Editing Mind (section)

== Mental health and disorder ==
{{main|Mental health|Mental disorder|Psychopathology}}

Mental health is a state of mind characterized by internal equilibrium and [[well-being]] in which mental capacities function as they should. Some theorists emphasize positive features such as the abilities of a person to realize their potential, express and modulate emotions, cope with adverse life situations, and fulfill their social role. Negative definitions, by contrast, see mental health as the absence of [[mental disorders]].<ref>{{harvnb|Murphy|Donovan|Smart|2020|pp=97–99, 103–104, 112}}</ref> Mental disorders are abnormal patterns of thought, emotion, or behavior. These patterns deviate not only from how a mental capacity works on average but from how it should work while usually causing some form of [[Mental distress|distress]]. The content of those norms is controversial and there are differences from culture to culture. For instance, [[homosexuality]] was historically considered a mental disorder by medical professionals, a view which only changed in the second half of the 20th century.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Gross|2020|pp=731–735}} | {{harvnb|Nairne|2011|pp=450–453}} | {{harvnb|Bernstein|Nash|2006|pp=455–457}} }}</ref>

[[File:OCD handwash.jpg|thumb|alt=Photo of hand washing|[[Obsessive–compulsive disorder]] is a mental disorder in which a person follows [[Compulsive behavior|compulsive rituals]], like excessive hand washing, to alleviate [[anxiety]] caused by [[intrusive thought]]s.<ref>{{harvnb|Bernstein|Nash|2006|p=468}}</ref>]]

There is a great variety of mental disorders, each associated with a different form of malfunctioning. [[Anxiety disorder]]s involve intense and persistent fear that is disproportionate to the actual threat and significantly impairs everyday life. An example is [[social phobia]], which involves irrational fear of certain social situations. Anxiety disorders also include [[obsessive–compulsive disorder]], for which the [[anxiety]] manifests in the form of [[intrusive thought]]s that the person tries to alleviate by following [[Compulsive behavior|compulsive rituals]].<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Bernstein|Nash|2006|pp=466–468}} | {{harvnb|Gross|2020|pp=751–752}} | {{harvnb|Nairne|2011|pp=459–461}} }}</ref> [[Mood disorders]] cause intense moods or mood swings that are inconsistent with the external circumstances and can last for long periods. For instance, people affected by [[bipolar disorder]] experience extreme mood swings between [[manic state]]s of euphoria and [[depressive state]]s of hopelessness.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Bernstein|Nash|2006|pp=473–474, 476–477}} | {{harvnb|Gross|2020|p=755}} | {{harvnb|Nairne|2011|p=466}} }}</ref> [[Personality disorder]]s are characterized by enduring patterns of [[maladaptive]] behavior that significantly impair regular life. [[Paranoid personality disorder]], for example, leads people to be deeply suspicious of the motives of others without rational basis.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Nairne|2011|p=471}} | {{harvnb|Bernstein|Nash|2006|pp=485–486}} }}</ref> [[Psychotic disorder]]s are among the most severe mental illnesses and involve a distorted relation to reality in the form of hallucinations and [[delusion]]s, as seen in [[schizophrenia]].<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Noll|2009|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=jzoJxps189IC&pg=PA122 122]}} | {{harvnb|Sharma|Branscum|2020|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=rC7yDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA122 122]}} | {{harvnb|Bernstein|Nash|2006|pp=480–481}} | {{harvnb|Nairne|2011|pp=468–469}} }}</ref> Other disorders include [[dissociative disorder]]s and [[eating disorder]]s.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Gross|2020|p=766}} | {{harvnb|Bernstein|Nash|2006|pp=472–473}} }}</ref>

The [[biopsychosocial model]] identifies three types of causes of mental disorders: biological, cognitive, and environmental factors. Biological factors include bodily causes, in particular neurological influences and genetic predispositions. On the cognitive level, maladaptive beliefs and patterns of thought can be responsible. Environmental factors involve cultural influences and social events that may trigger the onset of a disorder.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Nairne|2011|pp=472–473, 475–478}} | {{harvnb|Bernstein|Nash|2006|pp=457–460}} | {{harvnb|Chan|2020|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=szfpDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA105 105–106]}} }}</ref> There are various approaches to treating mental disorders, and the most suitable treatment usually depends on the type of disorder, its cause, and the individual's overall condition. [[Psychotherapy|Psychotherapeutic methods]] use personal interaction with a therapist to change patterns of thinking, feeling, and acting.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Bernstein|Nash|2006|pp=502–503}} | {{harvnb|Nairne|2011|pp=485–486}} | {{harvnb|Gross|2020|pp=773–774}} }}</ref> [[Psychoanalysis]] aims to help patients resolve conflicts between the conscious and the unconscious mind.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Nairne|2011|pp=493–494}} | {{harvnb|Bernstein|Nash|2006|pp=503–505}} | {{harvnb|Gross|2020|pp=781–782}} }}</ref> [[Cognitive behavioral therapy]] focuses on conscious mental phenomena to identify and change irrational beliefs and negative thought patterns.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Nairne|2011|pp=493, 495–496}} | {{harvnb|Bernstein|Nash|2006|pp=508–509}} | {{harvnb|Gross|2020|pp=789–790}} }}</ref> [[Behavior therapy]] relies on [[classical conditioning]] to unlearn harmful behaviors.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Bernstein|Nash|2006|pp=508–509}} | {{harvnb|Nairne|2011|pp=502–503}} | {{harvnb|Gross|2020|pp=784–785}} }}</ref> [[Humanistic psychology|Humanistic therapies]] try to help people gain insight into their [[self-worth]] and empower them to resolve their problems.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Nairne|2011|pp=499–500}} | {{harvnb|Bernstein|Nash|2006|pp=505–506}} }}</ref> [[Pharmacotherapy|Drug therapies]] use medication to alter the brain chemistry involved in the disorder through substances like [[antidepressants]], [[antipsychotics]], [[mood stabilizers]], and [[anxiolytics]].<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Bernstein|Nash|2006|pp=525–527}} | {{harvnb|Nairne|2011|pp=487–490}} | {{harvnb|Gross|2020|pp=774–779}} }}</ref>