Mental disorders in need of treatment
According to current estimates, around eight million people in Germany suffer from mental illnesses. For many, the disorders subside on their own after a while, but for a large proportion, the disorders manifest themselves and develop into serious, sometimes chronic mental illnesses. However, it does not appear to be true that mental disorders are increasing dramatically in our society. On the contrary, both the diagnosis and social acceptance of mental illnesses have improved. On the one hand, this means that mental disorders are recognised earlier - and can then usually be treated more effectively. On the other hand, people are less shy about approaching a doctor with mental health problems.
Depression vs. mania
Affective disorders, with their two extremes of depression and mania, are among the most common and well-known mental illnesses. While people with depression suffer from a deeply depressed mood that sometimes renders them incapable of acting, mania is characterised by inappropriate excitement and excessive activity for the situation. The disorders can occur temporarily, in episodes, or permanently. If manic and depressive episodes alternate, the clinical picture is referred to as bipolar disorder.
Deeper personality disorders
In schizophrenic psychoses or schizophrenia, those affected suffer from delusions and ego disorders. However, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive and personality disorders as well as stress disorders following a traumatic experience are also among the mental disorders for which the medical speciality of psychiatry and psychotherapy is responsible. Finally, all forms of addiction, from legal addictions such as nicotine and alcohol, to illegal addictions such as cannabis and heroin, to non-substance-related addictions such as gambling or sex addiction, are also treated as mental disorders.
Specialised areas of psychiatry
In addition to general psychiatry and psychotherapy, child and adolescent psychiatry and geriatric psychiatry for older people have also established specialisms in psychiatry that treat specific mental illnesses in children, adolescents and older people. It is not uncommon for physical complaints such as dizziness and headaches to have psychological causes. Doctors specialising in psychosomatics then offer therapeutic help.
Our wide range of therapeutic services
At Ulm University Hospital, psychiatry and psychotherapy is represented at the three sites in Weissenau, Günzburg and Ulm, each with its own clinic offering a wide range of therapeutic services for all age groups close to where people live in the region. There is also the Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy at the Ulm site, which specialises in the simultaneous treatment of complex physical and mental illnesses.
