What are the most common types of mental illnesses?
A. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illnesses. The three main types are phobias, panic disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Q. What causes mental illnesses? A. Many psychiatric disorders can be linked directly to a biological origin. Others may be emotional or psychological reactions to environmental or social situations. Some of these disorders may be temporary, caused by extreme stress or life changes. Treatment may include medicines, psychotherapies, and social supports. Q. What is clinical depression? A. Clinical depression is marked by intense feelings or thoughts of sadness and despair that lasts more than a few weeks and interrupt functioning in daily life. It is one of the most treatable mental illnesses, but it requires professional treatment with medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of both. As with many illnesses, if treatment is needed, the earlier it begins, the more effective it can be. Q. If I am being treated for a mental illness, what can I
