Psychological disorder
deviant, distressful, and dysfunctional patterns of thoughts, feelings, or behaviors.
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
a psychological disorder marked by the appearance by age 7 of one or more of three key symptoms extreme inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity
Medical model
the concept that diseases, in this case psychological disorders, have physical causes that can be diagnosed, treated, and, in most cases, cured, often through treatment in a hospital
DSM-IV-TR
the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, updated as a 2000 "text revision"; a widely used system for classifying psychological disorders
Anxiety disorders
psychological disorders characterized by distressing, persistent anxiousness or maladaptive behaviors that reduce anxiety
Generalized anxiety disorder
a disorder in which a person is continually tense, apprehensive, and in a state of autonomic nervous system arousal
Panic disorder
an anxiety disorder marked by unpredictable minutes-long episodes of intense dread in which a person experiences terror and accompanying chest pain, choking, or other frightening sensations
Phobia
an anxiety disorder marked by a persistent, irrational fear and avoidance of a specific object, activity, or situation
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
an anxiety disorder characterized by unwanted repetitive thoughts (obsessions) and/or actions (compulsions).
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
an anxiety disorder characterized by haunting memories, nightmares, social withdrawal, jumpy anxiety, and/or insomnia that lingers for four weeks or more after a traumatic experience
Post-traumatic growth
positive psychological changes as a result of struggling with extremely challenging circumstances and life crises
Somatoform disorder
psychological disorder in which the symptoms take a somatic (bodily) form without apparent physical cause. (See conversion disorder and ?hypochondriasis.)
Conversion disorder
a rare somatoform disorder in which a person experiences very specific genuine physical symptoms for which no physiological basis can be found.
Hypochondriasis
a somatoform disorder in which a person interprets normal physical sensations as symptoms of a disease.
Dissociative disorders
disorders in which conscious awareness becomes separated (dissociated) from previous memories, thoughts, and feelings.
Dissociative identity disorder (DID)
a rare disorder in which a person exhibits two or more distinct and alternating personalities. Formerly called multiple personality disorder.
Mood disorders
psychological disorders characterized by emotional extremes. See major depressive disorder, mania, and bipolar disorder.
Major depressive disorder
a mood disorder in which a person experiences, in the absence of drugs or a medical condition, two or more weeks of significantly low spirits and bad moods, feelings of worthlessness, and diminished interest or pleasure in most activities.
Mania
a mood disorder marked by a hyperactive, wildly optimistic state.
Bipolar disorder
a mood disorder in which the person alternates between the hopelessness and lethargy of depression and the overexcited state of mania. (Formerly called manic-depressive disorder.)
Schizophrenia
a group of severe disorders characterized by disorganized and delusional thinking, disturbed perceptions, and inappropriate emotions and actions.
Delusions
false beliefs, often of persecution or grandeur, that may accompany psychotic disorders
Personality disorders
psychological disorders characterized by inflexible and enduring behavior patterns that impair social functioning.
Antisocial personality disorder
a personality disorder in which the person (usually a man) exhibits a lack of conscience for wrongdoing, even toward friends and family members. May be aggressive and ruthless or a clever con artist.