LECTURE 1 (Mental Health)

Question 1

What is Public Health?

Answer 1

The science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through organised efforts and informed choices of society, organisations, public and private communities and individuals

Question 2

What is Health?

Answer 2

A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity

Question 3

Why is mental health important?

Answer 3

• It can influence the onset, progression and outcome of other illnesses
• Correlates with health risk behaviours (substance abuse, tobacco use, physical inactivity)

Question 4

What are the causes of mental health disorders?

Answer 4

Unknown but is a product of the interaction between biological, psychological and sociocultural factors

Question 5

Genetic factors are important in which mental disorders?

Answer 5

• Schizophrenia
• Bipolar disorder
• Autism
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Question 6

What are the major categories of mental disorders?

Answer 6

• Anxiety
• Psychosis
• Disturbances of mood
• Disturbances of cognition
• Bipolar disorder
• Eating disorders

Question 7

What is Anxiety?

Answer 7

A vitally important psychological response to dangerous situations that prepares ones to evade or confront a threat in the environment

Question 8

What are manifestations of anxiety?

Answer 8

• Phobias
• Panic attacks
• Generalised anxiety
• Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Question 9

What is Psychosis and what are its symptoms?

Answer 9

A collection of symptoms that affect the mind where there has been a loss of contact with reality

SYMPTOMS:
- Disorders of perception
- Hallucinations (sensory impressions that have no basis in reality)
- Delusions (false beliefs held despite evidence to the contrary)

Explanation: mostly associated with schizophrenia but can occur in severe mood disorders

Question 10

What are Cognitive disorders and examples of them?

Answer 10

Any disorder that significantly impairs the cognitive function of an individual to the point where normal functioning in society is impossible without treatment

EXAMPLES:
- Developmental disorders
- Motor skill disorders
- Dementia
- Amnesia
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Substance-induced cognitive impairment

Question 11

How can we prevent mental health disorders?

Answer 11

• Translating scientific data into public health initiatives, clinical practice and service delivery systems
• Increase and promote social, professional and political awareness of mental health prevention
• Move clinical practice towards at-risk-oriented detection and intervention
• Provide interventions designed for each developmental stage -> minimises impact of risk factors
• Promote healthy lifestyle

Question 12

Why do most people with mental disorders not seek treatment?

Answer 12

• They do not know that there are effective treatments
• Stigma
• Cost of care

Question 13

Which of the following mental health illness has a likely genetic susceptibility and activated when combined with an environmental trigger?
- Unipolar depression
- Panic disorder
- ADHD
- Bipolar disorder

Answer 13

Bipolar disorder

Question 14

ADHD is usually first diagnosed in
- Infancy
- Old age
- Adulthood
- Childhood

Answer 14

Childhood

Explanation: ADHD can be diagnosed from age 4 onwards

Question 15

Until the 18th century the most common treatment for the mentally ill was to:
- Make people do community service
- Lock people up in asylums
- Give people experimental drugs
- Give people psychoanalysis

Answer 15

Lock people up in asylums

Question 16

Which one of the following symptoms does not reflect depression?
- Feelings of guilt
- Difficulty sleeping
- Shaking
- Loss of pleasure

Answer 16

Shaking