Psychological Disorders

Anxiety disorders are those that are characterized by excessive and abnormal fear, worry and anxiety. In one recent survey published in the Archives of General Psychology¹, it was estimated that as many as 18% of American adults suffer from at least one anxiety disorder.

Types of anxiety disorders include:

• Generalized anxiety disorder
• Agoraphobia
• Social anxiety disorder
• Phobias
• Panic disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Separation anxiety

These psychological disorders are those that involve cognitive abilities such as memory, problem solving and perception. Some anxiety disorder, mood disorders and psychotic disorders are classified as cognitive disorders. Types of cognitive disorders include:

• Alzheimer's disease
• Delirium
• Dementia
• Amnesia

Developmental disorders, also referred to as childhood disorders, are those that are typically diagnosed during infancy, childhood or adolescence. These psychological disorders include:

• Mental retardation
• Learning disabilities
• Communication disorders
• Autism
• Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
• Conduct disorder
• Oppositional defiant disorder

Dissociative disorders are psychological disorders that involve a dissociation or interruption in aspects of consciousness, including identity and memory. Dissociative disorders include:

• Dissociative disorder (formerly known as multiple personality disorder
• Dissociative fugue
• Dissociative identity disorder
• Depersonalization disorder

Eating disorders are characterized by obsessive concerns with weight and disruptive eating patterns that negatively impact physical and mental health. Types of eating disorders include:

• Anorexia nervosa
• Bulimia nervosa
• Rumination disorder

These psychological disorders are those in which an individual acts as if he or she has an illness, often be deliberately faking or exaggerating symptoms or even self-inflicting damage to the body. Types of factitious disorders include:

• Munchausen syndrome
• Munchausen syndrome by proxy
• Ganser syndrome

Impulse-control disorders are those that involve an inability to control impulses, resulting in harm to oneself or others. Types of impulse-control disorders include:

• Kleptomania (stealing)
• Pyromania (fire-starting)
• Trichotillomania (hair-pulling)
• Pathological gambling
• Intermittent explosive disorder
• Dermatillomania (skin-picking)

This type of psychological disorder is caused by an underlying medical condition. Medical conditions can cause psychological symptoms such as catatonia and personality changes. Examples of mental disorders due to a general medical condition include:

• Psychotic disorder due to epilepsy
• Depression caused by diabetes
• AIDS related psychosis
• Personality changes due to brain damage