Common Mental Health Disorders and Frequently Prescribed Medication Treatments

Psychological distress and/or mental health disorders significantly impact a person’s life in various ways. Ranging from mild to severe, one in four adults experience one or more mental health disorders in a given year in the US. Education and awareness are key to receiving early and adequate treatment.

Mental health disorders appear in many different ways and are classified quite differently. Common known disorders are anxiety, depressions, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder and other personality disorders.

If you or someone you know is suspected of having a mental health concern seeking professional help is essential. The information provided below should only be used as a foundation and guide as an actual diagnosis must come from a licensed professional who has personally reviewed your claims. Also a single symptoms does not equate to a diagnosis as most diagnoses are comprised from a cluster of signs.

Most often treatment for common mental health disorders include some medication therapy. However, medication is not the only option. Talk therapies work quite well with most disorders. Yet, medication therapy is widely disseminated due to the buy in by most pharmaceutical companies. Talk therapy is a great way to get to the bottom of the impairment and function of the disorder. Usually the disorders are manifested over time and thereby respond to such treatments.

For educational purposes, below are listed common disorders as well as most frequently used medication. It is important to recognize the medications most often prescribed so that one is informed about what is put into the body. Do not be mislead to believe that the only treatment is medication as many of the substances listed below have addictive qualities, side effects and withdrawal symptoms.

• Feeling down
• Melancholy
• Lack of pleasure from previously pleasurable activities
• Unable to identify what is wrong

Depressive disorders are the leading cause of disability in those ages 15-44. Depression can be either transient and short term or chronic. No matter how you experience depression there is treatment easily available. Common treatment for depression includes medication and talk therapies. Successful talk therapies include cognitive behavioral therapy that identifies thought processes that motivate the depression.

Medication that is successful in treating depression is extension. So I have listed some commonly prescribed medications:

• Cymbalta (duloxetine HCL)

• Desyrel (trazodone)

• Dexedrine
Effexor (venlafaxine)

• Elavil (amitriptyline)

• Lexapro (excitalopram oxalate)

• Luvox (fluvoxamine)

• Norpramin (desipramine)

• Paxil (paroxetine)

• Prozac (fluoxetine)

• Symbyax (prozac-zyprexa combination)

• Tofranil (imipramine)

• Wellbutrin (bupropion)

• Zoloft (sertraline)

• Nervousness
• Sweating palms
• Pounding chest or heart beat
• Inability to identify the origination of the nervousness
• Panic without cause

Anxiety is another highly experienced mental health disorder. The disorder usually results as a reaction to stress though becomes out of the individuals control and over time can cause significant distress. Medication and talk therapies are also ordinary treatment for anxiety.

• Ativan (lorazepam)

• Buspar (buspirone)

• Centrax (prazepam)

• Inderal (propranolol)

• Klonopin (clonazepam)

• Librium (chlordiazepoxide)

• Paxipam (halazepam)

• Tranxene (clorazepate)

• Valium (diazepam)

• Xanax (alprazolam)

• Hallucinations- seeing or hearing things that others do not see or hear
• Delusions- Thoughts that are not based in reality
• Diminished or no desire to be around others
• Flattened affect or no facial expression
• Unable to feel happy

Schizophrenia, a severe mental illness that is experienced by only one percent of the population requires early and long-term interventions. Interventions that are essential include medication therapy and monitoring of symptoms.

• Clozaril (clozapine)

• Haldol (haloperidol)

• Loxitane (loxapine)

• Mellaril (thioridazine)

• Moban (molindone)

• Navane (thiothixene)

• Risperdal (risperidone)

• Zyprexa (olanzapine)

• Seroquel (quetiapine fumarate)

• Serentil (mesoridazine)

• Sertindole (serlect)

• Stlazine (trifluoperazine)

• Thorazine (chlorpromazine)

• Trilafon (perphenazine)

• Change in mood in excess of standard mood swings
• Extreme feeling of happiness or sadness that arise out of nowhere
• Lack of impulse control such as overspending, multiple sexual encounters (many times unprotected), superman syndrome (feeling of being able to conquer the world)

Those with Bi-Polar disorder usually require closely monitored treatment especially those that experience mania. Mania is a heightened emotional state where judgment becomes strained and irrational and erratic behaviors result and one can become a danger to self and others. Medication is usually required of these individuals in order to maintain stable emotionality.

• Depakote (divalproex sodium)

• Lamictal (lamotrigine)

• Lithane, Lithobid, Lithonate, Eskatlith (lithium)

• Neurontin (gabapentin)

• Tegretol (carbamazepine)

Commonly sought out and recommended treatment relies heavily on medication. However, that is not the only type of treatment that is successful in managing mental health disorders. Treatment that lasts far beyond the dosage of medication include talk therapies, meditation, fitness and diet.

Maintaining a well balanced meal plan affords the body the essential nutrients needed for energy, agility and endurance. Fatigue commonly results from unbalanced nourishment which often mimics depressive symptoms. Also, by getting the body moving serotonin is produced. Serotonin is a chemical produced in the brain that is related to positive moods. Most antidepressants are filled with synthetic versions of serotonin. As a result, self induced methods of creating serotonin is best.

Additional self-help tools that can lead a person away from medication includes mediation and reading material. Meditation teaches a person to reduce and control anxiety producing emotions. Learning how to meditate can be found through various sources online and with different reading material. Self-help books also show how to manage overwhelming emotions and how to avoid using medication.

No matter the situation if your behavior or feelings are causing distress, seeking out a professional may be helpful. Many times the first step is the hardest and finding resources may not be readily available depending on the area in which you live. Mental illness remains to be frequently stigmatized and treatment is commonly delayed or avoided as a result.

You may need a professional opinion when:

• Sadness/anxiety is preventing you from work/school/or regular activity
• Self-help techniques are not providing adequate relief
• Unsure about the origin of experienced emotions and feel overwhelmed

When to seek immediate attention

• Having feelings of hurting yourself or thoughts of taking your own life