Psychological disorders

Psychological disorders (schizophrenia, phobia, psychosis, etc.) may result from:

• exogenous factors like a traumatic experience
• endogenous factors like a metabolic disorder
• drug abuse

What do I need to know?

• The extent of psychological disorders depend on the social environment.
• It is not possible to summarise the characteristics of psychological disorders within the framework of this manual; a professional needs to be included in all cases.

Who should I talk to?

• first the person him/herself
• parents, friends, teachers
• psychologists and experts in the field of trauma, special education, etc.

What should be avoided?

• Professionals may identify very clear and definite factors that cause psychological disorders; any activity should avoid adding new factors like psychological stress, time pressure, feeling of not being listened to, etc. to the already existing ones.