Causes of Mental Illness

Any one or more causes listed below can cause mental illness of varying proportion and manifestations.

Changes in brain

Brain can be damaged by

• head injuries

• infections such as meningitis, measles, encephalitis

• cerebral arteriosclerosis

• psychotropic drugs like sedatives, hallucinations, barbiturates

• nutritional deficiencies like vitamins, iodine

• Diseases like tuberculosis, leprosy

• Toxic substances like CS₂, Hg, Pb, Sn, Mn, etc.

• Radiations during development of nervous system.

Major Categories of Psychotropic Drugs, their Effects and Clinical Uses

Type of drug	Examples	Effects	Clinical use
Sedatives and tranquilisers (depressant)	Barbiturates Benzodiazepines (e.g., Valium)	Depress brain activity and produces feelings of calmness, relaxation, drowsiness and deep sleep (high doses)	Hypnotic antianxiety
Opiate narcoitics	Opium, morphine, heroin, pethidine, methadone	Suppress brain function, relieve intense pain (physical and mental), produce temporary euphoria	Analgesic
Stimulants	Caffeine (very mild), amphetamines (including dexamphetamine, cocaine and its derivative Novacaine)	Stimulate the nervous system; make a person more wakeful, increase alertness and activity, produce excite ment	Attention deficit, Narcolepsy, Weight control
Hallucinogens	LSD, mescaline, psilocybin, charas, hashish, marijuana (bhang)	Alter thought, feelings and perceptions; hallucinations	None

 

Hereditary Reasons

Some diseases are hereditary in nature and offsprings carry more chances of contracting such mental illness - if the parents are mentally ill. However, it is not decisive - as society can make a person mentally ill.

Childhood Experiences

Childhood is very important for the mental health throughout one's life. If a child is deprived of love, affection, encouragement, guidance and discipline, mental illness may be caused.

Social Atmosphere

A human being is emotional by nature. Emotional attachment to one's family or one's neighbours or one's friends is an essential feature of one's personality. If such atmosphere comprises of cruelty, mistrust, quarrels, injustice, tensions - then such person can suffer from one form of mental illness or other.

Socio - economic Factors

A person can contract mental illness due to number of socio - economic factors such as poverty, unemployment hunger, broken marriage, childlessness, frustration, etc.