The Link Between Depression and Other Mental Illnesses

Schizophrenia continued...

In order to be diagnosed with schizophrenia, these symptoms generally must last at least six months. There is no one cause of schizophrenia, but it has been attributed to genetic changes and variations in brain chemicals. More recent studies have implicated defects in brain structure and how nerves are arranged in the brain. Schizophrenia does tend to run in families. While stress can aggravate the symptoms of schizophrenia, it is not the cause of this psychosis. Poor parenting and a bad upbringing have also been ruled out as causes.

Schizophrenia affects men and women equally, though it tends to affect men earlier (late teens to early 20s) than women (20s to early 30s). Over 2 million Americans are affected by schizophrenia in a given year.

The most successful approach to treating patients with schizophrenia is prescribing antipsychotic drugs. These medications can lessen or stop hallucinations, help patients distinguish between reality and the imaginary, and lessen feelings of confusion. The medications usually need to be continued at reduced dose after the acute episode abates.   The risk of recurrence of psychotic symptoms is high if medications are not continued.

Eating disorders

Eating disorders are poorly understood and typified by harmful eating habits. They are most common among teenage girls and women, and frequently occur along with other psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety disorders. Eating disorders often get worse the longer they go untreated. The lack of nutrition associated with eating disorders can harm the body's organs and, in severe cases, lead to death. The two most common types of eating disorders are anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.

People with anorexia purposefully starve themselves, despite their hunger. They tend to be very good in sports, school, and work -- often seeking perfection. Some people with anorexia stop eating in order to gain a feeling of control over their lives, while others may do so to rebel against parents and other loved ones. The diagnosis of anorexia nervosa requires that a person weigh at least 15% less than his or her ideal body weight. Symptoms associated with this illness include:

• Rapid weight loss over several weeks or months
• Dieting even though weight is already very low
• Having an intense fear of gaining weight or getting fat
• Believing that the body is fat when in reality it is not
• Watching every bite of food
• Eating in secret
• Having an unusual interest in food
• Exercising very often and vigorously
• Becoming very depressed or anxious
• Infrequent or absent menstrual periods
• Wearing loose clothing to hide weight loss
• Wanting to be perfect or being highly self-critical

While anorexia is primarily a food restriction disorder, it is not uncommon for people with anorexia to purge, or empty themselves, through vomiting and abuse of laxatives, enemas, and diuretics. Some physical signs of anorexia include a low tolerance to cold weather, brittle hair and nails, dry or yellowing skin, anemia, constipation, and swollen joints.

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