Major Mental Health Disorder Categories
Anxiety Disorders
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Excessive worry about multiple life areas for at least 6 months with physical symptoms.
- Panic Disorder: Recurrent unexpected panic attacks with persistent concern about future attacks.
- Social Anxiety Disorder: Intense fear of social situations due to fear of judgment or embarrassment.
Clinical Scenario
A 28-year-old client presents with 8 months of excessive worry about work performance, family safety, and finances. They report muscle tension, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. This presentation suggests Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
Mood Disorders
- Major Depressive Disorder: At least 5 symptoms including depressed mood or anhedonia for 2+ weeks with functional impairment.
- Bipolar I Disorder: At least one manic episode lasting 7+ days or requiring hospitalization.
- Persistent Depressive Disorder: Chronic depression lasting 2+ years with periods of normal mood lasting less than 2 months.
Memory Aid: SIG E CAPS for Depression
- Sleep disturbance
- Interest loss (anhedonia)
- Guilt/worthlessness
- Energy loss
- Concentration problems
- Appetite changes
- Psychomotor changes
- Suicidal ideation
Psychotic Disorders
- Schizophrenia: Two or more positive/negative symptoms for at least 6 months with significant functional decline.
- Positive symptoms: Hallucinations, delusions, disorganized speech, grossly disorganized behavior.
- Negative symptoms: Diminished emotional expression, avolition, alogia, anhedonia, asociality.
Clinical Alert: Always assess for substance use when evaluating psychotic symptoms, as substance-induced psychosis can mimic schizophrenia.
Key Points
- Functional impairment is required for most mental health diagnoses
- Symptom duration and severity are critical diagnostic criteria
- Rule out medical causes and substance use before diagnosing
Common Pitfalls & Study Tips
Frequently Confused Concepts
Mood vs. Affect
| Mood |
Affect |
| Subjective emotional state |
Objective emotional expression |
| What client reports feeling |
What nurse observes |
| "I feel sad" |
Flat, labile, appropriate |
Common Pitfall: Don't confuse hallucinations (false perceptions) with delusions (false beliefs). Hallucinations involve the senses; delusions involve thinking.
Study Tips for Success
- Practice mental status examinations on yourself and others
- Learn diagnostic criteria for major disorders
- Understand the difference between signs (objective) and symptoms (subjective)
- Review therapeutic communication techniques
- Study medication classifications and side effects
Quick Check
- ☐ Can you differentiate between mood and affect?
- ☐ Do you know the criteria for major depression?
- ☐ Can you identify positive vs. negative symptoms of schizophrenia?
- ☐ Do you understand the components of a mental status exam?