DSM 5 Diagnosis Study Guide

Intellectual Disability Disorder

Requires assessment and intellectural and adaptiv deficits. Onset during developmental period

Childhood-Onset Fluency Disorder (Stuttering)

A neurodevelopmental disorder that affects how speech flows and its timing. It often shows up as repetitions, prolongations, blocks, and tension when talking.

Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder

Social communication deficits without repetitive behaviors

ADHD

Inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity before age 12 across settings

Tourette’s Disorder

Multiple motor + at least one vocal tic

Motor/Vocal Tic Disorders

Tics present but not meeting Tourette’s full criteria

Schizophrenia Spectrum & Psychotic Disorders

A range of disorders characterized by abnormalities in thought, perception, and behavior, including hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking.

Delusional Disorder

At least 1 month of delusions but no other psychotic symptoms

Brief Psychotic Disorder

Psychosis lasting 1 day to 1 month

Schizophreniform Disorder

Schizophrenia symptoms lasting 1–6 months

Schizophrenia

Psychotic symptoms for at least 6 months with functional impairment

Schizoaffective Disorder

Mood episode CONCURRENT schizophrenia with at least 2 weeks of psychosis alone

Bipolar Disorders

Mental health conditions characterized by alternating periods of depressive and manic or hypomanic episodes.

Bipolar I Disorder

At least one manic episode (depression not required)

Bipolar II Disorder

Hypomania + major depressive episode

Cyclothymic Disorder

2 years: hypomanic and depressive episodes that do not meet full criteria for either

Depressive Disorders

A group of mood disorders characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest or pleasure in activities.

Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)

Severe irritability + temper outbursts in children under 18. Frequent outbursts of temper over a period lasting at least 1 year, with no more than a 3-month period without outbursts.

Major Depressive Disorder

At least 2 weeks of depressive symptoms

Persistent Depressive Disorder

Chronic depression at least 2 years. Several specifiers are part of the diagnosis, including whether dysthymic only or with a major depressive episode.

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

Mood symptoms tied to menstrual cycle

Anxiety Disorders

A group of mental health disorders characterized by excessive fear or anxiety that interferes with daily activities. Symptoms may include restlessness, difficulty concentrating, rapid heartbeat, and avoidance behavior.

Separation Anxiety Disorder

Excessive fear of separation from attachment figures

Selective Mutism

Failure to speak in specific settings despite ability for at least 1 month

Specific Phobia

Intense fear of specific object/situation

Social Anxiety Disorder

Fear of negative evaluation in social situations

Panic Disorder

Repeated panic attacks include at least four symptoms, such as rapid heartbeat, sweating, shaking, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, vertigo, temperature sensations, paresthesias, derealization, and fears of losing control or dying. One attack is followed by a month of worry or avoidant behavior.

Agoraphobia

Fear of situations where escape is difficult two or more.

Generalized Anxiety Disorders

Inordinate worry about a variety of scenarios, occurring more days than not. At least three of the following symptoms must be present (with at least one lasting at least 6 months): agitation, tiredness, difficulty focusing, irritability, muscular tension, and difficulty sleeping.

Obsessive-Compulsive & Related Disorders

A group of disorders characterized by the presence of obsessions, compulsions, or both, leading to significant distress or impairment in functioning.

OCD

• Obsessions (recurrent thoughts); compulsions (repetitive behaviors)

• Can have only obsession or compulsive, or have both, with (96%)  or without insight

Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Preoccupation with perceived physical flaws

Hoarding Disorder

Persistent difficulty discarding possessions

Trichotillomania

Recurrent hair-pulling

Excoriation Disorder

Recurrent skin picking

Trauma- & Stressor-Related Disorders

Disorders that occur after exposure to a traumatic or stressful event, leading to symptoms like intrusive memories, avoidance, and heightened arousal.

Reactive Attachment Disorder

Withdrawn behavior due to neglect

Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder

Manifested by a child’s tendency to seek out and interact with unfamiliar adults, and at least two of these: no reticence with unfamiliar adults, overly familiar behavior, little regard for reconnecting with adult caretakers in new environments, and unhesitatingly accompanying strangers.

PTSD

Trauma exposure + intrusion, avoidance, mood, arousal symptoms for more than 1 month

Acute Stress Disorder

PTSD-like symptoms less than 1 month

Adjustment Disorders

Emotional/behavioral response to stressor within 3 months

Dissociative Disorders

Characterized by disruptions in consciousness, memory, identity, or perception. These disorders often arise as a response to trauma or stress.

Dissociative Identity Disorder

Two or more distinct personalities; gaps in memory

Dissociative Amnesia

Inability to recall important autobiographical information

Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder

Feeling detached from self or surroundings

Somatic Symptom & Related Disorders

Disorders characterized by physical symptoms that cannot be fully explained by medical conditions, often linked to psychological distress.

Somatic Symptom Disorder

Excessive thoughts/behaviors about physical symptoms

Illness Anxiety Disorder

Health anxiety without somatic symptoms

Conversion Disorder

Neurological symptoms incompatible with medical findings

Factitious Disorder

Falsification of symptoms for psychological gain

Feeding & Eating Disorders

A group of disorders characterized by persistent disturbances in eating behavior, leading to altered food consumption and associated health consequences.

Pica

Eating non-nutritive substances

Rumination Disorder —

Repeated regurgitation of food

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder

Chronic avoidance of eating to a degree resulting in significant weight loss or nutritional deficiency. The condition may require enteral feeding.

Anorexia Nervosa —

Restriction, low weight, fear of gaining weight

Bulimia Nervosa —

Binge eating + compensatory behaviors for at least 3 months

Binge-Eating Disorder —

Recurrent binge eating without purging

Elimination Disorders

A group of disorders characterized by the inappropriate elimination of urine or feces, typically manifesting in children.

Enuresis

Repeated urination in inappropriate places

Encopresis —

Repeated fecal elimination in inappropriate places

Sexual Dysfunctions

A group of disorders characterized by a clinically significant disturbance in a person's ability to respond sexually or to experience sexual pleasure.

Must occur 75-100% of the time

All require a minimum duration of 6 months

• Subtypes must be specified:

  • Lifelong versus acquired

  • Generalized vs situational

• Severity rating: Mild, moderate, severe

Gender Dysphoria

A condition where a person experiences significant distress or impairment due to a mismatch between their experienced or expressed gender and the gender assigned at birth.

Gender Dysphoria (Child/Adult)

Distress due to mismatch between assigned and experienced gender

Paraphilic Disorders

A group of disorders characterized by intense sexual arousal to atypical objects, situations, or individuals, often causing distress or impairment in functioning.

Disruptive, Impulse-Control & Conduct Disorders

A category of mental disorders that involve problems in emotional and behavioral self-control, often leading to violations of social norms or rules.

ODD

Three types of symptoms: irritability, defiance, vindictivenessr at least 6 months

Conduct Disorder

Violates the rights of others/social norms. Must show symptoms before the age of 10. Lack of remorse/guilt

Kleptomania

Impulse to steal unneeded items

Substance-Related & Addictive Disorders

A range of conditions involving the consumption of substances that lead to clinically significant impairments or distress, including substance use disorders and addiction.

Neurocognitive Disorders

A category of disorders characterized by a decline in cognitive function, affecting memory, thinking, and communication, often due to underlying medical conditions.

Personality Disorders

A group of mental health disorders characterized by enduring patterns of behavior, cognition, and inner experience that deviate from cultural expectations, causing significant distress or impairment.

Cluster A - Paranoid

Pervasive distrust without justification; no psychotic symptoms.

Cluster A - Schizoid

Detachment, limited emotion

Cluster A - Schizotypal

Social deficits with discomfort in close relationships; odd beliefs

Cluster B - Antisocial

A pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others characterized by deceit, manipulation, and exploitation.

Cluster B - Borderline —

Instability, fear of abandonment

Cluster B - Histrionic

A pattern of excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behavior manifesting in a variety of contexts.

Cluster B - Narcissistic

Grandiosity, lack of empathy

Cluster C - Avoidant

Social inhibition, feels inadequate, fears criticism

Cluster C - Dependent

— Need to be taken care of

Cluster C - Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder

Perfectionism, control, rigidityOCPD — Perfectionism, control, rigidity