- Acute Flaccid Myelitis
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Arteriovenous Malformations
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Back Pain
- Brain Aneurysm
- Brain Tumors
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Childhood Brain Tumors
- Delirium
- Dementia
- Hemorrhagic Stroke
- Ischemic Stroke
- Memory
- Meningitis
- Mild Cognitive Impairment
- Movement Disorders
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Neuroblastoma
- Neuromuscular Disorders
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Polio and Post-Polio Syndrome
- Speech and Language Problems in Children
- Stroke
- Transient Ischemic Attack
- Tremor
- Walking Problems
- West Nile Virus
- A1C
- Blood Glucose
- Diabetes
- Diabetes and Pregnancy
- Diabetes Complications
- Diabetes in Children and Teens
- Diabetes Medicines
- Diabetes Type 1
- Diabetes Type 2
- Diabetic Diet
- Diabetic Eye Problems
- Diabetic Foot
- Diabetic Heart Disease
- Diabetic Kidney Problems
- Diabetic Nerve Problems
- How to Prevent Diabetes
- Hyperglycemia
- Metabolic Syndrome
- Prediabetes
- Abortion
- Breast Cancer
- Breast Diseases
- Breast Reconstruction
- Breastfeeding
- Cervical Cancer
- Cervical Cancer Screening
- Cesarean Delivery
- Childbirth
- Ectopic Pregnancy
- Endometriosis
- Female Infertility
- Health Problems in Pregnancy
- High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy
- HIV and Pregnancy
- Hormone Replacement Therapy
- HPV
- Hysterectomy
- Infections and Pregnancy
- Mammography
- Mastectomy
- Menopause
- Menstruation
- Miscarriage
- Ovarian Cancer
- Ovarian Cysts
- Ovarian Disorders
- Pelvic Floor Disorders
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
- Pelvic Pain
- Period Pain
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
- Pregnancy
- Pregnancy and Drug Use
- Pregnancy and Opioids
- Premenstrual Syndrome
- Prenatal Care
- Prenatal Testing
- Primary Ovarian Insufficiency
- Sexual Problems in Women
- Stillbirth
- Teenage Pregnancy
- Trichomoniasis
- Tubal Ligation
- Uterine Cancer
- Uterine Diseases
- Uterine Fibroids
- Vaginal Bleeding
- Vaginal Cancer
- Vaginal Diseases
- Vaginitis
- Vulvar Cancer
- Vulvar Disorders
- Yeast Infections
- Alcohol
- Calcium
- Child Nutrition
- Cholesterol
- Cholesterol Levels: What You Need to Know
- Cholesterol Medicines
- DASH Eating Plan
- Eating Disorders
- Food Allergy
- HDL: The “Good” Cholesterol
- High Cholesterol in Children and Teens
- How to Lower Cholesterol
- How to Lower Cholesterol with Diet
- Infant and Newborn Nutrition
- LDL: The “Bad” Cholesterol
- Malabsorption Syndromes
- Nutrition for Older Adults
- Pregnancy and Nutrition
- Toddler Nutrition
- Triglycerides
- VLDL Cholesterol
- Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
- Ataxia Telangiectasia
- Brain Malformations
- Cerebral Palsy
- Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease
- Chiari Malformation
- Cleft Lip and Palate
- Color Blindness
- Congenital Heart Defects
- Craniofacial Abnormalities
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
- Friedreich Ataxia
- Genetic Counseling
- Hemophilia
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- Hydrocephalus
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- Neural Tube Defects
- Neurofibromatosis
- Newborn Screening
- Osteogenesis Imperfecta
- Prader-Willi Syndrome
- Pregnancy and Medicines
- Rett Syndrome
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- Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia
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- Animal Bites
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- Asthma
- Asthma in Children
- Childhood Leukemia
- Childhood Vaccines
- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
- COVID-19 Vaccines
- Cryptosporidiosis
- Eosinophilic Disorders
- Eosinophilic Esophagitis
- Giant Cell Arteritis
- Hay Fever
- HIV
- HIV and Infections
- HIV in Women
- Hodgkin Lymphoma
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- Infectious Mononucleosis
- Juvenile Arthritis
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- Pemphigus
- Pneumocystis Infections
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- Scleroderma
- Sjogren’s Syndrome
- Tonsillitis
- Vaccines
- Viral Infections
- Adhesions
- Ankle Injuries and Disorders
- Arm Injuries and Disorders
- Back Injuries
- Brachial Plexus Injuries
- Burns
- Chest Injuries and Disorders
- Concussion
- CPR
- Dislocated Shoulder
- Dislocations
- Elbow Injuries and Disorders
- Eye Injuries
- Facial Injuries and Disorders
- Finger Injuries and Disorders
- Foot Injuries and Disorders
- Fractures
- Hand Injuries and Disorders
- Heel Injuries and Disorders
- Hip Injuries and Disorders
- Inhalation Injuries
- Insect Bites and Stings
- Jaw Injuries and Disorders
- Knee Injuries and Disorders
- Leg Injuries and Disorders
- Mosquito Bites
- Neck Injuries and Disorders
- Rotator Cuff Injuries
- Shoulder Injuries and Disorders
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Sprains and Strains
- Tick Bites
- Toe Injuries and Disorders
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Wrist Injuries and Disorders
- Acute Bronchitis
- Bird Flu
- Chronic Bronchitis
- COPD
- COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019)
- Croup
- E-Cigarettes
- Fistulas
- Flu
- Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis
- H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu)
- Legionnaires’ Disease
- Lung Cancer
- Mesothelioma
- Pneumonia
- Pulmonary Hypertension
- Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections
- Sleep Apnea
- Smoking
- Tuberculosis
- Whooping Cough
- Anatomy
- Assisted Reproductive Technology
- Birth Control
- Chlamydia Infections
- Circumcision
- Erectile Dysfunction
- Genital Herpes
- Genital Warts
- Gonorrhea
- Herpes Simplex
- Infertility
- Male Infertility
- Penis Disorders
- Prostate Cancer
- Prostate Cancer Screening
- Prostate Diseases
- Reproductive Hazards
- Sexual Health
- Sexual Problems in Men
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases
- Syphilis
- Testicular Cancer
- Testicular Disorders
- Vasectomy
- Abdominal Pain
- Bad Breath
- Bleeding
- Breathing Problems
- Bruises
- Chest Pain
- Choking
- Chronic Pain
- Constipation
- Cough
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness and Vertigo
- Edema
- Fainting
- Fever
- Frostbite
- Gas
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding
- Headache
- Heartburn
- Heat Illness
- Hives
- Hypothermia
- Indigestion
- Itching
- Jaundice
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Pain
- Rare Diseases
- Raynaud’s Disease
- Sciatica
- Speech and Communication Disorders
- Stuttering
Mental Disorders
Summary
What are mental disorders?
Mental disorders (or mental illnesses) are conditions that affect your thinking, feeling, mood, and behavior. They may be occasional or long-lasting (chronic). They can affect your ability to relate to others and function each day.
What are some types of mental disorders?
There are many different types of mental disorders. Some common ones include:
- Anxiety disorders, including panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and phobias
- Depression, bipolar disorder, and other mood disorders
- Eating disorders
- Personality disorders
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia
What causes mental disorders?
There is no single cause for mental illness. A number of factors can contribute to risk for mental illness, such as:
- Your genes and family history
- Your life experiences, such as stress or a history of abuse, especially if they happen in childhood
- Biological factors such as chemical imbalances in the brain
- A traumatic brain injury
- A mother’s exposure to viruses or toxic chemicals while pregnant
- Use of alcohol or recreational drugs
- Having a serious medical condition like cancer
- Having few friends, and feeling lonely or isolated
Mental disorders are not caused by character flaws. They have nothing to do with being lazy or weak.
Who is at risk for mental disorders?
Mental disorders are common. More than half of all Americans will be diagnosed with a mental disorder at some time in their life.
How are mental disorders diagnosed?
The steps to getting a diagnosis include:
- A medical history
- A physical exam and possibly lab tests, if your provider thinks that other medical conditions could be causing your symptoms
- A psychological evaluation. You will answer questions about your thinking, feelings, and behaviors.
What are the treatments for mental disorders?
Treatment depends on which mental disorder you have and how serious it is. You and your provider will work on a treatment plan just for you. It usually involves some type of therapy. You may also take medicines. Some people also need social support and education on managing their condition.
In some cases, you may need more intensive treatment. You may need to go to a psychiatric hospital. This could be because your mental illness is severe. Or it could be because you are at risk of hurting yourself or someone else. In the hospital, you will get counseling, group discussions, and activities with mental health professionals and other patients.
National Institute of Mental Health
Patient Handouts
- Adjustment disorder Medical Encyclopedia
- Conversion disorder Medical Encyclopedia
- Illness anxiety disorder Medical Encyclopedia
- Somatic symptom disorder Medical Encyclopedia
Find an Expert
- American Psychiatric Association American Psychiatric Association
- Find a Psychiatrist American Psychiatric Association
- Find Your Local NAMI NAMI
- FindTreatment.gov Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
- Help for Mental Illnesses National Institute of Mental Health
- National Institute of Mental Health National Institute of Mental Health
- Psychologist Locator American Psychological Association
- State by State Info (Psychiatric Advance Directives) National Resource Center on Psychiatric Advance Directives
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Statistics and Research
- Behavioral Health Equity Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
- Data and Statistics Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- FastStats: Mental Health National Center for Health Statistics
- Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States: Results from the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
- Mental Illness Statistics National Institute of Mental Health
Specifics
- Body Dysmorphic Disorder Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Depersonalization-Derealization Disorder Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Dissociative Disorders Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Factitious Disorder Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Functional Neurologic Disorder National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
- Illness Anxiety Disorder Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Intermittent Explosive Disorder Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Kleptomania Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders American Academy of Family Physicians
Treatments and Therapies
- Brain Stimulation Therapies National Institute of Mental Health
- How to Choose a Psychologist American Psychological Association
- Meditation and Mindfulness: What You Need to Know National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
- Mental Health Medications National Institute of Mental Health
- Mental Health Providers: Tips on Finding One Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Psychotherapies National Institute of Mental Health
- Therapy and Counseling American Academy of Family Physicians
- What Is Psychiatry? American Psychiatric Association
Children
- Child Mental Health: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine
Clinical Trials
- Clinical Research Trials and You: Questions and Answers National Institute of Mental Health
- Clinical Trials — Information for Participants National Institute of Mental Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Mental Disorders National Institutes of Health
Encyclopedia
- Electroconvulsive therapy Medical Encyclopedia
- Munchausen syndrome by proxy Medical Encyclopedia
Diagnosis and Tests
- Mental Health Screening National Library of Medicine
- Mental Health: What’s Normal, What’s Not Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
Health Check Tools
- Mental Health Screening Center Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
Related Issues
- Mental Health: Overcoming the Stigma of Mental Illness Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Psychiatric Advance Directives: Getting Started National Resource Center on Psychiatric Advance Directives
- Rural Mental Health Rural Health Information Hub
- Tardive Dyskinesia NAMI
Start Here
- Mental Illness Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Warning Signs of Mental Illnesses American Psychiatric Association
Living With
- Mental Illness and the Family: Recognizing Warning Signs and How to Cope Mental Health America
- What Individuals in Recovery Need to Know about Wellness Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Older Adults
- Older Adult Mental Health National Library of Medicine
- Older Adults and Mental Health National Institute of Mental Health
Genetics
- Perry syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
Journal Articles
NIH MedlinePlus Magazine
Teenagers
- Teen Mental Health: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine
Women
- Women and Mental Health National Institute of Mental Health