Disease that can affect the life of a person and hinder them from functioning normally in society and in everyday life have been for years been tackled by specialists in the field of psychology and psychiatry and looking for some way to finally treat such diseases. But one question always comes to the mind of many: is this really curing disorders, or can we deal with only their symptoms? In this article, I will first take a look at the kinds of mental and neurological diseases, then address some challenges that go along with their definite treatments.
Types of Mental and Neurological Diseases
1- Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders are a category of mental disorders in which feelings of anxiety predominate. These disorders include generalized anxiety, social anxiety, panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Symptoms of this disorder include the constancy of worry, irrational fears, attacks of panic, and compulsive behaviors such as frequent washing of the hands. The treatment for anxious disorders, on the other hand, is through both medication and psychotherapy, though an accurate cure seems too hard, since it will depend a lot upon the environmental as well as the genetic factor.
2- Mood disorders
Mood disorders refer to the feelings that disturb an individual beyond his or her normal state with feelings of extremely high mood variations. Major depression and bipolar disorders are some of these conditions. These are long states of depression, or for bipolar disorders states that fluctuate between mania and depression. Pharmacologically, the mood disorders are treated with mood stabilizers and anti-depressants. However this is not the sure treatment due to the involvement of the biological and chemical factors of the brain.
3- Psychotic disorders
These are disorders related to the loss of contact with reality. Types include schizophrenia and delusional disorder. Symptoms of these disorders include delusions, hallucinations, thought disorders, and irrational behaviors. These disorders’ symptoms can be controlled by anti-psychotic medicines but as the mechanism of the brain and its working is so complex, the diseases are yet not curable.
4- Personality disorders
Long-standing and rigid patterns of behavior, cognition, and emotions that do not agree with the expectations of society. Varieties include borderline personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, and paranoid personality disorder. Symptoms include dangerous behaviors, mood swings, and an inability to form healthy relationships. Treatment of personality disorders is done majorly by long-term psychotherapy, but this is often too difficult because of the profundity of these behavioral patterns.
5- Cognitive disorders
These are disorders characterized by partial loss and deterioration in the cognitive faculties of memory and thinking. The most prevalent forms include dementia and Alzheimer’s diseases. Symptoms identified with these disorders include: memory loss, poor concentration, and decision-making, and dementia. Such disorders are usually treated more symptomatically, and a fact to be noted is that arresting such disease processes is not always possible, and nor is there yet a complete ‘cure’ for them.
Common Methods of Treatment
1- Pharmacological Treatments
Of the major ways to keep symptoms of mental and psychiatric disorders under control is psychiatric medication. The types include:
- Antidepressants
Examples are the prescription of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for depression and anxiety.
- Antianxiety medications
Include benzodiazepines that are used to reduce anxiety and stress.
- Antipsychotics
The medications included are antipsychotics; these act to keep symptoms of schizophrenia and also delusional disorders in a controlled state.
- Mood stabilizers
Lithium can be used in bipolar disorder, to control the mood swings.
Long-term treatment by the above medications shows side effects in many cases; medication adjustment is continuously needed for a lot of patients. Also, mostly medications control the symptoms only and do not lead to any final cure.
2- Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy remains one of the most effective methodologies in the management of most psychiatric disorders. These include:
- CBT
This is a helpful psychotherapy where the patient identifies negative, unhealthy thoughts and changes them. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is effective for anxiety and depression.
- Psychodynamic therapy
This looks at the unconscious roots of a person’s behaviors and feelings. It is useful for personality disorders and complex relationships.
- Interpersonal therapy (IPT)
It emphasizes improving a patient’s social relationships and diminishing interpersonal stress. This method is also used for the treatment of depression.
Psychotherapy requires long sessions. Sometimes it gives variable response. Similarly, various psychiatric illnesses need long treatment, and at times no cure is sure.
3- Electroconvulsive therapy
It is used for patients who have not responded to other modes of treatment, especially in treatment-resistant depression, mania, and a few psychotic disorders. Possible side effects of ECT include temporary loss of memory, and the practice is still somewhat controversial because of its invasive nature. Though effective, this procedure is considered not to provide any definite cure and has generally been used as a complementary therapy.
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
It works through conduction of magnetic fields into the stimulation of specific portions of the brain. It is mainly used in the management of depression and anxiety disorders. This approach is little understood and thus need further research studies.
5- Deep brain stimulation
That’s implanting surgical electrodes in the brain to actuate parts of the brain. It is usually used for devastating psychic disorders like obsessive-compulsive disorders. It is also an invasive process and has prominent side effects. It is not also indicated in all patients.
How about a definite cure?
The term “definitive cure” means that the roots of the disease are pulled out and the person will never suffer from symptoms of the disease again. It is hard with regards to many mental illnesses, for a number of reasons:
- Complications of the brain and psyche
The human brain is the most complex of all biological structures, and its functioning depends on many biological, psychological, and environmental factors. For the most part, mental disorders are brought about by disturbances in several parts of the brain and complex interactions between neurons and different systems within the brain that are still not fully understood.
2- Genetic and Environmental influences
In mental diseases, both genes and environmental factors are considered as to the genetic susceptibility of a disease. There is a susceptibility as regard to genetics, but life stresses, traumatic events, socio-economic factors may be leading to exacerbation or causing a disease. As the interaction of all these factors is so complex, hence the treatment is very complicated.
3- Chemical and structural changes in brain
Most mental illnesses are associated with a change in the level of various chemicals like neurotransmitters as well as structural changes in the brain. Sometimes these changes may be permanent or reversible after some time, which makes definitive treatment for these diseases not easily possible.
Manageable treatment instead of definitive cure
The above critical review of evidence has established that instead, the definitive treatment constitutes long-term approaches in their management. Most mental illnesses are generally the chronic disorders that do require long-term management, such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and anxiety disorders. A clear purpose in the management of their symptoms and preventing recurrence rather than obtaining a definitive and complete cure forms the basis of therapeutic intervention. These approaches mean learning to live with one’s illness and keeping it under control. Following are the methods for management that may be adopted:
1- A healthy life and lifestyle is very important for mental patients
- Healthy nutrition
It can affect the brain and mental function positively. Food containing omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, and minerals improves mental health. A diet which has a balance of all nutritious elements; increases energy and elevates the patient’s state of mind.
- Regular physical activities
It release your brain’s chemical endorphins, which bring positive feelings, relax your mind, and fight away the stress generated while working out. It can thus reduce symptoms for many anxiety disorders along with depression.
- Mindfulness
This would include meditation, yoga, and breathing techniques that improve the concentration level, clear the mind to increase mindfulness, leading him to show a better interest in taking care about himself regarding daily chores and also lessening episodes associated with anxiety disorders.
2- The social and familial care incorporated during the treatment procedure
- Family support
It is important that the role of the family be in supporting such cases with pathology of a mental disorder. It is also the adherence of the patient’s family in the effective treatment that keeps him away from feeling that he is all alone facing his hardship. With this kind of support and encouragement coming from the family, there is more probability of quick recovery on the part of the patient.
- Social support
The patient may feel that he is not alone when there is social support available, participation in either a support group or finding people who experience the same disease processes. It may raise motivations for treatments. Social interaction, especially of a positive and active nature, has beneficial effects on the patient’s mental and emotional condition.
3- Stress management
These negative effects of stress can be reduced with the help of different techniques for managing stress, which may involve relaxation techniques such as yoga, tai chi, or meditation.
4 – Proper sleep
The other important aspect in the management of mental illness involves proper and good quality sleep. If disorders of poor sleep occur then the symptoms of mental illness deteriorate. Regularisation of sleep timetable along with fine sleep hygiene can improve the condition of a patient.
Final Thoughts
Though most of the mental illnesses are still not considered to have specific cures, advances in sciences and technologies pertaining to the fields of psychiatry and psychology have been able to show that the symptoms of such mental illnesses can be well managed and considerably reduced. The secret lies in regular follow-up with the psychiatrist and psychologist and being able to follow what has been set for treatment. Continuation of treatment is important, along with family and social support, in the successful management of these illnesses. Though there is no definite cure, psychotherapy, medications, and supportive methods allow affected individuals to enjoy a good quality of life.
References
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