Focus on brain disorders

Introduction

The brain is the most complex organ in the human body, in terms of both its structure and chemical composition. Created by our genes, life experiences and the environment around us, the brain acquires, coordinates and disseminates information to control how we think, behave, learn and feel. To do this, all of the one hundred billion cells in this complex organ must effectively communicate with each other, and failure to do so may cause or contribute to brain dysfunction and mental illness.

Factsheet: Overview of mental disorders

Last updated: 20.12.2011