There have been extraordinary advances made in the treatment of many
mental illnesses. Being able to understand what is causing a mental
health disorder helps a doctor to modify treatment for a disorder. Many
disorders can now be treated almost as successfully as physical
disorders are. A mental illness can be present in many forms and
affects people worldwide. Some mild illnesses will pass without
treatment, but more severe cases may need professional treatment.
During the last few decades, research on mental health has improved our
understanding of how we can improve the condition of the one suffering
from the illness. Today we have many new treatments and we can now care
for people in the community without the need of them being placed in a
public institution. In addition to getting closer to understanding
mental illness, prevention is starting to be understood as well.
Most methods of treatment for mental health issues are categorized into
two categories: somatic and psycho-therapeutic. Treatments for somatic
include electroconvulsive and drug therapy. Treatments for psycho-therapeutic include behavior therapy techniques and hypnotherapy.
Many studies have recommended that a major health disorder that
requires both psychotherapy and hypnotherapy is more effective than
when either treatment is used by itself.
Family members, patients and health professional have formed
organizations that are committed to improving the understanding of
mental illness. In the 1980s and 1990s, scientists started to study the
brain with newer techniques, including MRIs and PETs.
While there may be no cure for mental illnesses, but new technology,
treatments and therapies are now more effective in reducing the impacts
of a mental illnesses and improving the lives of many people who are
currently suffering.
Advances in mental illness treatments include:
- fMRI, PET and SPECT images. These techniques are now more sensitive
and have shown that some mental illnesses may involve problems in brain
structure or development.
- Genetic manipulation. Studies have explained mechanisms that are involved in mental disorders.
- Neuropsychopharmacology. Investigates drug use on disorders such as depression, anxiety and mania.
- Drug therapy. Many psychoactive drugs are used by many doctors and
greatly effective (anti-depressants for depression and anti-psychotics for
schizophrenia).
- Electroconvulsive therapy. This type of therapy has been known to work best for severe depression but only when the patient has not responded to other treatment. This should never be the first option.
For more information on these therapies please follow these resources: