Mental illnesses encompass a wide range of conditions that affect mood, thinking, and behavior. Here are the primary categories and some examples within each:
1. Mood Disorders: These involve persistent feelings of sadness or periods of feeling overly happy, or fluctuations from extreme happiness to extreme sadness. Examples include:
Major Depressive Disorder
Bipolar Disorder
Cyclothymic Disorder
2. Anxiety Disorders: These are characterized by excessive fear or anxiety. Examples include:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Panic Disorder
Social Anxiety Disorder
Specific Phobias
3. Psychotic Disorders: These involve distorted thinking and awareness. Examples include:
Schizophrenia
Schizoaffective Disorder
4. Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders: These involve preoccupations and repetitive behaviors. Examples include:
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Hoarding Disorder
5. Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders: These result from exposure to a traumatic or stressful event. Examples include:
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Acute Stress Disorder
Adjustment Disorders
6. Eating Disorders: These involve preoccupations with food, body weight, and shape. Examples include:
Anorexia Nervosa
Bulimia Nervosa
Binge-Eating Disorder
7. Personality Disorders: These are characterized by enduring patterns of behavior, cognition, and inner experience. Examples include:
Borderline Personality Disorder
Antisocial Personality Disorder
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
8. Neurodevelopmental Disorders: These typically manifest early in development, often before the child enters grade school. Examples include:
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Intellectual Disabilities
9. Neurocognitive Disorders: These are characterized by cognitive decline from a previous level of performance. Examples include:
Alzheimer's Disease
Major and Mild Neurocognitive Disorders (formerly known as Dementia)
10. Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders: These involve an excessive focus on physical symptoms. Examples include:
Somatic Symptom Disorder
Illness Anxiety Disorder
Conversion Disorder
11. Disruptive, Impulse-Control, and Conduct Disorders: These involve problems with self-control of emotions and behaviors. Examples include:
Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
Conduct Disorder
Intermittent Explosive Disorder
12. Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders: These involve the excessive use of substances like alcohol and drugs, or behaviors like gambling. Examples include:
Alcohol Use Disorder
Substance Use Disorders
* Gambling Disorder
Understanding and diagnosing mental illnesses often require professional evaluation, as symptoms can overlap across different disorders. Treatment approaches vary depending on the specific disorder and individual needs, typically involving a combination of psychotherapy, medication, and support services.