Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Psychological disorders, also known as mental disorders, are patterns of behavioral or psychological symptoms that impact multiple areas of life and create distress for the person experiencing these symptoms.
Related terms
Abnormal Psychology: This is the branch of psychology that studies unusual patterns of behavior, emotion and thought which may or may not be understood as precipitating a mental disorder.
These are types of mental disorders characterized by feelings of anxiety and fear including panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
These are enduring patterns of inner experience and behavior that deviates from the expectations of the culture. Examples include antisocial personality disorder and borderline personality disorder.