Introduction Mental illness is described as the behavior exhibited by individuals who are not in their normal states of mind (Goldberg 204). As a result, there is need to restore the normal state of mind. Medical practitioners have resorted to the use of drugs in treating symptoms associated with mental disorders. The drugs are aimed at altering the patient’s state of mind through the modification of physiological and chemical processes executed by the individual’s central nervous system. The drugs are commonly referred to as ‘psychotherapeutic drugs’. The drugs achieve their intended purpose by interfering with nerve impulses. When used appropriately, psychotherapeutic drugs assist individuals suffering from mental disorders to achieve the right mental state under controlled conditions. Psychotherapeutic drugs, however, pose serious health risks to an individual when abused . In severe cases , they may permanently alter brain processes. In addition, addiction arises from abuse of the drugs. The paper aims at fully understanding the term ‘mental illness.’ In addition, the relationship between mental illness and medicine is discussed. The issue of increased susceptibility to mental illness among certain groups is also tackled. Finally, types of mental disorders are discussed towards the end of the paper. Mental Illness Mental illness is the term used to refer to the abnormal state of mind characterized by psychological patterns and usually associated with distress (Kinderman and Lobban 308). Benjamin Rush, an American physician, simply describes the condition as an illness of the brain. The condition is brought about by a disease affecting the brain. Chemical imbalances in the brain is another major cause of the condition. Psychologists describe the abnormal state of mind as inappropriate thinking and conduct in an individual. However, confusion arises when determining the right definition of the term ‘inappropriate’. Despite the presence of many definitions attempting to describe the condition, it is clear that mental illness is brought about by malfunctions of parts of the brain or the entire nervous system. The nervous system is a mass of neurons connected to each other (Pilgrim and Rogers 78). Defects in a single neuron will in turn affect the entire nervous system. Psychotherapy and psychotherapeutic drugs are the only known forms of treatment for the condition. Psychotherapeutic drugs are aimed at reducing the effects of the condition, enabling the individual to lead a normal life as long as the prescribed medication is adhered to. Sedatives and tranquilizes are the most commonly used drugs when dealing with psychiatric cases. Mental Illness and Medicine Medical practitioners are charged with the responsibility of diagnosing cases of mental illnesses among patients. Mental illnesses have two major causes identified by medical practitioners. The causes are chemical imbalances in the brain and a disease affecting the brain or the nervous system (Goldberg 204). A pathogen transmits the disorder when the mental illness is caused by a disease affecting the brain. The concept is commonly referred to as the medical model. The treatment or prevention of the disease associated with mental illness will translate to the treatment or prevention of the mental illne