Psychological disorders are complex and multifaceted, encompassing a wide range of conditions that affect an individual's cognition, emotion regulation, and behavior. These disorders can be categorized into several broad groups, including anxiety disorders, mood disorders, personality disorders, trauma and stressor-related disorders, dissociative and somatic symptom disorders, feeding and eating disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders, and psychotic disorders.
Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders are characterized by excessive and persistent fear or anxiety that interferes with an individual's daily life. Examples include:
- Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
- Panic disorder
- Social anxiety disorder
- Specific phobias
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD)
Mood Disorders
Mood disorders are characterized by significant changes in mood, such as:
- Major depressive disorder (MDD)
- Bipolar disorder
- Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
- Cyclothymic disorder
- Dysthymic disorder
Personality Disorders
Personality disorders are characterized by inflexible and maladaptive patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving. Examples include:
- Borderline personality disorder (BPD)
- Narcissistic personality disorder
- Antisocial personality disorder
- Avoidant personality disorder
- Dependent personality disorder
- Histrionic personality disorder
- Schizoid personality disorder
- Schizotypal personality disorder
Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders
Trauma and stressor-related disorders are characterized by significant distress or impairment following a traumatic event. Examples include:
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Acute stress disorder
- Adjustment disorder
- Complex posttraumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD)
Dissociative and Somatic Symptom Disorders
Dissociative and somatic symptom disorders are characterized by dissociative experiences, such as:
- Dissociative identity disorder (DID)
- Dissociative amnesia
- Dissociative fugue
- Somatic symptom disorder
- Conversion disorder
Feeding and Eating Disorders
Feeding and eating disorders are characterized by disturbances in eating behaviors, such as:
- Anorexia nervosa
- Bulimia nervosa
- Binge-eating disorder
- Other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED)
Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Neurodevelopmental disorders are characterized by developmental delays or impairments in cognitive, social, or emotional functioning. Examples include:
- Intellectual disability
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Tourette syndrome
- Rett syndrome
Psychotic Disorders
Psychotic disorders are characterized by a loss of contact with reality, such as:
- Schizophrenia
- Schizoaffective disorder
- Delusional disorder
- Brief psychotic disorder
- Shared psychotic disorder
Neurosis
Neurosis is a term that was previously used to describe a range of psychological disorders, including anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and personality disorders. However, the term is no longer widely used in modern psychology.
Conclusion
Psychological disorders are complex and multifaceted, encompassing a wide range of conditions that affect an individual's cognition, emotion regulation, and behavior. Understanding these disorders requires a comprehensive approach that incorporates biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors. By recognizing the complexity of psychological disorders, we can better support individuals in their recovery and promote overall mental health.
References
- American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.
- Comer, R. J. (2014). Abnormal Psychology. New York: Worth Publishers.
- Rosenhan, D. L. (1973). On Being Sane in Insane Places. Science, 179(4070), 250-258.
- Van Raalte, J. L., & Brewer, B. W. (2005). The REFER Model: A Framework for Referring Students to Mental Health Services. Journal of School Psychology, 43(2), 147-162.