Conditions That Can Land You In The Psych Ward

In the past, hospitals designed to treat the mentally ill ranged in their care and admittance of who would be treated within their walls. Individuals with conditions ranging from mild mental delay to severe mental illness with violent tendencies could be found rooming and sharing a ward together. There was even a point when husbands could commit their wives if they weren't "behaving." Modern facilities and psych wards are far more discerning about which conditions will require an individual to be committed. Here are a few conditions that have the possibility of landing you in a psych ward.

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder that affects the way a person feels and thinks. This disorder appears to be the mental disorder of choice when it comes to illustrating mental illness in movies and other media, as the disease is not as common as some of the other disorders. Most individuals who have schizophrenia will begin exhibiting symptoms in late adolescence, but some individuals do not show any signs until they're adults. There have been some very rare cases of incredibly early-onset schizophrenia in children as young as thirteen years old.

The most notable characteristic or symptom of the disorder is hallucinations. These hallucinations can be auditory or visual. Other common symptoms are delusions, a decrease in the ability to speak, and a reduced ability to express emotion either through vocal tone or facial movements. While individuals who have family members with the disorder are more at risk to develop this condition, a person can develop the disease without having a family member with it. Treatment varies depending on the severity, however, inpatient stays are common when a patient experiences a break or episode.