Pathology (Mental Health)

anorexia nervosa

disorder characterized by distorted body image, pathological fear of becoming fat, & severe weight loss due to dieting

antisocial personality disorder

behaviors that are against legal or societal norms

attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

inattention & impulsive behavior; can be inattentive type, hyperactive type, or combined

autism spectrum disorder

range of conditions involving deficits in social interaction, communication skills, & restricted patterns of behavior

bipolar disorder (BPD)

alternation between periods of deep depression & mania

bulimia

condition of binge eating & intentional vomiting

clinical psychologist

masters’s or PhD or PsyD; specializes in evaluating & treating persons with mental & emotional disorders

conversion disorder

anxiety is transformed into physical symptoms, such as heart palpitations, paralysis, or blindness

delusional disorder

false belief held even in the face of contrary evidence; culturally-accepted delusions do not count

dissociative amnesia

loss of memory

electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

occasionally used for prolonged major depression; placement of electrodes on one or both sides of the head; low voltage is turned on, passed through the head, causing a convulsive seizure; patient is anesthetized during ECT

encopresis

act of pooping in inappropriate places after toilet training

enuresis

act of peeing in inappropriate places after toilet training

explosive disorder

violent rages

gender dysphoria

occurs when birth gender is contrary to gender with which the person identifies; includes both male to female (MTF) & female to male (FTM)

general anxiety disorder

feeling of dread in absence of a clearly identifiable stress trigger

hallucination

perceiving something that is not there

insomnia disorder

condition of inability to sleep

intellectual development disorder

below average intellectual functioning

kleptomania

uncontrollable impulse to steal

major depressive disorder

feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, worthlessness; lack of pleasure in any activity; potential for suicide

mania

displaying extreme elation, hyperactivity, excessive talkativeness, impaired judgement, distractability, & grandoise delusions; people often do not sleep when they are manic

narcissistic personality disorder

abnormal sense of self-importance

narcolepsy

recurring episodes of sleeping during daytime & often difficulty sleeping at night

obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)

performing repetitive rituals to reduce anxiety caused by persistent thoughts, ideas, or compulsions

panic disorder

feeling of intense apprehension, terror, or sense of impending danger

paraphilic disorders

disorders that involve aberrant sexual activity & sexual dysfunction; examples include pedophilic disorder, sexual masochism disorder, voyeuristic disorder

personality disorders

inflexible or maladaptive behavior patterns that affect a person’s ability to function in society

phobias

irrational fear

posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

results from exposure to actual or implied death, injury, or sexual violence; impairs social interactions & capacity to work

psychiatrist

went to med school; has an MD; specializes in psychiatry

psychiatry

branch of medicine associated with the diagnosis, treatment, & prevention of mental disorders

psychotherapy

method of treating mental disorders by mental rather than chemical or physical means

pyromania

uncontrollable impulse to set fires

schizophrenia

mental disorder characterized by distortions in reality

somatic symptom disorder (SSD)

having physical symptoms that cause distress & disrupt daily life; includes preoccupation with symptoms & behaviors based on symptoms