25. MENTAL ILLNESS (PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH IN USE FOR MEDICINE)

PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH IN USE FOR MEDICINE

25. MENTAL ILLNESS

A	Psychiatric disorders Psychiatric disorders can be divided into organic and functional. Dementia is a mental disorder due to organic brain disease. The commonest form of dementia is that associated with old age; senile dementia. Disorders in which there is no obvious pathology or anatomical change in an organ termed functional. These are described below.
B	Substance abuse Abuse of a substance means using it in a way that is harmful. The commonest forms of substance abuse are alcoholism and drug abuse.
C	Affective disorders Here is an extract from a medical textbook
D	Neurotic and stress related disorders An example of neurotic disorders is obsessive compulsive disorder. An obsession is an idea that is so persistent that it interferes with the patient’s life. A compulsion is an obsessive idea that forces the patient to act even though they recognize that it is unnecessary. A common form of this compulsive washing of the hands. Stress is a feeling of being unable to cope. It can lead to anxiety or fear of problems. A sudden attack of anxiety is called a panic attack.
E	Other types of functional disorder These include: 1 behavioural syndromes associated with physiological disturbance (such as eating disorders) 2 disorders of adult personality and behaviour (for example, personality disorder) 3 mental retardation – delayed mental development 4 schizophrenia and other disorders in which there are delusions (false beliefs)

25.1	Complete the table with words from A, B, C, D and E opposite. Noun Adjective affective anxious behavioural demented disturbed suicidal
25.2	Make word combinations using a word from each box. Two words can be used twice. Look at B, C, and E opposite to behavioural eating major mental personality psychomotor sleep substance abuse disturbance retardation disorder depression syndrome
25.3	Complete the sentences. Look at A, B, C, D and E opposite to help you 1 The way a person behaves in his or her ___________ 2 A persistent emotional state is a ___________ 3 A sudden attack of anxiety is a ___________ 4 The form of dementia associated with ageing is called ___________ 5 A disorder which is not associated with pathological changes is ___________ 6 An idea which forces a patient to repeat unnecessary actions is a ___________
25.4	Which symptoms of depression was the patient suffering from? Look at C opposite to help you Case 41                                                    A 56-year-old woman presented to her GP complaining of increasing tiredness over the past few months. She had lost interest in most things. She was sleeping poorly and tended to wake up early, but denied any suicidal tendencies. She was thirsty and was passing urine more often. She was eating normally and her weight was steady.

                             

ANSWER KEY