Unit 5.4 Selection of Categories of Psychological Disorders

Neurodevelopmental disorders

A group of conditions that affect the development of the nervous system, leading to impairments in personal, social, academic, or occupational functioning.

ADHD

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, characterized by persistent patterns of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interfere with functioning or development.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

A complex developmental disorder affecting communication, behavior, and social interaction, often presenting with a range of symptoms and severity.

Schizophrenic Spectrum Disorder

A range of mental disorders characterized by distortions in thinking, perception, emotions, language, and sense

Positive Symptoms

Hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking that are present in schizophrenia and related disorders.

Delusions

False beliefs that are strongly held despite evidence to the contrary, often manifesting in various forms such as paranoia or grandiosity.

Paranoia

An irrational and persistent feeling that one is being persecuted or targeted, often leading to severe distrust of others.

Grandios

Delusions of having exceptional abilities, wealth, or fame.

Hallucinations

Perceptions of things that are not present, often involving hearing voices or seeing things that others do not.

Disorganized thinking or speech

A symptom commonly associated with schizophrenia, characterized by incoherent or illogical thoughts and difficulty organizing ideas in conversation.

Word Salad

A jumble of words and phrases that lacks clear meaning or coherence, often seen in individuals with severe mental disturbances.

Catatonic Excitement

A state of extreme agitation and hyperactivity, often characterized by uncontrolled movements and behaviors, typically seen in individuals with certain mental disorders.

Negative Symptoms

Deficits in normal emotional and behavioral functions, such as lack of motivation, diminished emotional expression, and social withdrawal, often seen in schizophrenia.

Catatonic Stupor

A state of unresponsiveness and lack of movement, commonly observed in individuals with schizophrenia or other severe mental disorders.

Flat Affect

A lack of emotional expression or response, often observed in individuals with schizophrenia or mood disorders.

Possible Causes of Schizophrenia

Genetic, environmental, and neurobiological factors contribute to the onset of schizophrenia, potentially including prenatal exposure to infections, stress, and substance abuse.

Depressive Disorders

Conditions characterized by persistent sadness, loss of interest, and various cognitive and physical symptoms that interfere with daily functioning.

Major Depressive Disorder

A mood disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest or pleasure in daily activities, often affecting a person's ability to function.

Persistent Depressive Disorder

A chronic form of depression characterized by a long-lasting low mood that persists for at least two years, often accompanied by feelings of hopelessness and low self-esteem.

Bipolar 1

A mood disorder characterized by at least one manic episode, which may be preceded or followed by hypomanic or major depressive episodes, impacting daily functioning.

Bipolar 2

A mood disorder characterized by episodes of hypomania and severe depression, with less severe manic episodes than Bipolar I.

Manic episodes

periods of abnormally elevated mood and energy, lasting at least one week, often leading to risky behaviors and impulsive decisions.

Hypomanic episodes

periods of elevated mood and energy that are less severe than manic episodes, lasting at least four consecutive days.

Anxiety Disorders

Mental health conditions characterized by excessive fear or worry, affecting daily functioning. They include disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder.

Specific phobia

an intense, irrational fear of a specific object or situation that leads to avoidance behavior.

Agoraphobia

an anxiety disorder characterized by intense fear of being in situations where escape might be difficult or help unavailable, often leading to avoidance of public places.

Panic Disorder

A type of anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent and unexpected panic attacks, leading to significant worry about future attacks and/or behavioral changes.

Ataque de nervios

a culturally bound syndrome characterized by acute emotional distress, symptoms of panic, and sometimes loss of control, often triggered by a stressful event.

Social Anxiety Disorder

A mental health condition characterized by an intense fear of social situations, leading to avoidance of interactions due to the fear of being judged or embarrassed.

Taijin Kyofusho

a cultural variant of social anxiety disorder, primarily seen in Japan, where individuals experience anxiety about offending others or causing discomfort due to perceived physical flaws.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

a psychological disorder characterized by excessive, uncontrollable worry about various aspects of life, often accompanied by physical symptoms such as restlessness, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating.

OCD

characterized by unwanted, recurring thoughts and repetitive behaviors performed to reduce anxiety.

Obsession

Intrusive, unwanted thoughts that cause significant distress

Compulsion

Repetitive behavior or mental act that an individual feels driven to perform in response to an obsession or according to rules that must be applied rigidly, aimed at reducing anxiety.

Hoarding Disorder

a condition characterized by persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions, leading to clutter that interferes with daily living.

Dissociative Disorders

A group of disorders characterized by disconnection and lack of continuity between thoughts, memory, surroundings, actions, and identity.

Dissociative Identity Disorder

A disorder characterized by the presence of two or more distinct personality states, each with its own pattern of perceiving and interacting with the world.

Dissociative Amnesia

A disorder characterized by an inability to recall important personal information, usually related to trauma or stress, which is inconsistent with ordinary forgetting.

Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorder

Disorders that develop in response to traumatic or stressful events, leading to significant emotional or behavioral symptoms.

Feed and Eating Disorders

A category of mental health disorders that involves persistent patterns of abnormal eating behaviors, which can affect physical and psychological health.

Anorexia Nervosa

an eating disorder marked by extreme food restriction, fear of gaining weight, and a distorted body image.

Bulimia Nervosa

an eating disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors such as vomiting or excessive exercise.

Personality Disorders

A group of mental health conditions characterized by long-lasting patterns of behavior, thinking, and functioning that deviate from societal expectations, leading to significant impairment or distress.

Cluster A: Odd or Eccentric

A group of personality disorders characterized by unusual or bizarre behavior, including paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal disorders.

Paranoid PD

A personality disorder characterized by pervasive distrust and suspiciousness of others, interpreting their motives as malevolent.

Schizoid PD

A personality disorder characterized by a persistent lack of interest in social relationships, emotional coldness, and a preference for solitary activities.

Schizotypal PD

A personality disorder characterized by acute discomfort in close relationships, cognitive or perceptual distortions, and eccentric behaviors. Individuals may display odd beliefs or magical thinking.

Cluster B: Dramatic, Emotional, or Erratic

A cluster of personality disorders characterized by dramatic, overly emotional, or erratic behavior, including Borderline, Antisocial, Histrionic, and Narcissistic Personality Disorders.

Antisocial PD

A personality disorder marked by a disregard for the rights of others, deceitfulness, impulsivity, irritability, and lack of remorse for wrongdoing.

Histrionic PD

A personality disorder characterized by excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behavior. Individuals often engage in dramatic displays of emotion and have a strong desire for approval and attention.

Narcissistic PD

A personality disorder marked by an inflated sense of self-importance, a deep need for excessive attention and admiration, and a lack of empathy for others.

Borderline PD

A personality disorder characterized by instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and emotions, often leading to impulsive behaviors and intense, unstable relationships.

Cluster C: Anxious or Fearful

A category of personality disorders that includes Avoidant Personality Disorder, Dependent Personality Disorder, and Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder, characterized by anxiety and fearfulness in social situations.

Avoident PD

A personality disorder characterized by social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and hypersensitivity to negative evaluation, leading individuals to avoid social interactions.

Dependent PD

A personality disorder marked by a pervasive and excessive need to be taken care of, leading to submissive and clinging behaviors and fears of separation.

Obsessive-Compulsive PD

A personality disorder characterized by a preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and control over one's environment, often at the expense of flexibility and efficiency.