ALL YOU NEED TO ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT KNOW ABOUT PSYCHYIATRIC PSYCHYIATRIC

ILLNESSESILLNESSES

National National Council for Council for

Mental HealthMental Health

DID YOU KNOW ?DID YOU KNOW ?

Psychiatric illnesses are Psychiatric illnesses are as common as canceras common as cancer

DID YOU KNOW ?DID YOU KNOW ?

1 in 4 individuals will 1 in 4 individuals will suffer from psychiatric suffer from psychiatric illness during their life illness during their life

timetime

SOME FIGURESSOME FIGURES

Upto 20% of the population Upto 20% of the population will suffer from a depressive will suffer from a depressive illness during their life timeillness during their life time

6% of the world population 6% of the world population are known to suffer from are known to suffer from depressiondepression

15% of mothers will go on to 15% of mothers will go on to develop a depressive illness develop a depressive illness post pregnancypost pregnancy

SOME FIGURESSOME FIGURES

1% of the population suffer from 1% of the population suffer from SchizophreniaSchizophrenia

Dementia affects 5% of those Dementia affects 5% of those aged 65 and 20% of those aged 80aged 65 and 20% of those aged 80

30% of those who consult a GP 30% of those who consult a GP suffer from a psychiatric disordersuffer from a psychiatric disorder

DID YOU KNOW ?DID YOU KNOW ?

The dichotomy The dichotomy between ‘Physical’ between ‘Physical’

and ‘Mental’ illnesses and ‘Mental’ illnesses is falseis false

DID YOU KNOW ?DID YOU KNOW ?

Susceptibility genes and Susceptibility genes and environmental risk environmental risk

factors for psychiatric factors for psychiatric illnesses are being illnesses are being

discovereddiscovered

DID YOU KNOW ?DID YOU KNOW ?Psychiatric illness / symptoms Psychiatric illness / symptoms can occur due to can occur due to

1.1. A primary structural and/or A primary structural and/or chemical imbalance in the chemical imbalance in the brainbrain

2.2. Pathology affecting other Pathology affecting other organs in the bodyorgans in the body

3.3. Environmental risk factorsEnvironmental risk factorsEg: Substance misuseEg: Substance misuse

SOME FACTSSOME FACTS

Upto 50% of stroke patients develop Upto 50% of stroke patients develop a depressive illnessa depressive illness

Depression is one of the commonest Depression is one of the commonest presenting complaints in pancreatic presenting complaints in pancreatic cancercancer

Cannabis induced psychotic Cannabis induced psychotic illnesses are on the riseillnesses are on the rise

Changes in blood glucose and body Changes in blood glucose and body salt levels can give rise to salt levels can give rise to psychiatric symptomspsychiatric symptoms

THE COMMON THE COMMON ILLNESSESILLNESSES

DEPRESSIONDEPRESSION

Serious medical condition, not Serious medical condition, not sadnesssadness

15% commit suicide15% commit suicide

The WHO estimates that in the next 20 The WHO estimates that in the next 20 years depression will be second only to years depression will be second only to IHD in sheer terms of morbidity and IHD in sheer terms of morbidity and mortalitymortality

Having a history of clinical depression Having a history of clinical depression carries as much risk of stroke or heart carries as much risk of stroke or heart attack as being a smokerattack as being a smoker

Abnormalities in brain neurotransmittersAbnormalities in brain neurotransmitters

Easily treatableEasily treatable

THE BRAIN IN THE BRAIN IN DEPRESSIONDEPRESSION

BIPOLAR AFFECTIVE BIPOLAR AFFECTIVE DISORDERDISORDER

Episodes of mania and depressionEpisodes of mania and depression

High suicide rateHigh suicide rate

Heritability 80%Heritability 80%

Role of prophylactic medicationRole of prophylactic medication

THE BRAIN IN BADTHE BRAIN IN BAD

SCHIZOPHRENIA & OTHER SCHIZOPHRENIA & OTHER PSYCHOTIC ILLNESSESPSYCHOTIC ILLNESSES

Neuro-developmental disorderNeuro-developmental disorder

10% commit suicide10% commit suicide

20% shorter life expectancy20% shorter life expectancy

SymptomsSymptoms Positive, negative, cognitive and anxietyPositive, negative, cognitive and anxiety

Acute and transient psychotic episodesAcute and transient psychotic episodes Drug, stress inducedDrug, stress induced

THE BRAIN IN THE BRAIN IN SCHIZOPHRENIASCHIZOPHRENIA

ANXIETY DISORDERSANXIETY DISORDERS CommonCommon

DebilitatingDebilitating

Co-morbid depressionCo-morbid depression

Anxiety symptomsAnxiety symptoms

Can be successfully treatedCan be successfully treated

THE BRAIN IN OCDTHE BRAIN IN OCD

DEMENTIADEMENTIA

5% aged 65, 20% aged 805% aged 65, 20% aged 80

Global, progressive decline in memory and Global, progressive decline in memory and other cognitive functionsother cognitive functions

Many types – commonest Alzheimers Many types – commonest Alzheimers dementiadementia

Role of anticholinesterase inhibitorsRole of anticholinesterase inhibitors

THE BRAIN IN THE BRAIN IN DEMENTIADEMENTIA

TREATMENTSTREATMENTS MedicationMedication

Psychological therapies such as Psychological therapies such as CBT in certain conditionsCBT in certain conditions

Electroconvulsive therapyElectroconvulsive therapy

rTMSrTMS

NeurosurgeryNeurosurgery

DID YOU KNOW ?DID YOU KNOW ?

The 3 groups of drugs that The 3 groups of drugs that had the greatest impact on had the greatest impact on mankind in the 20mankind in the 20thth century werecentury were

AnaestheticsAnaestheticsAntitbioticsAntitbioticsPsychotropicsPsychotropics

DID YOU KNOW ?DID YOU KNOW ?

22ndnd and 3 and 3rdrd generation generation drugs are more efficacious drugs are more efficacious

and are far less likely to and are far less likely to cause side effects. Depot cause side effects. Depot preparations and rapid preparations and rapid

tranquilization injections tranquilization injections are also availableare also available

DID YOU KNOW ?DID YOU KNOW ?

Drugs have been Drugs have been licensed for the licensed for the

treatment of mild to treatment of mild to moderate dementia and moderate dementia and

more recently severe more recently severe dementiadementia

SUMMARYSUMMARY

Psychiatric illnesses are Psychiatric illnesses are extremely commonextremely common

They are easily treatableThey are easily treatable

Early diagnosis and prompt Early diagnosis and prompt treatment facilitate early treatment facilitate early recovery and improve prognosisrecovery and improve prognosis

If you wish to contact us…..If you wish to contact us…..

The National Council for Mental HealthThe National Council for Mental Health

96/20, kithulwatta road,96/20, kithulwatta road,

Colombo 8Colombo 8

Tel : 2685960, 5350819Tel : 2685960, 5350819

Fax: 5356689Fax: 5356689

www.sahanaya.orgwww.sahanaya.org E-mail : info@sahanaya.orgE-mail : info@sahanaya.org