2.5 Describe other common mental disorders

This guide will help you answer 2.5 Describe other common mental disorders.

Working with people with mental health needs means recognising a range of mental disorders. Not everyone you support will have psychosis. Many people live with conditions such as depression, anxiety, personality disorders, and eating disorders. Each of these can affect a person’s mood, behaviour, relationships, and daily life.

This guide covers the symptoms of some of the most common mental health disorders.

Depression

Depression is a mood disorder. It is more than just feeling sad or having a ‘bad day’. Depression can last for weeks, months, or even longer. It can affect people of any age.

Main Symptoms of Depression

People with depression may:

• Feel persistently sad, low, or hopeless
• No longer enjoy activities that once brought pleasure (anhedonia)
• Feel tired or lacking in energy, even with enough sleep
• Struggle to concentrate or make decisions
• Have trouble sleeping (insomnia) or sleep too much
• Notice changes in appetite, leading to weight loss or gain
• Feel worthless, guilty, or self-critical
• Experience physical symptoms like aches, pains, or digestive problems with no clear cause
• Move or speak more slowly, or sometimes feel agitated and restless
• Think about death or suicide (this needs urgent support)

The severity of depression can vary. Some people manage daily tasks; others can barely get out of bed.

Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety means feelings of worry or fear that are strong, persistent, and difficult to control. It is normal to feel anxious from time to time, but anxiety disorders affect a person’s daily life.

Types of Anxiety Disorders

• Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Excessive worry about various things for six months or more. The worry is hard to control and feels out of proportion.
• Panic Disorder: Repeated, unexpected panic attacks. A panic attack is a brief period of intense fear with symptoms like chest pain, rapid heartbeat, breathlessness, or feeling faint.
• Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia): Strong fear of social situations. People worry about being judged, embarrassed, or humiliated.
• Specific Phobias: Intense, irrational fear of particular things (like spiders or heights) or situations (such as flying).
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Repetitive, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and actions (compulsions) carried out to reduce anxiety.

General Symptoms of Anxiety

• Ongoing and excessive worry, often about everyday things
• Difficulty controlling thoughts of worry or fear
• Physical effects: rapid heart rate, sweating, shaking, dizziness, stomach problems
• Avoiding situations that trigger anxiety

Anxiety can become so severe that it prevents someone from leaving their home or participating in daily activities.

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a condition that causes extreme mood swings. These mood changes are more intense than usual ups and downs. They are called depressive episodes (feeling very low) and manic episodes (feeling very high or irritable).

Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder

Manic Episode

• Feeling “high”, elated, or irritable for days or weeks
• Needing less sleep without feeling tired
• Talking very quickly or having racing thoughts
• Having grand or unrealistic ideas about abilities or plans
• Taking risks, spending money recklessly, or acting out of character
• Becoming distracted easily

Depressive Episode

• Same as symptoms of depression (see above)

Some people have mixed symptoms, feeling high and low at the same time, which can be very distressing.

Personality Disorders

A personality disorder is a type of mental health problem where patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving differ strongly from cultural expectations. These patterns are long-lasting. They affect many parts of daily life and cause distress or make it hard to function.

Types of Personality Disorders

There are several types, but two common ones are:

• Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD): Intense, quickly changing emotions. Difficulty managing anger. Fear of abandonment. Unstable relationships. Impulsive behaviour (such as self-harm, risk-taking, or binge eating).
• Antisocial Personality Disorder: Disregard for the rights and feelings of others. Difficulty feeling guilt. Lying, rule-breaking, or acting aggressively.

General Symptoms

• Struggles with relationships and trusting others
• Intense emotions that are hard to manage
• Repeated risky or impulsive behaviours
• Difficulty adapting to change

These patterns can lead to repeated crises or frequent contact with services.

Eating Disorders

Eating disorders involve serious changes in the way a person eats, thinks about food, and sees their own body. Eating disorders can affect anyone but are most common among young people.

Types and Symptoms

• Anorexia Nervosa: Severe restriction of food. Intense fear of gaining weight. Distorted body image—seeing oneself as overweight even when very thin. May use weighing, measuring, excessive exercise, or hiding food.
• Bulimia Nervosa: Repeated cycles of binge eating (eating large amounts of food quickly in secret), followed by behaviours to “undo” the effect, such as vomiting, heavy exercise, or misuse of laxatives.
• Binge Eating Disorder: Regular episodes of eating very large amounts of food, feeling unable to stop. Unlike bulimia, there is no regular purging.

Effects

• Rapid weight loss or gain
• Physical illness: dehydration, organ damage, dental problems, irregular heartbeat
• Preoccupation with food, weight, or body shape
• Mood swings, irritability, or difficulty concentrating

Eating disorders are serious and can be life-threatening if not treated.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

PTSD starts after a person experiences or witnesses something very frightening, shocking, or dangerous. Examples include violent attacks, natural disasters, accidents, or abuse.

Main Symptoms

• Re-living the trauma through flashbacks or nightmares
• Avoiding places, people, or things that remind them of the event
• Feeling on edge, easily startled, or angry
• Trouble sleeping or concentrating
• Negative thoughts, low mood, or numbness

Symptoms can appear soon after the trauma or even months later. Everyday life can be disrupted by reminders of the event.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

OCD features unwanted, distressing thoughts and repetitive behaviours.

• Obsessions: Intrusive, persistent thoughts, images, or urges that cause anxiety. Examples: fear of contamination, worries about harm, need for symmetry.
• Compulsions: Repeated actions or rituals meant to relieve the anxiety caused by obsessions. Examples: handwashing, checking locks, counting.

Common patterns include fear of germs combined with cleaning rituals or anxiety about safety alongside repeated checking.

Symptoms can take up hours each day and cause distress or embarrassment.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

ADHD is a condition affecting attention, impulse control, and activity level. It is usually diagnosed in childhood but can continue into adulthood.

Main Symptoms

• Inattention: Difficulty focusing, making careless mistakes, being forgetful, losing things.
• Hyperactivity: Restlessness, fidgeting, talking excessively.
• Impulsivity: Interrupting, speaking out of turn, making hasty decisions.

This can affect school, work, and relationships.

Dementia

Dementia describes a group of symptoms affecting memory, thinking, and reasoning. It is most common in older adults, but younger people can be affected too.

Main Features

• Memory loss that disrupts daily life (forgets recent events or appointments)
• Trouble with planning, problem-solving, or understanding information
• Difficulty communicating, finding the right words, or following conversations
• Struggling with familiar tasks (using appliances, handling money)
• Changes in mood, personality, or behaviour

Dementia is progressive, meaning it gets worse over time. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

ASD is a developmental condition that affects behaviour, communication, and how a person experiences the world.

Common Features

• Difficulty understanding social rules or picking up on social cues
• Unusual or limited interests and hobbies
• Repetitive movements or routines
• Sensitivity to noise, touch, light, or smell
• Strong preference for familiar routines

Intelligence and communication skills vary widely between individuals. Some people need very little support; others need help throughout life.

Self-Harm

Self-harm means deliberately hurting oneself as a way to manage emotional pain. Methods include cutting, burning, or hitting one’s own body.

Common signs:

• Unexplained scars, bruises, or burns
• Wearing long sleeves even in hot weather
• Private behaviour or keeping sharp objects close

Self-harm is not a diagnosis on its own but is often linked with depression, anxiety, or personality disorders. It is a sign that someone is struggling and needs support, not attention-seeking.

Dual Diagnosis

Some people live with more than one mental disorder at the same time. This can mean having depression and anxiety together, or a mental health condition combined with alcohol or drug misuse.

Why Recognising Symptoms Matters

Spotting symptoms early helps people get the right support sooner. Behaviour changes, withdrawal, irritability, and changes in appearance or performance are often first signs.

Mental disorders may have physical, emotional, and social effects. Each person’s experience is unique. Kindness, patience, and accurate recording of symptoms can make a big difference in getting people the help they need.

Recording and Reporting

Health and social care workers play an important role. Observations about mood, appearance, behaviour, or comments should be recorded factually and shared with the appropriate professional when there are concerns.

For example:

• “Client appeared withdrawn and tearful, stated feeling worthless for several days.”
• “Observed repeated handwashing and counting before leaving flat.”
• “Client reported nightmares since recent assault.”

Accurate documentation allows for better assessment and referral to specialists.

Final Thoughts

Common mental disorders include depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, personality disorders, eating disorders, PTSD, OCD, ADHD, dementia, and autism spectrum disorder. Each has different features, symptoms, and impacts on day-to-day life.

Knowing what to look out for helps workers to support people more effectively, maintain safety, and provide or connect to the right help. Recognising the range of mental illnesses and their symptoms ensures that people with mental health needs are treated with respect, empathy, and skill.