Functional Mental Health
Functional mental illnesses are not characterised by loss of cognitive function. They have multiple causes that can be treated with drugs or talking therapies and include conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, personality disorders and eating disorders.
Schizophrenia is an example of an illness with which we can help. It is a condition that involves symptoms such as changes in personality, hallucinations (for example hearing voices), delusions (a firm belief in something that isn’t true) and many other symptoms. Barchester’s independent hospitals support people with schizophrenia through prescribing and reviewing drugs and through compassionate support that helps them to retain or regain their links with family, friends and the community.
Bipolar disorder (often also called manic depression) is another example of a condition with which Barchester can help. It is a condition where people experience extreme moods, getting very depressed or very elated. Barchester’s independent hospitals support people with bipolar disorder through drugs and through providing compassionate care that contains behaviour. Bipolar illnesses are recurrent but episodic. Usually there are long periods where individuals feel and function normally, where they can return to life in the community, with or without support.
Organic Mental Health
Organic mental illnesses involve decreased cognitive function as the result of a medical disorder, a physical disorder or trauma. Cognitive functions means the areas of our intellectual make up that helps us to learn and acquire knowledge, areas like reasoning, memory, our ability to pay attention and our language skills.
An example of a medical disorder which affects these areas is Alzheimer’s disease, a form of dementia associated with amyloidal plaques in the brain, in which all the abilities associated with cognitive function become increasingly damaged over time. Our independent hospitals support people with Alzheimer’s disease by providing health professionals and trained carers who help people to retain their skills, dignity choice and independence in environments designed for their needs.
