Psychological Disorder
Definition
A psychological disorder is a condition characterized by abnormal thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It often causes distress and makes it difficult for individuals to function normally in their daily lives.
Analogy
Imagine your mind as an orchestra where each instrument represents different aspects of your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. A psychological disorder would be like one instrument playing off-key disrupting the harmony in your mind’s symphony.
Related terms
Mental Illness: This is another term for psychological disorders which emphasizes that these conditions are medical illnesses that affect one's thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate with others and daily functioning.
Psychopathology: This is the scientific study of mental disorders including symptoms, causes and treatments.
Diagnostic Criteria: These are guidelines used by professionals for diagnosing different types of psychological disorders.
"Psychological Disorder" appears in:
Practice Questions (6)
Which psychological disorder is characterized by extreme mood swings between depression and mania?
Which psychological disorder often involves the sensation of being outside one's body and losing control over reality?
Which psychological disorder is most associated with intense, irrational fear or anxiety triggered by a specific object or situation?
Which psychological disorder encompasses both manic and depressive episodes?
Why would a psychologist using an ecological systems approach be interested in a patient's socio-economic status when diagnosing a psychological disorder?
What psychological disorder might be indicated if a person experiences alternating periods of extreme happiness and severe depression?
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