Associated Mental Health Disorders

The following section, Understanding and supporting learners with disabilities, is remixed with permission from Lombardi, P. (2019). Understanding and supporting learners with disabilities.

Mental illnesses can affect people of any age, race, religion, or income. Many mental disorders begin in childhood or adolescence, yet may go undiagnosed and untreated for years. It is important to note that mental illnesses are not the result of personal weakness, lack of character, or poor upbringing. Moreover, mental illnesses are treatable (NIMH, 2022). Sometimes mental illness causes difficulties with learning, leading school-age children to be identified as having EBD. It is important to note that rarely does a single factor lead to behavior that impacts learning. Instead, certain circumstances and conditions increase the chances of developing problematic behavior (Cook & Ruhaak, 2014). Six disorders are most often present in students with EBD. In the remainder of this section, each is highlighted.

Anxiety Disorders

We all experience anxiety from time to time. However, for many people, including children, anxiety can be excessive, persistent, seemingly uncontrollable, and overwhelming. An irrational fear of everyday situations may be involved. This high level of anxiety is a definite warning sign that a person may have an anxiety disorder. The term anxiety disorder covers several different disabilities that share the core symptom of irrational fear. These include such different disorders as generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social anxiety disorder (also called social phobia), and specific phobias. According to the Anxiety Disorders Association of America (2022), anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric illnesses affecting children and adults. They are also highly treatable. Unfortunately, only 36.9% of those affected receive treatment (Center for Parent Information and Resources, 2017).

Bipolar Disorder

Also known as manic-depressive illness, bipolar disorder is a serious medical condition that causes dramatic mood swings, from overly “high” and irritable to sad and hopeless, and then back again, often with periods of normal mood in between. Severe changes in energy and behavior go along with these mood changes. For most people with bipolar disorder, these mood swings and related symptoms can be stabilized over time using an approach that combines medication and psychosocial treatment (Center for Parent Information and Resources, 2017).

Conduct Disorder

Conduct disorder refers to a group of behavioral and emotional problems in youngsters. Children and adolescents with this disorder have great difficulty following rules and behaving in a socially acceptable way. This may include some of the following behaviors:

• aggression to people and animals
• destruction of property
• deceitfulness, lying, or stealing
• truancy or other severe violations of rules

Treatment will depend on the child’s symptoms, age, and general health. It will also depend on how severe the condition is. Treatment may include:

• helping the child learn how to solve problems better, communicate, and handle stress, as well as how to control impulses and anger (what is known as cognitive behavioral therapy)
• family therapy
• peer group therapy (to help better social and interpersonal skills)
• medications (although these are not typically used to treat conduct disorder)

(Center for Parent Information and Resources, 2017)

Eating Disorders

Extremes in eating behavior characterize eating disorders—either too much or too little—or feelings of extreme distress or concern about body weight or shape. Females are much more likely than males to develop an eating disorder. Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are the two most common eating disorders. Anorexia nervosa is characterized by self-starvation and a dramatic loss of weight. Bulimia nervosa involves a cycle of binge eating, then self-induced vomiting or purging. Both of these disorders are potentially life-threatening. Binge eating is also considered as an eating disorder. It is characterized by eating excessive amounts of food while not controlling how much or what is eaten. Unlike bulimia, people who binge eat usually do not purge afterward by vomiting or using laxatives. According to the National Eating Disorders Association (n.d.), treating an eating disorder generally involves a combination of psychological and nutritional counseling and medical and psychiatric monitoring. Treatment must address the eating disorder symptoms, medical consequences, and psychological, biological, interpersonal, and cultural forces that contribute to or maintain the eating disorder. Many people utilize a treatment team to treat the multi-faceted aspects of an eating disorder (Center for Parent Information and Resources, 2017).

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Often referred to as OCD, obsessive-compulsive disorder is considered as an anxiety disorder (as discussed above). OCD is characterized by recurrent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions). Repetitive behaviors (handwashing, counting, checking, or cleaning) are often performed to prevent obsessive thoughts or make them go away. Performing these so-called “rituals” provides only temporary relief, and not performing them increases anxiety. A large body of scientific evidence suggests that OCD results from a chemical imbalance in the brain. Treatment for most people with OCD should include one or more of the following:

• A therapist trained in behavior therapy
• Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)
• Medication (usually an antidepressant)

(Center for Parent Information and Resources, 2017)

Psychotic Disorders

 “Psychotic disorders” is another umbrella term for severe mental disorders that cause abnormal thinking and perceptions. Two of the main symptoms are delusions and hallucinations. Delusions are false beliefs such as thinking that someone is plotting against you. Hallucinations are false perceptions such as hearing, seeing, or feeling something that is not there. Schizophrenia is one type of psychotic disorder. There are others as well. Treatment for psychotic disorders will differ from person to person, depending on the specific disorder involved. Most are treated with a combination of medications and psychotherapy (a type of counseling) (Center for Parent Information and Resources, 2017).