Mental illnesses are conditions which affect an individual’s cognitive, behavioral and emotional aspects therefore influencing social functioning. Most of these illnesses begin at early life and progress as one gets old, in the process impairing vital functionality aspects such as moods, irritability and social association. In the concept of mental illnesses among adults, a major and common phenomenon is cognitive impairment which leads to high dependency rates due to the attributed disability. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, various diagnostic procedures are used in assessing mental illnesses among adults: mood, eating behavior, drugs and substances use among others ( Beidel & Frueh, 2018) . In adult cases, mental illnesses result to family or care burdening and in extreme cases, psychotic patients may have serious attributed risks such as suicidal behavior.
Summary
There are different categories of adult mental disorders depending on the attributed characteristics. Most illnesses are faced with social, cognitive and behavioral hardships, thus making it difficult to integrate management practices. While most of the situations are handled with stigmatization and misdiagnosis, it is important to absorb efficient practices to ensure care and management to adults with mental disorders. The most common disorders include depression and anxiety disorders which have high prevalence rates according to the National Institute of Mental Health statistics. Before delving into specific disorders, it is important to understand some of the risk factors to mental disorders: genetics and family history are special aspects which may facilitate development of theses illnesses at later life stages. Exposure to factors such as brain trauma, drugs and substances, stress and fetal exposure to certain hazardous biological and chemical agents is also a common risk factor to mental disorders at all life stages.
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According to the Diagnostic and Statistical manual of Mental Disorders, under the American Psychiatry Association, mental illnesses can be categorized into substances abuse disorders, anxiety disorders, ADHD, bipolar disorder, depression, eating disorders, panic disorders, PTSD, schizophrenia and psychotic disorders. In this script, I will discuss the most prevalent mental disorders in the society.
Treatment and Care
General approaches for Coping with mental disorders
The basic coping strategy is acceptance of the mental disorder and acknowledging the attributed social, cognitive and emotional behavior changes. When taking care of family members or friends with mental disease, it is important to ensure emotional and physical connection while warding off stigma and psychological negativity about the condition.
Preparedness in handling the expressed behavior. Learning to handle emotional lapses such as sudden tearing, anger and anxiety which may be difficult due to the social exclusion attributed to most of these illnesses. However, one can understand the behavior through advanced research and from professional assistance.
Seeking extended support and counseling. Incorporating professional advice and help from society or community organizations who deal with mental disorders can help in daily coping. Support groups are important aspects of attaining knowledge and skills in effective management techniques which should be well guided by professional help.
Specific Disorder Strategies
ADHD
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition expressed through reduced attention paying, hyperactivity and impulsive traits. The disorder usually progresses throughout lifetime therefore having more symptoms in adulthood, thus impairing functionality and social behavior. While risk factors include developmental problems, environmental exposure and genetic composition, ADHD is medically and socially managed. Stimulants and other prescription drugs such as Focalin and Strattera are used respectively ( Torgersen, Gjervan, Lensing & Rasmussen, 2016) . Social and behavioral management includes training on anxiety management, family interventions, behavior (self-esteem) improvement strategies, impulsive behavior management and social assistance to enhance communication and organizational skills. These attributes are covered through psychotherapeutic interventions and guidance.
Anxiety Disorders
Generalized anxiety is also a common mental illness in adults. It manifests through increased alertness and irritability causing sleep disorders and increased fatigue. Subjects are increasingly worried about specific issues, leading to increased blood pressure and overall fear for the subjects in context. They include panic and obsessive compulsive (OCD). Treatment practices include medical interventions (antidepressants and anti-anxiety prescriptions) and psychological therapy. Under psychological therapy i.e. behavioral, subjects are trained and empowered to manage cognitive, social and behavioral aspects using exposure response prevention ( ER, 2015) .
Depression
Depression is an inadequate mood facilitated by sadness and social isolation leading to lowered self-esteem, concentration and poor dietary habits alongside damaged social activities. In extreme cases, depression may lead to suicidal thoughts. Common types of depression include; dysthymia, seasonal affective disorder and post-partum depression. Causes of depression are negative life experiences such as social and economic changes and suffering which may include struggling with chronic conditions e.g. cancer. Depression is commonly managed using goal-oriented psychotherapeutic interventions as most medications and prescriptions (usually antidepressants) have short-term effect ( Vittengl, Jarrett, Weitz, Hollon, Twisk, Cristea & Faramarzi, 2016) . Higher intensity interventions such as behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy are the recommended interventions to be used alongside prescription. The aim of behavioral therapy is to guide stressful aspects from accelerating to suicidal thoughts, while activating positive behavior through appraised self-esteem and positive lifestyle adoption in situations involving diseases and bad life experiences.
Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is a condition characterized by intensive mood changes which affects a person’s cognitive and behavioral ability. There are four major categories of bipolar disorder, namely: bipolar 1, bipolar 2, cyclothmia and non-specific category. Onset is attributed to genetic and stressful environmental conditions which may affect brain development and if the condition stays unattended, severe consequences such as manic actions may be evident. Management consists of pharmacological interventions and goal-oriented psychotherapy. In pharmacological category, bipolar disorder is managed using mood-drugs, antidepressants and anti-psychotic clinical interventions. Early disorder recognition alongside complementary initiatives and approaches such as social support and physical exercise may help reduce symptoms ( Oud,, Mayo-Wilson, Braidwood, Schulte, Jones, Morriss & Kendall, 2016) . Engaging in active behavioral therapy and family-based interventions are the best practices used in psychotherapeutic settings.
Dissociative Disorders
A mental imbalance and loss of connection between reality, consciousness and cognitive abilities such as thinking and memory aspects is known as dissociative disorder. Common types of dissociative disorders include; amnesia, identity disorder, and depersonalization. Directed and facilitated by stressful environments and traumatic experiences, cognitive function ability ids derailed leading to poor memory and involuntary loss of cognition. Common symptoms include anxiety, suicide contemplation, loss of identity and reality and hallucinations. Therapeutic interventions are effective in managing dissociative disorders in the context of; cognitive behavioral intervention and dialectical behavioral therapy. When the condition is characterized by extreme visual experiences, desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) procedures are recommended. Moreover specific pharmacological interventions are used in association with behavioral therapy under strict guidelines.
Schizophrenia and Psychosis
Psychotic disorders are conditions affecting an individual’s mental status leading to delusional thinking and hallucinations. Schizophrenia is a mental disorder exhibited by inadequate reality perception, confused thinking and communication, false ideologies and reduced social, emotional and mental alertness. Risk factors for schizophrenia include; urban background, marijuana abuse in adolescence and genetic predisposing factors. Delusional and unreal experiences are a common symptom of schizophrenia, where subjects cannot discern them from reality leading to cognitive dependence on false beliefs and ideologies. Treatment of psychosis and schizophrenia involves brain stimulation therapies, pharmaceutical prescriptions, integrated specialty care and psychotherapy. Medical interventions involve prescription for anti-psychotic agents such as Solian and Zyprexa to enhance progressive cognitive functions while reducing delusional characteristics ( Taylor & Perera, 2015) . Psychotherapeutic interventions aim at training and behavior modification in identifying lapse periods and effectively managing delusional behavior. Common psychotherapies include family interventions, neurocognitive facilitation and community approaches.
Conclusion
With the increasing prevalence and risk factors for early onset of adult mental disorders, it is necessary to develop reasonable knowledge and skills in understanding and managing the illnesses. According to the above types of mental disorders, a common characteristic for management and care is psychotherapeutic interventions. I believe that they are an effective way of mitigating and managing these illnesses through integrated approaches which are symptom and cause-based. From my experience, I have witnessed individuals manage their behaviors through intensive community, family and individual training interventions facilitated by professional help. However, due to their attributed mental ability disruption, psychotherapies should be reinforced with clinical approaches to ensure effective results are achieved in prevention, treatment, management and care.
References
Beidel, D. C., & Frueh, B. C. (Eds.). (2018). Adult psychopathology and diagnosis . John Wiley & Sons.
Torgersen, T., Gjervan, B., Lensing, M. B., & Rasmussen, K. (2016). Optimal management of ADHD in older adults. Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment , 12 , 79.
Vittengl, J. R., Jarrett, R. B., Weitz, E., Hollon, S. D., Twisk, J., Cristea, I., ... & Faramarzi, M. (2016). Divergent outcomes in cognitive-behavioral therapy and pharmacotherapy for adult depression. American Journal of Psychiatry , 173 (5), 481-490.
Taylor, M., & Perera, U. (2015). NICE CG178 Psychosis and Schizophrenia in Adults: Treatment and Management–an evidence-based guideline?. The British Journal of Psychiatry , 206 (5), 357-359.
ER, I. (2015). Diagnosis and management of generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder in adults. Am Fam Physician , 91 (9), 617-624.
Oud, M., Mayo-Wilson, E., Braidwood, R., Schulte, P., Jones, S. H., Morriss, R., ... & Kendall, T. (2016). Psychological interventions for adults with bipolar disorder: systematic review and meta-analysis. The British Journal of Psychiatry , 208 (3), 213-222.
