Mental Disorders

Abnormal Psychology

the study of unusual patterns of behavior, emotion, and thought, which may or may not be understood as precipitating a mental disorder.

Clinical Psychology

the branch of psychology that assesses, diagnoses, treats, and prevents mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders, utilizing various therapeutic methods and interventions to improve individuals' mental health and well-being.

Psychology Student Syndrome

Psychology students studying abnormal behavior can also become convinced that they have some mental disorder.

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR)

comprehensive classification system used by mental health professionals to diagnose and categorize mental disorders, providing standardized criteria and descriptions for consistent use across clinical settings.

International Classification of Mental Disorders (ICD) (11th edition)

global standard for reporting and categorizing diseases, including mental and behavioral disorders, used by healthcare professionals to diagnose conditions and track health trends worldwide.

Deviation

significant departure from accepted social behaviors and cultural expectations, used as a criterion to identify and diagnose abnormal behaviors and psychological disorders in clinical settings.

Distress

intense and prolonged emotional suffering that impairs an individual's ability to function in daily life, often used as a key criterion for diagnosis.

Dysfunction

the disruption in cognitive, emotional, or behavioral functioning that significantly impairs an individual's ability to perform normal daily activities.

Stigma

the negative stereotypes and social disapproval directed at individuals with mental disorders, often leading to discrimination and barriers to seeking or receiving mental health care.

Biological Perspective

mental disorders are caused by physiological and genetic factors, focusing on how brain function, neurochemistry, and genetics contribute to psychological conditions.

Behavioral Perspective

suggests that mental disorders arise from maladaptive learned behaviors and associations, focusing on how inappropriate conditioning and reinforcement of behaviors contribute to psychological issues.

Psychodynamic Perspective

mental disorders stem from unresolved unconscious conflicts and impulses, often originating in childhood, that influence current behavior and emotional states.

Humanistic Perspective

emphasizes that mental disorders arise when individuals' innate potential for self-fulfillment and personal growth is blocked, often due to failures in achieving self-acceptance and meaningful personal goals.

Cognitive Perspective

proposes that mental disorders are caused by maladaptive thought patterns, including dysfunctional beliefs, attitudes, and emotional responses, which negatively affect behavior and emotional well-being.

Evolutionary Perspective

suggests that mental disorders can arise from behaviors and mental processes that are maladaptive, reducing an individual's chances of survival and reproduction in a given environment.

Sociocultural Perspective

mental disorders stem from maladaptive social and cultural relationships and dynamics, emphasizing the influence of societal norms and interactions on mental health.

Eclectic Approach

Combining techniques and theories from multiple therapeutic orientations to tailor treatment to the unique needs of individual clients, enhancing flexibility and effectiveness in therapy.

Biopsychosocial Model

Psychological disorders result from a complex interaction of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors, emphasizing the comprehensive and interconnected nature of influences on mental health.

Diathesis-Stress Model

Psychological disorders arise from a predisposing genetic vulnerability (diathesis) combined with stressful environmental factors (stress), triggering the onset of mental health issues.

Anxiety Disorders

Characterized by excessive fear and anxiety that lead to significant disturbances in behavior.

Specific Phobia

A psychological disorder characterized by an intense and irrational fear of a specific object or situation, leading to significant distress and avoidance behavior that disrupts daily functioning.

Acrophobia

Classified as a specific phobia in the DSM-5-TR, is characterized by an intense and persistent fear of heights, causing excessive anxiety and avoidance behaviors that can interfere with daily activities.

Arachnophobia

Classified as a specific phobia in the DSM-5-TR, is characterized by an irrational fear of spiders, leading to significant anxiety and avoidance behavior that disrupts normal functioning.

Agoraphobia

Psychological disorder characterized by an intense fear of being in situations where escape might be difficult or help unavailable, often leading to avoidance of places like public spaces or crowds, significantly impacting daily activities.

Panic Disorder

Recurrent and unexpected panic attacks—sudden episodes of intense fear or discomfort that peak within minutes—accompanied by physical symptoms like heart palpitations, and ongoing concern about having additional attacks or their consequences.

Ataque de nervios

Episodes of intense emotional distress, dramatic expressions of emotion, such as screaming or crying, and sometimes uncontrollable physical symptoms like shaking or feeling as if one is suffocating.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Significant and persistent fear of social situations where embarrassment or scrutiny may occur, leading to avoidance behaviors and severe anxiety about performing or interacting in certain social contexts.

Taijin Kyofusho

Predominantly observed in Japan, characterized by an intense fear of offending or embarrassing others through one's bodily functions or appearance, leading to significant social anxiety and avoidance behaviors.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Persistent and excessive worry about various aspects of daily life, accompanied by physical symptoms such as restlessness, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating, which are not tied to any specific cause or event.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Recurrent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) that an individual feels driven to perform in response to an obsession, typically aimed at reducing anxiety but causing significant distress and interference in daily functioning.

Hoarding Disorder

Persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions, regardless of their actual value, due to a perceived need to save them, resulting in excessive accumulation that compromises the use of living areas and significantly impairs daily functioning.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Persistent mental and emotional stress following exposure to a traumatic event, featuring symptoms such as intrusive memories (flashbacks), avoidance of reminders of the trauma, heightened reactivity (e.g., exaggerated startle response), and emotional numbness.