Your post should be at least 400-450 words in length and should extend the discussion of the group supported by your course materials and/or other appropriate resources

Introduction to Abnormal Behavior and Dysfunction

Mental disorders are serious debilitating illnesses that affect the person's ability to function on a daily basis as the individual did prior to the development of the disorder. Psychologists agree that mental illness affects a person's thinking (cognition), behavior, and emotional state.

To prepare for this week's Discussion Board, review the following source:

• Source: Psychology Today (2011). Mental illness on the rise in the U.S. Retrieved from http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/therapy-matters/201105/mental-illness-the-rise-in-the-us

Proceed to this week's Discussion by selecting one of the Case Studies (Accessible from the Course Home) and locating one credible source from the internet or Kaplan Library to discuss the following:

Explain the individual's symptoms and how the symptoms of the chosen disorder are affecting the individual's ability to function and live life as he or she normally would on a physical, cognitive, or emotional level.