Psychiatric and Psychological Conditions - More Information
Overview
Psychiatric and psychological conditions cover a broad range of conditions and symptoms and are impossible to discuss in a generic fashion - although there are some common features and experiences. Conditions include schizophrenia, clinical depression, bipolar disorder, severe anxiety disorders, agoraphobia and eating disorders. Substance abuse and acquired brain injury may also have associated psychological effects.
Psychiatric and psychological conditions can impair a person's ability to think, feel and behave in a manner that allows optimum functioning in day to day life.
Some people will experience a one-off episode, while others may experience ongoing symptoms. Most conditions are episodic and are treatable. Symptoms can be mild to severe. In the majority of cases these conditions are 'invisible' and completely undetectable by others. Even though they are 'invisible', the effects can still impact significantly on the day to day lives of the people who have the conditions.
People with psychiatric and psychological conditions are often reluctant to tell others about their conditions for fear of being treated differently, judged, or feared. This reluctance is often based on past experiences or from witnessing how mental illness is viewed by society as a whole.
Specific psychiatric and psychological conditions
Psychotic illnesses
In acute stages of psychosis, people can lose touch with reality and their thoughts, feelings and perceptions are seriously affected. They may see, hear, taste or feel things that are not experienced by others around them. They may believe they are someone else or have extraordinary powers or insight. They also may experience false and extreme feelings of persecution, guilt, or paranoia. Most people experiencing this stage of the psychosis do not have insight into the inappropriateness of their behaviour and often feel extremely embarrassed and shame when the period has passed. Some behaviour can be extremely confusing as it can alter from minute to minute from apparent lucidity to psychotic. Most episodes are short lived and are effectively treated with medication. It important to keep calm during these times, do not argue or disagree with the person and attempt to get help by contacting the Counselling Service, the Disability Support Service or the University Health Service.
Non-psychotic illness
These conditions include ones that affect feelings and emotions and may be so overwhelming that day to day functioning may be severely affected. Many of the symptoms are not evident to others and include feelings of extreme stress, sadness, or fear. Obsessive Compulsive Disorders, phobias and some forms of depression are all non-psychotic conditions. Most conditions can be relieved by appropriate treatment including medication and counselling. Many people who have these conditions are able to manage them enough to continue working, studying and lead high functioning lives.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a broad term which incorporates a range of psychotic illnesses that share common symptoms including:
- Delusions
- Hallucinations
- Disordered thoughts
- Loss of motivation
- Loss of emotions
- The experience of extreme emotions
- Social withdrawal
- Lack of insight
The exact causes of schizophrenia are unknown although factors such as biochemical disposition, environmental causes, genetic influences and in some cases substance abuse may be influential. Treatment for schizophrenia is quite successful and many people with this condition are able to live 'normal' lives.
Bi-polar Disorder
Bi-polar disorder (once termed 'Manic Depression') is a disorder which fluctuates from mania (highs) to acute depression, often with no apparent reason. Many people with this condition will experience long periods of stability, while others may fluctuate at a rapid rate. People with this condition may experience psychotic symptoms at both the elevated and depressed stages of the illness.
Symptoms in the elevated stage can include:
- Feelings of euphoria or extreme frustration
- High energy levels, diminished need for sleep, loss of appetite, lack of inhibition
- Rapid thought and speech
- Grandiose ideas and beliefs and psychosis
Symptoms in the depressed stage can include:
- A need for more or less sleep
- Change in appetite - either increased or decrease
- Weight loss or gain
- Inability to experience feelings of joy
- Extreme lack of motivation
- Difficulty concentrating
- Feelings of hopelessness and despair
- Suicidal thoughts
In the elevated stages, concentration is extremely difficult or impossible, behaviour may become disruptive and grandiose goals may be set. In the depressive stage, commitments may not be met, and feelings of hopelessness and despair can affect the person’s attitudes in relation to their capabilities and responsibilities.
Depressive Disorders
These conditions can range from mild to severe. Many people with depressive disorders will continue to lead 'normal' lives and continue with the responsibilities of their day to day lives. Many people will do this with the assistance of medication or counselling. Some depressive conditions will at times require hospitalisation. Many people experiencing depression will feel that they should be able to 'snap out of it' and will hesitate to seek help. When this does not happen, the person's feelings of inadequacy will be enhanced. Depressive Disorders are characterised by extreme sadness or grief, or feelings of hopelessness and 'blackness'. Many people describe the feeling as though someone has drained the colour out of their lives, or that each day feels like it is overcast.
There are two main types of depression:
- Endogenous - where there is no apparent attributable cause
- Reactive - where a particular event has triggered the symptoms
People experiencing depression may experience:
- Need for more sleep
- Unsatisfying sleep
- Change in appetite
- Loss or gain in weight
- Inability to enjoy life
- Extreme lack of motivation
- Concentration difficulty
- Feelings of hopelessness and despair
- Suicidal thoughts
- Self harming tendencies
Anxiety disorders
These conditions include social phobia, post traumatic stress disorder, agoraphobia and panic disorder and are characterised by extreme anxiety which impacts severely and negatively on a person's day to day life. Symptoms can include:
- Irrational fear
- Feelings of irritability and/or uneasiness
- Heart palpitations
- Muscle tension and pain
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Hyperventilation, dizziness and panic attacks
Most anxiety-based disorders can be treated through medication, counselling and systematic desensitisation and support.
Effects of the condition
The symptoms above may mean that the student will have difficulty with:
- Working to deadlines and keeping prearranged commitments
- Participating in class discussions
- Attending all lectures
- Completing assessment tasks in allocated timeframes
- Short term memory
- Motivation levels
- Keeping on task in lectures
In some rare cases, the student's behaviour may be disruptive in lectures.
People being treated for a psychiatric or psychological illness may be on quite large doses of psychotropic medication. Psychotropic medications have a reputation for impairing concentration, causing drowsiness, blurred vision, stiffness, shakiness, and a dry mouth. Quite often the observable signs of a psychiatric disability are a result of the treatment, not of the condition itself.