The Psychology Behind Mental Disorders

Diagnosing mental illness is not the same as diagnosing other chronic diseases. For instance, heart disease is identified with the help of blood tests and electrocardiograms, however, diabetes, for example, is diagnosed by measuring blood glucose levels. But classifying mental illness is a more subjective endeavour. No blood tests exist for depression; no X-ray can identify a child at risk of developing a bipolar disorder; etc. On account of the new tools in genetics and neuroimaging, scientists are making progress toward deciphering the details of the underlying psychology behind mental disorders. Yet experts continue to disagree on how far we can push this biological model. Are mental illnesses simply physical diseases that happen to strike the brain? Or do these condition that changes a person's thinking, feelings, or behaviour (or all three) which causes the person feelings of distress and difficulty in functioning. As with many diseases, mental illnesses are severe in some cases and mild in others - individuals who have a mental illness don't necessarily look like they are ill, especially if their disorder is vaguer. Other individuals may show more explicit symptoms such as confusion, agitation, or withdrawal.

Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder: Commonly known as ADHD, it is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood. It is typically first diagnosed at childhood and often lasts into adulthood. People with ADHD tend to have trouble paying attention, controlling impulsive behaviours (may act impetuously) or be overly hyperactive. Signs and symptoms can also includeexcessive daydreaming, zoning out, fidgeting, speaking quickly, and many more, however each symptoms’ extremity an vary from person to person. There are three main types of ADHD:

Predominantly Inattentive Presentation –previously known as ADD, in this case, it is usually difficult for the individual to organize or complete a task, and stay focused, particularly during conversations.

Predominantly Hyperactive Presentation here, the person is inclined to fidget and talk a lot and finds it wearisome to sit still for long periods of time. The individual can archetypally feel like they have endless energy and has struggles to control impulsivity.

· Combined Presentation – symptoms of both of the above two types are equally present in the person.

Scientists are researching the causes and risks in an attempt to find more efficient methods of reducing and managing the chances of developing ADHD. Current causes can include genetics and scientists are studying whether brain injury, alcohol, prematurity and exposure to environmental risks are factors.

ADHD is associated with abnormally low levels of the neurotransmitters transmitting between the prefrontal cortical area and the basal ganglia of the brain. Dysfunction of the prefrontal cortex results in a lack of alertness, shortened attention span, and decreased efficiency of working or short-term memory, difficulty in initiating and sustaining activities, and being unable to distinguish and avoid unnecessary or distracting activities. Therefore, many ADHD individuals have diminished focus.

Anxiety:

Anxiety disorders are the most common type of mental illness in the United States. It can hyper-activate areas in your brain that detect and respond to threats. At the same time, anxiety could also hinder activity in parts of your brain that manage your reaction to fear and stress.

Anxiety isn’t stress, however; it’s your mind and body’s reaction to fraught, hazardous, or unfamiliar situations. This illness usually manifests itself as an intense, excessive, and persistent perturbation and fear. A certain level of anxiety is expected. For instance, you may feel agitated, distressed, or even have a feeling of dread a few moments before a significant event. However, anxiety disorders are different - when you’re living with an anxiety-based condition, the amount of worry and fear you feel might be completely debilitating. This is particularly true when there’s no trigger for your anxiety. When this happens, anxious brains function in a constant state of worry and fear. Not knowing what to do, your brain releases an influx of stress hormones.

#1. Excessive Stress Hormones Are Released

When you feel anxious, your body goes on alert, prompting your brain to prepare itself for flight or fight mode. In an attempt to assist you to cease whatever has made you anxious, your brain floods your central nervous system with adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones inform your body that something daunting is about to happen. Their role is to help you cope with danger. In order to do that, they sharpen your senses and make increase your reflex speed. In a non-anxious brain, when the danger is gone, the sympathetic part of your nervous system takes over and calms you down. But when you suffer from anxiety, you might be unable to reach that state of serenity. Instead, the rush of stress hormones causes your brain to release even more stress hormones until you’re simply overwhelmed.

#2. Anxiety Makes Your Brain Hyperactive to Threats

*Anxiety can also result in your brain becoming hyperactive towards threats. When you deal with anxiety on a consistent basis, your amygdala, a tiny almond-shaped structure located in the limbic system, grows larger. This is in the part of your brain that deals with emotions and moods; the amygdala could be considered a brain’s watchman - alert and on the lookout for any signs of danger or threats. When the amygdala notices potential danger, it transmits signals to the hypothalamus, which triggers a fight or flight response. In the anxious brain, the amygdala is large and hypersensitive. As a result of this, the amygdala sends an excessive number of false alarms. One may even consider a hypersensitive amygdala as a watchman who cries wolf too often. An overactive amygdala sends false alarms so often that your brain senses threats even during potentially nonthreatening situations, which is why people with anxiety tend to feel threatened more often than someone without such a disorder.

#3.

Anxiety Could Make It Difficult for Your Brain to Reason

Rationally

*Anxiety debilitates the connections between the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex When the amygdala alerts the brain to danger, the prefrontal cortex should supposedly kick in and help you come up with a rational and logical response. The prefrontal cortex ensures that you’re capable of processing information analytically and can make informed decisions, as well as aiding you in problem solving situations. In anxious brains, when the amygdala alerts the prefrontal cortex of danger, the connection is weak. Consequently, the cogent, problemsolving section of the brain is unheard, which can eventually lead to irrational and farfetched thoughts and erratic logic and behaviour.

Obsessive-Compulsive

Disorder:

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition which enables the brain to create repetitive worries and fears. Also referred to as obsessions, these worries, fears, and repetitive thoughts often occur suddenly and are difficult to manage. In fact, most people with OCD feel like they can’t stop worrying or thinking about “bad things.” Some of the most common OCD obsessions include: a need to have everything in a certain order; bad thoughts becoming a reality; fear of germs and contamination; and more. These obsessions trigger compulsions or behaviours that people with OCD feel compelled to do in order to feel safe from their fears and fix their worries. Compulsions can include counting things over and over again; arranging things in a particular or symmetrical way; checking and rechecking and erasing, rewriting, or redoing things, to name a few. compulsive disorder is a result of communication problems in the brain. However, scientists are now realizing that OCD disrupts communication between the frontal cortex and another part of the brain known as the ventral striatum. While the frontal cortex regulates problem-solving, the ventral striatum plays an important role in what motivates and mentally rewards us. Usually, the ventral striatum and frontal cortex collaborate to solve our problems in a logical way that rewards us, motivating us to continue to make logical, rational decisions. But OCD interrupts the communication between these two parts of the brain. Instead of working together to come up with a rational solution to the problem, OCD can trick the brain into thinking that compulsions and rituals will solve the problematic obsessive thoughts instead. While this only works temporarily, the ventral striatum motivates OCD sufferers to keep trying the rituals again and again.

·Serotonin - scientists know that most people with OCD have low serotonin levels. Serotonin is a chemical messenger in the brain that helps regulate your mood and aggression levels. Usually, this keeps you calm, helps you sleep well, and causes you to feel at ease. However, when obsessivecompulsive disorder affects your serotonin levels, you may feel like you’re constantly on edge and that you can never really completely calm down. Being hyper-aware of your environment can also make you more susceptible to OCD compulsions such as exorbitantly washing your hands, counting, or organizing.

Medial surface on the superior frontal gyrus - gyri are the folds or bumps in the brain. The superior frontal gyrus helps regulate and mediate cognitive functions. Having less grey matter in this part of the brain stops people with OCD from responding methodically to obsessive notions. Diminished grey matter in this region of the brain also averts the brain from suppressing impulsive responses and habits, making people with OCD feel like they must continue their compulsions.

· Orbitofrontal Cortex - the orbitofrontal cortex helps regulate your impulses and inhibition. When this gets damaged, you may know that your choices and behaviours are unnecessary and can be excessive, but you may still find yourself continuing to perform extortionate activities, like repeatedly checking doors and locks. The orbitofrontal cortex also interacts with the amygdala which aids in controlling bodily changes associated with emotion. Unfortunately, OCD hijacks this region of the brain, triggering excessive touching, tapping, and stepping in specific ways.

While there are several contributing factors to the effects of mental disorders, it is certainly agreeable that the brain plays a large factor in influencing the actions, thoughts and fears of a person with a mental illness. It is vital that we do not forget that these symptoms and effects can vary from person to person, depending on its severity and how each individual reacts in response. As of now, there is still no scientific way to diagnose mental illnesses, however, it is clear that different parts of brain do get affected, specific to each disorder. Will it simply just be a matter of time before more welldeveloped links are discovered?

References:

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3. StoneRidge: Center for Brains. (2020). How Does Anxiety Affect the Brain? 4 Major Effects of Anxiety. [online] Available at: https://pronghornpsych.com/how-doesanxiety-affect-thebrain/#:~:text=Anxiety%20can%20hyper%2 Dactivate%20areas,can%20help%20manage %20anxiety%20disorders. [Accessed 27 Jun. 2022].

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6. CDC (2021). What is ADHD? [online] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/facts.html #:~:text=ADHD%20is%20one%20of%20th e,)%2C%20or%20be%20overly%20active. [Accessed 27 Jun. 2022].

Ishana Khiara 9ACL