Help with mental illness topic

Most of the people I see as patients are bi polar or suffer from schizophrenia (typically affective disorder form).

But some of the things that seem interesting as well are Munchausen by proxy, autism, narcolepsy, terets syndrome, clinical depression, ADD/ADHD, sucidal/homicidal thoughts (specifically in teens...on the rise now), and forms of dementia in the elderly.

Good info can be found at the American Psychological Association (APA).

Good luck!

Sociopath personality is very interesting and the knowledge can be applied

to life in general as well as nursing practice.

How about ODD - Oppositional Defiant Disorder

borderline, trichotilamania, ptsd, ocd, any specific phobia, DID...

check here for a complete DSM list of disorders

http://www.dr-bob.org/tips/dsm4a.html

Maybe multiple personality? That always fascinates me. It's interesting though, there are quite a few people that don't believe in that disorder.

Sociopath personality is very interesting and the knowledge can be applied

to life in general as well as nursing practice.

There is some debate about whether personality disorders or developmental disorders are actually "mental illness."

In the library you can find a copy of the DSM--the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual. The most current edition will be called the DSM-IV-TR, or fourth edition, text revision.

I've always found it fascinating to just page through there and read at random.

There are so many different disorders that I'm certain you will find something terrific to write (and learn) about.

Have fun!