| The occurrence of mental illness can be | | | | bacteria, linked to the development of |
| caused by different factors or a combination | | | | certain mental illnesses in children. |
| of these several factors. Different | | | | |
| explanations are offered by different schools | | | | Prenatal damage caused by disruption of early |
| of thought, such as biological, psychological | | | | fetal brain development such as loss of |
| or social explanations for causing mental | | | | oxygen to the brain, may be a factor in the |
| illness. Current theories however, have | | | | development certain mental illness. Other |
| mostly acknowledged that all three contribute | | | | factors such as poor nutrition and exposure |
| in varying amounts to a person's mental | | | | to toxins could also be responsible or |
| ill-health. Many psychiatric diseases can be | | | | contributory to insanity. |
| classified as syndromes, or the association | | | | |
| of several clinically recognizable features | | | | Psychological explanations suggest that |
| that do not always have a single cause. | | | | individual conflict, stress, crises, or |
| | | | traumatic experiences could trigger mental |
| The currently most popular explanation for | | | | illness in especially vulnerable individuals. |
| mental illness is biological explanations. It | | | | The early loss of a significant person/s such |
| believes that a person suffering from mental | | | | as a parent; neglect; and the lack of ability |
| illness may exhibit a difference in brain | | | | to relate to others may be other factors (See |
| structure or function or in neurochemistry, | | | | "Mental Health: Causes of Mental Illness"). |
| either through genetic or environmental | | | | |
| vulnerabilities. Research findings for | | | | Social theorists suggest that mental illness |
| example, have shown that people with | | | | may be caused by the conditions of the |
| schizophrenia have enlarged ventricles and | | | | person's environment. For example, there has |
| reduced gray matter in the brain. In | | | | been significant finding of higher incidences |
| addition, other studies have also found that | | | | of psychological disorder in areas where |
| imbalance in neurotransmitters could also | | | | people have suffered a major natural or |
| play a factor in causing mental illness. | | | | man-made disaster. People involved in civil |
| Studies have focused on the neurotransmitters | | | | or military actions have also shown higher |
| dopamine, nor epinephrine, and serotonin. If | | | | occurrences of this illness. Areas that are |
| these chemicals are out of balance or may not | | | | more affluent or stable may have lesser |
| be working properly, messages sent to the | | | | probability of mental illness compared to |
| brain may not be sent correctly leading to | | | | places that suffer from endemic poverty, few |
| symptoms of mental illness. | | | | resources and support. |
| | | | |
| Problems in mental conditions may also be | | | | In so far as major psychiatric disorders are |
| caused by injury to certain areas of the | | | | concerned, the nature versus nurture debate |
| brain. | | | | has generally been settled. It has been |
| | | | widely accepted that both play an important |
| Moreover, many genetic studies have showed | | | | role in the sufferer's life. |
| strong evidence that mental illness can be | | | | |
| inherited, such as in the cases of | | | | It is has been known though, that mental |
| schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Many | | | | illness is NOT caused by: weakness of |
| mental illnesses have been found to run in a | | | | character or personality, or sinful behavior |
| family, which suggests that people with a | | | | (although stress arising from guilt may cause |
| mentally ill family member are more likely to | | | | psychological disorder). |
| develop mental illness as well. Experts link | | | | |
| mental illness to abnormalities in many | | | | Psychiatric disorders may differ from one |
| genes, and not just one. It is possible that | | | | individual to another. Degree may range from |
| a person who has inherited a susceptibility | | | | mild, severe, or anything in between. |
| to this illness may not develop the illness. | | | | Symptoms can also vary even in one person |
| The occurrence of mental illness comes from | | | | over time --- from severe to complete |
| the interaction of multiple genes and other | | | | remission and back. Such incidence or |
| factors such as stress, traumatic event, or | | | | "flare-ups" may be triggered by stress or |
| abuse, which can trigger an illness in a | | | | other factors. |
| person who has inherited genes susceptible to | | | | |
| it. | | | | Symptoms usually vary and every person with |
| | | | mental illness is different from one another. |
| Brain damage and the development of mental | | | | Arizona NAMI had developed a list of several |
| illness had also been found to have been | | | | warning signs of mental illness. The presence |
| caused by certain infections. For instance, a | | | | of a single symptom does not necessarily |
| condition known as pediatric autoimmune | | | | indicate mental illness but a severe symptom |
| neuropsychiatric disorder (PANDA) has been | | | | or multiple signs are strong indication for a |
| closely associated with the Streptococcus | | | | need to seek medical evaluation. |