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Definition

By Mayo Clinic staff

Mental illness refers to a wide range of mental health conditions — disorders that affect your mood, thinking and behavior. Examples of mental illness include depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders and addictive behaviors.

Many people have mental health concerns from time to time. But a mental health concern becomes a mental illness when ongoing signs and symptoms cause frequent stress and affect your ability to function. A mental illness can make you miserable and can cause problems in your daily life, such as at work or in relationships. In most cases, mental illness symptoms can be managed with a combination of medications and counseling (psychotherapy).

Symptoms
References
  1. Psychotherapies. National Institute of Mental Health. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/psychotherapies/index.shtml. Accessed July 24, 2012.
  2. Mental illness and the family: Recognizing warning signs and how to cope. Mental Health America. http://www.nmha.org/go/information/get-info/mi-and-the-family/recognizing-warning-signs-and-how-to-cope. Accessed July 23, 2012.
  3. Introduction. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR. 4th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2000. http://www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed June 13, 2012.
  4. Brain stimulation therapies. National Institute of Mental Health. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/brain-stimulation-therapies/brain-stimulation-therapies.shtml. Accessed July 24, 2012.
  5. Mental health medications. National Institute of Mental Health. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/mental-health-medications/index.shtml. Accessed July 24, 2012.
  6. Mind/body connection: How your emotions affect your health. American Academy of Family Physicians. http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/healthy/mental/782.printerview.html. Accessed July 23, 2012.
  7. Mental illness surveillance among U.S. adults. Centers for Disease Control. http://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealthsurveillance/fact_sheet.html. Accessed July 23, 2012.
  8. Treatment approaches for drug addiction. National Institute on Drug Abuse. http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/treatment-approaches-drug-addiction. Accessed July 24, 2012.
  9. Understanding hospitalization for mental health. Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance. http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/Search?query=hospitalization&inc=10&x=0&y=0Accessed July 24, 2012.
  10. Salgado MF, et al. Family history of serious mental illness in bipolar I and bipolar II patients of the Mayo Bipolar Biobank. Biological Psychiatry. 2012;71:153S.
  11. Mental illness: Taking care of yourself. American Family Physician. 2008;78:363.
  12. Gold MS, et al. Psychosocial treatment of alcohol abuse and dependence. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed June 2, 2012.
  13. Rackley S, et al. Depression in medically ill patients. Psychiatric Clinics of North America. 2012;35:231.
  14. Depression. National Institute of Mental Health. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression/index.shtml. Accessed July 23, 2012.
  15. Sadock BJ, et al. Kaplan & Sadock's Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry. 9th ed. Philadephia, Pa.: Wolters Kluwer Health Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2009. http://ovidsp.ovid.com/ovidweb.cgi?T=JS&CSC=Y&NEWS=N&PAGE=booktext&D=books2&AN=01412563/9th_Edition/5&XPATH=/OVIDBOOK%5b1%5d/METADATA%5b1%5d/TBY%5b1%5d/EDITORS%5b1%5d. Accessed July 24, 2012.
  16. Li X, et al. Review of pharmacological treatment in mood disorders and future directions for drug development. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2012;37:77.
  17. McDowell AK, et al. Practical suicide-risk management for the busy primary care physician. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2011;86:792.
  18. Chamberlain AM, et al. Associations of preexisting depression and anxiety with hospitalization in patients with cardiovascular disease. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2011;86:1056.
  19. Index. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR. 4th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2000. http://www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed June 13, 2012.
  20. Understanding suicide: Fact sheet 2012. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/pub/Suicide_factsheet.html. Accessed July 23, 2012.
  21. What is mental illness: Mental illness facts. National Alliance on Mental Illness. http://www.nami.org/template.cfm?section=about_mental_illness. Accessed July 23, 2012.
  22. Schreiber J, et al. Suicidal ideation and behavior in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed March 13, 2012.
  23. Kung S (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minn. Aug. 7, 2012.
  24. Adjustment disorders. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR. 4th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2000. http://www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed Aug. 27, 2012.
DS01104 Sept. 15, 2012

© 1998-2013 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "EmbodyHealth," "Enhance your life," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

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