Psychiatric disorders, mental disorders or mental illness are psychological or behavioral patterns that are often associated with distress or disabilities that can occur in people that are not a part of normal development or culture. Though the recognition, understanding and treatment of mental health conditions have changed over time and across various cultures, there are still variations in the definition, assessment and classification of these disorders, although standard guideline criteria are accepted by the medical community. Over a third of people in most countries report meeting criteria for the major categories at some point in their lives.

Causes and diagnoses

The causes may be explained by biological, genetic, psychological and social factors which all play a significant role in human functioning in the context of disease or illness. Diagnoses are made by our expert psychiatrists or psychologists using various methods including various diagnostic tests such as MRI, EEG, and neuropsychological testing.

Treatment

The most common methods of treatment are psychotherapy and medications. In some cases, inpatient services may be needed. Some severe illnesses may require specialized treatments such as electoconvulsive therapy (ECT) and vagal nerve stimulation (VNS). In addition social interventions, peer support and self-help can all be effective tools in managing various types of disorders.