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What Is a Psychological Disorder?
A psychological disorder, also known as a mental disorder, is a pattern of behavioral or psychological symptoms that impact multiple life areas and/or create distress for the person experiencing these symptoms.
How are Psychological Disorders Diagnosed?
The classification and diagnosis is an important concern for both mental health providers and mental health clients. While there is no single, definitive definition of mental disorders, a number of different classification and diagnostic criteria have emerged. Clinicians utilize the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV TR), published by the American Psychiatric Association, to determine whether a set of symptoms or behaviors meets the criteria for diagnosis as a psychological disorder. The International Classification of Diseases (ICD-16), published by the World Health Organization, is also frequently used.
What Is the Purpose of Getting a Diagnosis?
While some people may avoid seeking a diagnosis out of fear of social stigma, getting a diagnosis is an essential part of finding an effective treatment plan. A diagnosis is not about applying a label to a problem, it is about discovering solutions, treatments and information related to the problem.
How Prevalent Are Psychological Disorders?
Relatively recent research has revealed that psychological disorders are far more prevalent that previously believed. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), approximately 26 percent of American adults over the age of 18 suffer from some type of diagnosable mental disorder in a given year.
The 1994 National Comorbidity Survey (NCS) indicated that 30 percent of respondents had experienced symptoms of at least one psychological disorder in the previous year. The survey also indicated that nearly half of all adults experience some form of mental disorder at some point in their life.
What Are the Different Types of Mental Disorders?
The DSM-IV TR describes approximately 250 different psychological disorders, most of which fall under a category of similar or related disorders. Some of the prominent diagnostic categories include eating disorders, mood disorders, somatoform disorders, sleep disorders, anxiety disorders and personality disorders.
What Is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)?
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition text revision (DSM-IV-TR) is used by clinicians and psychiatrists to diagnose psychiatric illnesses. The DSM-IV-TR is published by the American Psychiatric Association and covers all categories of mental health disorders for both adults and children. The manual is non-theoretical and focused mostly on describing symptoms as well as statistics concerning which gender is most affected by the illness, the typical age of onset, the effects of treatment, and common treatment approaches.
The DSM-IV was originally published in 1994 and listed more than 250 mental disorders. An updated version, called the DSM-IV-TR, was published in 2000 and contains minor text revision in the descriptions of each disorder. Mental health providers use the manual to better understand a client's potential needs as well as a tool for assessment and diagnosis.
The DSM-IV TR is based on five different dimensions. This multiaxial approach allows clinicians and psychiatrists to make a more comprehensive evaluation of a client's level of functioning, because mental illnesses often impact many different life areas.
Axis I: Clinical Syndromes
This axis describes clinical symptoms that cause significant impairment. Disorders are grouped into different categories, including adjustment disorders, anxiety disorders, and pervasive developmental disorders.
Axis II: Personality and Mental Retardation
This axis describes long-term problems that are overlooked in the presence of Axis I disorders. Personality disorders cause significant problems in how a patient relates to the world and include antisocial personality disorder and histrionic personality disorder. Mental retardation is characterized by intellectual impairment and deficits in other areas such as self-care and interpersonal skills.
Axis III: Medical Conditions
These include physical and medical conditions that may influence or worsen Axis 1 and Axis II disorders. Some examples may include HIV/AIDS and brain injuries.
Axis IV: Psychosocial and Environmental Problems
Any social or environmental problems that may impact Axis I or Axis II disorders are accounted for in this assessment. These may include such things as unemployment, relocation, divorce, or the death of a loved one.
Axis V: Global Assessment of Functioning
This axis allows the clinician to rate the client's overall level of functioning. Based on this assessment, clinicians can better understand how the other four axes are interacting and the effect on the individual's life.
While the DSM-IV-TR is an important tool, it is important to note that only those who have received specialized training and possess sufficient experience are qualified to diagnose and treat mental illnesses. Clinicians also use the DMS-IV to classify patients for billing purposes, since the government and many insurance carriers require a specific diagnosis in order to approve payment for treatment.
List and Descriptions of the Categories of Psychological Disorders
The following list of psychological disorders includes the major categories of psychological disorders listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as well as several examples of each type of psychological disorder.
Adjustment Disorders
This classification of mental disorders is related to an identifiable source of stress that causes significant emotional and behavioral symptoms. The DSM-IV diagnostic criteria include:
(1) Distress that is marked and excessive for what would be expected from the stressor and
(2) Creates significant impairment in school, work or social environments.
In addition to these requirements, the symptoms must occur within three months of exposure to the stressor, the symptoms must not meet the criteria for an Axis I or Axis II disorder, the symptoms must not be related to bereavement and the symptoms must not last for longer than six months after exposureto the stressor.
Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders are those that are characterized by excessive and abnormal fear, worry and anxiety. In one recent survey published in the Archives of General Psychology, it was estimated that as many as 18% of American adults suffer from at least one anxiety disorder. Types of anxiety disorders include: Generalized anxiety disorder, Agoraphobia, Social anxiety disorder, Phobias, Panic disorder, Post-traumatic stress disorder, Separation anxiety
Cognitive Disorders
These psychological disorders are those that involve cognitive abilities such as memory, problem solving and perception. Some anxiety disorder, mood disorders and psychotic disorders are classified as cognitive disorders. Types of cognitive disorders include: Alzheimer's disease, Delirium, Dementia, Amnesia
Developmental Disorders
Developmental disorders, also referred to as childhood disorders, are those that are typically diagnosed during infancy, childhood or adolescence. These psychological disorders include: Mental retardation, Learning disabilities, Communication disorders, Autism, Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, Conduct disorder, Oppositional defiant disorder
Dissociative Disorders
Dissociative disorders are psychological disorders that involve a dissociation or interruption in aspects of consciousness, including identity and memory. Dissociative disorders include: Dissociative disorder (formerly known as multiple personality disorder, Dissociative fugue, Dissociative identity disorder, Depersonalization disorder
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are characterized by obsessive concerns with weight and disruptive eating patterns that negatively impact physical and mental health. Types of eating disorders include: Anorexia nervosa, Bulimia nervosa, Rumination disorder
Factitious Disorders
These psychological disorders are those in which an individual acts as if he or she has an illness, often be deliberately faking or exaggerating symptoms or even self-inflicting damage to the body. Types of factitious disorders include: Munchausen syndrome, Munchausen syndrome by proxy, Ganser syndrome
Impulse-Control Disorders
Impulse-control disorders are those that involve an inability to control impulses, resulting in harm to oneself or others. Types of impulse-control disorders include: Kleptomania (stealing), Pyromania (firestarting), Trichotillomania (hair-pulling), Pathological gambling, Intermittent explosive disorder, Dermatillomania (skin-picking)
Mental Disorders Due to a General Medical Condition
This type of psychological disorder is caused by an underlying medical condition. Medical conditions can cause psychological symptoms such as catatonia and personality changes. Examples of mental disorders due to a general medical condition include: Psychotic disorder due to epilepsy, Depression caused by diabetes, AIDS related psychosis, Personality changes due to brain damage
Mood Disorders
Mood disorder is a term given to a group of mental disorders that are all characterized by changes in mood. Examples of mood disorders include: Bipolar disorder, Major depressive disorder, Cyclothymic disorder
Personality Disorders
Personality disorders create a maladaptive pattern of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that can cause serious detriments to relationships and other life areas. Types of personality disorders include: Antisocial personality disorder, Avoidant personality disorder, Borderline personality disorder, Dependent personality disorder, Histrionic personality disorder, Narcissistic personality disorder, Obsessivecompulsive personality disorder, Paranoid personality disorder, Schizoid personality disorder, Schizotypal personality disorder
Psychotic Disorders
Psychotic disorders are those that involve a loss of contact with reality. People experiencing psychotic disorders may experience hallucinations and often display disorganized thinking. Delusional beliefs are another common characteristic of this class of psychological disorders. Types of psychotic disorders include: Schizophrenia, Delusional disorder
Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders
Sexual disorders are those that impact sexual functioning, while gender identity disorders are those that involve a discontentment with the biological sex a person was born with. Examples of sexual disorders: Erectile dysfunction, Paraphilias
Sleep Disorders
Sleep disorders involve an interruption in sleep patterns. These disorders can have a negative impact on both physical and mental health. Examples of sleep disorders include: Narcolepsy, Sleep terror disorder, Sleepwalking disorder, Primary insomnia
Somatoform Disorders
Somatoform disorder is a class of psychological disorder that involves physical symptoms that do not have a physical cause. These symptoms usually mimic real diseases or injuries. It is important to note somatoform disorders differ from factitious disorders; people suffering from somatoform disorders are
not faking their symptoms. Conversion disorder, Somatization disorder, Hypochondriasis, Body dysmorphic disorder, Pain disorder
Substance Related Disorders
Substance-related disorders are those that involve the use and abuse of different substance, such as cocaine, methamphetamine, opiates and alcohol. These disorders can include dependence, abuse, psychosis, anxiety, intoxication, delirium and withdrawal that results from the use of various substances. Examples of substance-related psychological disorders include: Alcohol abuse, Caffeine-induced anxiety disorder, Cocaine withdrawal.
1. Find the terms for these definitions:
1. an anxiety disorder characterized by anxiety in situations where the sufferer perceives certain environments as dangerous or uncomfortable, often due to the environment's vast openness or crowdedness.
2. a relatively rare form of child abuse that involves the exaggeration or fabrication of illnesses or symptoms by a primary caretaker
3. a severe condition that may develop after a person is exposed to one or more traumatic events, such as serious injury or the threat of death
4. a progressive disease that destroys memory and other important mental functions.
5. an eating disorder characterized by immoderate food restriction and irrational fear of gaining weight, as well as a distorted body self-perception.
6. a mental disorder characterized by at least two distinct and relatively enduring identities or dissociated personality states that alternately control a person's behavior, and is accompanied by memory impairment for important information not explained by ordinary forgetfulness.
7. a behavioral disorder characterized by extreme expressions of anger, often to the point of uncontrollable rage, that are disproportionate to the situation
8. a personality disorder in which the individual is described as being excessively preoccupied with issues of personal adequacy, power, prestige and vanity
9. a chronic neurological disorder caused by the brain's inability to regulate sleep-wake cycles normally
10. an unpleasant state of inner turmoil, often accompanied by nervous behavior, such as pacing back and forth, somatic complaints and rumination