Mental disoders

terms

• Mental disorders-an illness of the mind that can affect the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of a person, preventing him or her from leading a happy, healthful, and productive life

• Anxiety disorder-an illness in which real, imagined, or persistent fears prevent a person from enjoying life

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• Somatoform disorder- an illness in which a person complains of disease symptoms, but no cause can be found

• Hypochondria-a preoccupation with the body and fear of presumed diseases that are not present

• Affective disorder-illness often with an organic cause that relates to emotions and may involve mood swings or mood extremes that interfere with everyday living

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• Bipolar disorder- psychological illness characterized by extreme mood swings between depression

• Personality disorder- a variety of psychological conditions that affect a person’s ability to get along with others

• Schizophrenia-serious mental disorder meaning split mind

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• Suicide-taking of one’s own life

• Depression-feeling of helplessness, hopelessness, and sadness

• Cluster suicides-a rash of suicides occurring within a short space and time and involving several people in the same school or community

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• Psychiatrist- a medical doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating mental disorders and can prescribe medication

• Neurologist- a physician who specializes in organic disorders of the brain and nervous system

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• Clinical psychologist- a psychologist who diagnoses and treats emotional and behavioral disorders but cannot describe medications

• Psychiatric social worker- one who has concentrated on psychiatric casework, doing fieldwork in a mental hospital, mental health clinic, or family service agency that provides guidance and treatment for clients with emotional problems

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• Post traumatic stress disorder- a condition in which a person who has experienced or witnessed a traumatic event feels severe and long lasting aftereffects

• Functional disorder- may occur as the result of psychological causes in which no clear brain damage is involved

• OCD- trapped in a pattern of repeated behaviors and thoughts

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• Organic disorder- disorder clearly caused by physical illness or an injury that affects the brain

• Panic disorder- a condition in which fear or anxiety prevails and gets in the way of functioning and enjoying life

• Phobia- specific fear that is so strong a person goes to extreme measures to avoid the fear producing object or activity