Abnormal Psychology: Mental Health and Mental IllnessDefinitions and Classifications |
How do we classify mental illness? |
Mental illnesses or disorders are classified according to the nature of their symptoms, their causes and their course. The course of an illness refers to its progression over time. DSM-IV-TR has sixteen general categories with multiple diagnoses in each category. Examples of these categories include eating disorders, psychotic disorders, impulse control disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and mental disorders due to a general medical condition.