I.

Introduction

Mental Disorders, abnormal or unstable behaviour, thoughts, or feelings. People are defined as mentally disordered because they behave, think, or feel differently from most others. However, even the most bizarre and strange behaviour can often make sense, once it is understood why the person is thinking and feeling that way. It is impossible to identify the precise number of people suffering from mental disorders, but it has been suggested that they may affect some 15 per cent of the population in developed countries.

Psychiatrists have developed systems for classifying mental disorders that describe the kinds of symptoms and behaviour which are commonly seen among those considered to be mentally disordered. These fall into two main groups: personality disorders, and psychoses. Another common group of disorders is usually termed anxiety disorders.