What Mental Health Disorders Are There?
What is a mental health disorder?
A mental health disorder is a wide range of conditions that affect mood/emotions, thinking or behaviour to a significant clinical level.
How common are mental health disorders?
According to the National Health Survey 2021 (ABS) around 1 in 5 Australian adults experience a mental illness every year. Around 45% of Australian adults will experience some type of mental illness at some point in their life.
Most Commonly Diagnosed Mental Disorders in Australia
Anxiety Disorders
The most common mental health disorders in Australia are currently Anxiety Disorders including Panic disorder, Agoraphobia, Generalised anxiety disorder, PTSD, Social Anxiety disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Anxiety disorders are characterised by excessive, uncontrollable and often irrational anticipation of future threats which causes impairment in functioning.
Some common symptoms of anxiety disorders include:
Restlessness
Irritability
Fatigue
Increased heart rate
Difficulty relaxing
Chest pain
Worry
Affective Disorders (or Mood Disorders)
The second most common cluster of mental disorders in Australia are affective or mood disorders. These include Major depressive disorder, persistent depressive disorder, Seasonal affective disorder and Bi-polar disorder. A mood disorder is characterised by a distorted emotional state that impacts on daily functioning.
Common symptoms include:
Low, empty or irritable mood (times of euphoria if Bi-polar)
Insomnia
Fatigue
Loss of pleasure
Weight changes
Suicidal ideation
Substance Use Disorders
This is the third most common type of mental disorder in Australia. It is a stand-alone disorder with a continuum from mild to severe and encompasses any/all types of substances including alcohol. It is characterised by the persistent use of drugs/alcohol despite harm and adverse consequences.
Symptoms include:
Dependence
Withdrawal
Cravings
Tolerance
Impaired functioning
Other Mental Health Disorders
Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Neurodevelopmental disorders are disorders of early brain development characterised by difficulties with cognition, learning, behaviour, communication and more. Some examples are Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and dyslexia. Symptoms are present from early childhood and are wide and varied.
Psychotic Disorders
These are characterised by abnormal patterns of thinking and perception or a disconnection from reality. Some examples include Schizophrenia, Delusional disorder, Brief Psychotic Disorder and schizoaffective disorder. Common symptoms include hallucinations and/or delusions.
Feeding and Eating Disorders
These are mental health conditions that involve a complex and problematic relationship with food, exercise, eating and/or body image. For example, Binge eating disorder, Bulimia and Anorexia Nervosa. Some common symptoms include fixation on food, alterations in weight, preoccupation with body image, disruption in eating patterns, mood fluctuations, social withdrawal, behaviours that lead to weight loss.
Personality Disorders
These are characterised by rigid and unhealthy patterns of thinking, functioning and behaving. Some examples include Borderline Personality Disorder, Antisocial personality disorder, Schizoid Personality Disorder and Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Symptoms vary widely but commonly cause significant problems and limitations in relationships, social activities, work and school.
Please note: this list is not exhaustive. If you are concerned about some of your own mental health symptoms, you can reach out to a Psychologist at Psychwest to discuss.
