5.4 Selection of Categories of Psychological Disorders

FAQs on Selection of Categories of Psychological Disorders

1. What are psychological disorders? Psychological disorders are conditions characterized by abnormal thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that significantly impair functioning and well-being.

2. What are the major categories of psychological disorders? The major categories include anxiety disorders, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, personality disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders, and substance-related disorders.

3. What are anxiety disorders? Anxiety disorders involve excessive fear or worry and include conditions such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, and phobias.

4. What are mood disorders? Mood disorders are characterized by emotional disturbances and include depression, bipolar disorder, and seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

5. What are psychotic disorders? Psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia, involve distorted thinking and perceptions, including hallucinations and delusions.

6. What are personality disorders? Personality disorders are enduring patterns of behavior, cognition, and emotion that deviate from cultural expectations, such as borderline and narcissistic personality disorders.

7. What are neurodevelopmental disorders? Neurodevelopmental disorders are conditions that begin in childhood, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

8. What are substance-related and addictive disorders? These involve the excessive use of substances like alcohol or drugs and behaviors like gambling, leading to significant impairment or distress.

9. What are eating disorders? Eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder, involve unhealthy relationships with food and body image.

10. What are somatic symptom disorders? Somatic symptom disorders involve excessive focus on physical symptoms that cause significant distress or impairment.

11. What are dissociative disorders? Dissociative disorders involve disruptions in identity, memory, or consciousness, such as dissociative identity disorder (DID) and depersonalization disorder.

12. What are trauma- and stressor-related disorders? These disorders, like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and acute stress disorder, arise from exposure to traumatic or stressful events.

13. What are obsessive-compulsive and related disorders? These include obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), hoarding disorder, and body dysmorphic disorder, characterized by intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors.

14. What are sexual dysfunctions and disorders? These involve difficulties in sexual functioning, such as erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, and hypoactive sexual desire disorder.

15. What are sleep-wake disorders? Sleep-wake disorders include insomnia, sleep apnea, and narcolepsy, which disrupt normal sleep patterns.

16. What are neurocognitive disorders? Neurocognitive disorders, like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, involve cognitive decline due to brain damage or degeneration.

17. What are developmental disorders? Developmental disorders, such as intellectual disability and speech disorders, affect developmental milestones and cognitive functioning.

18. What are impulse-control disorders? Impulse-control disorders involve difficulty resisting urges, such as in kleptomania, pyromania, and intermittent explosive disorder.

19. What are adjustment disorders? Adjustment disorders occur when individuals struggle to cope with significant life changes or stressors, causing emotional or behavioral symptoms.

20. What are factitious disorders? Factitious disorders involve deliberately fabricating or exaggerating symptoms for psychological reasons, such as in Munchausen syndrome.

21. What are paraphilic disorders? Paraphilic disorders involve atypical sexual interests that cause distress or harm, such as voyeurism and exhibitionism.

22. What are psychophysiological disorders? These disorders, like hypertension and ulcers, involve physical symptoms influenced by psychological factors.

23. What are mood dysregulation disorders? These include disruptive mood dysregulation disorder, characterized by chronic irritability and severe temper outbursts in children.

24. What are communication disorders? Communication disorders, like stuttering and social communication disorder, affect the ability to express or understand language.

25. What is generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)? GAD involves persistent and excessive worry about various aspects of life, often accompanied by physical symptoms like fatigue and muscle tension.

26. What is major depressive disorder (MDD)? MDD is characterized by persistent sadness, loss of interest in activities, and physical symptoms like changes in appetite or sleep.

27. What is bipolar disorder? Bipolar disorder involves alternating episodes of mania (high energy and euphoria) and depression (low energy and sadness).

28. What is schizophrenia? Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder involving hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, and impaired functioning.

29. What is borderline personality disorder (BPD)? BPD is characterized by emotional instability, fear of abandonment, impulsivity, and unstable relationships.

30. What is attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)? ADHD involves symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, affecting daily functioning and development.

31. What is autism spectrum disorder (ASD)? ASD is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting communication, social interaction, and repetitive behaviors, with varying severity.

32. What is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)? PTSD involves persistent symptoms like flashbacks, nightmares, and hyperarousal following exposure to traumatic events.

33. What is obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)? OCD involves intrusive, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions) performed to reduce anxiety.

34. What is anorexia nervosa? Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight and severe food restriction.

35. What is bulimia nervosa? Bulimia nervosa involves binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors like vomiting or excessive exercise to prevent weight gain.

36. What is hoarding disorder? Hoarding disorder involves persistent difficulty discarding possessions, leading to significant clutter and impairment.

37. What is dissociative identity disorder (DID)? DID, formerly known as multiple personality disorder, involves the presence of two or more distinct identities within one individual.

38. What is hypochondriasis? Now referred to as illness anxiety disorder, it involves excessive worry about having a serious illness despite minimal symptoms.

39. What is insomnia disorder? Insomnia involves difficulty falling or staying asleep, often leading to significant daytime impairment.

40. What is Tourette syndrome? Tourette syndrome is a neurological disorder characterized by repetitive, involuntary movements and vocalizations called tics.

41. What is kleptomania? Kleptomania is an impulse-control disorder involving an irresistible urge to steal items not needed for personal use.

42. What is intermittent explosive disorder (IED)? IED involves sudden, uncontrollable anger outbursts disproportionate to the situation.

43. What is conversion disorder? Conversion disorder involves neurological symptoms, like paralysis or blindness, without a medical explanation, often linked to psychological distress.

44. What is factitious disorder imposed on another (FDIA)? FDIA, formerly known as Munchausen by proxy, involves fabricating or inducing symptoms in another person, typically a dependent.

45. What is conduct disorder? Conduct disorder involves a pattern of violating societal norms and the rights of others, often seen in children and adolescents.

46. What is pyromania? Pyromania is an impulse-control disorder characterized by repeated, deliberate fire-setting.

47. What is seasonal affective disorder (SAD)? SAD is a type of depression occurring during specific seasons, typically in winter, due to reduced sunlight exposure.

48. What is separation anxiety disorder? Separation anxiety disorder involves excessive fear or distress about being apart from attachment figures, commonly seen in children.

49. What is body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)? BDD involves obsessive focus on perceived flaws in physical appearance, leading to significant distress or impairment.

50. What is gambling disorder? Gambling disorder is an addictive disorder involving compulsive gambling behavior despite negative consequences.