2007-11-29 05:00:03 · 5 answers · asked by ? 2 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
a deviation from the norm, usually attributed to habitual, hormonal or chemical imbalance that creates distress in a persons lives. Psychosis is along the lines of when these people are no longer capable of realizing there is an imbalance.
That definition isn't perfect.. but not bad for off the top of my head.
2007-11-29 05:04:32 · answer #1 · answered by pip 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Mental illness is described by 3 main categories:
Deviation from the average - in statistical terms (e.g. if the average IQ was 120 then if you had an IQ of 20 or 200 (even if you are a genius) then you would deemed mentally ill)
Deviation from social norms: self explanatory
Causing distress to others or self, can't do day to day things (e.g. hold a job or relationship, can't clean self)
2007-11-29 13:28:58 · answer #2 · answered by mojo jojo 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Excellent question-
I would personally say a prescribed problem.
Mental illness is not necessarily insanity.
In fact I believe certain mental illness or highlighted afflictions may in fact be great gifts enabling either a spiritual understanding or possibly a coping mechanism for the problems of the world.
People who throughout history who have been labelled as being mentally ill have often had profound thoughts or seismic opinions about the order of the world.
I would ask what is sanity?
2007-11-29 13:04:58 · answer #3 · answered by James J Turner esq 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
An easy way to remember this is to think of the four D's of a mental disorder: Distress, Deviance, Disproportionate and Duration. A mental disorder refers to a pattern of thought or behavior that is A)Distressing to the individual or those around them, B) Significantly Different (or Deviant) from what is considered normal for individuals of that age in that culture, C) Is Disproportionate to the events in the persons life that immediately preceeded it (being very sad most of the time about a week after a loved one died, for example, is not really considered a disorder, because it is not Disproportionate or Deviant. Still being very sad most of the time 5 years later would be) and D) lasts for a significant Duration, or lenght of time.
Hope that helps
2007-11-29 15:03:52 · answer #4 · answered by Kevin Y 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A burden..
2007-11-29 13:29:16 · answer #5 · answered by Melissa 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋