MENTAL DISORDERS

1. A mental disorder is characterised by a clinically significant

disturbance in an individual's cognition, emotional regulation, or
behaviour. It is usually associated with distress or impairment in
important areas of functioning.( Reference: Who)
2. Mental disorders (or mental illnesses) are conditions that affect
your thinking, feeling, mood, and behaviour. They may be
occasional or long-lasting (chronic).(Reference: Mental health
_medline plus)
3. A disorder of mind that interferes substantially with the person’s
ability to cope with life on a daily basis.
4. Conditions that affect thinking, feeling, mood, and behaviour.
5. May be occasional or long-lasting (chronic).
6. Deprives a person from freedom of choice( Reference : American
psychiatric Association)

EXAMPLES
1. Anxiety disorders, including panic attacks
2. Depression
3. bipolar disorder, and other mood disorders
4. Eating disorders
5. Personality disorders
6. Post-traumatic stress disorder
7. Psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia

CAUSES OF MENTAL DISORDERS (Reference: NIMH)

● Your genes and family history
● Your life experiences, such as stress or a history of abuse, especially if they happen
in childhood
● Biological factors such as chemical imbalances in the brain
● A traumatic brain injury
● A mother's exposure to viruses or toxic chemicals while pregnant
● Use of alcohol or recreational drugs
● Having a serious medical condition like cancer
● Having few friends, and feeling lonely or isolated
 TYPES OF MENTAL DISORDERS.( Reference: Who)

There are 4 main types of mental disorders

1. mood disorders (such as depression or bipolar disorder)

2. anxiety disorders.
3. personality disorders.
4. psychotic disorders (such as schizophrenia

MENTAL DISORDERS ASSOCIATED WITH CRIMINAL

BEHAVIOUR

The four key factors known to be related to violence are

1. substance abuse
2. psychopathy or antisocial personality disorder
3. Victimisation
4. community disorganisation.

ANXIETY .( Reference : Medline plus)

Anxiety is a feeling of fear, dread, and uneasiness. It might cause

you to sweat, feel restless and tense, and have a rapid heartbeat. It
can be a normal reaction to stress. For example, you might feel
anxious when faced with a difficult problem at work, before taking a
test, or before making an important decision
 SYMPTOMS OF ANXIETY .( Reference: Who)

● Trouble concentrating or making decisions.

● feeling irritable, tense or restless.
● experiencing nausea or abdominal distress.
● having heart palpitations.
● sweating, trembling or shaking.
● trouble sleeping.
● having a sense of impending danger, panic or doom.

TREATMENT (Reference:Better health)

● Psychotherapy
● Behavioural therapy
● Medication
● Self-treatment
● Counselling
● Prevention
ANXIETY DISORDERS (Reference: Mayo clinic
organization)

In the case of an anxiety disorder, the feeling of fear may be with you all the
time. It’s intense and sometimes debilitating.Anxiety disorders are the most
common form of emotional disorder and can affect anyone. But, according
to the American Psychiatric Association, women are more likely than men
to receive a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder.

TYPES OF ANXIETY DISORDER ( Reference : American

psychiatric Association)

Anxiety is a vital part of several different disorders. These include:

● Panic disorder. This means you experience recurring panic attacks

at unexpected times.
● Phobia. This is an excessive fear of a specific object, situation, or
activity.
 ● Social anxiety disorder. This is an extreme fear of being judged by
others in social situations.
● Obsessive-compulsive disorder. This means you have recurring
irrational thoughts that lead you to perform specific, repeated
behaviours.
● Separation anxiety disorder. This means you have a fear of being
away from home or your loved ones.
● Illness anxiety disorder. This is anxiety about your health (formerly
called hypochondria).

In addition, a number of mental health and medical conditions may feature

anxiety as a symptom. These include:

● Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This is anxiety following a

traumatic event.
● Major depressive disorders. A strong relationship exists between
depression and anxiety.
● Chronic disease. Managing conditions such as chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD) and diabetes may result in anxiety
symptoms.
● Inflammatory conditions. Anxiety can lead to chronic inflammation
and diseases such as arthritis
● Substance use disorders: many people with anxiety may try to
self-medicate to help manage their symptoms.
● Chronic pain. Anxiety is often found in those with chronic pain
disorders.

PANIC ATTACKS (Reference: Mayo clinic organization)

A panic attack is a feeling of intense fear that comes on suddenly and
peaks within 10 to 20 minutes. The initial trigger of the fear can be known
or unknown.The physical symptoms can mimic a heart attack.

Common symptoms of a panic attack include:

● chest pain
● feeling of choking
● fear of losing control
● feeling of impending doom
● sweating, chills, and hot flashes
● shaking
● numbness and tingling of hands, feet, or face
● nausea or upset stomach
● shortness of breath
● fear of dying

CAUSES OF ANXIETY DISORDER ( Reference : American

psychiatric Association)

The causes of anxiety may include:

● stress
● other medical issues such as depression or diabetes
● first degree relatives with generalised anxiety disorder
● environmental concerns, such as child abuse
● substance use
● situations such as surgery or occupational hazard
 RISK FACTORS (Reference: Article National library of
medicine)

● Life history. This includes being exposed to negative or stressful live

events.
● Genetics. Of those who have a diagnosis of anxiety, 25 percent have
a first degree relative who also has a diagnosis of anxiety.
● Other health conditions. Thyroid problems and other health
conditions can make you prone to anxiety.
● Stimulants. Consuming caffeine specific substances, and
medications can worsen your symptoms.
● Personality traits. This includes shyness and nervousness in
childhood.

TREATMENT

Treatment for anxiety falls into three categories:

● Psychotherapy. Therapy can include cognitive behavioural therapy

and exposure response prevention.
● Complemental health techniques. Mindfulness, yoga, and
self-management strategies such as stress management are ways to
treat your anxiety using alternative methods.
● Medication. Doctors prescribe antianxiety and antidepressant drugs.

Some commonly used medicine

Antipsychotics. Quetiapine and aripiprazole are common

antipsychotics.
 Benzodiazepines. Diazepam and clonazepam are common
benzodiazepines.

Anxiolytics. Buspirone is a common anxiolytic.

How Anxiety Can Lead to Aggression

and Violence???????

Anxiety is associated with fear. It's not exactly the type of condition people

associate with anger. The stereotype of anxiety is that it causes shyness

and a general struggle to be social and around people, and in some cases

this is true.But in some people anxiety can provoke an aggressive, violent

response. Aggression and violence may not be "common" in those with

anxiety, but they're very real and can be extremely problematic for those

that suffer from them.

Cause of Aggression/Violence With Anxiety (Reference:

NCBI)

​ Fight or Flight Response Anxiety is caused by the activation of the fight

or flight response. It's a response designed to keep you safe from danger,

and it is supposed to only occur when you're faced with fear. Anxiety can

be defined as the occurrence of the fight or flight response when there is

 no real danger. While the fight/flight response doesn't necessarily "cause"

fighting, it is mediated by the release of adrenaline, which can make a

person more aggressive.

​ Irritability People who are more prone to aggression but have otherwise

been able to control their aggression may find that it's harder to control

their aggressive impulses when anxiety causes them to become irritable..

There are some people who understand that they need to become more

cautious when they are irritable, but people who haven’t reflected upon

their irritability and its ability to cause aggression can become aggressive

when they are feeling irritable..

​ Steroids Use of anabolic steroids is on the rise, despite the dangers.

Studies have shown that those that take performance enhancing steroids

tend to experience more anxiety as well as more aggression. Anxiety in this

case isn't causing the aggression but the two are related.

​ Workplace Stress Someone that experiences a great deal of stress at

work may have anxiety because of pent up aggression that they have

repressed as they work. Maybe you’re angry at your boss for his or her

consistent criticisms. Maybe you are jealous of a workmate who is more

liked than yourself. As pent up aggression builds up, it becomes harder and

harder to keep it in, and you might find yourself attacking someone when

you really don’t want to do it.

​ Social Anxiety and Aggression Social anxiety often leads people to be

shy and withdrawn in social situations. But some people who suffer from

social anxiety respond to social rejection with aggression and hostility

FOR EXAMPLE
An anxious person might engage in minor crimes such as petty theft, shoplifting,

trespassing, or vandalism as a result of their anxiety and desperation. However, it's

crucial to address the underlying issues causing the anxiety and seek appropriate

support and guidance rather than resorting to illegal activities.

NOOR MUKADAM MURDER CASE (Reference: YouTube, Wikipedia.

research)

Noor Mukadam ( 23 October 1993 – 20 July 2021) was a Pakistani victim of murder.

She was 27 years old and the daughter of a former diplomat, Shaukat Mukadam.She

was murdered at a house in an upscale neighbourhood, Sector F-7/4, of Islamabad,

on 20 July 2021. Noor was held hostage for two days, tortured with a knuckle duster,

then decapitated with a knife. Noor was raped before being murdered. The murder

suspect was identified as 27-year-old Zahir Jaffer who was arrested at the scene of

the crime and taken to the police station. The parents and household staff of Jaffer

were arrested for hiding evidence and complicity, because Noor made multiple

escape attempts but the household staff refused to permit her to leave.The murder

was premeditated as Jaffer later confessed to police that he intended to kill Noor if

she refused to accept his marriage proposal…Zahir Jaffer was sentenced to death

for the murder of Noor Mukadam by Islamabad session court in February 2022, while

Jaffer's guards Iftikhar and Mohammad Jan were given ten years of

imprisonment.Zahir Jaffer was sentenced to death for the murder of Noor Mukadam

by Islamabad session court in February 2022, while Jaffer's guards Iftikhar and

Mohammad Jan were given ten years of imprisonment…. While Zahir Jaffer's

defence team attempted to argue that he was suffering from mental health issues,
including anxiety, as a mitigating factor, the court ultimately found him guilty of

intentionally murdering Noor Mukadam. Mental health issues, including anxiety, can

certainly impact an individual's behaviour, but they do not excuse or justify

committing such a heinous crime. It's essential to address mental health issues

through proper treatment and support rather than resorting to violence….

Reference: 1. Article by MICAH ABRAHAM OCTOBER 10,2020…

2. Article by John M.hettema February 2005

3. To cite this article: Borwin Bandelow, Sophie Michaelis & Dirk Wedekind

(2017) Treatment
of anxiety disorders, Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, 19:2, 93-107, DOI:

10.31887/

DCNS.2017.19.2/bbandelow

To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.31887/DCNS.2017.19.2/bbandelow

4. E. STENGEL, M.D., F.R.C.P.1

5 . Wikipedia