An estimated 44 million Americans live with some type of mental illness. The various conditions affect 1 in 5 people. These brain disorders affect how a person thinks, feels, and behaves.

What are common types of mental health conditions?

According to Mental Health America, there are more than 200 different forms of mental illness. Here’s a look at some of the more common ones:

• anxiety disorders

• attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

• depression and mood disorders

• eating disorders

• psychotic disorders

Anxiety disorders

Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health problems, affecting 1 in 3 Americans at some point in life. People with anxiety disorders experience extreme feelings of distress, fear, or apprehension. Unlike more common worries or feelings of stress, this anxiety persists for at least six months. It interferes with your ability to enjoy life and to work.

There are different types of anxiety disorders, such as:

• Generalized anxiety disorders: Ongoing worry and fear that causes headaches, fatigue, nausea, muscle tension, and tremors.

• Obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD): Repetitive, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) that cause uncontrollable impulses or urges (compulsions), like constantly washing hands or checking doors to make sure they’re locked.

• Panic disorders: Sudden, unexplained feelings of terror (panic attacks) that cause heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and chest pain.

• Phobias: Irrational fears, such as fear of tight spaces (claustrophobia), or an unreasonable fear that a certain environment isn’t safe (agoraphobia).

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): Panic attacks, nightmares, and hypervigilance that develops after a traumatic event.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

ADHD is one of the most common mental health disorders affecting children. Adults have the condition, too. As many as 1 in 20 children, and 4% of adults, have ADHD.

Symptoms of ADHD include:

• Hyperactivity: fidgeting, squirming, excessive talking, touching things

• Impulsivity: difficulty taking turns or waiting, blurting out comments, interrupting others

• Inattentiveness: daydreaming, being easily distracted, difficulty focusing or following directions

Depression and mood disorders

More than 16 million Americans have depression. This mood disorder causes you to lose interest or pleasure in life. You may have difficulty concentrating, lose your appetite, and struggle to sleep. Some people become suicidal.

Types of depression include:

• Major depression: Symptoms last for at least two weeks

• Persistent depression: Almost-daily symptoms can persist for two or more years

• Postpartum depression: Depression that develops after childbirth and may last for months or years without intervention

• Bipolar disorder: Alternating periods of extreme lows (depression) mixed with extreme highs (mania)

Eating disorders

People with eating disorders have an unhealthy relationship with food and/or how much they weigh. Approximately 20 million females and 10 million males struggle with an eating disorder at some point.

The different types of eating disorders include:

• Anorexia nervosa: A type of self-starvation that causes dangerous weight loss

• Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID): An aversion to certain foods that leads to nutritional deficiencies and unhealthy weight loss

• Binge eating disorder (BED): Eating large amounts of food during a short period of time (even when you feel full)

• Bulimia nervosa: Binging (overeating) food and then purging by vomiting, taking laxatives, or overexercising

• Other specified eating or feeding disorders (OSFED): A disordered way of eating that causes distress, such as excessively eating at night (night eating syndrome)

Psychotic disorders

Psychotic disorders cause you to think or behave in unusual ways. You may develop psychosis, which causes hallucinations and delusions. You may hear or see things that aren’t there. Nearly 4% of Americans experience psychosis.

The more common types of psychotic disorders are:

• Paranoia and delusional disorders: False, often bizarre or outlandish beliefs

• Schizophrenia: Inability to tell the difference between reality and things that aren’t real

• Schizoaffective disorder: A mix of schizophrenia (psychosis) and mood disorders like depression or bipolar disorder.

What causes mental illness?

Potential risk factors for mental illness include:

• chemical imbalances in the brain and brain injuries

• drug or alcohol addictions

• family history of mental illness (genetics)

• serious health problems like cancer

• traumatic events, such as abuse, assaults, and accidents

What’s the link between mental illness and tardive dyskinesia?

Tardive dyskinesia causes uncontrollable facial or body movements. You may be more likely to receive a tardive dyskinesia diagnosis if you take certain medicines to manage a mental illness. Mental illnesses don’t cause tardive dyskinesia. The condition is a medication side effect. Symptoms may include tongue thrusting, rapid eye blinking, lip-smacking, and grimacing.

Medicines that may lead to tardive dyskinesia include dopamine antagonists, a kind of drug that lowers the amount of dopamine in the body. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter (chemical) that carries messages between nerve cells, the brain, and the body.

An estimated 1 in 4 people who take antipsychotic (neuroleptic) medications develop tardive dyskinesia. The problem affects more than half a million Americans.

From the community: “I had my first tardive dyskinesia in March ... The suspected cause at that time was a reaction to Compazine and medicine I was on to treat my depression/anxiety. This past week I’ve been in the ER with progressively worse episodes of TD and tardive dystonia. They have me in the system to see a neurologist, but I’m still waiting for an appointment date. I’m still experiencing milder symptoms with my mouth, jaw and left hand. I have young children and I’m terrified of having an episode where they would witness it... I’m scared and overwhelmed.” – Inspire member

From the community: “I’m brand new to this forum and hope to learn from others. I started taking Lorazepam for anxiety after the death of my parents. My anxiety was through the roof. So my Dr gave me this medication. I was given 1 mg of Lorazepam/Adavan (just enough to take the edge off) for a total of 16 years. After serious medical/professional help to get off ...I have developed painful ugly facial grimaces. The terrible thing is I am not aware I am making faces until my face starts hurting and I can hardly see because my eyes are partiall closed from the facial grimace. I’m thinking has developed into Tardive Dyskinesia? The extensive studying I have done on Lorazepam/ Adavan shows even short periods of time have caused TD in patients, so after 16 years of taking it I’m just sick abut this.” – Inspire member

Sources

• Mental disorders. MedlinePlus. September 2014.

• ADHD and ADD. Mental Health America.

• Anxiety. Mental Health America.

• Depression. Mental Health America.

• Eating disorders. Mental Health America.

• Mental illness and the family: Recognizing warning signs and how to cope. Mental Health America.

• Psychosis. Mental Health America.

• Tardive dyskinesia. Mental Health America.

• Quick facts and statistics about mental health. Mental Health America. 

• Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). National Eating Disorders Association. 

• ADHD. National Alliance on Mental Illness. March 2015.

• Tardive dyskinesia. National Alliance on Mental Illness. March 2019.

• Five types of mental illness and disability. University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. May 2015.

Disclaimer

Member comments are lightly edited for length and to remove identifying information but are otherwise reproduced as they appear in the community as part of public posts.

This content is for general informational purposes only and does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of any organization or individual. The content should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your healthcare provider about any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.