The term psychological disorder is sometimes used to refer to what is more frequently known as

mental disorders or psychiatric disorders. Mental disorders are patterns of behavioral or

psychological symptoms that impact multiple areas of life. These disorders create distress for the
person experiencing these symptoms.
While not a comprehensive list of every mental disorder, the following list includes some of the
major categories of disorders described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders (DSM). The latest edition of the diagnostic manual is the DSM-5 and was released in
May of 2013.1 The DSM is one of the most widely used systems for classifying mental disorders
and provides standardized diagnostic criteria.
Diagnosis
To determine a diagnosis and check for related complications, you may
have:

 A physical exam. Your doctor will try to rule out physical problems that
could cause your symptoms.

 Lab tests. These may include, for example, a check of your thyroid
function or a screening for alcohol and drugs.

 A psychological evaluation. A doctor or mental health professional

talks to you about your symptoms, thoughts, feelings and behavior
patterns. You may be asked to fill out a questionnaire to help answer
these questions

Classes of mental illness

The main classes of mental illness are:

 Neurodevelopmental disorders. This class covers a wide range of

problems that usually begin in infancy or childhood, often before the
child begins grade school. Examples include autism spectrum disorder,
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and learning disorders.

 Schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders. Psychotic

disorders cause detachment from reality — such as delusions,
hallucinations, and disorganized thinking and speech. The most notable
example is schizophrenia, although other classes of disorders can be
associated with detachment from reality at times.
 Bipolar and related disorders. This class includes disorders with
alternating episodes of mania — periods of excessive activity, energy
and excitement — and depression.

 Depressive disorders. These include disorders that affect how you feel
emotionally, such as the level of sadness and happiness, and they can
disrupt your ability to function. Examples include major depressive
disorder and premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

 Anxiety disorders. Anxiety is an emotion characterized by the

anticipation of future danger or misfortune, along with excessive
worrying. It can include behavior aimed at avoiding situations that cause
anxiety. This class includes generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder
and phobias.

 Obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. These disorders involve

preoccupations or obsessions and repetitive thoughts and actions.
Examples include obsessive-compulsive disorder, hoarding disorder and
hair-pulling disorder (trichotillomania).

 Trauma- and stressor-related disorders. These are adjustment

disorders in which a person has trouble coping during or after a stressful
life event. Examples include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and
acute stress disorder.

 Dissociative disorders. These are disorders in which your sense of self

is disrupted, such as with dissociative identity disorder and dissociative
amnesia.

 Somatic symptom and related disorders. A person with one of these

disorders may have physical symptoms that cause major emotional
distress and problems functioning. There may or may not be another
diagnosed medical condition associated with these symptoms, but the
reaction to the symptoms is not normal. The disorders include somatic
symptom disorder, illness anxiety disorder and factitious disorder.

 Feeding and eating disorders. These disorders include disturbances

related to eating that impact nutrition and health, such as anorexia
nervosa and binge-eating disorder.
Treatment
Your treatment depends on the type of mental illness you have, its
severity and what works best for you. In many cases, a combination of
treatments works best.

If you have a mild mental illness with well-controlled symptoms,

treatment from your primary care provider may be sufficient. However,
often a team approach is appropriate to make sure all your psychiatric,
medical and social needs are met. This is especially important for
severe mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia.

Your treatment team

Your treatment team may include your:

 Family or primary care doctor

 Nurse practitioner

 Physician assistant

 Psychiatrist, a medical doctor who diagnoses and treats mental

illnesses

 Psychotherapist, such as a psychologist or a licensed counselor

 Pharmacist

 Social worker

 Family members

Medications

Although psychiatric medications don't cure mental illness, they can

often significantly improve symptoms. Psychiatric medications can
also help make other treatments, such as psychotherapy, more
effective. The best medications for you will depend on your particular
situation and how your body responds to the medication.

Some of the most commonly used classes of prescription psychiatric

medications include:
  Antidepressants. Antidepressants are used to treat depression, anxiety
and sometimes other conditions. They can help improve symptoms such
as sadness, hopelessness, lack of energy, difficulty concentrating and
lack of interest in activities. Antidepressants are not addictive and do
not cause dependency.

 Anti-anxiety medications. These drugs are used to treat anxiety

disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder. They
may also help reduce agitation and insomnia. Long-term anti-anxiety
drugs typically are antidepressants that also work for anxiety. Fast-
acting anti-anxiety drugs help with short-term relief, but they also have
the potential to cause dependency, so ideally they'd be used short term.

 Mood-stabilizing medications. Mood stabilizers are most commonly

used to treat bipolar disorders, which involves alternating episodes of
mania and depression. Sometimes mood stabilizers are used with
antidepressants to treat depression.

 Antipsychotic medications. Antipsychotic drugs are typically used to

treat psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia. Antipsychotic
medications may also be used to treat bipolar disorders or used with
antidepressants to treat depression.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy, also called talk therapy, involves talking about your

condition and related issues with a mental health professional. During
psychotherapy, you learn about your condition and your moods,
feelings, thoughts and behavior. With the insights and knowledge you
gain, you can learn coping and stress management skills.

There are many types of psychotherapy, each with its own approach to
improving your mental well-being. Psychotherapy often can be
successfully completed in a few months, but in some cases, long-term
treatment may be needed. It can take place one-on-one, in a group or
with family members.

When choosing a therapist, you should feel comfortable and be

confident that he or she is capable of listening and hearing what you
have to say. Also, it's important that your therapist understands the life
journey that has helped shape who you are and how you live in the
world.

Brain-stimulation treatments

Brain-stimulation treatments are sometimes used for depression and

other mental health disorders. They're generally reserved for situations
in which medications and psychotherapy haven't worked. They include
electroconvulsive therapy, repetitive transcranial magnetic
stimulation, deep brain stimulation and vagus nerve stimulation.

Make sure you understand all the risks and benefits of any
recommended treatment.

Hospital and residential treatment programs

Sometimes mental illness becomes so severe that you need care in a

psychiatric hospital. This is generally recommended when you can't
care for yourself properly or when you're in immediate danger of
harming yourself or someone else.

Options include 24-hour inpatient care, partial or day hospitalization,

or residential treatment, which offers a temporary supportive place to
live. Another option may be intensive outpatient treatment.

Substance misuse treatment

Problems with substance use commonly occur along with mental

illness. Often it interferes with treatment and worsens mental illness.
If you can't stop using drugs or alcohol on your own, you need
treatment. Talk to your doctor about treatment options.

Participating in your own care

Working together, you and your primary care provider or mental health
professional can decide which treatment may be best, depending on
your symptoms and their severity, your personal preferences,
medication side effects, and other factors. In some cases, a mental
illness may be so severe that a doctor or loved one may need to guide
your care until you're well enough to participate in decision-making.