YouAreHere:Home→HealthTopics→MentalDisordersURLofthispage:https://medlineplus.gov/mentaldisorders.htmlMentalDisordersAlsocalled:MentalillnessOnthispageBasicsSummaryStartHereDiagnosisandTestsTreatmentsandTherapiesLearnMoreLivingWithRelatedIssuesSpecificsGeneticsSee,PlayandLearnHealthCheckToolsResearchStatisticsandResearchClinicalTrialsJournalArticlesResourcesFindanExpertForYouChildrenTeenagersWomenOlderAdultsPatientHandoutsSummaryWhatarementaldisorders?Mentaldisorders(ormentalillnesses)areconditionsthataffectyourthinking,feeling,mood,andbehavior.Theymaybeoccasionalorlong-lasting(chronic).Theycanaffectyourabilitytorelatetoothersandfunctioneachday.Whataresometypesofmentaldisorders?Therearemanydifferenttypesofmentaldisorders.SomecommononesincludeAnxietydisorders,includingpanicdisorder,obsessive-compulsivedisorder,andphobiasDepression,bipolardisorder,andothermooddisordersEatingdisordersPersonalitydisordersPost-traumaticstressdisorderPsychoticdisorders,includingschizophreniaWhatcausesmentaldisorders?Thereisnosinglecauseformentalillness.Anumberoffactorscancontributetoriskformentalillness,suchasYourgenesandfamilyhistoryYourlifeexperiences,suchasstressorahistoryofabuse,especiallyiftheyhappeninchildhoodBiologicalfactorssuchaschemicalimbalancesinthebrainAtraumaticbraininjuryAmother'sexposuretovirusesortoxicchemicalswhilepregnantUseofalcoholorrecreationaldrugsHavingaseriousmedicalconditionlikecancerHavingfewfriends,andfeelinglonelyorisolatedMentaldisordersarenotcausedbycharacterflaws.Theyhavenothingtodowithbeinglazyorweak.Whoisatriskformentaldisorders?Mentaldisordersarecommon.MorethanhalfofallAmericanswillbediagnosedwithamentaldisorderatsometimeintheirlife.Howarementaldisordersdiagnosed?ThestepstogettingadiagnosisincludeAmedicalhistoryAphysicalexamandpossiblylabtests,ifyourproviderthinksthatothermedicalconditionscouldbecausingyoursymptomsApsychologicalevaluation.Youwillanswerquestionsaboutyourthinking,feelings,andbehaviors.Whatarethetreatmentsformentaldisorders?Treatmentdepends