Anxiety Disorders

Agoraphobia: Intense fear and anxiety of any place or situation where escape might be difficult; avoidance of being alone outside of the home; fear of traveling in a car, bus or airplane, or of being in a crowded area

Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Excessive worry about a variety of everyday problems for at least 6 months; may excessively worry about and anticipate problems with finances, health, employment, and relationships

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Intrusive thoughts that produce anxiety (obsessions), repetitive behaviors that are engaged in to reduce anxiety (compulsions), or a combination of both; unable to control anxiety producing thoughts and the need to engage in ritualized behaviors

Panic Disorder: Unexpected and repeated episodes of intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms that may include chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, or abdominal distress

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Can develop after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal (traumatic events that may trigger PTSD include violent personal assaults, natural or human-caused disasters, accidents, and military combat), persistent frightening thoughts and memories of the ordeal, sleep problems, feeling detached or numb, or being easily startled

Social Phobia: A persistent, intense, and chronic fear of being watched and judged by others and feeling embarrassed or humiliated by their actions; this fear may be so severe that it interferes with work, school, and other activities and may negatively affect the person’s ability to form relationships

Specific Phobia: Marked and persistent fear and avoidance of a specific object or situation, such as a fear of heights, spiders, or flying

Mood Disorders

Bipolar Disorder: Recurrent episodes of highs (mania) and lows (depression) in mood, changes in energy and behavior, an extreme irritable or elevated mood, an inflated sense of self-importance, risky behaviors, distractible, increased energy, and a decreased need for sleep

Other Mood Disorders including Major Depressive Disorder, Dysthymic Disorder: A pervading sense of sadness and/or loss of interest or pleasure in most activities that interferes with the ability to work, study, sleep, and eat; negative impact on a person’s thoughts, sense of self-worth, energy, and concentration

Other Mental Disorders

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD): Inattention or difficulty staying focused; hyperactivity or constantly being in motion or talking; impulsivity, meaning often not thinking before acting. Lifetime prevalence in the U.S. among youth ages 13 – 18: 9%. Age of onset: 7 years old.

Schizophrenia: Hearing voices or believing that others are trying to control or harm the person; hallucinations and disorganized speech and behavior, causing individuals to feel frightened, anxious, and confused. 12-month prevalence in the U.S. among adults: 1.1%.

Personality Disorders: Difficulties dealing with other people and participating in social activities; inflexibility, rigidity, and inability to respond to change; deeply ingrained, inflexible patterns of relating, perceiving, and thinking that cause distress or impaired functioning. 12-month prevalence in the U.S. among adults: 9.1%.

Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD): Frequent and persistent pattern of angry or irritable mood, argumentative/ defiant behavior, or vindictiveness. Symptoms are typically first seen in the preschool years, and often precede the development of conduct disorder. Average prevalence in the U.S. among children: 3.3%.

Conduct Disorder: Persistent pattern of disruptive and violent behaviors that violate the basic rights of others or age-appropriate social norms or rules, and causes significant impairment in the child or family’s daily life. Affects an estimated 8.5% of children and youth. Prevalence increases from childhood to adolescence and is more common among males than females.