Mental Health Conditions: Definitions and Diagnostic Criteria
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterized by unwanted, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) that individuals feel driven to perform. These obsessions and compulsions can significantly interfere with daily activities and cause distress.
Panic Attack in DSM V
In the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition), a panic attack is described as a sudden episode of intense fear or discomfort that reaches a peak within minutes, accompanied by physical symptoms like heart palpitations, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, dizziness, and fear of losing control or dying. It’s a key feature of panic disorder but can also occur in other anxiety disorders.
Panic Disorder Criteria in DSM V
According to the DSM-5, panic disorder is diagnosed when an individual experiences recurrent unexpected panic attacks and has persistent concern or worry about having additional attacks or the consequences of the attacks. At least one of the attacks has been followed by one month (or more) of one or both of the following: 1. Persistent concern or worry about additional panic attacks or their consequences. 2. A significant maladaptive change in behavior related to the attacks (such as avoiding certain places or situations associated with panic attacks).
Comorbidity Definition
Comorbidity refers to the presence of two or more medical or mental health conditions occurring simultaneously in an individual. These conditions can interact with each other, influencing their course, severity, and treatment outcomes. Comorbidity is common in various fields of medicine and psychology, highlighting the complexity of health conditions and the importance of considering multiple factors in diagnosis and treatment.
Separation Anxiety
Separation anxiety is a psychological condition characterized by excessive fear or anxiety concerning separation from attachment figures such as parents, caregivers, or loved ones. It’s commonly observed in children but can also affect adults. Symptoms may include distress when separated from the attachment figure, reluctance or refusal to go to school or work, nightmares about separation, physical symptoms like headaches or stomachaches, and difficulty sleeping alone. Treatment often involves therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), to help individuals manage their anxiety and develop coping strategies.
DSM V Criteria for Selective Mutism
In the DSM-5, selective mutism is diagnosed when an individual consistently fails to speak in specific social situations (e.g., at school or with playmates) despite speaking in other situations (e.g., at home). The duration of the inability to speak must last for at least one month and is not due to a lack of knowledge or comfort with the spoken language. The inability to speak interferes with educational or occupational achievement or with social communication. The disturbance is not better explained by a communication disorder (e.g., childhood-onset fluency disorder) and does not occur exclusively during the course of autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, or another psychotic disorder.
DSM V Criteria for Major Depressive Disorder
In the DSM-5, the criteria for Major Depressive Disorder include experiencing five or more of the following symptoms during the same two-week period, and at least one of the symptoms must be either depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure:
- Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day.
- Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day.
- Significant weight loss when not dieting, weight gain, or decrease or increase in appetite.
- Insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day.
- Psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day.
- Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day.
- Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt.
- Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day.
- Recurrent thoughts of death, recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide.
These symptoms must cause significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. They must not be due to the physiological effects of a substance or another medical condition.
Bipolar I and II
Bipolar I disorder is characterized by at least one manic episode, which may be preceded or followed by hypomanic or major depressive episodes. Mania involves a distinct period of abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood, lasting at least one week. Bipolar II disorder involves at least one hypomanic episode and at least one major depressive episode, with no history of a manic episode. Hypomania is similar to mania but less severe. Both disorders involve periods of mood elevation and depression, but the severity and duration of the mood episodes differ between the two.
Cyclothymic Disorder
Cyclothymic disorder is a mood disorder characterized by cycling between periods of hypomania and mild depression. It’s considered a milder form of bipolar disorder. Symptoms aren’t as severe as in bipolar disorder, but they can still affect daily functioning. Treatment often involves therapy and medication.
Anxiety Disorder
Anxiety disorders encompass a range of conditions characterized by excessive worry, fear, or apprehension. Common types include generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and specific phobias. Symptoms can vary but often include feelings of nervousness, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, and physical symptoms like rapid heartbeat or sweating. Treatment typically involves therapy, medication, or a combination of both.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is characterized by excessive and uncontrollable worry about everyday things. People with GAD often anticipate disaster and may be overly concerned about money, health, family, work, or other issues. Physical symptoms like fatigue, muscle tension, irritability, and sleep disturbances are also common. Treatment usually involves therapy, medication, or a combination of both, tailored to the individual’s needs.
Agoraphobia
Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder characterized by a fear of situations or places where escape might be difficult or embarrassing, or where help may not be available in the event of a panic attack. People with agoraphobia often avoid crowded places, public transportation, or open spaces, which can significantly impact their daily lives. Treatment may involve therapy, medication, or a combination of both, gradually exposing the individual to feared situations in a controlled manner to help reduce anxiety.
Phobias
Phobias are intense and irrational fears of specific objects, activities, or situations. They can be categorized into specific phobias, which are fears of particular objects or situations like spiders, heights, or flying, and social phobias, which involve fears related to social situations or interactions. Phobias can cause significant distress and interfere with daily life. Treatment often involves therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), to help individuals confront and manage their fears.
Panic Disorder Criteria
Panic disorder is diagnosed based on specific criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). To meet the criteria for panic disorder, a person must experience recurrent unexpected panic attacks, followed by at least one month of persistent concern or worry about having additional attacks, or a significant maladaptive change in behavior related to the attacks.
A panic attack is defined as a sudden episode of intense fear or discomfort that reaches its peak within minutes and is accompanied by at least four of the following symptoms:
1. Palpitations, pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate.
2. Sweating.
3. Trembling or shaking.
4. Sensations of shortness of breath or smothering.
5. Feelings of choking.
6. Chest pain or discomfort.
7. Nausea or abdominal distress.
8. Feeling dizzy, unsteady, lightheaded, or faint.
9. Chills or heat sensations.
10. Numbness or tingling sensations.
11. Derealization (feelings of unreality) or depersonalization (being detached from oneself).
12. Fear of losing control or going crazy.
13. Fear of dying.
These symptoms are not due to the physiological effects of a substance (e.g., drugs or medication) or another medical condition and cannot be better explained by another mental disorder. If these criteria are met, and the panic attacks cause significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning, a diagnosis of panic disorder may be warranted.
Body Dysmorphic disorder diagnostic criteria
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is diagnosed based on specific criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). To meet the criteria for BDD, an individual must experience:
1. Preoccupation with one or more perceived defects or flaws in physical appearance that are not observable or appear slight to others.
2. Repetitive behaviors (e.g., mirror checking, excessive grooming, skin picking) or mental acts (e.g., comparing one’s appearance to others) in response to the appearance concerns.
3. The preoccupation causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
4. The preoccupation is not better explained by concerns with body fat or weight in an individual whose symptoms meet criteria for an eating disorder.
Additionally, the appearance concerns cannot be better attributed to another mental disorder (e.g., dissatisfaction with body shape and size in anorexia nervosa). If the symptoms are due to a medical condition (e.g., body dysmorphic features due to excessive scarring from burns), they must be excessive in severity relative to what is typically associated with the condition. Meeting these criteria indicates a diagnosis of Body Dysmorphic Disorder. It’s essential for individuals experiencing symptoms to seek professional evaluation and treatment, as BDD can significantly impact quality of life and may lead to other mental health issues if left untreated