doubts and a certain level of perfectionism. But the most distinctive and characteristic of this category is the presence of obsessions, ideas intrusive and repetitive that are recognized as their own and in general as absurd by their own subject.

These ideas generate high anxiety, and may or may not be accompanied by compulsions or stereotyped actions to reduce said anxiety (although they do not usually have a logical relationship with the reason for this or said relationship is exaggerated). Because the symptoms are predominantly due to anxiety, they were previously considered within anxiety disorders, but its differential characteristics have caused it to be separated from these.

The quintessential mental disorder in this category is obsessive-compulsive disorder. The body dysmorphic disorder wave trichotillomania are disorders that in the latest version of the DSM have also been included in this category, if well in the past they were classified as dissociative and impulse control disorder respectively. This is due to the presence of obsessive-type thinking (specifically with a body area) and the presence of a specific compulsion in the presence of anxiety (pulling hair).

7. Trauma and other stress-related disorders

This kind of mental disorder is based on the experience of certain vital circumstances, or by the presence or absence of a specific stressor, which being experienced in a way extremely aversive by the person, they provoke in the subject a pattern of behavior different from the one he would have if he had not experienced such situations, and that produces a lot of discomfort crisis.

The most characteristic disorder of this type of psychopathology is post traumatic stress disorder, which is especially common in people who have experienced war conflicts.

8. Dissociative disorders

Some vital circumstances cause the mind to react abnormally, causing a dissociation of its basic mechanisms and processes, such as memory or identity. Formerly one of the two types of mental illnesses that were considered typical of hysteria, these disorders include dissociative amnesia, depersonalization or Multiple personality disorder.

9. Somatic Symptom Disorder and Related Disorders

The other and main element that was considered a symptom of hysteria, the presence of somatic symptom disorders. This type of mental illness has as its main characteristic the presence of physical symptoms without there being any physiological cause for it, the physical symptoms being the product of the mind. Somatoform disorder (now due to somatic symptoms), conversion disorder or hypochondria stand out.

10. Eating disorders

Anorexia and bulimia Nervous are mental disorders that we frequently hear about. These two types of mental illness are two of the main eating disorders, which are known for the presence of abnormal eating patterns.

Although in the two examples cited these patterns are characterized by a some distortion of body image and the presence of an intense fear of gaining weight, rejecting the consumption of food or engaging in behaviors that force the elimination of calories, the same is not the case for all mental illnesses in this category, which also includes the pica o Consumption of non-nutritive substances (for example, cast), o Excessive food consumption due to anxiety or Binge eating disorder.

11. Excretion disorders

Food and nutrition provide essential nutrients to the body so that it can function correctly, but at a given moment the excess elements have to be expelled from the Body.

For people with excretion disorders, such expulsion occurs in inappropriate and uncontrolled circumstances, sometimes as a consequence of anxiety. In this aspect bedwetting and encopresis stand out, in which urine or feces are excreted respectively.

12. Sleep-wake disorders

Sleep problems are also very prevalent in societies like ours. These problems can be due to insufficient sleep or insomnia or excess of this, or hypersomnia. In both cases, fatigue, lack of motivation and, in some cases, memory and attention problems are caused.

In addition, rare behaviors known as parasomnias can appear during sleep. Disorders such as nightmares, the night terrors, the somnambulism or Kleine-Levin syndrome are examples of this category next to insomnia primary hypersomnia.

13. Sexual dysfunctions

Although even today it is a very silenced and considered taboo subject, there is a wide variety of sexual problems. Sexual dysfunctions are composed of those disorders that alter, prevent or hinder the achievement of the different phases of the human sexual response, appearing mainly at the level of desire, arousal or orgasm.

Premature ejaculation, erection problems, anorgasmia or the inhibited sexual desire are some of the disorders of this class that are most consulted in the clinic.

14. Destructive impulse control and behavior disorders

This classification refers to the presence of a sudden impulse characterized by a high level of arousal and distress that the individual is unable or has severe difficulties to to resist, due to deep gratification and well-being you receive with your behavior. An example is the intermittent explosive disorder, the kleptomania wave pyromania.

15. Substance use disorders and addictive disorders

Substance use and abuse Psychoactive drugs can cause serious problems in the body. Among these types of problems we find addiction, dependence, intoxication and withdrawal from very different types of substances, be they stimulants, depressants or disturbing ones.

16. Neurocognitive disorders

Neurocognitive disorders refer to that group of disorders that cause an alteration in consciousness or higher mental processes due to a disturbance at the neuronal level. Confusional syndromes, delirium or neurodegenerative disorders such as dementias fall within this classification.

17. Paraphilic disorders

The so-called paraphilias are a type of mental illness characterized by the presence of intense and persistent fantasies in which the object of sexual desire is abnormal, generally having some compulsive fixation in those types of stimuli that interfere with life or cause discomfort.

Generally refers to situations in which the object of desire is an inanimate object or entity, a non-consenting being or the suffering or humiliation of one of the components. Some such disorders include voyeurism, exhibitionism, sexual sadism, masochism wave pedophilia.

18. Personality disorders

Each of us has our own personality, developed throughout our lives based on our experiences, in which it is possible to observe the tendency to respond in certain ways to the stimuli of the half. The type of behaviors that we do and usually do, how we analyze and observe the world and even our own identity are mediated by personality.

This type of mental illness involves the presence of a personality that involves a high level of suffering to the person who has it or greatly limits his life and his participation in the world. The Borderline personality disorder, the antisocial personality, the Histrionic personality disorder, obsessive personality or avoidant personality are some of the disorders that are part of this classification.

Bibliographic references:

• American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Fifth edition. DSM-V. Masson, Barcelona.