Which of the following provides the best definition for mental illness?

• A. A mental illness is a physical disease that only affects the brain's structure.
• B. A mental illness is any behavior that is considered unusual or different from the majority of people.
• C. A mental illness is a condition characterized by significant disturbances in an individual's thoughts, emotions, or behaviors that cause distress or impair functioning.
• D. A mental illness is a temporary feeling of sadness or anxiety that everyone experiences at some point.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand that mental illness refers to a broad range of conditions that affect a person's thinking, feeling, mood, or behavior, and these disturbances must be significant enough to cause distress or impair daily functioning.
2. Step 2: Recognize that mental illness is not simply a physical disease limited to brain structure, although biological factors can contribute; it encompasses psychological and behavioral aspects as well.
3. Step 3: Differentiate mental illness from behaviors that are merely unusual or different; not all atypical behaviors qualify as mental illness unless they cause significant distress or impairment.
4. Step 4: Distinguish mental illness from temporary emotional states like sadness or anxiety, which are normal human experiences and do not necessarily indicate a mental disorder.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the best definition of mental illness is a condition characterized by significant disturbances in thoughts, emotions, or behaviors that cause distress or impair functioning, as this captures the complexity and impact of these disorders.