PD MENTAL HEALTH

• Psychological Well-being


  An individual's state or condition that is free from mental or emotional disorders
• Mental Disorders

  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
  • Anxiety
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • Bipolar Disorder
  • Depression
  • Eating Disorders
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Schizophrenia
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)


  • A disorder characterized by a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity/impulsivity that occurs in academic, occupational, or social settings
  • Affects children and teens and can continue into adulthood
• Symptoms of ADHD

  • Inattention
  • Hyperactivity
  • Impulsivity
• Causes of ADHD

  • Heredity
  • Brain Changes
• Symptoms of ADHD as a person gets older

  • Chronic lateness and forgetfulness
  • Anxiety
  • Low self-esteem
  • Problems at work
  • Trouble controlling anger
  • Impulsiveness
• Other causes of ADHD

  • Poor nutrition, infections, smoking, drinking, and substance abuse during pregnancy
  • Toxins, such as lead
  • Brain injury or brain disorder
• ADHD Treatment

  • Medications (stimulants)
  • Therapy - behavior modification - special education
• Anxiety


  A general term for several disorders that cause nervousness, fear, apprehension, and worrying
• Causes of Anxiety


  • Environmental factors
  • Genetics
  • Medical factors
  • Use of or withdrawal from an illicit substance
  • Brain chemistry
• Symptoms of Anxiety

  • Sweating
  • Dizziness
  • Trembling
  • Increased or irregular heartbeat
  • Fainting
  • Restlessness and fatigue
  • Muscle tension
  • Being easy startled
  • Recurring and ongoing feelings of worry, with or without known stressors
• Anxiety Treatment

  • Self-treatment
  • Stress management
  • Relaxation techniques
  • Exercises to replace negative thoughts with positive ones
  • Support network
  • Exercise
  • Counseling
• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)


  A neurological and developmental disorder that begins early in childhood and lasts throughout a person's life, called a "spectrum" disorder because people with ASD can have a range of symptoms, may often seem to be in their "own world"
• Causes of Autism

  • Genes
  • Physical
  • Environmental
• Risk Factors of Autism

  • Being male
  • Complications during birth
  • Prenatal exposure to pesticides
  • Maternal illness during pregnancy
  • Low birth weight
  • Fetal exposure to valproate (medication prescribed to seizures / mood disorders)
• Effects of Risk Factors of Autism

  • Development of another mental health condition
  • Decreased ability to care for oneself
  • Loss of verbal skills
  • Social isolation
  • Difficulty forming and maintaining relationships with others
• Symptoms of Autism

  • Physical: Sleep disturbances, Hypersensitivity to sounds, Hypersensitivity to touch, Lack of coordination, Flat affect
  • Cognitive: Inability to interpret social cues, Ruminating thoughts, Developing fixations on objects or activities, Hindered ability to organize
  • Behavioral: Self-harming behaviors, Not meeting language milestones, Not responding when being called, Engaging in repetitive behaviors, Turning away when others attempt to touch him or her, Monotonous
• Autism Treatment

  • Educational/behavioral interventions
  • Medications
  • Dietary interventions
• Bipolar Disorder


  Also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks
• Causes of Bipolar Disorder

  • Family history of bipolar disorder or other mental health condition(s)
  • Personal or family history of substance abuse
  • Exposure to trauma
  • History of victimization
  • Exposure to chronic stress
• Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder


  • They can't think clearly or sleep well might do things without thinking about them first
  • Development of another mental health condition
  • Academic failure
  • Disciplinary action at school
  • Social withdrawal or isolation
  • Decrease in quantity and quality of interpersonal relationships
  • Substance abuse
  • Self-harm
  • Suicide attempts
• Bipolar Disorder Treatment

  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy
  • Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy
  • Family-focused therapy
• Depression


  A mental health challenge that makes people feel very sad all the time, can change how you think, feel, and act
• Causes of Depression


  • Abuse
  • Genetics
  • Certain medication
  • Major events
  • Death or a loss
  • Conflict & other personal problems
• Risk Factors of Depression


  • Certain personality traits, such as low self-esteem and being too dependent, self critical
  • Traumatic events, such as physical or sexual abuse, the death or loss of loved ones
  • Abuse of alcohol or recreational drugs
  • Serious illness
• Effects of Depression

  • Insomnia
  • Fatigue
  • Weakened immune system
  • Risk of heart attack
  • Loss of interest in daily activities
  • Self-loathing
  • Anger/irritability
  • Unexplained aches and pains
• Causes of depression


  • Abuse
  • Genetics
  • Certain medication
  • Major events
  • Death or a loss
  • Conflict & other personal problems
• Risk factors of depression

  • Certain personality traits, such as low self-esteem and being too dependent, self critical
  • Traumatic events, such as physical or sexual abuse, the death or loss of loved ones
  • Abuse of alcohol or recreational drugs
  • Serious illness
• Treatment for depression

  • Consult a psychiatrist
  • Medications
• Eating disorder


  Illnesses that are characterized by irregular eating habits and severe distress or concern about body weight or shape
• Types of eating disorder

  • Anorexia nervosa
  • Bulimia nervosa
  • Binge eating disorder (BED)
• Anorexia nervosa


  • Obsessive fear of gaining weight, refusal to maintain a healthy body weight and an unrealistic perception of body image
  • Many people with anorexia nervosa will fiercely limit the quantity of food they consume and view themselves as overweight, even when they are clearly underweight
  • Anorexia can have damaging health effects, such as brain damage, multi-organ failure, bone loss, heart difficulties, and infertility. The risk of death is highest in individuals with this disease
• Bulimia nervosa


  • Eating large amounts of food over a short period of time followed by an attempt to get rid of the food
  • People who suffer from Bulimia may fear weight gain and feel severely unhappy with their body size and shape
  • It can have injuring effects, such as gastrointestinal problems, severe dehydration, and heart difficulties resulting from an electrolyte imbalance
• Binge eating disorder


  • Individuals who suffer from Binge Eating Disorder will frequently lose control over his or her eating
  • Different from bulimia nervosa however, episodes of binge-eating are not followed by compensatory behaviors, such as purging, fasting, or excessive exercise
  • Because of this, many people suffering from BED may be obese and at an increased risk of developing other conditions, such as cardiovascular disease
• Causes of eating disorders

  • Genetics and biology
  • Psychological and emotional health
• Effects of eating disorders

  • Weakening of bones
  • Cardiovascular damage
  • Growth and developmental problems
  • Occupational or academic problems
  • Organ damage
  • Tooth decay
  • Death
• Treatment for anorexia

  • Medication is used less frequently to treat anorexia compared to other eating disorders. However, when medication is called for, antidepressants are typically prescribed to treat underlying mental health problems
• Treatment for bulimia

  • People with bulimia respond well to antidepressants, even if they aren't depressed
• Treatment for binge eating disorder

  • Standard treatment for binge eating and other eating disorders usually involves counseling and psychotherapy
  • Some doctors also prescribe antidepressants to try and curb eating disorders, though they are not approved for that use
  • Antidepressants can help treat binge eating disorder
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)


  • A mental health condition that is triggered when a person witnesses a psychologically traumatic event, such as war, a natural disaster, or any situation that invokes feelings of helplessness or intense fear
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder can develop at any age, even during the first year of life