On October 10, World Mental Health Day, we turn our attention to this year’s theme, which emphasizes the importance of collective efforts to build a better mental health system and raise public awareness regarding mental health issues. In our interviews, we observed a growing public interest in mental health, but also a persistent misconception: many people still confuse mental disorders with neurological disorders.
Have you noticed that in everyday conversations, there’s a tendency to equate mental illnesses with neurological diseases, assuming they are essentially the same condition under different names?
At the Beijing Anding Hospital, part of the National Center for Mental Health, we learned that neurological diseases and mental disorders are distinct and have traditionally fallen under separate medical specialties.
Dr. Kang Dong, the head of the psychiatric-neurology joint ward at Capital Medical University’s Beijing Anding Hospital, clarified, “Neurology and psychiatry are indeed two separate fields. Neurology deals with diseases affecting the central and peripheral nervous systems, such as dementia. In contrast, mental illnesses often occur without structural changes to the brain, even though patients may exhibit disordered higher-level cognitive functions.”
Neurological diseases include a variety of conditions impacting the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and muscles. Common examples are cerebral hemorrhage, stroke, polio, cerebral palsy, peripheral neuropathy, Parkinson’s disease, traumatic brain injuries, epilepsy, and facial paralysis.
Conversely, mental disorders usually do not show identifiable organic changes, though the brain’s functionality can be disrupted. Common examples of mental illnesses include depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.
Interestingly, Dr. Kang noted that approximately 30% of individuals with neurological disorders also suffer from mental health issues. While neurology and psychiatry are acknowledged as distinct fields, the relationship between neurological diseases and mental disorders is more intertwined than many people realize, with numerous neurological patients exhibiting mental illness symptoms.
During our visit to the Beijing Anding Hospital, we met Ms. Zheng, who had come from Zhangjiakou with her husband for treatment. She shared that her husband was diagnosed with a neurological disease, specifically white matter lesions, last year. Although his condition stabilized post-treatment, he recently began experiencing severe hallucinations and disorientation. After being turned away by local hospitals, they traveled to Beijing seeking help.
Ms. Zheng explained, “We visited several hospitals, but none would accept him due to his existing mental disturbances.”
Dr. Kang added, “The initial hospital was a well-reputed neurology center. However, because of the severity of the patient’s mental condition, they could not proceed with further evaluations or diagnoses. Following their referral, he was directed to our ward, where we found that his severe mental symptoms were linked to an underlying neurological condition.”
Dr. Kang mentioned that many patients have a similar journey to Ms. Zheng’s husband. Research shows that around 30% of individuals with neurological disorders also deal with mental health challenges, and treating the two issues in isolation often leads to less than ideal outcomes.
The intersection of mental illness and neurological disorders highlights a complex dynamic. Mental disorders can increase the risk of developing cerebrovascular diseases and other neurological issues, while various neurological conditions frequently present with mental and behavioral symptoms.
Through our conversations, we discovered that many patients navigate overlapping mental and neurological health challenges. In response, an increasing number of healthcare facilities are starting to explore integrated treatment models that address both areas simultaneously.
At the psychiatric-neurology joint ward of the Beijing Anding Hospital, we spoke with 68-year-old Ms. Xu, who was preparing for discharge after two weeks of treatment. Her doctor detailed how Ms. Xu had started experiencing persistent low mood and speech difficulties several years ago, which later escalated to hallucinations. After showing no improvement with psychiatric care alone, she was admitted to the joint ward, where brain scans ultimately revealed she had Lewy body dementia, a neurological condition. Thanks to targeted treatment, her condition has stabilized.
Doctors at the hospital emphasized that the joint ward focuses on common psychological and neurological overlapping conditions such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, post-stroke symptoms, and epilepsy, in addition to addressing movement disorders, headaches, and sleep disturbances. By fostering collaboration between psychiatric and neurological teams, healthcare providers can ensure early and accurate diagnoses, paving the way for personalized treatment plans for their patients.
