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    Causes of Mental Illness

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    Rima Pigar Goza Meleloa

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    Causes of Mental Illness

    Uploaded by

    Rima Pigar Goza Meleloa
    101 views4 pages

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    101 views4 pages

    Causes of Mental Illness

    Uploaded by

    Rima Pigar Goza Meleloa

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    of 4

    Causes of Mental Illness

    IN THIS ARTICLE

     What Biological Factors Are Involved in Mental Illness?


     What Psychological Factors Contribute to Mental Illness?
     What Environmental Factors Contribute to Mental Illness?
    What are the causes of mental illness? Although the exact
    cause of most mental illnesses is not known, it is becoming
    clear through research that many of these conditions are
    caused by a combination of biological, psychological, and
    environmental factors.

    What Biological Factors Are Involved in Mental


    Illness?
    Some mental illnesses have been linked to abnormal
    functioning of nerve cell circuits or pathways that connect
    particular brain regions. Nerve cells within
    these brain circuits communicate through chemicals called
    neurotransmitters. "Tweaking" these chemicals -- through
    medicines, psychotherapy or other medical procedures --
    can help brain circuits run more efficiently. In addition,
    defects in or injury to certain areas of the brain have also
    been linked to some mental conditions.
    Other biological factors that may be involved in the
    development of mental illness include:

     Genetics (heredity): Mental illnesses sometimes run


    in families, suggesting that people who have a family
    member with a mental illness may be somewhat more
    likely to develop one themselves. Susceptibility is
    passed on in families through genes. Experts believe
    many mental illnesses are linked to abnormalities in
    many genes rather than just one or a few and that
    how these genes interact with the environment is
    unique for every person (even identical twins). That is
    why a person inherits a susceptibility to a mental
    illness and doesn't necessarily develop the illness.
    Mental illness itself occurs from the interaction of
    multiple genes and other factors -- such as stress,
    abuse, or a traumatic event -- which can influence, or
    trigger, an illness in a person who has an inherited
    susceptibility to it.
     Infections: Certain infections have been linked
    to brain damage and the development of mental
    illness or the worsening of its symptoms. For example,
    a condition known as pediatric autoimmune
    neuropsychiatric disorder (PANDA) associated with
    the Streptococcus bacteria has been linked to the
    development of obsessive-compulsive disorder and
    other mental illnesses in children.
     Brain defects or injury: Defects in or injury to
    certain areas of the brain have also been linked to
    some mental illnesses.
     Prenatal damage: Some evidence suggests that a
    disruption of early fetal brain development or trauma
    that occurs at the time of birth -- for example, loss of
    oxygen to the brain -- may be a factor in the
    development of certain conditions, such as autism
    spectrum disorder.
     Substance abuse : Long-term substance abuse, in
    particular, has been linked to anxiety, depression, and
    paranoia.
     Other factors: Poor nutrition and exposure to toxins,
    such as lead, may play a role in the development of
    mental illnesses.

    What Psychological Factors Contribute to


    Mental Illness?
    Psychological factors that may contribute to mental illness
    include:

     Severe psychological trauma suffered as a child, such


    as emotional, physical, or sexual abuse
     An important early loss, such as the loss of a parent
     Neglect
     Poor ability to relate to others

    What Environmental Factors Contribute to


    Mental Illness?
    Certain stressors can trigger an illness in a person who is
    susceptible to mental illness. These stressors include:

     Death or divorce
     A dysfunctional family life
     Feelings of inadequacy, low self-esteem, anxiety,
    anger, or loneliness
     Changing jobs or schools
     Social or cultural expectations (For example, a society
    that associates beauty with thinness can be a factor in
    the development of eating disorders.)
     Substance abuse by the person or the person's
    parents

    WebMD Medical Reference Reviewed by Smitha Bhandari,


    MD on May 20, 2018
    Sources
    © 2018 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved

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