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NEW YORK WEILL CORNELL CENTER ~ COLUMBIA PRESBYTERIAN CENTER

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Introduction to Psychiatric/Mental Illness

Psychiatric means "healing of the soul."

Mental means "of the mind" or of thinking, memory, logic, planning, sensing, feelings.

How do you know when a problem is just a problem and when it's a psychiatric Illness? In general, a problem has become a psychiatric illness when there are thoughts, feelings or behaviors that either cause the person great emotional pain or that interfere severely with the person's ability to function in at least one major area of life.

How common is psychiatric illness in the United States?

Half of all Americans will have a psychiatric illness at some time in life.
One out of every five Americans has a psychiatric illness in any given year.
The causes of psychiatric illness
Heredity and stress
Psychiatric illnesses as biological, no-fault disorders.

A complete psychiatric diagnosis consists of five parts or axes:

Major psychiatric illness
Personality disorder
Physical illness
Social/environmental problems
Global Assessment of Functioning

Psychiatric illnesses are diagnosed by comparing a person's symptoms to a list of required symptoms (also known as diagnostic criteria) from DSM IV.

The major psychiatric disorders

Personality disorders
Paranoid
Schizoid
Schizotypal
Antisocial
Borderline
Histrionic
Narcissistic
Avoidant
Dependent
Obsessive-compulsive
Eating disorders
Anorexia
Bulimia
Dementias
Alzheimer’s Disease
Vascular Dementia
Addictions and Drug Abuse
Alcohol
Amphetamine
Caffeine
Cannabis
Cocaine
Heroin
Inhalant
Nicotine
Opioid
Phencyclidine
Schizophrenias
Schizophrenia
Schizophreniform disorder
Schizoaffective disorder
Brief psychotic disorder
Mood disorders
Major depression
Dysthymic disorder
Bipolar disorder
Cyclothymic disorder
Anxiety disorders
Panic disorder
Agoraphobia
Specific phobia
Social phobia
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Generalized anxiety disorder
Sleep disorders
Insomnia
Hypersomnia
Sleep apnea
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For information or referral, call 1-888-694-5700

Copyright © 1998 by NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Behavioral Health Nursing, last revised 12/02

http://www.noah-health.org/english/illness/mentalhealth/cornell/resources/outline.html

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