Mental Health

# Overview
Mental health is a term used to describe either a level of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a mental disorder.  From perspectives of the discipline of positive psychology or holism mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and procure a balance between life activities and efforts to achieve psychological resilience.
The World Health Organization defines mental health as ""a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.  It was previously stated that there was no one "official" definition of mental health. Cultural differences, subjective assessments, and competing professional theories all affect how "mental health" is defined.

# Historical Perspective
- The treatment of mental disorders dates back to ancient civilisations, including Ancient Egypt, India, Greece and Rome. Medieval physicians in the Muslim world from the 8th to 15th centuries were concerned with mental health.In the mid-19th century, William Sweetzer was the first to clearly define the term "mental hygiene".  Isaac Ray, one of thirteen founders of the American Psychiatric Association, further defined mental hygiene as an art to preserve the mind against incidents and influences which would inhibit or destroy its energy, quality or development.   At the beginning of the 20th century, Clifford Whittingham Beers founded the National Committee for Mental Hygiene and opened the first outpatient mental health clinic in the United States.

## Mental wellbeing
Mental health can be seen as a continuum, where an individual's mental health may have many different possible values. Mental wellness is generally viewed as a positive attribute, such that a person can reach enhanced levels of mental health, even if they do not have any diagnosable mental health condition. This definition of mental health highlights emotional well-being, the capacity to live a full and creative life, and the flexibility to deal with life's inevitable challenges. Many therapeutic systems and self-help books offer methods and philosophies espousing strategies and techniques vaunted as effective for further improving the mental wellness of otherwise healthy people.  Positive psychology is increasingly prominent in mental health.
A holistic model of mental health generally includes concepts based upon anthropological, educational, psychological, religious and sociological perspectives, as well as theoretical perspectives from personality, social, clinical, health and developmental psychology.
An example of a wellness model includes one developed by Myers, Sweeny and Witmer. It includes five life tasks  essence or spirituality, work and leisure, friendship, love and self-directionand twelve sub taskssense of worth, sense of control, realistic beliefs, emotional awareness and coping, problem solving and creativity, sense of humor, nutrition, exercise, self care, stress management, gender identity, and cultural identityare identified as characteristics of healthy functioning and a major component of wellness. The components provide a means of responding to the circumstances of life in a manner that promotes healthy functioning. Most of the US Population is not educated on Mental Health.

## Lack of a mental disorder
Mental health can also be defined as an absence of a major mental health condition (for example, one of the diagnoses in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, IV) though recent evidence stemming from positive psychology (see above) suggests mental health is more than the mere absence of a mental disorder or illness. Therefore the impact of social, cultural, physical and education can all affect someone's mental health.

## Cultural and religious considerations
Mental health can be socially constructed and socially defined; that is, different professions, communities, societies and cultures have very different ways of conceptualizing its nature and causes, determining what is mentally healthy, and deciding what interventions are appropriate.  Thus, different professionals will have different cultural and religious backgrounds and experiences, which may impact the methodology applied during treatment.
Many mental health professionals are beginning to, or already understand, the importance of competency in religious diversity and spirituality. The American Psychological Association explicitly states that religion must be respected. Education in spiritual and religious matters is also required by the American Psychiatric Association.

# Classification
- Mental health may be classified  the two most widely established systems of psychiatric classification are the Diagnostic and Statistical Manuel of Mental Disorders (DSM) and the International Classification for Diseases.

# Pathophysiology
- The pathogenesis of  is characterized by , , and .
- The  gene/Mutation in  has been associated with the development of , involving the  pathway.
- On gross pathology, , , and  are characteristic findings of .
- On microscopic histopathological analysis, , , and  are characteristic findings of .

# Causes
Disease name] may be caused by , , or .
OR
Common causes of  include , , and .
OR
The most common cause of  is . Less common causes of  include , , and .
OR
The cause of  has not been identified. To review risk factors for the development of , click here.

# Differentiating  from other Diseases
-  must be differentiated from other diseases that cause , , and , such as:

# Epidemiology and Demographics
- The prevalence of  is approximately  per 100,000 individuals worldwide.
- In , the incidence of  was estimated to be  cases per 100,000 individuals in .

## Age
- Patients of all age groups may develop .
-  is more commonly observed among patients aged  years old.
-  is more commonly observed among .

## Gender
-  affects men and women equally.
-  are more commonly affected with  than .
- The  to  ratio is approximately  to 1.

## Race
- There is no racial predilection for .
-  usually affects individuals of the  race.
-  individuals are less likely to develop .

# Risk Factors
- Common risk factors in the development of  are , , , and .

# Natural History, Complications and Prognosis
- The majority of patients with  remain asymptomatic for .
- Early clinical features include , , and .
- If left untreated,  of patients with  may progress to develop , , and .
- Common complications of  include , , and .
- Prognosis is generally , and the  of patients with  is approximately .

# Diagnosis

## Diagnostic Criteria
- The diagnosis of  is made when at least  of the following  diagnostic criteria are met:

## History and Symptoms
-  is usually asymptomatic.
- Symptoms of  may include the following:

## Physical Examination
- Patients with  usually appear .
- Physical examination may be remarkable for:

## Laboratory Findings
- There are no specific laboratory findings associated with .
- A    is diagnostic of .
- An  concentration of   is diagnostic of .
- Other laboratory findings consistent with the diagnosis of  include , , and .

## Electrocardiogram
There are no ECG findings associated with .
OR
An ECG may be helpful in the diagnosis of . Findings on an ECG suggestive of/diagnostic of  include , , and .

## X-ray
There are no x-ray findings associated with .
OR
An x-ray may be helpful in the diagnosis of . Findings on an x-ray suggestive of/diagnostic of  include , , and .
OR
There are no x-ray findings associated with . However, an x-ray may be helpful in the diagnosis of complications of , which include , , and .

## Echocardiography or Ultrasound
There are no echocardiography/ultrasound  findings associated with .
OR
Echocardiography/ultrasound  may be helpful in the diagnosis of . Findings on an echocardiography/ultrasound suggestive of/diagnostic of  include , , and .
OR
There are no echocardiography/ultrasound  findings associated with . However, an echocardiography/ultrasound  may be helpful in the diagnosis of complications of , which include , , and .

## CT scan
There are no CT scan findings associated with .
OR
 CT scan may be helpful in the diagnosis of . Findings on CT scan suggestive of/diagnostic of  include , , and .
OR
There are no CT scan findings associated with . However, a CT scan may be helpful in the diagnosis of complications of , which include , , and .

## MRI
There are no MRI findings associated with .
OR
 MRI may be helpful in the diagnosis of . Findings on MRI suggestive of/diagnostic of  include , , and .
OR
There are no MRI findings associated with . However, a MRI may be helpful in the diagnosis of complications of , which include , , and .

## Other Imaging Findings
There are no other imaging findings associated with .
OR
 may be helpful in the diagnosis of . Findings on an  suggestive of/diagnostic of  include , , and .

## Other Diagnostic Studies
There are no other diagnostic studies associated with .
OR
 may be helpful in the diagnosis of . Findings suggestive of/diagnostic of  include , , and .
OR
Other diagnostic studies for  include , which demonstrates , , and , and , which demonstrates , , and .

# Treatment

## Medical Therapy
- There is no treatment for ; the mainstay of therapy is supportive care.
- The mainstay of therapy for  is  and .
-  acts by .
- Response to  can be monitored with  every .

## Surgery
- Surgery is the mainstay of therapy for .
-  in conjunction with  is the most common approach to the treatment of .
-  can only be performed for patients with  .

## Prevention
- There are no primary preventive measures available for .
- Effective measures for the primary prevention of  include , , and .
- Once diagnosed and successfully treated, patients with  are followed-up every . Follow-up testing includes , , and .

# Prspectives

# Mental health profession
A number of professions have developed specializing in mental disorders, including the medical speciality of psychiatry, divisions of psychology known as clinical psychology, abnormal psychology, positive psychology, applied behavior analysis, behavior therapy, clinical or mental health social work, mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, psychotherapists, counselors and public Health professionals. Different clinical and academic professions tend to favor differing models, explanations and goals.