Extensive research has been done on the broad category of mental illness, but symptom
management is still easier for some than it is for others.
By Alex Gallagher
Web Master
The history of mental health treatment is rather complicated: ranging from unethical to untreatable,
physicians have grappled with how to address the difficult symptoms of those afflicted with mental
illness. In cases of mild to moderate anxiety and depression, the solutions seem to be straightforward,
with SSRIs along with cognitive behavioral therapy fine-tuned specifically for symptoms of anxiety
and depression. However, other mental illnesses don’t have such a straightforward solution, despite
becoming increasingly more prevalent: Borderline Personality Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder,
up to 5.9% prevalence (in adults) and a 3.2% prevalence (in children), respectively.
Personality disorders as a whole and proper treatments for these disorders have been consistent
neglected throughout history. Prior to modern psychotherapy, personality disorders (PDs) such as
Borderline PD, Narcissistic PD, and Obsessive-Compulsive PD were treated through electro-convulsive
therapy (also known as shock therapy), lobotomization, and institutionalization. After the abrasiveness of
these treatments disqualified them from practice in the 1970s—as explored in this Patriot Press article—
not many solutions directly address the main causes for these personality disorders. Treatments are about the same for someone with anxiety and/or depression, meaning the root cause only has a possibility to be addressed in therapy. This is problematic, considering many personality disorders are rooted in distrust, and psychotherapy only benefits the patient if the patient feels as though they can tell the full truth. Moreover, an American Psychological Association article by Alyson Powell Key states that due to the unstable nature of relationships characterized within a personality disorder, the patient’s tendency to either distrust or idealize their therapist, “can affect the bond between therapist and patient.” As mentioned before, many personality disorders stem from distrust and relationship instability typically rooted in childhood trauma rather than chemical imbalance (like depression), making it difficult for any one medication to address the disorder as a whole.
Treatment in regard to the autism spectrum has a similar story; due to the lack of a general cause and
the broadness of impact, there is no specific medication to treat symptoms. However, therapy has been
proven rather successful among those diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, showing a higher rate
of effectiveness for developing functional skills, the National Institute of Health specifically citing how
“most people with ASD respond best to highly structured and specialized programs.” Due to the
complexity of what causes ASD, it is difficult for any medication to prove successful for the majority
of those with autism. According to the National Library of Medicine, around 100 genes are responsible for increasing the risk of autism; however, some sources show that environmental factors—such as maternal health concerns or being born to older parents—can also play a large role in increasing the chance of a child to develop autism in the womb. Additionally, autism can be hereditary, according to a study done by UCLA, meaning a child has a chance to inherit autism from either of their parents. Another study done by Susan Folstein and Michael Rutter shows that there is a correlation between monozygotic (identical or
nearly identical) pairs of twins consisting of at least one child with autism and concordance in diagnosis,
meaning identical twins can inherit autism and other behavioral disturbances from one another.
Unfortunately, there is not one standard solution for addressing symptoms of personality disorders or autism. However, this allows treatment to be more based on an individual’s specific needs, instead of having a plan laid out that may not address the root issues that impact one’s mental health along the way. Progress continues to be made and treatments are still consistently being developed today, which
has no indication of being hindered in the future.