Mental Illness

Mental illness, also referred to as mental disorder or psychopathology, refers to a broad array of diverse psychological conditions that cause impairment in functioning and are personally [Page 1389]distressing to the individual with the condition. Many of the more common forms of mental illness, particularly in adulthood, are characterized by sadness, anxiety, or the misuse of alcohol or drugs. Other, less common conditions involve disturbances in the perception of reality, such as hearing voices that are not actually present, or holding extreme beliefs that have no basis in reality. Impairment or distress stemming from maladaptive personality traits are also common forms of adult mental illness, whereas conditions characterized by overactivity, defiant behavior, anxiety and fear, and impairments in attention or learning are prevalent in childhood. ...