Category: Uncategorized

What classifies a disorder as Obsessive-Compulsive? Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders are characterized by the presence of obsessions and/or compulsions, and body-focused repetitive behaviors that preoccupy the mind. What is the difference between an obsession and a compulsion? The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (2013) describes obsessions and compulsions as…

Part Four of Anxiety Disorders describes Anxiety Disorder Due to Another Medical Condition, Substance/Medication-Induced Anxiety Disorder, Other Specified Anxiety Disorder, and Unspecified Anxiety Disorder.  Click HERE to review the symptoms of anxiety and click HERE to read the criteria for a panic attack. Anxiety Disorder Due to Another Medical Condition Individuals are diagnosed with Anxiety…

Part Three of Anxiety Disorders Part Three of Anxiety Disorders compares and contrasts Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia) and Specific Phobia, and it also details Agoraphobia.  Anxiety Disorders is the fifth diagnostic class being covered in the Mental Health Diagnosis blog series.  Click HERE to read Part One of Anxiety Disorders, which describes the specific…

Part Two of Anxiety Disorders Part Two of Anxiety Disorders describes Panic Disorder, Panic Attack Specifier, and Selective Mutism.  Anxiety Disorders is the fifth diagnostic class being covered in the Mental Health Diagnosis! blog series.  If you missed the introduction to the series click HERE to learn how the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-5 works.  Click…

Part One of Anxiety Disorders Part One of Anxiety Disorders details Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Separation Anxiety Disorder.  Anxiety Disorders is the fifth diagnostic class being covered in the Mental Health Diagnosis! blog series.  If you missed the introduction to the blog series click HERE to learn how the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-5 works.  Click…

What classifies a disorder as an Anxiety Disorder? Feelings of excessive fear and/or extreme anxiety that subsequently cause behavioral disturbances are classified as Anxiety Disorders.  Anxiety disorders differ from another in the following three ways:  objects or situations that induce fear, encourage anxiety, and/or incite avoidance behavior (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 2013).…

Part Four of Depressive Disorders describes Depressive Disorder Due to Another Medical Condition, Substance/Medication-Induced Depressive Disorder, Other Specified Depressive Disorder, and Unspecified Depressive Disorder. Depressive Disorder Due to Another Medical Condition Depressive Disorder Due to Another Medical Condition is characterized by noticeable and continuous periods of depressed mood, noticeable decreased interest in activities, and a…

Part Three of Depressive Disorders details Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder!  Both Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder are new to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manuel-5 (DSM-5). Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder was created to prevent children from being over diagnosed with a Bipolar or Related Disorder; it is specifically reserved…

Part Two of Depressive Disorders differentiates Major Depressive Disorder and Persistent Depressive Disorder.  Depressive Disorders is the fourth diagnostic class being covered in the Mental Health Diagnosis! blog series.  If you missed the introduction to the series click HERE to learn how the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-5 works.  Click HERE to read the Introduction to…

Part One of Depressive Disorders covers specifiers.  Specifiers are used to further define the characteristics that accompany a mental health diagnosis.  These specifiers are important because diagnosis determines the course of treatment.  The following specifiers are defined below:  anxious distress, mixed features, melancholic features, atypical features, psychotic features, mood-congruent psychotic features, mood-incongruent psychotic features, catatonia,…