ABSTRACT
Psychiatric disorders are the third most common reason for consultation in general practice. Over 90 per cent of mentally ill people are seen by their GP but are not always treated or referred to specialist psychiatric services. In this chapter, the authors look at the wide range of mental disorders from the milder neuroses to the major psychotic disorders which will often become the main concern of the approved social worker. They provide a description of the physical and psychological treatments which are available. The authors also look at the major patterns of distress as they are classified in terms of psychiatric illness. They consider the milder forms of mental disorder, the psychoneuroses, in which the sufferer can experience considerable and lasting difficulties which severely impair his or her ability to cope. The authors analyse the psychotic disorders in which the personality is profoundly disturbed.
