What is a psychological disorder

Psychological disorders are a type of medical condition that affects emotions, thinking, and behavior, mainly including depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia spectrum disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

1. Depressive disorders

Depressive disorders are characterized by sustained low mood and decreased interest. Patients may feel sad, empty, lose interest in activities they used to be passionate about, and have a noticeable decrease in energy and fatigue. Insomnia or excessive sleep may occur in terms of sleep, and significant changes in appetite and weight may also occur. Thinking may become slow, attention may be difficult to concentrate, often accompanied by low self-evaluation, a sense of worthlessness, or excessive guilt. In severe cases, patients may experience repeated thoughts of death or suicide attempts. Its occurrence is related to genetic factors, imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain, long-term psychological and social stress, and certain chronic physical diseases.

II. Anxiety Disorders

The core characteristics of anxiety disorders are excessive and uncontrollable worries and fears. This fear may be related to specific objects or situations, such as social situations, specific objects, or it may manifest as generalized anxiety without clear reasons. Physiologically, it is often accompanied by symptoms of autonomic nervous system hyperactivity such as palpitations, sweating, tremors, shortness of breath, and muscle tension. Patients may avoid scenes that trigger anxiety, seriously affecting their daily social and work functions. The causes of anxiety disorders are complex, involving genetic susceptibility, childhood traumatic experiences, long-term stress states, and dysfunction of fear circuits such as the amygdala in the brain.

3. Bipolar affective disorder

Bipolar affective disorder is characterized by periodic fluctuations in emotions between depressive episodes and manic or hypomanic episodes. Depressive symptoms are similar to depressive disorders. During a manic episode, the patient's emotions are abnormally high, easily irritable, and they feel too good about themselves, manifested as vigorous energy, reduced sleep needs, rapid speech, and wandering thoughts. May act recklessly and impulsively, such as overconsumption, reckless sexual behavior, or risky investments. This huge emotional fluctuation causes serious damage to personal life, career, and social relationships. This disorder has a strong genetic predisposition and is closely related to dysfunction of neurotransmitters and neural circuits in the brain.

Fourth, Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder

Schizophrenia spectrum disorder is a group of disorders characterized by severe imbalances in thinking, perception, emotion, and behavior. Positive symptoms include hallucinations, such as hearing critical or commanding auditory hallucinations; Delusions, such as the belief in being monitored or persecuted; And mental and speech disorders. Negative symptoms include emotional apathy, poor speech, decreased willpower, and social withdrawal. Cognitive symptoms involve impairments in attention, memory, and executive function. These symptoms lead to impaired practical testing ability and severe decline in social functioning of patients. Etiological research suggests that it is the result of a combination of genetic, neurodevelopmental abnormalities, and environmental factors.

V. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

The characteristics of obsessive-compulsive disorder are uncontrolled, recurrent intrusive thinking, impulses, or intentions, known as compulsive thinking, as well as behaviors or psychological activities that have to be repeated in order to alleviate anxiety, known as compulsive behavior. Common compulsive thinking includes excessive concerns about pollution, harm, symmetry, or religious morality. The corresponding compulsive behavior may manifest as repeated cleansing, inspection, counting, or meditation. Patients usually recognize that these thoughts and behaviors are unreasonable or excessive, but they cannot control themselves, consume a lot of time, and cause significant pain. Its occurrence is related to dysfunction of neural circuits such as the orbitofrontal cortex and anterior cingulate gyrus, as well as dysfunction of the serotonin system. Recognizing that mental and psychological disorders are real illnesses, rather than personality weaknesses or lack of willpower, is the first step in obtaining appropriate help. It is crucial to seek evaluation from a professional psychiatrist or psychologist if you or someone around you shows any relevant signs. The treatment usually adopts a comprehensive plan combining medication and psychological therapy, such as using antidepressants such as sertraline hydrochloride tablets and paroxetine hydrochloride tablets, or antipsychotic drugs such as olanzapine tablets and risperidone tablets, combined with cognitive-behavioral therapy. Regular medication, adherence to treatment, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, such as a balanced diet, moderate exercise, social interaction, and learning stress management, play an important role in rehabilitation and prevention of recurrence. The understanding and support from family and society are also indispensable forces in the rehabilitation process.