Mental Disorders

Adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can include a combination of persistent problems, such as difficulty paying attention, hyperactivity and impulsive behavior. It can be diagnosed in childhood or adulthood and can be disruptive at home, school or work.

Anxiety disorders involve repeated episodes of sudden feelings of intense anxiety and fear or terror that reach a peak within minutes (panic attacks). These feelings of anxiety and panic interfere with daily activities, are difficult to control, are out of proportion to the actual danger and can last a long time. Panic attacks can occur without a trigger whereas anxiety usually occurs in response to a perceived stressor or threat.

Mood disorder definition is – any of several psychological disorders (such as major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder) characterized by abnormalities of emotional state —called also affective disorder. These are usually associated with emotions that don’t fit one’s situation and are hard to contain or control.

A mental disorder characterized by delusions, hallucinations, or other symptoms of lack of contact with reality. The schizophrenias are psychotic disorders. Psychosis can also be a symptom in other disorders.

Adjustment disorder, sometimes referred to as situational depression, is an abnormal or excessive reaction to an identifiable life stressor. You experience more stress than would normally be expected in response to a stressful or unexpected event, causing significant problems at work or school or in relationships.

Impulse control disorders are conditions where people have impulses that are difficult or impossible to resist and can range from extreme emotional reactions to harmful behaviors.

These impulse control disorders can negatively impact a person’s quality of life, but people can manage symptoms with treatment.

Eating disorders are serious conditions related to persistent eating behaviors that negatively impact your health and your ability to function. Most eating disorders involve focusing too much on your weight, body shape and food, leading to dangerous eating behaviors and can significantly impact your body’s ability to get appropriate nutrition. With treatment, you can return to healthier eating habits and sometimes reverse serious complications caused by the eating disorder.

PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, is an anxiety problem that develops in some people after extremely traumatic events, such as combat, crime, an accident or natural disaster. People with PTSD may relive the event via intrusive memories, flashbacks and nightmares; avoid anything that reminds them of the trauma; and have anxious feelings they didn’t have before that are so intense their lives are disrupted.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder that affects communication and behavior. People with ASD generally have difficulty with communication and interaction with other people, restricted interests and repetitive behaviors, symptoms that hurt the person’s ability to function properly in school, work, and other areas of life.

Autism is known as a “spectrum” disorder because there is wide variation in the type and severity of symptoms people experience. ASD occurs in all ethnic, racial, and economic groups.

Cognitive disorders are a category of mental health disorders that primarily affect learning, memory, perception, and problem solving, and include amnesia, dementia, and delirium. While anxiety, mood, and psychotic disorders can also influence cognitive and memory functions these are not considered cognitive disorders because loss of cognitive function is not the primary symptom.

Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. More than just a bout of the blues, depression isn’t a weakness and you can’t simply “snap out” of it. Depression may require long-term treatment; most people with depression feel better with medication, psychotherapy or both.

Grief is the acute pain that accompanies loss. Because it is a reflection of what we love, it can feel all-encompassing. Grief is not limited to the loss of a loved one and may be compounded by feelings of guilt and confusion, especially when the loss is a complicated one.

While some people do experience the stages, and eventually reach acceptance after a loss, grief is now understood to be highly individualized and unpredictable. Because grief obeys its own trajectory, there is no timetable for feelings of pain after loss; nor is it possible to avoid suffering altogether. In fact, attempts to suppress or deny grief are just as likely to prolong the process, while also demanding additional emotional effort.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a disorder in which people have recurring, unwanted thoughts or sensations (obsessions) that make them feel driven to do something repetitively (compulsions). For people with OCD, thoughts are persistent, and behaviors are rigid. Not performing the behaviors commonly causes great distress. Even if they know their obsessions are not realistic, people with OCD have difficulty disengaging from the obsessive thoughts or stopping the compulsive actions.

Drug addiction, also called substance use disorder, is a disease that affects a person’s brain and behavior and leads to an inability to control the use of a legal or illegal drug or medication. Substances such as alcohol, marijuana and nicotine also are considered drugs. When you’re addicted, you may continue using the substance despite the harm it causes.

The risk of addiction and how fast you become addicted varies by substance. Attempts to stop drug use may cause intense cravings and make you feel physically ill (withdrawal symptoms). You may need help from your doctor, family, friends, support groups or an organized treatment program to cope with your substance abuse disorder.

Schizophrenia is a challenging brain disorder that often makes it difficult to distinguish between what is real and unreal, to think clearly, manage emotions, relate to others, and function normally. It affects the way a person behaves, thinks, and sees the world.

While schizophrenia is a chronic disorder, many fears about the disorder are not actually true. Most people with schizophrenia get better over time, not worse. Treatment options are improving all the time and there are plenty of things you can do to manage the disorder.