🕷️ Crawler Inspector

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Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 157 (from laksa135)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa157.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.verywellmind.com/psychiatric-disorder-definition-425317\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.verywellmind.com/psychiatric-disorder-definition-425317\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/psychiatric-disorder-definition-425317","crawl_time":1775578223,"first_indexed_time":1517880873,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,verywellmind!www,\/psychiatric-disorder-definition-425317 s443","src_root_hash":"10064058272378209957","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Psychiatric Disorders: Common Types and Symptoms","meta_descriptions":["Psychiatric disorders are mental illnesses that significantly disturb thinking, moods, and behavior. Learn more about the different types of psychiatric disorders."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"Key Takeaways\nA psychiatric disorder is a mental illness that seriously affects thinking, mood, and behavior.\nSymptoms of psychiatric disorders include confusion, sadness, and trouble managing stress.\nIf you have ongoing mental health symptoms, you may need both medication and talk therapy. \nA psychiatric disorder is a mental illness diagnosed by a mental health professional that greatly disturbs your thinking, moods, and\/or behavior and seriously increases your risk of disability, pain, death, or loss of freedom.\nIn addition, your symptoms must be more severe than expected response to an upsetting event, such as normal grief after the loss of a loved one.\nA large number of\npsychiatric disorders\nhave been identified.\nChances are that, whether or not you or someone close to you has been diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder, you know something about one or more of the following examples:\nDepression\nPersonality disorders\nAnxiety disorders\nSchizophrenia\nEating disorders\nAddictive behaviors\nAccording to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), one in five adults in the U.S. has some type of mental illness. This includes conditions that can range from mild to severe.\nNIMH distinguishes between any mental illness (AMI), which represents all recognized mental health conditions, and serious mental illness (SMI), which involves a small and more severe subset of illnesses.\nNIMH reports that in 2021, 5.5% (14.1 million) of U.S. adults over the age of 18 had a serious mental illness.\nSymptoms of Psychiatric Disorders\nExamples of ongoing signs and symptoms of psychiatric disorders include:\nConfused thinking\nReduced ability to concentrate\nDeep, ongoing sadness, or feeling “down”\nInability to manage day-to-day stress and problems\nTrouble understanding situations and other people\nWithdrawal from others and from activities you used to enjoy\nExtreme tiredness, low energy, or sleeping problems\nStrong feelings of fear, worry, or guilt\nExtreme mood changes, from highs to lows, often shifting very quickly\nDetachment from reality (delusions), paranoia (the belief that others are “out to get you,”) or\nhallucinations\n(seeing things that aren’t there)\nMarked changes in eating habits\nA change in sex drive\nDrug or alcohol abuse\nExcessive anger, hostility, and\/or violence\nSuicidal thinking\nA psychiatric disorder may also cause physical symptoms, such as a headache, back pain, or stomach pain.\nIf you’re being evaluated for a psychiatric disorder, tell your doctor about any physical symptoms you’re having, including unexplained aches and pains.\nTypes of Psychiatric Disorders\nPsychiatric disorders fall into one of the following main types (often called classes or categories):\nNeurodevelopmental Disorders\nNeurodevelopmental disorders affect how your brain functions and can affect cognition, behavior, communication, and motor abilities.\nThe many psychiatric disorders in this group usually begin in infancy or childhood, often before a child starts school. Examples include:\nAttention-deficit\/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)\nAutism spectrum disorders\nLearning disorders\nSchizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders\nPsychotic disorders cause detachment from reality. People with these diagnoses experience delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized thinking and speech.\nSchizophrenia\nis probably the best known of these illnesses, although detachment from reality can sometimes affect people with other psychiatric disorders.\nBipolar and Related Disorders\nThis group includes disorders in which episodes of\nmania\n(periods of excessive excitement, activity, and energy) alternate with periods of depression.\nThere are three types of bipolar disorder:\nBipolar I\n: Characterized by episodes of mania and depression\nBipolar II\n: Characterized by depressive and hypomanic episodes\nCyclothymic disorder\n: Marked by depressive and hypomanic symptoms that are not severe enough to be considered mood episodes\nDepressive Disorders\nThese include disorders characterized by feelings of extreme sadness and worthlessness, along with reduced interest in previously enjoyable activities. Examples include:\nMajor depressive disorder\n: There are also different forms of major depressive disorder, including seasonal affective disorder and postpartum depression.\nPersistent depressive disorder (PDD)\n: This involves mild to moderate depression that lasts longer than two years.\nPremenstrual dysphoric disorder\n(PMDD)\n: This is more severe than the more widely known premenstrual syndrome (PMS). PMS is\nnot\nclassified as a psychiatric disorder.\nAnxiety Disorders\nAnxiety involves focusing on bad or dangerous things that could happen and worrying fearfully and excessively about them. Anxiety disorders include:\nGeneralized anxiety disorder (GAD)\n: Causes pervasive anxiety about a wide variety of events, situations, or activities\nPanic disorder\n: Causes severe, frequent panic attacks\nPhobias\n: Extreme or irrational fears of specific things, such as heights)\nObsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders\nPeople with these disorders experience repeated and unwanted urges, thoughts, or images (obsessions) and feel driven to take repeated actions in response to them (compulsions).\nExamples include\nobsessive-compulsive disorder\n(OCD), hoarding disorder, and\nhair-pulling disorder\n(trichotillomania).\nTrauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders\nThese psychiatric disorders develop during or after stressful or traumatic life events. Some of the conditions that are included in this category of psychiatric disorders include:\nPosttraumatic stress disorder\n(PTSD)\n: A condition characterized by nightmares, flashbacks, hypervigilance, difficulty concentrating, and other symptoms\nAcute stress disorder\n: A condition that occurs after exposure to a traumatic event that causes severe anxiety for up to a month after the trauma\nAdjustment disorders\n: A condition marked by symptoms of anxiety, depressed mood, anger, and irritability in response to a sudden change, such as a divorce, breakup, or job loss\nDissociative Disorders\nThese are disorders in which a person’s sense of self is disrupted. This can affect a person's identity and memory. Some examples of dissociative disorders include:\nDissociative identity disorder\n: A condition marked by having two or more distinct personalities or identities (formerly known as multiple personality disorder)\nDissociative amnesia\n: Characterized by memory loss that can be brief or long-lasting\nDepersonalization\/derealization disorder\n: Involves symptoms of depersonalization (feeling outside of one's body) and derealization (disconnected from reality)\nSomatic Symptom and Related Disorders\nA person with one of these disorders may have distressing and incapacitating physical symptoms with no clear medical cause.\n(“Somatic” means “of the body.”) Examples include:\nIllness anxiety disorder\n: A condition marked by an excessive worry about bodily sensations and a belief that one has or will get a serious medical condition\nSomatic symptom disorder (previously known as hypochondriasis)\n: An excessive preoccupation with physical symptoms that create significant distress and make it difficult to function in everyday life\nFactitious disorder\n: Involves intentionally creating symptoms or faking symptoms of an illness\nFeeding and Eating Disorders\nThese psychiatric disorders are disturbances related to eating. These conditions involve an excessive focus on weight or body shape that result in disordered eating patterns. These eating behaviors have a severe impact on both mental and physical health. Such conditions include:\nAnorexia nervosa\n: Involves food restriction that results in a very low body weight\nBulimia nervosa\n: Involve binge eating followed by extreme methods to compensate for excessive calorie intake, including induced vomiting, laxative misuse, or excess exercise\nBinge eating disorder\n: Involves consuming large amounts of food in a short period of time\nElimination Disorders\nPsychiatric disorders in this group relate to the inappropriate elimination (release) of urine or stool by accident or on purpose. Bedwetting (enuresis) is an example.\nSleep-Wake Disorders\nThese conditions interfere with a person's ability to get adequate sleep, which then disrupts daytime functioning. These are severe sleep disorders, including:\nInsomnia disorder\n: Involves the inability to get enough sleep\nSleep apnea\n: Involves breathing problems that disrupt sleep and lead to daytime sleepiness \nRestless legs syndrome\n: A condition that causes sensations and leg movements that make it difficult to sleep\nSexual Dysfunctions\nThese disorders of sexual response include such diagnoses as premature ejaculation, erectile disorder, and female orgasmic disorder.\nGender Dysphoria\nThese disorders stem from the distress that goes with a person's stated desire to be a different gender. The diagnostic criteria in this group differ somewhat among children, adolescents, and adults.\nDisruptive, Impulse-Control, and Conduct Disorders\nPeople with these disorders show symptoms of difficulty with emotional and behavioral self-control. Examples include kleptomania (repeated stealing) and\nintermittent explosive disorder\n(which causes extreme outbursts of anger).\nSubstance-Related and Addictive Disorders\nPeople with these diagnoses have problems associated with excessive use of alcohol, opioids (for example, oxycodone and morphine), recreational drugs, hallucinogens, cannabis, stimulants, or tobacco. This group also includes\ngambling disorder\n.\nNeurocognitive Disorders\nThese psychiatric disorders affect people’s ability to think and reason. The disorders in this group include delirium as well as disorders of thinking and reasoning caused by such conditions or diseases as traumatic brain injury or Alzheimer's disease.\nPersonality Disorders\nA personality disorder involves a lasting pattern of emotional instability and unhealthy behaviors that seriously disrupt daily living and relationships. Examples include:\nBorderline personality disorder\n: Characterized by intense interpersonal relationships, unstable self-image, emotional instability, and impulsivity\nAntisocial personality disorder\n: Involves a disregard for the right of others and the violation of rules and social norms\nNarcissistic personality disorder\n: Characterized by self-centeredness, lack of empathy, and an exaggerated sense of self\nParaphilic Disorders\nMany sexual-interest disorders are included in this group. Examples include sexual sadism disorder, voyeuristic disorder, and pedophilic disorder.\nOther Mental Disorders\nThis group includes psychiatric disorders that are due to other medical conditions or that don't meet all the requirements for any of the other psychiatric disorder groups.\nWhen Does a Mental Health Concern Become a Psychiatric Disorder?\nIf you're like most people, you’ve probably had a mental health concern from time to time, such as depression following the loss of a job. These concerns are typically time-limited, and eventually, you start to feel better.\nThat’s not true of a psychiatric disorder, in which your symptoms are ongoing and frequently upsetting to you and the people around you.\nA psychiatric disorder also interferes with your ability to do day-to-day tasks.\nWhen the stress of trying to cope with your symptoms becomes more than you can handle, treatment typically involves a combination of medications and \npsychotherapy\n (also called talk therapy).","attrs_markdown":"[Skip to content](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/psychiatric-disorder-definition-425317#skip-to-content)\n\nMenu\n\n- [Conditions A-Z](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/conditions-a-z-4797402)\n  - [Addiction](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/addiction-overview-4581803)\n  - [Depression](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/depression-4157261)\n  - [ADHD](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/adhd-overview-4581801)\n  - [Anxiety](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/anxiety-7508391)\n  - [Bipolar Disorder](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/bipolar-disorder-4157274)\n  - 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[Understanding Emotions](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/emotions-4157165)\n  - [Self-Improvement](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/self-improvement-4157212)\n  - [View All](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/living-well-7510832)\n- [Relationships](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/relationships-4157190)\n  - [Healthy Relationships](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/strengthening-relationships-4162997)\n  - [Dating](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/dating-tips-and-strategies-7511571)\n  - [Intimacy](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/sex-and-relationships-7511610)\n  - [View All](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/relationships-4157190)\n- [Psychology](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/psychology-4157187)\n  - [Theories](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/theories-of-psychology-4157184)\n  - [Student Resources](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/student-resources-overview-4581768)\n  - [Personality Types](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/the-myers-briggs-type-indicator-2795583)\n  - [View All](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/psychology-4157187)\n- [Trending](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/news-latest-research-and-trending-topics-4846421)\n  - [Quizzes](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/quizzes-8609222)\n  - [Guided Meditations](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/guided-meditations-8609227)\n  - [Verywell Mind Insights](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/mental-health-data-insights-5185693)\n  - [2024 Verywell Mind 25](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/the-verywell-mind-25-2024-7484480)\n  - [Mental Health in the Classroom](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/mental-health-in-the-classroom-survey-7569880)\n  - [View All](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/news-latest-research-and-trending-topics-4846421)\n\n[More in Theories](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/theories-of-psychology-4157184)\n\n- [Behavioral Psychology](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/behavioral-psychology-overview-4581795)\n- [Cognitive Psychology](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/cognitive-psychology-overview-4581791)\n- [Developmental Psychology](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/developmental-psychology-overview-4581790)\n- [Personality Psychology](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/personality-psychology-overview-4581776)\n- [Social Psychology](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/social-psychology-overview-4581771)\n- [Biological Psychology](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/biological-psychology-4157182)\n- [Psychosocial Psychology](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/psychosocial-psychology-4157178)\n\n[View More](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/theories-of-psychology-4157184)\n\n- [About Us](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/about-us-5184564)\n- [Editorial Process](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/our-editorial-process-4778006)\n- [Review Board](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/review-board-4796494)\n- [Crisis Support](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/crisis-support-6666353)\n\nVerywell Mind's content is for informational and educational purposes only. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.\n\nⒸ 2026 People Inc. — All rights reserved\n\n# Types and Symptoms of Common Psychiatric Disorders\nBy\n\n[Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/kristalyn-salters-pedneault-phd-425092)\n\n[Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/kristalyn-salters-pedneault-phd-425092)\n\nKristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and associate professor of psychology at Eastern Connecticut State University.\n\nLearn about our  [editorial process](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/our-editorial-process-4778006)\n\nUpdated on November 12, 2025\n\nMedically reviewed\n\nVerywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. [Learn more](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/review-board-4796494).\n\nby\n\n[Akeem Marsh, MD](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/akeem-marsh-md-5071042)\n\n![Akeem Marsh, MD, board-certified child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist]()\n\n![Akeem Marsh, MD, board-certified child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/thmb\/na3qZ4uqojSw58drvwY8AqgBYsg=\/200x200\/filters:no_upscale\\(\\):max_bytes\\(150000\\):strip_icc\\(\\)\/akeemmarsh_1000-d247c981705a46aba45acff9939ff8b0.jpg)\n\nMedically reviewed by [Akeem Marsh, MD](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/akeem-marsh-md-5071042)\n\nAkeem Marsh, MD, is a board-certified child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist who has dedicated his career to working with medically underserved communities.\n\nLearn about our  [Medical Review Board](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/review-board-4796494)\n\n![Mature woman with head in hands](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/thmb\/GEp7G0QNrkz4yGkgTELwmzD7oZc=\/1500x0\/filters:no_upscale\\(\\):max_bytes\\(150000\\):strip_icc\\(\\)\/GettyImages-501869913-5697c4dd3df78cafda8f9dee.jpg)\n\n![Mature woman with head in hands](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/thmb\/GEp7G0QNrkz4yGkgTELwmzD7oZc=\/1500x0\/filters:no_upscale\\(\\):max_bytes\\(150000\\):strip_icc\\(\\)\/GettyImages-501869913-5697c4dd3df78cafda8f9dee.jpg)\n\nGhislain & Marie David de Lossy\/Getty Images\n\nTable of Contents\n\nView All\n\nTable of Contents\n\n- [Examples](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/psychiatric-disorder-definition-425317#toc-examples-of-psychiatric-disorders)\n- [Symptoms](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/psychiatric-disorder-definition-425317#toc-symptoms-of-psychiatric-disorders)\n- [Types](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/psychiatric-disorder-definition-425317#toc-types-of-psychiatric-disorders)\n- [Symptoms vs. Disorders](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/psychiatric-disorder-definition-425317#toc-when-does-a-mental-health-concern-become-a-psychiatric-disorder)\n\nClose\n\n### Key Takeaways\n- A psychiatric disorder is a mental illness that seriously affects thinking, mood, and behavior.\n- Symptoms of psychiatric disorders include confusion, sadness, and trouble managing stress.\n- If you have ongoing mental health symptoms, you may need both medication and talk therapy.\n\nA psychiatric disorder is a mental illness diagnosed by a mental health professional that greatly disturbs your thinking, moods, and\/or behavior and seriously increases your risk of disability, pain, death, or loss of freedom.\n\nIn addition, your symptoms must be more severe than expected response to an upsetting event, such as normal grief after the loss of a loved one.\n\n## Examples of Psychiatric Disorders\nA large number of [psychiatric disorders](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/a-list-of-psychological-disorders-2794776) have been identified. Chances are that, whether or not you or someone close to you has been diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder, you know something about one or more of the following examples:\n\n- Depression\n- [Personality disorders](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/personality-disorders-a2-425427)\n- [Anxiety disorders](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/anxiety-disorder-2510539)\n- Schizophrenia\n- [Eating disorders](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/eating-disorders-4157252)\n- [Addictive behaviors](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/addictive-behaviors-4157291)\n\nAccording to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), one in five adults in the U.S. has some type of mental illness. This includes conditions that can range from mild to severe.\n\nNIMH distinguishes between any mental illness (AMI), which represents all recognized mental health conditions, and serious mental illness (SMI), which involves a small and more severe subset of illnesses.\n\nNIMH reports that in 2021, 5.5% (14.1 million) of U.S. adults over the age of 18 had a serious mental illness.\n\n## Symptoms of Psychiatric Disorders\nExamples of ongoing signs and symptoms of psychiatric disorders include:\n\n- Confused thinking\n- Reduced ability to concentrate\n- Deep, ongoing sadness, or feeling “down”\n- Inability to manage day-to-day stress and problems\n- Trouble understanding situations and other people\n- Withdrawal from others and from activities you used to enjoy\n- Extreme tiredness, low energy, or sleeping problems\n- Strong feelings of fear, worry, or guilt\n- Extreme mood changes, from highs to lows, often shifting very quickly\n- Detachment from reality (delusions), paranoia (the belief that others are “out to get you,”) or [hallucinations](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/what-are-hallucinations-378819) (seeing things that aren’t there)\n- Marked changes in eating habits\n- A change in sex drive\n- Drug or alcohol abuse\n- Excessive anger, hostility, and\/or violence\n- [Suicidal thinking](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/suicidal-ideation-380609)\n\nIf you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the [National Suicide Prevention Lifeline](https:\/\/suicidepreventionlifeline.org\/) at **988** for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.\n\nFor more mental health resources, see our [National Helpline Database](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/national-helpline-database-4799696).\n\nA psychiatric disorder may also cause physical symptoms, such as a headache, back pain, or stomach pain. If you’re being evaluated for a psychiatric disorder, tell your doctor about any physical symptoms you’re having, including unexplained aches and pains.\n\n## Types of Psychiatric Disorders\nPsychiatric disorders fall into one of the following main types (often called classes or categories):\n\n### Neurodevelopmental Disorders\nNeurodevelopmental disorders affect how your brain functions and can affect cognition, behavior, communication, and motor abilities. The many psychiatric disorders in this group usually begin in infancy or childhood, often before a child starts school. Examples include:\n\n- Attention-deficit\/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)\n- Autism spectrum disorders\n- Learning disorders\n### Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders\nPsychotic disorders cause detachment from reality. People with these diagnoses experience delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized thinking and speech.\n\n[Schizophrenia](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/what-are-the-symptoms-of-schizophrenia-2953120) is probably the best known of these illnesses, although detachment from reality can sometimes affect people with other psychiatric disorders.\n\n### Bipolar and Related Disorders\nThis group includes disorders in which episodes of [mania](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/how-to-recognize-a-manic-or-hypomanic-episode-380316) (periods of excessive excitement, activity, and energy) alternate with periods of depression.\n\nThere are three types of bipolar disorder:\n\n- **Bipolar I**: Characterized by episodes of mania and depression\n- **Bipolar II**: Characterized by depressive and hypomanic episodes\n- **Cyclothymic disorder**: Marked by depressive and hypomanic symptoms that are not severe enough to be considered mood episodes\n### Depressive Disorders\nThese include disorders characterized by feelings of extreme sadness and worthlessness, along with reduced interest in previously enjoyable activities. Examples include:\n\n- **Major depressive disorder**: There are also different forms of major depressive disorder, including seasonal affective disorder and postpartum depression.\n- **Persistent depressive disorder (PDD)**: This involves mild to moderate depression that lasts longer than two years.\n- **[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-4767096) (PMDD)**: This is more severe than the more widely known premenstrual syndrome (PMS). PMS is *not* classified as a psychiatric disorder.\n### Anxiety Disorders\nAnxiety involves focusing on bad or dangerous things that could happen and worrying fearfully and excessively about them. Anxiety disorders include:\n\n- **Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)**: Causes pervasive anxiety about a wide variety of events, situations, or activities\n- **Panic disorder**: Causes severe, frequent panic attacks\n- **Phobias**: Extreme or irrational fears of specific things, such as heights)\n### Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders\nPeople with these disorders experience repeated and unwanted urges, thoughts, or images (obsessions) and feel driven to take repeated actions in response to them (compulsions).\n\nExamples include [obsessive-compulsive disorder](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/ocd-vs-obsessive-compulsive-personality-disorder-2510584) (OCD), hoarding disorder, and [hair-pulling disorder](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/trichotillomania-2510662) (trichotillomania).\n\n### Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders\nThese psychiatric disorders develop during or after stressful or traumatic life events. Some of the conditions that are included in this category of psychiatric disorders include:\n\n- **[Posttraumatic stress disorder](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/requirements-for-ptsd-diagnosis-2797637) (PTSD)**: A condition characterized by nightmares, flashbacks, hypervigilance, difficulty concentrating, and other symptoms\n- **Acute stress disorder**: A condition that occurs after exposure to a traumatic event that causes severe anxiety for up to a month after the trauma\n- **Adjustment disorders**: A condition marked by symptoms of anxiety, depressed mood, anger, and irritability in response to a sudden change, such as a divorce, breakup, or job loss\n### Dissociative Disorders\nThese are disorders in which a person’s sense of self is disrupted. This can affect a person's identity and memory. Some examples of dissociative disorders include:\n\n- [**Dissociative identity disorder**](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/dissociative-identity-disorder-425423): A condition marked by having two or more distinct personalities or identities (formerly known as multiple personality disorder)\n- **Dissociative amnesia**: Characterized by memory loss that can be brief or long-lasting\n- **Depersonalization\/derealization disorder**: Involves symptoms of depersonalization (feeling outside of one's body) and derealization (disconnected from reality)\n### Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders\nA person with one of these disorders may have distressing and incapacitating physical symptoms with no clear medical cause. (“Somatic” means “of the body.”) Examples include:\n\n- **Illness anxiety disorder**: A condition marked by an excessive worry about bodily sensations and a belief that one has or will get a serious medical condition\n- **Somatic symptom disorder (previously known as hypochondriasis)**: An excessive preoccupation with physical symptoms that create significant distress and make it difficult to function in everyday life\n- **Factitious disorder**: Involves intentionally creating symptoms or faking symptoms of an illness\n### Feeding and Eating Disorders\nThese psychiatric disorders are disturbances related to eating. These conditions involve an excessive focus on weight or body shape that result in disordered eating patterns. These eating behaviors have a severe impact on both mental and physical health. Such conditions include:\n\n- **Anorexia nervosa**: Involves food restriction that results in a very low body weight\n- **Bulimia nervosa**: Involve binge eating followed by extreme methods to compensate for excessive calorie intake, including induced vomiting, laxative misuse, or excess exercise\n- **Binge eating disorder**: Involves consuming large amounts of food in a short period of time\n### Elimination Disorders\nPsychiatric disorders in this group relate to the inappropriate elimination (release) of urine or stool by accident or on purpose. Bedwetting (enuresis) is an example.\n\n### Sleep-Wake Disorders\nThese conditions interfere with a person's ability to get adequate sleep, which then disrupts daytime functioning. These are severe sleep disorders, including:\n\n- **Insomnia disorder**: Involves the inability to get enough sleep\n- **Sleep apnea**: Involves breathing problems that disrupt sleep and lead to daytime sleepiness\n- **Restless legs syndrome**: A condition that causes sensations and leg movements that make it difficult to sleep\n### Sexual Dysfunctions\nThese disorders of sexual response include such diagnoses as premature ejaculation, erectile disorder, and female orgasmic disorder.\n\n### Gender Dysphoria\nThese disorders stem from the distress that goes with a person's stated desire to be a different gender. The diagnostic criteria in this group differ somewhat among children, adolescents, and adults.\n\n### Disruptive, Impulse-Control, and Conduct Disorders\nPeople with these disorders show symptoms of difficulty with emotional and behavioral self-control. Examples include kleptomania (repeated stealing) and [intermittent explosive disorder](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/intermittent-explosive-disorder-and-trauma-2797145) (which causes extreme outbursts of anger).\n\n### Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders\nPeople with these diagnoses have problems associated with excessive use of alcohol, opioids (for example, oxycodone and morphine), recreational drugs, hallucinogens, cannabis, stimulants, or tobacco. This group also includes [gambling disorder](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/what-is-pathological-gambling-22016).\n\n### Neurocognitive Disorders\nThese psychiatric disorders affect people’s ability to think and reason. The disorders in this group include delirium as well as disorders of thinking and reasoning caused by such conditions or diseases as traumatic brain injury or Alzheimer's disease.\n\n### Personality Disorders\nA personality disorder involves a lasting pattern of emotional instability and unhealthy behaviors that seriously disrupt daily living and relationships. Examples include:\n\n- [**Borderline personality disorder**](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/what-is-borderline-personality-disorder-bpd-425487): Characterized by intense interpersonal relationships, unstable self-image, emotional instability, and impulsivity\n- [**Antisocial personality disorder**](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/antisocial-personality-disorder-2795566): Involves a disregard for the right of others and the violation of rules and social norms\n- [**Narcissistic personality disorder**](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/what-is-narcissistic-personality-disorder-2795446): Characterized by self-centeredness, lack of empathy, and an exaggerated sense of self\n### Paraphilic Disorders\nMany sexual-interest disorders are included in this group. Examples include sexual sadism disorder, voyeuristic disorder, and pedophilic disorder.\n\n### Other Mental Disorders\nThis group includes psychiatric disorders that are due to other medical conditions or that don't meet all the requirements for any of the other psychiatric disorder groups.\n\n[Is Mental Illness Genetic? What the Research Says](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/is-mental-illness-genetic-what-the-research-says-6752828)\n\n## When Does a Mental Health Concern Become a Psychiatric Disorder?\nIf you're like most people, you’ve probably had a mental health concern from time to time, such as depression following the loss of a job. These concerns are typically time-limited, and eventually, you start to feel better.\n\nThat’s not true of a psychiatric disorder, in which your symptoms are ongoing and frequently upsetting to you and the people around you.\n\nA psychiatric disorder also interferes with your ability to do day-to-day tasks.\n\nWhen the stress of trying to cope with your symptoms becomes more than you can handle, treatment typically involves a combination of medications and [psychotherapy](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/psychotherapy-4157172) (also called talk therapy).\n\n[The Best Online Therapy Programs](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/best-online-therapy-4691206) We've tried, tested and written unbiased reviews of the best online therapy programs including Talkspace, Betterhelp, and Regain.\n\nRead more:\n\n- [Psychology](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/psychology-4157187)\n- [Theories](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/theories-of-psychology-4157184)\n\n11 Sources\n\nVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our [editorial process](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/our-editorial-process-4778006) to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.\n\n1. American Psychological Association. [Mental disorder](https:\/\/dictionary.apa.org\/mental-disorder).\n2. Stein DJ, Phillips KA, Bolton D, Fulford KW, Sadler JZ, Kendler KS. [What is a mental\/psychiatric disorder? From DSM-IV to DSM-V](https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1017\/S0033291709992261). *Psychol Med*. 2010;40(11):1759-1765. doi:10.1017\/S0033291709992261\n3. American Psychiatric Association, American Psychiatric Association, eds. *Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-5*. 5th ed. American Psychiatric Association; 2013.\n4. National Institute of Mental Health. [Mental illness](https:\/\/www.nimh.nih.gov\/health\/statistics\/mental-illness).\n5. American Psychiatric Association (APA). *Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders*. 5th ed, text revision. Washington, D.C.; 2022.\n6. Spurrier GF, Shulman K, Dibich S, Benoit L, Duckworth K, Martin A. [Physical symptoms as psychiatric manifestations in medical spaces: A qualitative study](https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpsyt.2022.1074424). *Front Psychiatry*. 2023;13:1074424. doi:10.3389\/fpsyt.2022.1074424\n7. Mullin AP, Gokhale A, Moreno-De-Luca A, Sanyal S, Waddington JL, Faundez V. [Neurodevelopmental disorders: mechanisms and boundary definitions from genomes, interactomes and proteomes](https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/tp.2013.108). *Transl Psychiatry*. 2013;3(12):e329. doi:10.1038\/tp.2013.108\n8. Stępnicki P, Kondej M, Kaczor AA. [Current concepts and treatments of schizophrenia](https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/molecules23082087). *Molecules*. 2018;23(8):2087. doi:10.3390\/molecules23082087\n9. Brock H, Hany M. [Obsessive-compulsive disorder](https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK553162\/). In: StatPearls \\[Internet\\]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.\n10. Dimsdale JE. [Research on somatization and somatic symptom disorders: Ars longa, vita brevis](https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1097\/PSY.0000000000000533). *Psychosom Med*. 2017;79(9):971-973. doi:10.1097\/PSY.0000000000000533\n11. American Psychiatric Association. [What is gender dysphoria?](https:\/\/www.psychiatry.org\/patients-families\/gender-dysphoria\/what-is-gender-dysphoria)\n\nBy [Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/kristalyn-salters-pedneault-phd-425092)   \n Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and associate professor of psychology at Eastern Connecticut State University.\n\n[See Our Editorial Process](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/our-editorial-process-4778006)\n\n[Meet Our Review Board](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/review-board-4796494)\n\nShare Feedback\n\nWas this page helpful?\n\nThanks for your feedback\\!\n\nWhat is your feedback?\n\nHelpful\n\nReport an Error\n\nOther\n\nRelated Articles\n\n[![An older woman with an organic mental disorder]() ![An older woman with an organic mental disorder](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/thmb\/pV-Q8tkrO5t8ey475zM7uzzB4og=\/400x250\/filters:no_upscale\\(\\):max_bytes\\(150000\\):strip_icc\\(\\)\/dementia-56c532085f9b58e9f330e672.jpg) 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Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.\n\nⒸ 2026 People Inc. — All rights reserved\n\nVerywell Mind is part of the [People Inc.](https:\/\/www.people.inc\/) publishing family.","attrs_readable_markdown":"### Key Takeaways\n- A psychiatric disorder is a mental illness that seriously affects thinking, mood, and behavior.\n- Symptoms of psychiatric disorders include confusion, sadness, and trouble managing stress.\n- If you have ongoing mental health symptoms, you may need both medication and talk therapy.\n\nA psychiatric disorder is a mental illness diagnosed by a mental health professional that greatly disturbs your thinking, moods, and\/or behavior and seriously increases your risk of disability, pain, death, or loss of freedom.\n\nIn addition, your symptoms must be more severe than expected response to an upsetting event, such as normal grief after the loss of a loved one.\n\nA large number of [psychiatric disorders](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/a-list-of-psychological-disorders-2794776) have been identified. Chances are that, whether or not you or someone close to you has been diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder, you know something about one or more of the following examples:\n\n- Depression\n- [Personality disorders](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/personality-disorders-a2-425427)\n- [Anxiety disorders](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/anxiety-disorder-2510539)\n- Schizophrenia\n- [Eating disorders](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/eating-disorders-4157252)\n- [Addictive behaviors](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/addictive-behaviors-4157291)\n\nAccording to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), one in five adults in the U.S. has some type of mental illness. This includes conditions that can range from mild to severe.\n\nNIMH distinguishes between any mental illness (AMI), which represents all recognized mental health conditions, and serious mental illness (SMI), which involves a small and more severe subset of illnesses.\n\nNIMH reports that in 2021, 5.5% (14.1 million) of U.S. adults over the age of 18 had a serious mental illness.\n\n## Symptoms of Psychiatric Disorders\nExamples of ongoing signs and symptoms of psychiatric disorders include:\n\n- Confused thinking\n- Reduced ability to concentrate\n- Deep, ongoing sadness, or feeling “down”\n- Inability to manage day-to-day stress and problems\n- Trouble understanding situations and other people\n- Withdrawal from others and from activities you used to enjoy\n- Extreme tiredness, low energy, or sleeping problems\n- Strong feelings of fear, worry, or guilt\n- Extreme mood changes, from highs to lows, often shifting very quickly\n- Detachment from reality (delusions), paranoia (the belief that others are “out to get you,”) or [hallucinations](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/what-are-hallucinations-378819) (seeing things that aren’t there)\n- Marked changes in eating habits\n- A change in sex drive\n- Drug or alcohol abuse\n- Excessive anger, hostility, and\/or violence\n- [Suicidal thinking](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/suicidal-ideation-380609)\n\nA psychiatric disorder may also cause physical symptoms, such as a headache, back pain, or stomach pain. If you’re being evaluated for a psychiatric disorder, tell your doctor about any physical symptoms you’re having, including unexplained aches and pains.\n\n## Types of Psychiatric Disorders\nPsychiatric disorders fall into one of the following main types (often called classes or categories):\n\n### Neurodevelopmental Disorders\nNeurodevelopmental disorders affect how your brain functions and can affect cognition, behavior, communication, and motor abilities. The many psychiatric disorders in this group usually begin in infancy or childhood, often before a child starts school. Examples include:\n\n- Attention-deficit\/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)\n- Autism spectrum disorders\n- Learning disorders\n### Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders\nPsychotic disorders cause detachment from reality. People with these diagnoses experience delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized thinking and speech.\n\n[Schizophrenia](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/what-are-the-symptoms-of-schizophrenia-2953120) is probably the best known of these illnesses, although detachment from reality can sometimes affect people with other psychiatric disorders.\n\n### Bipolar and Related Disorders\nThis group includes disorders in which episodes of [mania](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/how-to-recognize-a-manic-or-hypomanic-episode-380316) (periods of excessive excitement, activity, and energy) alternate with periods of depression.\n\nThere are three types of bipolar disorder:\n\n- **Bipolar I**: Characterized by episodes of mania and depression\n- **Bipolar II**: Characterized by depressive and hypomanic episodes\n- **Cyclothymic disorder**: Marked by depressive and hypomanic symptoms that are not severe enough to be considered mood episodes\n### Depressive Disorders\nThese include disorders characterized by feelings of extreme sadness and worthlessness, along with reduced interest in previously enjoyable activities. Examples include:\n\n- **Major depressive disorder**: There are also different forms of major depressive disorder, including seasonal affective disorder and postpartum depression.\n- **Persistent depressive disorder (PDD)**: This involves mild to moderate depression that lasts longer than two years.\n- **[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-4767096) (PMDD)**: This is more severe than the more widely known premenstrual syndrome (PMS). PMS is *not* classified as a psychiatric disorder.\n### Anxiety Disorders\nAnxiety involves focusing on bad or dangerous things that could happen and worrying fearfully and excessively about them. Anxiety disorders include:\n\n- **Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)**: Causes pervasive anxiety about a wide variety of events, situations, or activities\n- **Panic disorder**: Causes severe, frequent panic attacks\n- **Phobias**: Extreme or irrational fears of specific things, such as heights)\n### Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders\nPeople with these disorders experience repeated and unwanted urges, thoughts, or images (obsessions) and feel driven to take repeated actions in response to them (compulsions).\n\nExamples include [obsessive-compulsive disorder](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/ocd-vs-obsessive-compulsive-personality-disorder-2510584) (OCD), hoarding disorder, and [hair-pulling disorder](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/trichotillomania-2510662) (trichotillomania).\n\n### Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders\nThese psychiatric disorders develop during or after stressful or traumatic life events. Some of the conditions that are included in this category of psychiatric disorders include:\n\n- **[Posttraumatic stress disorder](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/requirements-for-ptsd-diagnosis-2797637) (PTSD)**: A condition characterized by nightmares, flashbacks, hypervigilance, difficulty concentrating, and other symptoms\n- **Acute stress disorder**: A condition that occurs after exposure to a traumatic event that causes severe anxiety for up to a month after the trauma\n- **Adjustment disorders**: A condition marked by symptoms of anxiety, depressed mood, anger, and irritability in response to a sudden change, such as a divorce, breakup, or job loss\n### Dissociative Disorders\nThese are disorders in which a person’s sense of self is disrupted. This can affect a person's identity and memory. Some examples of dissociative disorders include:\n\n- [**Dissociative identity disorder**](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/dissociative-identity-disorder-425423): A condition marked by having two or more distinct personalities or identities (formerly known as multiple personality disorder)\n- **Dissociative amnesia**: Characterized by memory loss that can be brief or long-lasting\n- **Depersonalization\/derealization disorder**: Involves symptoms of depersonalization (feeling outside of one's body) and derealization (disconnected from reality)\n### Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders\nA person with one of these disorders may have distressing and incapacitating physical symptoms with no clear medical cause. (“Somatic” means “of the body.”) Examples include:\n\n- **Illness anxiety disorder**: A condition marked by an excessive worry about bodily sensations and a belief that one has or will get a serious medical condition\n- **Somatic symptom disorder (previously known as hypochondriasis)**: An excessive preoccupation with physical symptoms that create significant distress and make it difficult to function in everyday life\n- **Factitious disorder**: Involves intentionally creating symptoms or faking symptoms of an illness\n### Feeding and Eating Disorders\nThese psychiatric disorders are disturbances related to eating. These conditions involve an excessive focus on weight or body shape that result in disordered eating patterns. These eating behaviors have a severe impact on both mental and physical health. Such conditions include:\n\n- **Anorexia nervosa**: Involves food restriction that results in a very low body weight\n- **Bulimia nervosa**: Involve binge eating followed by extreme methods to compensate for excessive calorie intake, including induced vomiting, laxative misuse, or excess exercise\n- **Binge eating disorder**: Involves consuming large amounts of food in a short period of time\n### Elimination Disorders\nPsychiatric disorders in this group relate to the inappropriate elimination (release) of urine or stool by accident or on purpose. Bedwetting (enuresis) is an example.\n\n### Sleep-Wake Disorders\nThese conditions interfere with a person's ability to get adequate sleep, which then disrupts daytime functioning. These are severe sleep disorders, including:\n\n- **Insomnia disorder**: Involves the inability to get enough sleep\n- **Sleep apnea**: Involves breathing problems that disrupt sleep and lead to daytime sleepiness\n- **Restless legs syndrome**: A condition that causes sensations and leg movements that make it difficult to sleep\n### Sexual Dysfunctions\nThese disorders of sexual response include such diagnoses as premature ejaculation, erectile disorder, and female orgasmic disorder.\n\n### Gender Dysphoria\nThese disorders stem from the distress that goes with a person's stated desire to be a different gender. The diagnostic criteria in this group differ somewhat among children, adolescents, and adults.\n\n### Disruptive, Impulse-Control, and Conduct Disorders\nPeople with these disorders show symptoms of difficulty with emotional and behavioral self-control. Examples include kleptomania (repeated stealing) and [intermittent explosive disorder](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/intermittent-explosive-disorder-and-trauma-2797145) (which causes extreme outbursts of anger).\n\n### Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders\nPeople with these diagnoses have problems associated with excessive use of alcohol, opioids (for example, oxycodone and morphine), recreational drugs, hallucinogens, cannabis, stimulants, or tobacco. This group also includes [gambling disorder](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/what-is-pathological-gambling-22016).\n\n### Neurocognitive Disorders\nThese psychiatric disorders affect people’s ability to think and reason. The disorders in this group include delirium as well as disorders of thinking and reasoning caused by such conditions or diseases as traumatic brain injury or Alzheimer's disease.\n\n### Personality Disorders\nA personality disorder involves a lasting pattern of emotional instability and unhealthy behaviors that seriously disrupt daily living and relationships. Examples include:\n\n- [**Borderline personality disorder**](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/what-is-borderline-personality-disorder-bpd-425487): Characterized by intense interpersonal relationships, unstable self-image, emotional instability, and impulsivity\n- [**Antisocial personality disorder**](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/antisocial-personality-disorder-2795566): Involves a disregard for the right of others and the violation of rules and social norms\n- [**Narcissistic personality disorder**](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/what-is-narcissistic-personality-disorder-2795446): Characterized by self-centeredness, lack of empathy, and an exaggerated sense of self\n### Paraphilic Disorders\nMany sexual-interest disorders are included in this group. Examples include sexual sadism disorder, voyeuristic disorder, and pedophilic disorder.\n\n### Other Mental Disorders\nThis group includes psychiatric disorders that are due to other medical conditions or that don't meet all the requirements for any of the other psychiatric disorder groups.\n\n## When Does a Mental Health Concern Become a Psychiatric Disorder?\nIf you're like most people, you’ve probably had a mental health concern from time to time, such as depression following the loss of a job. These concerns are typically time-limited, and eventually, you start to feel better.\n\nThat’s not true of a psychiatric disorder, in which your symptoms are ongoing and frequently upsetting to you and the people around you.\n\nA psychiatric disorder also interferes with your ability to do day-to-day tasks.\n\nWhen the stress of trying to cope with your symptoms becomes more than you can handle, treatment typically involves a combination of medications and [psychotherapy](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/psychotherapy-4157172) (also called talk therapy).","meta_canonical":null}

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Meta Title	Psychiatric Disorders: Common Types and Symptoms
Meta Description	Psychiatric disorders are mental illnesses that significantly disturb thinking, moods, and behavior. Learn more about the different types of psychiatric disorders.
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Boilerpipe Text	Key Takeaways A psychiatric disorder is a mental illness that seriously affects thinking, mood, and behavior. Symptoms of psychiatric disorders include confusion, sadness, and trouble managing stress. If you have ongoing mental health symptoms, you may need both medication and talk therapy. A psychiatric disorder is a mental illness diagnosed by a mental health professional that greatly disturbs your thinking, moods, and/or behavior and seriously increases your risk of disability, pain, death, or loss of freedom. In addition, your symptoms must be more severe than expected response to an upsetting event, such as normal grief after the loss of a loved one. A large number of psychiatric disorders have been identified. Chances are that, whether or not you or someone close to you has been diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder, you know something about one or more of the following examples: Depression Personality disorders Anxiety disorders Schizophrenia Eating disorders Addictive behaviors According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), one in five adults in the U.S. has some type of mental illness. This includes conditions that can range from mild to severe. NIMH distinguishes between any mental illness (AMI), which represents all recognized mental health conditions, and serious mental illness (SMI), which involves a small and more severe subset of illnesses. NIMH reports that in 2021, 5.5% (14.1 million) of U.S. adults over the age of 18 had a serious mental illness. Symptoms of Psychiatric Disorders Examples of ongoing signs and symptoms of psychiatric disorders include: Confused thinking Reduced ability to concentrate Deep, ongoing sadness, or feeling “down” Inability to manage day-to-day stress and problems Trouble understanding situations and other people Withdrawal from others and from activities you used to enjoy Extreme tiredness, low energy, or sleeping problems Strong feelings of fear, worry, or guilt Extreme mood changes, from highs to lows, often shifting very quickly Detachment from reality (delusions), paranoia (the belief that others are “out to get you,”) or hallucinations (seeing things that aren’t there) Marked changes in eating habits A change in sex drive Drug or alcohol abuse Excessive anger, hostility, and/or violence Suicidal thinking A psychiatric disorder may also cause physical symptoms, such as a headache, back pain, or stomach pain. If you’re being evaluated for a psychiatric disorder, tell your doctor about any physical symptoms you’re having, including unexplained aches and pains. Types of Psychiatric Disorders Psychiatric disorders fall into one of the following main types (often called classes or categories): Neurodevelopmental Disorders Neurodevelopmental disorders affect how your brain functions and can affect cognition, behavior, communication, and motor abilities. The many psychiatric disorders in this group usually begin in infancy or childhood, often before a child starts school. Examples include: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) Autism spectrum disorders Learning disorders Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders Psychotic disorders cause detachment from reality. People with these diagnoses experience delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized thinking and speech. Schizophrenia is probably the best known of these illnesses, although detachment from reality can sometimes affect people with other psychiatric disorders. Bipolar and Related Disorders This group includes disorders in which episodes of mania (periods of excessive excitement, activity, and energy) alternate with periods of depression. There are three types of bipolar disorder: Bipolar I : Characterized by episodes of mania and depression Bipolar II : Characterized by depressive and hypomanic episodes Cyclothymic disorder : Marked by depressive and hypomanic symptoms that are not severe enough to be considered mood episodes Depressive Disorders These include disorders characterized by feelings of extreme sadness and worthlessness, along with reduced interest in previously enjoyable activities. Examples include: Major depressive disorder : There are also different forms of major depressive disorder, including seasonal affective disorder and postpartum depression. Persistent depressive disorder (PDD) : This involves mild to moderate depression that lasts longer than two years. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) : This is more severe than the more widely known premenstrual syndrome (PMS). PMS is not classified as a psychiatric disorder. Anxiety Disorders Anxiety involves focusing on bad or dangerous things that could happen and worrying fearfully and excessively about them. Anxiety disorders include: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) : Causes pervasive anxiety about a wide variety of events, situations, or activities Panic disorder : Causes severe, frequent panic attacks Phobias : Extreme or irrational fears of specific things, such as heights) Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders People with these disorders experience repeated and unwanted urges, thoughts, or images (obsessions) and feel driven to take repeated actions in response to them (compulsions). Examples include obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), hoarding disorder, and hair-pulling disorder (trichotillomania). Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders These psychiatric disorders develop during or after stressful or traumatic life events. Some of the conditions that are included in this category of psychiatric disorders include: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) : A condition characterized by nightmares, flashbacks, hypervigilance, difficulty concentrating, and other symptoms Acute stress disorder : A condition that occurs after exposure to a traumatic event that causes severe anxiety for up to a month after the trauma Adjustment disorders : A condition marked by symptoms of anxiety, depressed mood, anger, and irritability in response to a sudden change, such as a divorce, breakup, or job loss Dissociative Disorders These are disorders in which a person’s sense of self is disrupted. This can affect a person's identity and memory. Some examples of dissociative disorders include: Dissociative identity disorder : A condition marked by having two or more distinct personalities or identities (formerly known as multiple personality disorder) Dissociative amnesia : Characterized by memory loss that can be brief or long-lasting Depersonalization/derealization disorder : Involves symptoms of depersonalization (feeling outside of one's body) and derealization (disconnected from reality) Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders A person with one of these disorders may have distressing and incapacitating physical symptoms with no clear medical cause. (“Somatic” means “of the body.”) Examples include: Illness anxiety disorder : A condition marked by an excessive worry about bodily sensations and a belief that one has or will get a serious medical condition Somatic symptom disorder (previously known as hypochondriasis) : An excessive preoccupation with physical symptoms that create significant distress and make it difficult to function in everyday life Factitious disorder : Involves intentionally creating symptoms or faking symptoms of an illness Feeding and Eating Disorders These psychiatric disorders are disturbances related to eating. These conditions involve an excessive focus on weight or body shape that result in disordered eating patterns. These eating behaviors have a severe impact on both mental and physical health. Such conditions include: Anorexia nervosa : Involves food restriction that results in a very low body weight Bulimia nervosa : Involve binge eating followed by extreme methods to compensate for excessive calorie intake, including induced vomiting, laxative misuse, or excess exercise Binge eating disorder : Involves consuming large amounts of food in a short period of time Elimination Disorders Psychiatric disorders in this group relate to the inappropriate elimination (release) of urine or stool by accident or on purpose. Bedwetting (enuresis) is an example. Sleep-Wake Disorders These conditions interfere with a person's ability to get adequate sleep, which then disrupts daytime functioning. These are severe sleep disorders, including: Insomnia disorder : Involves the inability to get enough sleep Sleep apnea : Involves breathing problems that disrupt sleep and lead to daytime sleepiness Restless legs syndrome : A condition that causes sensations and leg movements that make it difficult to sleep Sexual Dysfunctions These disorders of sexual response include such diagnoses as premature ejaculation, erectile disorder, and female orgasmic disorder. Gender Dysphoria These disorders stem from the distress that goes with a person's stated desire to be a different gender. The diagnostic criteria in this group differ somewhat among children, adolescents, and adults. Disruptive, Impulse-Control, and Conduct Disorders People with these disorders show symptoms of difficulty with emotional and behavioral self-control. Examples include kleptomania (repeated stealing) and intermittent explosive disorder (which causes extreme outbursts of anger). Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders People with these diagnoses have problems associated with excessive use of alcohol, opioids (for example, oxycodone and morphine), recreational drugs, hallucinogens, cannabis, stimulants, or tobacco. This group also includes gambling disorder . Neurocognitive Disorders These psychiatric disorders affect people’s ability to think and reason. The disorders in this group include delirium as well as disorders of thinking and reasoning caused by such conditions or diseases as traumatic brain injury or Alzheimer's disease. Personality Disorders A personality disorder involves a lasting pattern of emotional instability and unhealthy behaviors that seriously disrupt daily living and relationships. Examples include: Borderline personality disorder : Characterized by intense interpersonal relationships, unstable self-image, emotional instability, and impulsivity Antisocial personality disorder : Involves a disregard for the right of others and the violation of rules and social norms Narcissistic personality disorder : Characterized by self-centeredness, lack of empathy, and an exaggerated sense of self Paraphilic Disorders Many sexual-interest disorders are included in this group. Examples include sexual sadism disorder, voyeuristic disorder, and pedophilic disorder. Other Mental Disorders This group includes psychiatric disorders that are due to other medical conditions or that don't meet all the requirements for any of the other psychiatric disorder groups. When Does a Mental Health Concern Become a Psychiatric Disorder? If you're like most people, you’ve probably had a mental health concern from time to time, such as depression following the loss of a job. These concerns are typically time-limited, and eventually, you start to feel better. That’s not true of a psychiatric disorder, in which your symptoms are ongoing and frequently upsetting to you and the people around you. A psychiatric disorder also interferes with your ability to do day-to-day tasks. When the stress of trying to cope with your symptoms becomes more than you can handle, treatment typically involves a combination of medications and psychotherapy (also called talk therapy).
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Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Ⓒ 2026 People Inc. — All rights reserved # Types and Symptoms of Common Psychiatric Disorders By [Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD](https://www.verywellmind.com/kristalyn-salters-pedneault-phd-425092) [Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD](https://www.verywellmind.com/kristalyn-salters-pedneault-phd-425092) Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and associate professor of psychology at Eastern Connecticut State University. Learn about our [editorial process](https://www.verywellmind.com/our-editorial-process-4778006) Updated on November 12, 2025 Medically reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. [Learn more](https://www.verywellmind.com/review-board-4796494). by [Akeem Marsh, MD](https://www.verywellmind.com/akeem-marsh-md-5071042) ![Akeem Marsh, MD, board-certified child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist]() ![Akeem Marsh, MD, board-certified child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist](https://www.verywellmind.com/thmb/na3qZ4uqojSw58drvwY8AqgBYsg=/200x200/filters:no_upscale\(\):max_bytes\(150000\):strip_icc\(\)/akeemmarsh_1000-d247c981705a46aba45acff9939ff8b0.jpg) Medically reviewed by [Akeem Marsh, MD](https://www.verywellmind.com/akeem-marsh-md-5071042) Akeem Marsh, MD, is a board-certified child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist who has dedicated his career to working with medically underserved communities. Learn about our [Medical Review Board](https://www.verywellmind.com/review-board-4796494) ![Mature woman with head in hands](https://www.verywellmind.com/thmb/GEp7G0QNrkz4yGkgTELwmzD7oZc=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale\(\):max_bytes\(150000\):strip_icc\(\)/GettyImages-501869913-5697c4dd3df78cafda8f9dee.jpg) ![Mature woman with head in hands](https://www.verywellmind.com/thmb/GEp7G0QNrkz4yGkgTELwmzD7oZc=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale\(\):max_bytes\(150000\):strip_icc\(\)/GettyImages-501869913-5697c4dd3df78cafda8f9dee.jpg) Ghislain & Marie David de Lossy/Getty Images Table of Contents View All Table of Contents - [Examples](https://www.verywellmind.com/psychiatric-disorder-definition-425317#toc-examples-of-psychiatric-disorders) - [Symptoms](https://www.verywellmind.com/psychiatric-disorder-definition-425317#toc-symptoms-of-psychiatric-disorders) - [Types](https://www.verywellmind.com/psychiatric-disorder-definition-425317#toc-types-of-psychiatric-disorders) - [Symptoms vs. Disorders](https://www.verywellmind.com/psychiatric-disorder-definition-425317#toc-when-does-a-mental-health-concern-become-a-psychiatric-disorder) Close ### Key Takeaways - A psychiatric disorder is a mental illness that seriously affects thinking, mood, and behavior. - Symptoms of psychiatric disorders include confusion, sadness, and trouble managing stress. - If you have ongoing mental health symptoms, you may need both medication and talk therapy. A psychiatric disorder is a mental illness diagnosed by a mental health professional that greatly disturbs your thinking, moods, and/or behavior and seriously increases your risk of disability, pain, death, or loss of freedom. In addition, your symptoms must be more severe than expected response to an upsetting event, such as normal grief after the loss of a loved one. ## Examples of Psychiatric Disorders A large number of [psychiatric disorders](https://www.verywellmind.com/a-list-of-psychological-disorders-2794776) have been identified. Chances are that, whether or not you or someone close to you has been diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder, you know something about one or more of the following examples: - Depression - [Personality disorders](https://www.verywellmind.com/personality-disorders-a2-425427) - [Anxiety disorders](https://www.verywellmind.com/anxiety-disorder-2510539) - Schizophrenia - [Eating disorders](https://www.verywellmind.com/eating-disorders-4157252) - [Addictive behaviors](https://www.verywellmind.com/addictive-behaviors-4157291) According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), one in five adults in the U.S. has some type of mental illness. This includes conditions that can range from mild to severe. NIMH distinguishes between any mental illness (AMI), which represents all recognized mental health conditions, and serious mental illness (SMI), which involves a small and more severe subset of illnesses. NIMH reports that in 2021, 5.5% (14.1 million) of U.S. adults over the age of 18 had a serious mental illness. ## Symptoms of Psychiatric Disorders Examples of ongoing signs and symptoms of psychiatric disorders include: - Confused thinking - Reduced ability to concentrate - Deep, ongoing sadness, or feeling “down” - Inability to manage day-to-day stress and problems - Trouble understanding situations and other people - Withdrawal from others and from activities you used to enjoy - Extreme tiredness, low energy, or sleeping problems - Strong feelings of fear, worry, or guilt - Extreme mood changes, from highs to lows, often shifting very quickly - Detachment from reality (delusions), paranoia (the belief that others are “out to get you,”) or [hallucinations](https://www.verywellmind.com/what-are-hallucinations-378819) (seeing things that aren’t there) - Marked changes in eating habits - A change in sex drive - Drug or alcohol abuse - Excessive anger, hostility, and/or violence - [Suicidal thinking](https://www.verywellmind.com/suicidal-ideation-380609) If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the [National Suicide Prevention Lifeline](https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/) at 988 for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911. For more mental health resources, see our [National Helpline Database](https://www.verywellmind.com/national-helpline-database-4799696). A psychiatric disorder may also cause physical symptoms, such as a headache, back pain, or stomach pain. If you’re being evaluated for a psychiatric disorder, tell your doctor about any physical symptoms you’re having, including unexplained aches and pains. ## Types of Psychiatric Disorders Psychiatric disorders fall into one of the following main types (often called classes or categories): ### Neurodevelopmental Disorders Neurodevelopmental disorders affect how your brain functions and can affect cognition, behavior, communication, and motor abilities. The many psychiatric disorders in this group usually begin in infancy or childhood, often before a child starts school. Examples include: - Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) - Autism spectrum disorders - Learning disorders ### Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders Psychotic disorders cause detachment from reality. People with these diagnoses experience delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized thinking and speech. [Schizophrenia](https://www.verywellmind.com/what-are-the-symptoms-of-schizophrenia-2953120) is probably the best known of these illnesses, although detachment from reality can sometimes affect people with other psychiatric disorders. ### Bipolar and Related Disorders This group includes disorders in which episodes of [mania](https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-recognize-a-manic-or-hypomanic-episode-380316) (periods of excessive excitement, activity, and energy) alternate with periods of depression. There are three types of bipolar disorder: - Bipolar I: Characterized by episodes of mania and depression - Bipolar II: Characterized by depressive and hypomanic episodes - Cyclothymic disorder: Marked by depressive and hypomanic symptoms that are not severe enough to be considered mood episodes ### Depressive Disorders These include disorders characterized by feelings of extreme sadness and worthlessness, along with reduced interest in previously enjoyable activities. Examples include: - Major depressive disorder: There are also different forms of major depressive disorder, including seasonal affective disorder and postpartum depression. - Persistent depressive disorder (PDD): This involves mild to moderate depression that lasts longer than two years. - [Premenstrual dysphoric disorder](https://www.verywellmind.com/premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-4767096) (PMDD): This is more severe than the more widely known premenstrual syndrome (PMS). PMS is not classified as a psychiatric disorder. ### Anxiety Disorders Anxiety involves focusing on bad or dangerous things that could happen and worrying fearfully and excessively about them. Anxiety disorders include: - Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD): Causes pervasive anxiety about a wide variety of events, situations, or activities - Panic disorder: Causes severe, frequent panic attacks - Phobias: Extreme or irrational fears of specific things, such as heights) ### Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders People with these disorders experience repeated and unwanted urges, thoughts, or images (obsessions) and feel driven to take repeated actions in response to them (compulsions). Examples include [obsessive-compulsive disorder](https://www.verywellmind.com/ocd-vs-obsessive-compulsive-personality-disorder-2510584) (OCD), hoarding disorder, and [hair-pulling disorder](https://www.verywellmind.com/trichotillomania-2510662) (trichotillomania). ### Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders These psychiatric disorders develop during or after stressful or traumatic life events. Some of the conditions that are included in this category of psychiatric disorders include: - [Posttraumatic stress disorder](https://www.verywellmind.com/requirements-for-ptsd-diagnosis-2797637) (PTSD): A condition characterized by nightmares, flashbacks, hypervigilance, difficulty concentrating, and other symptoms - Acute stress disorder: A condition that occurs after exposure to a traumatic event that causes severe anxiety for up to a month after the trauma - Adjustment disorders: A condition marked by symptoms of anxiety, depressed mood, anger, and irritability in response to a sudden change, such as a divorce, breakup, or job loss ### Dissociative Disorders These are disorders in which a person’s sense of self is disrupted. This can affect a person's identity and memory. Some examples of dissociative disorders include: - [Dissociative identity disorder](https://www.verywellmind.com/dissociative-identity-disorder-425423): A condition marked by having two or more distinct personalities or identities (formerly known as multiple personality disorder) - Dissociative amnesia: Characterized by memory loss that can be brief or long-lasting - Depersonalization/derealization disorder: Involves symptoms of depersonalization (feeling outside of one's body) and derealization (disconnected from reality) ### Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders A person with one of these disorders may have distressing and incapacitating physical symptoms with no clear medical cause. (“Somatic” means “of the body.”) Examples include: - Illness anxiety disorder: A condition marked by an excessive worry about bodily sensations and a belief that one has or will get a serious medical condition - Somatic symptom disorder (previously known as hypochondriasis): An excessive preoccupation with physical symptoms that create significant distress and make it difficult to function in everyday life - Factitious disorder: Involves intentionally creating symptoms or faking symptoms of an illness ### Feeding and Eating Disorders These psychiatric disorders are disturbances related to eating. These conditions involve an excessive focus on weight or body shape that result in disordered eating patterns. These eating behaviors have a severe impact on both mental and physical health. Such conditions include: - Anorexia nervosa: Involves food restriction that results in a very low body weight - Bulimia nervosa: Involve binge eating followed by extreme methods to compensate for excessive calorie intake, including induced vomiting, laxative misuse, or excess exercise - Binge eating disorder: Involves consuming large amounts of food in a short period of time ### Elimination Disorders Psychiatric disorders in this group relate to the inappropriate elimination (release) of urine or stool by accident or on purpose. Bedwetting (enuresis) is an example. ### Sleep-Wake Disorders These conditions interfere with a person's ability to get adequate sleep, which then disrupts daytime functioning. These are severe sleep disorders, including: - Insomnia disorder: Involves the inability to get enough sleep - Sleep apnea: Involves breathing problems that disrupt sleep and lead to daytime sleepiness - Restless legs syndrome: A condition that causes sensations and leg movements that make it difficult to sleep ### Sexual Dysfunctions These disorders of sexual response include such diagnoses as premature ejaculation, erectile disorder, and female orgasmic disorder. ### Gender Dysphoria These disorders stem from the distress that goes with a person's stated desire to be a different gender. The diagnostic criteria in this group differ somewhat among children, adolescents, and adults. ### Disruptive, Impulse-Control, and Conduct Disorders People with these disorders show symptoms of difficulty with emotional and behavioral self-control. Examples include kleptomania (repeated stealing) and [intermittent explosive disorder](https://www.verywellmind.com/intermittent-explosive-disorder-and-trauma-2797145) (which causes extreme outbursts of anger). ### Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders People with these diagnoses have problems associated with excessive use of alcohol, opioids (for example, oxycodone and morphine), recreational drugs, hallucinogens, cannabis, stimulants, or tobacco. This group also includes [gambling disorder](https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-pathological-gambling-22016). ### Neurocognitive Disorders These psychiatric disorders affect people’s ability to think and reason. The disorders in this group include delirium as well as disorders of thinking and reasoning caused by such conditions or diseases as traumatic brain injury or Alzheimer's disease. ### Personality Disorders A personality disorder involves a lasting pattern of emotional instability and unhealthy behaviors that seriously disrupt daily living and relationships. Examples include: - [Borderline personality disorder](https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-borderline-personality-disorder-bpd-425487): Characterized by intense interpersonal relationships, unstable self-image, emotional instability, and impulsivity - [Antisocial personality disorder](https://www.verywellmind.com/antisocial-personality-disorder-2795566): Involves a disregard for the right of others and the violation of rules and social norms - [Narcissistic personality disorder](https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-narcissistic-personality-disorder-2795446): Characterized by self-centeredness, lack of empathy, and an exaggerated sense of self ### Paraphilic Disorders Many sexual-interest disorders are included in this group. Examples include sexual sadism disorder, voyeuristic disorder, and pedophilic disorder. ### Other Mental Disorders This group includes psychiatric disorders that are due to other medical conditions or that don't meet all the requirements for any of the other psychiatric disorder groups. [Is Mental Illness Genetic? What the Research Says](https://www.verywellmind.com/is-mental-illness-genetic-what-the-research-says-6752828) ## When Does a Mental Health Concern Become a Psychiatric Disorder? If you're like most people, you’ve probably had a mental health concern from time to time, such as depression following the loss of a job. These concerns are typically time-limited, and eventually, you start to feel better. That’s not true of a psychiatric disorder, in which your symptoms are ongoing and frequently upsetting to you and the people around you. A psychiatric disorder also interferes with your ability to do day-to-day tasks. When the stress of trying to cope with your symptoms becomes more than you can handle, treatment typically involves a combination of medications and [psychotherapy](https://www.verywellmind.com/psychotherapy-4157172) (also called talk therapy). [The Best Online Therapy Programs](https://www.verywellmind.com/best-online-therapy-4691206) We've tried, tested and written unbiased reviews of the best online therapy programs including Talkspace, Betterhelp, and Regain. Read more: - [Psychology](https://www.verywellmind.com/psychology-4157187) - [Theories](https://www.verywellmind.com/theories-of-psychology-4157184) 11 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our [editorial process](https://www.verywellmind.com/our-editorial-process-4778006) to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. 1. American Psychological Association. [Mental disorder](https://dictionary.apa.org/mental-disorder). 2. Stein DJ, Phillips KA, Bolton D, Fulford KW, Sadler JZ, Kendler KS. [What is a mental/psychiatric disorder? From DSM-IV to DSM-V](https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291709992261). Psychol Med. 2010;40(11):1759-1765. doi:10.1017/S0033291709992261 3. American Psychiatric Association, American Psychiatric Association, eds. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-5. 5th ed. American Psychiatric Association; 2013. 4. National Institute of Mental Health. [Mental illness](https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness). 5. American Psychiatric Association (APA). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text revision. Washington, D.C.; 2022. 6. Spurrier GF, Shulman K, Dibich S, Benoit L, Duckworth K, Martin A. [Physical symptoms as psychiatric manifestations in medical spaces: A qualitative study](https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1074424). Front Psychiatry. 2023;13:1074424. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1074424 7. Mullin AP, Gokhale A, Moreno-De-Luca A, Sanyal S, Waddington JL, Faundez V. [Neurodevelopmental disorders: mechanisms and boundary definitions from genomes, interactomes and proteomes](https://doi.org/10.1038/tp.2013.108). Transl Psychiatry. 2013;3(12):e329. doi:10.1038/tp.2013.108 8. Stępnicki P, Kondej M, Kaczor AA. [Current concepts and treatments of schizophrenia](https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules23082087). Molecules. 2018;23(8):2087. doi:10.3390/molecules23082087 9. Brock H, Hany M. [Obsessive-compulsive disorder](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK553162/). In: StatPearls \[Internet\]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. 10. Dimsdale JE. [Research on somatization and somatic symptom disorders: Ars longa, vita brevis](https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0000000000000533). Psychosom Med. 2017;79(9):971-973. doi:10.1097/PSY.0000000000000533 11. American Psychiatric Association. [What is gender dysphoria?](https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/gender-dysphoria/what-is-gender-dysphoria) By [Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD](https://www.verywellmind.com/kristalyn-salters-pedneault-phd-425092) Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and associate professor of psychology at Eastern Connecticut State University. [See Our Editorial Process](https://www.verywellmind.com/our-editorial-process-4778006) [Meet Our Review Board](https://www.verywellmind.com/review-board-4796494) Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback\! What is your feedback? 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Readable Markdown	### Key Takeaways - A psychiatric disorder is a mental illness that seriously affects thinking, mood, and behavior. - Symptoms of psychiatric disorders include confusion, sadness, and trouble managing stress. - If you have ongoing mental health symptoms, you may need both medication and talk therapy. A psychiatric disorder is a mental illness diagnosed by a mental health professional that greatly disturbs your thinking, moods, and/or behavior and seriously increases your risk of disability, pain, death, or loss of freedom. In addition, your symptoms must be more severe than expected response to an upsetting event, such as normal grief after the loss of a loved one. A large number of [psychiatric disorders](https://www.verywellmind.com/a-list-of-psychological-disorders-2794776) have been identified. Chances are that, whether or not you or someone close to you has been diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder, you know something about one or more of the following examples: - Depression - [Personality disorders](https://www.verywellmind.com/personality-disorders-a2-425427) - [Anxiety disorders](https://www.verywellmind.com/anxiety-disorder-2510539) - Schizophrenia - [Eating disorders](https://www.verywellmind.com/eating-disorders-4157252) - [Addictive behaviors](https://www.verywellmind.com/addictive-behaviors-4157291) According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), one in five adults in the U.S. has some type of mental illness. This includes conditions that can range from mild to severe. NIMH distinguishes between any mental illness (AMI), which represents all recognized mental health conditions, and serious mental illness (SMI), which involves a small and more severe subset of illnesses. NIMH reports that in 2021, 5.5% (14.1 million) of U.S. adults over the age of 18 had a serious mental illness. ## Symptoms of Psychiatric Disorders Examples of ongoing signs and symptoms of psychiatric disorders include: - Confused thinking - Reduced ability to concentrate - Deep, ongoing sadness, or feeling “down” - Inability to manage day-to-day stress and problems - Trouble understanding situations and other people - Withdrawal from others and from activities you used to enjoy - Extreme tiredness, low energy, or sleeping problems - Strong feelings of fear, worry, or guilt - Extreme mood changes, from highs to lows, often shifting very quickly - Detachment from reality (delusions), paranoia (the belief that others are “out to get you,”) or [hallucinations](https://www.verywellmind.com/what-are-hallucinations-378819) (seeing things that aren’t there) - Marked changes in eating habits - A change in sex drive - Drug or alcohol abuse - Excessive anger, hostility, and/or violence - [Suicidal thinking](https://www.verywellmind.com/suicidal-ideation-380609) A psychiatric disorder may also cause physical symptoms, such as a headache, back pain, or stomach pain. If you’re being evaluated for a psychiatric disorder, tell your doctor about any physical symptoms you’re having, including unexplained aches and pains. ## Types of Psychiatric Disorders Psychiatric disorders fall into one of the following main types (often called classes or categories): ### Neurodevelopmental Disorders Neurodevelopmental disorders affect how your brain functions and can affect cognition, behavior, communication, and motor abilities. The many psychiatric disorders in this group usually begin in infancy or childhood, often before a child starts school. Examples include: - Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) - Autism spectrum disorders - Learning disorders ### Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders Psychotic disorders cause detachment from reality. People with these diagnoses experience delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized thinking and speech. [Schizophrenia](https://www.verywellmind.com/what-are-the-symptoms-of-schizophrenia-2953120) is probably the best known of these illnesses, although detachment from reality can sometimes affect people with other psychiatric disorders. ### Bipolar and Related Disorders This group includes disorders in which episodes of [mania](https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-recognize-a-manic-or-hypomanic-episode-380316) (periods of excessive excitement, activity, and energy) alternate with periods of depression. There are three types of bipolar disorder: - Bipolar I: Characterized by episodes of mania and depression - Bipolar II: Characterized by depressive and hypomanic episodes - Cyclothymic disorder: Marked by depressive and hypomanic symptoms that are not severe enough to be considered mood episodes ### Depressive Disorders These include disorders characterized by feelings of extreme sadness and worthlessness, along with reduced interest in previously enjoyable activities. Examples include: - Major depressive disorder: There are also different forms of major depressive disorder, including seasonal affective disorder and postpartum depression. - Persistent depressive disorder (PDD): This involves mild to moderate depression that lasts longer than two years. - [Premenstrual dysphoric disorder](https://www.verywellmind.com/premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-4767096) (PMDD): This is more severe than the more widely known premenstrual syndrome (PMS). PMS is not classified as a psychiatric disorder. ### Anxiety Disorders Anxiety involves focusing on bad or dangerous things that could happen and worrying fearfully and excessively about them. Anxiety disorders include: - Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD): Causes pervasive anxiety about a wide variety of events, situations, or activities - Panic disorder: Causes severe, frequent panic attacks - Phobias: Extreme or irrational fears of specific things, such as heights) ### Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders People with these disorders experience repeated and unwanted urges, thoughts, or images (obsessions) and feel driven to take repeated actions in response to them (compulsions). Examples include [obsessive-compulsive disorder](https://www.verywellmind.com/ocd-vs-obsessive-compulsive-personality-disorder-2510584) (OCD), hoarding disorder, and [hair-pulling disorder](https://www.verywellmind.com/trichotillomania-2510662) (trichotillomania). ### Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders These psychiatric disorders develop during or after stressful or traumatic life events. Some of the conditions that are included in this category of psychiatric disorders include: - [Posttraumatic stress disorder](https://www.verywellmind.com/requirements-for-ptsd-diagnosis-2797637) (PTSD): A condition characterized by nightmares, flashbacks, hypervigilance, difficulty concentrating, and other symptoms - Acute stress disorder: A condition that occurs after exposure to a traumatic event that causes severe anxiety for up to a month after the trauma - Adjustment disorders: A condition marked by symptoms of anxiety, depressed mood, anger, and irritability in response to a sudden change, such as a divorce, breakup, or job loss ### Dissociative Disorders These are disorders in which a person’s sense of self is disrupted. This can affect a person's identity and memory. Some examples of dissociative disorders include: - [Dissociative identity disorder](https://www.verywellmind.com/dissociative-identity-disorder-425423): A condition marked by having two or more distinct personalities or identities (formerly known as multiple personality disorder) - Dissociative amnesia: Characterized by memory loss that can be brief or long-lasting - Depersonalization/derealization disorder: Involves symptoms of depersonalization (feeling outside of one's body) and derealization (disconnected from reality) ### Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders A person with one of these disorders may have distressing and incapacitating physical symptoms with no clear medical cause. (“Somatic” means “of the body.”) Examples include: - Illness anxiety disorder: A condition marked by an excessive worry about bodily sensations and a belief that one has or will get a serious medical condition - Somatic symptom disorder (previously known as hypochondriasis): An excessive preoccupation with physical symptoms that create significant distress and make it difficult to function in everyday life - Factitious disorder: Involves intentionally creating symptoms or faking symptoms of an illness ### Feeding and Eating Disorders These psychiatric disorders are disturbances related to eating. These conditions involve an excessive focus on weight or body shape that result in disordered eating patterns. These eating behaviors have a severe impact on both mental and physical health. Such conditions include: - Anorexia nervosa: Involves food restriction that results in a very low body weight - Bulimia nervosa: Involve binge eating followed by extreme methods to compensate for excessive calorie intake, including induced vomiting, laxative misuse, or excess exercise - Binge eating disorder: Involves consuming large amounts of food in a short period of time ### Elimination Disorders Psychiatric disorders in this group relate to the inappropriate elimination (release) of urine or stool by accident or on purpose. Bedwetting (enuresis) is an example. ### Sleep-Wake Disorders These conditions interfere with a person's ability to get adequate sleep, which then disrupts daytime functioning. These are severe sleep disorders, including: - Insomnia disorder: Involves the inability to get enough sleep - Sleep apnea: Involves breathing problems that disrupt sleep and lead to daytime sleepiness - Restless legs syndrome: A condition that causes sensations and leg movements that make it difficult to sleep ### Sexual Dysfunctions These disorders of sexual response include such diagnoses as premature ejaculation, erectile disorder, and female orgasmic disorder. ### Gender Dysphoria These disorders stem from the distress that goes with a person's stated desire to be a different gender. The diagnostic criteria in this group differ somewhat among children, adolescents, and adults. ### Disruptive, Impulse-Control, and Conduct Disorders People with these disorders show symptoms of difficulty with emotional and behavioral self-control. Examples include kleptomania (repeated stealing) and [intermittent explosive disorder](https://www.verywellmind.com/intermittent-explosive-disorder-and-trauma-2797145) (which causes extreme outbursts of anger). ### Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders People with these diagnoses have problems associated with excessive use of alcohol, opioids (for example, oxycodone and morphine), recreational drugs, hallucinogens, cannabis, stimulants, or tobacco. This group also includes [gambling disorder](https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-pathological-gambling-22016). ### Neurocognitive Disorders These psychiatric disorders affect people’s ability to think and reason. The disorders in this group include delirium as well as disorders of thinking and reasoning caused by such conditions or diseases as traumatic brain injury or Alzheimer's disease. ### Personality Disorders A personality disorder involves a lasting pattern of emotional instability and unhealthy behaviors that seriously disrupt daily living and relationships. Examples include: - [Borderline personality disorder](https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-borderline-personality-disorder-bpd-425487): Characterized by intense interpersonal relationships, unstable self-image, emotional instability, and impulsivity - [Antisocial personality disorder](https://www.verywellmind.com/antisocial-personality-disorder-2795566): Involves a disregard for the right of others and the violation of rules and social norms - [Narcissistic personality disorder](https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-narcissistic-personality-disorder-2795446): Characterized by self-centeredness, lack of empathy, and an exaggerated sense of self ### Paraphilic Disorders Many sexual-interest disorders are included in this group. Examples include sexual sadism disorder, voyeuristic disorder, and pedophilic disorder. ### Other Mental Disorders This group includes psychiatric disorders that are due to other medical conditions or that don't meet all the requirements for any of the other psychiatric disorder groups. ## When Does a Mental Health Concern Become a Psychiatric Disorder? If you're like most people, you’ve probably had a mental health concern from time to time, such as depression following the loss of a job. These concerns are typically time-limited, and eventually, you start to feel better. That’s not true of a psychiatric disorder, in which your symptoms are ongoing and frequently upsetting to you and the people around you. A psychiatric disorder also interferes with your ability to do day-to-day tasks. When the stress of trying to cope with your symptoms becomes more than you can handle, treatment typically involves a combination of medications and [psychotherapy](https://www.verywellmind.com/psychotherapy-4157172) (also called talk therapy).
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