agoraphobia
an anxiety disorder in which the main symptom is an intense fear of public places
amnesia
a dissociative disorder involving a partial or complete loss of memory
antisocial personality disorder
a personality disorder involving a chronic pattern of self- centered, manipulative, and destructive behavior toward others
bipolar disorder
a rare mood disorder characterized by wild fluctuations from mania (euphoric, overactive state) to depression (a state of hopelessness and apathy)
borderline personality disorder
a type of personality characterized by instability in one's self-image, mood, and social relationships and a lack of clear identity
comorbidity
the tendency for people diagnosed with one mental disorder to exhibit symptoms of other disorders as well
conversion disorder
a disorder in which a person temporarily loses a bodily function in the absence of a physical cause
culture-bound syndromes
recurring patterns of maladaptive behavior that are limited to a specific cultural group or location
delusions
false beliefs that often accompany schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders
depression
a mood disorder characterized by sadness, despair, feelings of worthlessness, and low self-esteem
depressive explanatory style
the tendency for depressed people to attribute negative events to factors that are internal, stable, and global
diagnosis
the process of identifying and grouping mental disorders with similar symptoms
diathesis-stress model
the theory that certain mental disorders (such as schizophrenia) develop when people with a genetic or acquired vulnerability are exposed to high levels of stress
dissociative disorder
a condition marked by a temporary disruption in one's memory, consciousness, self-identity
dissociative identity disorder (DID)
formerly known as multiple personality disorder, it is a condition in which an individual develops two or more distinct identities
DSM-IV
nickname for the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
fugue state
a form amnesia in which a person "forgets" his or her identity, wanders from home, and starts a new life
generalized anxiety disorder
a psychological disorder that is characterized by a constant state of anxiety not linked to an identifiable source
hallucinations
sensory experiences that occur in the absence of actual stimulation
hypochondriasis
a disorder characterized by an unwarranted preoccupation with one's physical health
learned helplessness
a learned expectation that one cannot control important life outcomes, resulting in apathy and depression
medical model
the perspective that mental disorders are caused by biological conditions and can be treated through medical intervention
mood disorder
a condition characterized by prolonged emotional extremes ranging from mania to depression
obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
an anxiety disorder defined by persistent thoughts (obsessions) and the need to perform repetitive acts (compulsions)
panic disorder
a disorder characterized by sudden and intense rushes of anxiety without an apparent reason
personality disorders
a group of disorders characterized by a personality that is highly inflexible and maladaptive
phobic disorder
an anxiety disorder characterized by an intense and irrational fear
psychological disorder
a condition in which a person's thoughts, feelings, or behavior is judged to be dysfunctional
psychological model
the perspective that mental disorders are caused and maintained by one's life experiences
schizophrenia disorders
disorders involving gross distortions of thoughts and perceptions and by loss of contact with reality
simple phobia
an intense, irrational fear of a specific object or situation
social phobia
an intense fear of situations that invite public scrutiny
somatoform disorder
a type of mental disorder in which a person experiences bodily symptoms that are psychological rather than medical in nature