Diagnosis and Classification of Mental Disorders

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms on DSM classification, diagnostic reliability/validity, epidemiology concepts, and major disorder categories discussed in the lecture.

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)

The authoritative classification system created by the American Psychiatric Association for identifying and categorizing mental disorders.

DSM-5

The fifth and current edition of the DSM, containing updated diagnostic criteria and categories for mental disorders.

American Psychiatric Association (APA)

The professional organization that authors and revises the DSM used for diagnosing mental disorders.

Hierarchical Organization (DSM)

A structure in which broad categories (e.g., Anxiety Disorders) contain narrower sub-categories (e.g., specific phobia, panic disorder).

Anxiety Disorders

A major DSM category that includes conditions such as generalized anxiety disorder, specific phobia, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and agoraphobia.

Depressive Disorders

The DSM grouping of disorders characterized by depressed mood, including major depressive disorder and dysthymia.

Mood Disorders

A wider DSM grouping that covers depressive disorders and bipolar disorders, all involving disturbances in mood.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

An anxiety disorder featuring persistent, excessive, and diffuse worry about multiple aspects of life.

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

A mood disorder marked by one or more major depressive episodes with symptoms such as depressed mood or loss of interest.

Bipolar I Disorder

A mood disorder involving at least one full manic episode, often alternating with depressive episodes; noted for high diagnostic validity.

Substance Use Disorder

An externalizing disorder characterized by maladaptive or harmful use of alcohol or other drugs; more common in men.

Antisocial Personality Disorder

A lifelong personality disorder involving pervasive disregard for others’ rights and social norms; an externalizing disorder prevalent in men.

Reliability (Diagnostic System)

The degree to which different clinicians using the same system reach the same diagnosis—i.e., diagnostic agreement or repeatability.

Validity (Diagnostic System)

The extent to which a diagnosis accurately reflects the true condition, often evaluated through predictive accuracy and shared causal evidence.

Epidemiology

The study of the prevalence, incidence, and correlates of diseases or disorders in a population.

Prevalence

The proportion of a population that currently has, or has had, a given disorder during a specified time period.

Lifetime Prevalence

The proportion of people who have ever met criteria for a disorder at any point in their lives.

Incidence

The number of new cases of a disorder that appear in a population during a given time frame.

Internalizing Disorders

Conditions in which emotional disturbance (e.g., anxiety, depression) is primary; more prevalent in women.

Externalizing Disorders

Conditions in which maladaptive behavior (e.g., substance use, ADHD, conduct problems) is primary; more prevalent in men.

Psychosis

A condition involving a break from reality, often with delusions or hallucinations.

Neurosis (Outdated Term)

Former term for conditions involving high anxiety and difficulty coping with reality; contrasted with psychosis.