The 18 types of mental illnesses

How are mental disorders classified and what are their characteristics?

We know a wide variety of mental illnesses of very different types. Although each disorder has its own characteristics that distinguish them from each other, in many cases they have points in common, such as etiology or symptoms, which allow them to be grouped into specific categories, and a classification into different types can be made.

This type of nosological classifications is used by various health professionals in order to know and work with the different types of disorders. For this reason, in this article we are going to talk about the main types of mental illnesses..

Types of mental illness

Classifying the different types of mental illnesses is a complex task that requires a deep research task. Throughout history, various associations and groups of experts have attempted to classify them, with more or less acceptance by the scientific community. Such categorizations make it possible to organize theoretical knowledge in a more easily understandable way, although there is a risk of ignoring or separating specific aspects that could be closely linked.

The following is a brief description of the most The following is a brief description of most of the basic typologies of mental illness that the latest version of the Diagnostic Manual that the latest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or DSM-V offers. Although this is not the only existing classification, since organizations such as the WHO have their own system in this regard in ICD-10 (specifically in Chapter F, where the different mental disorders are detailed), the classification system and diagnostic criteria tend to be very similar.

The list presented here is only one of the possible classifications of the types of mental illnesses that have been made, and the main groupings may vary greatly depending on who makes them and sometimes controversial modifications may occur with respect to previous versions.

1. Neurodevelopmental disorders

Mental illnesses linked to alterations in neurodevelopment form a type of mental illness characterized by the presence of a series of deficits and difficulties in different skills and abilities that manifest themselves during the maturational development of the person, with the first symptoms appearing during childhood.

These difficulties are a mishap due both to the difficulty itself and to the possible slowing of maturation. possible slowing of maturation and the effects and the short and long term effects it can have on vital aspects of the person. Within this category we can find difficulties such as intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, adhd or learning, communication or motor disorders.

2. Schizophrenia spectrum disorders and other psychotic disorders

The study of psychotic disorders has been a fundamental pillar within psychology and mental illness research.

This type of disease presents a common symptomatology, which is the presence of both positive symptoms, that is, symptoms that add or exaggerate some aspect of normative behavior, and negative symptoms, in which the subject's capacity is diminished and impoverished.

Among the best known positive symptoms are the presence of perceptual hallucinations and cognitive delusions of different types, while among the negative symptoms anhedonia, language impoverishment and alogia are common. On the other hand, within this typology of disorders, schizophrenia stands out, but we can also find schizoaffective disorder, delusional disorder.

3. Bipolar disorder and related disorders

Bipolar disorder is a type of mental illness characterized by the alternation between two opposite emotional poles, mania (or hypomania if the symptoms are minor) and depression.

This alternation produces a severe emotional drain on the patient, who goes from being completely euphoric and with a very high level of energy to a situation of sadness, demotivation and hopelessness. In addition to bipolar disorder and its different subtypes we can find other disorders within this category, such as cyclothymic disorder.

4. Depressive disorders

Major depression is one of the most prevalent psychological disorders worldwide, being the most prominent disorder within the category of depressive disorders.

The basic characteristics of this type of mental illness are based on the presence of a state of pathological and persistent sadness accompanied by anhedonia or lack of pleasure and/or apathy. A great passivity at the vital level is frequently present due to lack of motivation and hopelessness. In fact, more than sadness what characterizes the depressive disorders is the lack of initiative and interest, something that many times takes the form of a symptom known as abulia.

In addition to major depressive disorder, other types of pathologies can be found such as dysthymia, postpartum depression and even premenstrual syndrome.

5. Anxiety disorders

The most frequent type of mental disorder both in consultation and in the general population, anxiety disorders can be identified because of the high level of psychophysiological activation that they provoke together with the presence of a high level of negative affect or discomfort.

It is frequent that these characteristics are accompanied by a strong attempt to avoid the things or situations that provoke anxiety, and they can be very limiting disorders in daily life. Within this class of mental disorders are included, among others, panic disorder (with or without agoraphobia), generalized anxiety disorder and the different types of phobias (social, specific, etc.).

On the other hand, it must be taken into account that it is possible to develop phobias before practically any stimulus or idea as long as certain conditions or idea as long as certain conditions are met.

6. Obsessive-compulsive and related disorders

This type of OCD disorder is characterized by the presence of a rigid and inflexible behavioral profile, the presence of self-doubt and a certain level of perfectionism. But the most distinctive and characteristic of this category is the presence of obsessions, intrusive and repetitive ideas that are recognized as their own and generally as absurd by the subject himself.

These ideas generate high anxiety, and may or may not be accompanied by compulsions or stereotyped actions to reduce such anxiety (although they usually have no logical relationship with the reason for it or such relationship is exaggerated). Because the symptoms are predominantly due to anxiety, they were previously considered within the anxious disorders, but their differential characteristics have caused them to be separated from these.

The mental disorder par excellence in this category is obsessive-compulsive disorder. Body dysmorphic disorder or trichotillomania are disorders that in the latest version of the DSM have also been included in this category, although in the past they were classified as dissociative and impulse control disorder respectively. This is due to the presence of obsessive-type thinking (specifically (specifically with a body area) and the presence of a specific compulsion in the presence of anxiety (hair pulling).

7. Trauma and other stress-related disorders

This type of mental disorder is based on the experience of certain life circumstances, or by the presence or absence of a specific stressor, which, being experienced in an extremely aversive way by the person, provokes in the subject a pattern of behavior different from that which he/she would have if he/she had not experienced these situations, and which produces a great deal of discomfort in the form of a crisis.

The most characteristic disorder of this type of psychopathology is post-traumatic stress disorder, which is especially common in people who have lived through war.

8. Dissociative disorders

Certain life circumstances cause the mind to react abnormally, provoking a dissociation of its basic mechanisms and processes, such as memory or identity. Formerly one of the two types of mental illnesses considered typical of hysteria, these disorders include dissociative amnesia, depersonalization or multiple personality disorder.

9. Somatic symptom disorder and related disorders

The other main element that was considered a symptom of hysteria was the presence of somatic symptom disorders. The main characteristic of this type of mental illness is the presence of physical symptoms without any physiological cause, the physical symptoms being the product of the mind itself. It stands out the somatoform disorder (now due to somatic symptoms), conversion disorder or hypochondriasis.

10. Eating disorders

Anorexia and bulimia nervosa are mental disorders that we frequently hear about. These two types of mental illnesses are two of the main eating disorders, which are known for the presence of abnormal eating patterns.

While in the two examples cited, these patterns are characterized by a certain distortion of body image. distortion of body image and the presence of an intense fear of gaining weight, refusing to consume food or engaging in behaviors that force the elimination of calories, is not the case in all mental illnesses in this category, which also includes pica or consumption of non-nutritive substances (e.g., plaster), or excessive consumption of food due to anxiety or binge eating disorder.

11. Excretion disorders

Food and nutrition provide the body with essential nutrients so that it can function properly, but at a certain point the excess elements have to be expelled from the body.

In the case of people with excretion disorders, this expulsion occurs in inappropriate and uncontrolled circumstances, sometimes as a result of anxiety. In this aspect eneuresis and encopresis stand out.in which urine or feces are excreted, respectively.

12. Sleep-wake disorders

Sleep problems are also very prevalent in societies such as ours. These problems can be due to insomnia, insomnia or excess of sleep, or hypersomnia. In both cases they cause problems of tiredness, lack of motivation and in some cases memory and attention problems.

In addition, strange behaviors may appear during sleep known as parasomnias. Disorders such as nightmares, night terrors, sleepwalking or Kleine-Levin syndrome are examples of this category. along with insomnia and primary hypersomnia..

13. Sexual dysfunctions

Although it is still today a very hushed up and taboo subject, there is a wide variety of sexual problems. Sexual dysfunctions are composed of those disorders that alter, prevent or hinder the achievement of the different phases of the human sexual response, appearing mainly at the level of desire, arousal or orgasm.

Premature ejaculation, erection problems, anorgasmia, or inhibited sexual desire inhibited sexual desire are some of the disorders of this type for which the clinic is most often consulted.

14. Destructive disorders of impulse control and behavioral disorders

This classification refers to the presence of a sudden impulse characterized by a high level of arousal and distress that the individual is unable or has severe difficulty in resisting, due to the profound gratification and well-being and well-being that he/she receives from his/her behavior. An example is intermittent explosive disorder, kleptomania or pyromania.

15. Substance use and addictive disorders

The consumption and abuse of psychoactive substances can cause serious problems in the organism. Within this type of problems we find addiction, dependence, intoxication and abstinence to very different types of substances, whether they are stimulants, depressants or disruptive.

16. Neurocognitive disorders

Neurocognitive disorders refer to the group of disorders that cause an alteration in consciousness or in higher mental processes due to a disturbance at the neuronal level. Confusional syndromes, delirium or neurodegenerative disorders such as dementias fall into this classification.

17. Paraphilic disorders

The so-called paraphilias are a type of mental illness characterized by the presence of intense and persistent fantasies in which the object of sexual desire is abnormal, generally having a certain compulsive fixation in that type of stimuli that interfere with life or cause discomfort.

It generally refers to situations in which the object of desire is an inanimate object or entity, a non-consenting being, or the suffering or humiliation of one of the components. Some disorders of this type include voyeurism, exhibitionism, sexual sadism, masochism or pedophilia.

18. Personality disorders

Each of us has our own personality, developed throughout our lives on the basis of our experiences, in which it is possible to observe the tendency to respond in certain ways to environmental stimuli. The type of behaviors we do and tend to do, how we analyze and observe the world and even our own identity are mediated by personality.

This type of mental illness implies the presence of a personality that involves a high level of suffering The person who has it or greatly limits his or her life and participation in the world. Borderline personality disorder, antisocial personality, histrionic personality disorder, obsessive personality, or avoidant personality are some of the disorders that are part of this classification.

Bibliographical references:

• American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. Fifth edition. DSM-V. Masson, Barcelona.