Psychiatric disorders

Psychiatric Disorders are a group of mental health conditions that affect an individual's mood, thinking, and behavior. They include a wide range of conditions, such as depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, and eating disorders.

Definition

Psychiatric disorders, also known as mental disorders, are defined as a syndrome characterized by clinically significant disturbance in an individual's cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior that reflects a dysfunction in the psychological, biological, or developmental processes underlying mental functioning.

Classification

Psychiatric disorders are classified into several categories, including:

• Mood disorders: These disorders, also known as affective disorders, involve persistent feelings of sadness or periods of feeling overly happy, or fluctuations from extreme happiness to extreme sadness. Examples include depression, bipolar disorder, and cyclothymic disorder.

• Anxiety disorders: People with anxiety disorders respond to certain objects or situations with fear and dread. Disorders in this category include generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder.

• Personality disorders: These are a range of conditions that affect an individual's personality and behavior. They include antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, and narcissistic personality disorder.

• Psychotic disorders: These disorders cause distorted awareness and thinking. The most notable example is schizophrenia.

• Eating disorders: These disorders involve extreme emotions, attitudes, and behaviors involving weight and food. Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder are the most common eating disorders.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of psychiatric disorders is based on criteria established in diagnostic manuals such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). These criteria include specific symptoms and duration of symptoms.

Treatment

Treatment of psychiatric disorders varies based on the specific disorder and the individual's needs. It often includes a combination of psychotherapy, medication, and self-care. In some cases, hospitalization may be necessary.

See also

• Mental health
• Psychiatry
• Psychologist
• Psychotherapy

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