Symptoms

Definition

Symptoms refer to subjective experiences or objective indicators that indicate the presence of an illness or disorder. In psychology, symptoms are often used as diagnostic criteria for various psychological disorders.

Related terms

Diagnostic criteria: Specific signs and symptoms used by mental health professionals to determine whether an individual meets the criteria for a particular psychological disorder.

Comorbidity: The coexistence of two or more disorders within an individual. For example, someone may experience symptoms of depression alongside anxiety disorder.

Residual symptoms: Lingering symptoms that persist even after significant improvement in overall functioning following treatment for a disorder.