Mental Illness and Quality of Life

Paper Summary:

Chronic major depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia are three of the ten leading causes of disability in the United States. This paper hypothesizes that persons who suffer from chronic mental illness maintain a quality of life that is as high or higher than the general population.

From the Paper:

"Depression is characterized periods lasting at least two weeks in which a person either is depressed or loses interest or pleasure in nearly all activities. A person must also experience at least four of the following symptoms: "change in appetite or weight, sleep, and psychomotor activity; decreased energy; feelings of worthlessness or guilt; difficulty thinking, concentrating or making decisions; or recurrent thoughts of death or suicidal ideation, plans or attempts" (American Psychiatric Association, 2000, p349). Persons categorized with chronic major depression may have a single episode that waxes and wanes or a series of depressive episodes may occur. Up to 15% of people who have severe major depression will die by committing suicide (American Psychiatric Association, 2000)."

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