What You'll Find Here
This page is a complete A–Z directory of mental health conditions, grouped into the major categories used in modern clinical practice. Each entry links to an in-depth, plain-language guide covering symptoms, causes, and evidence-based treatment.
Mental health conditions are common, treatable, and far more varied than many people realize. They affect how a person thinks, feels, behaves, and relates to others, and they range from time-limited responses to stress all the way to lifelong conditions that benefit from ongoing care. What unites them is that the symptoms are persistent enough, and disruptive enough, to interfere with everyday functioning at home, at work, at school, or in relationships.
Clinicians organize these conditions into broad families based on their core features. Anxiety and obsessive-compulsive related disorders center on excessive fear, worry, and intrusive thoughts. Mood disorders involve sustained disturbances of emotion, from depression to the highs and lows of bipolar illness. Psychotic disorders are marked by a loss of contact with shared reality. Personality disorders describe enduring patterns of thinking and relating that cause distress. Neurodevelopmental conditions emerge early in life and shape attention, learning, and social communication. There are also dedicated families for eating disorders, trauma- and stress-related conditions, substance-use disorders, and the neurocognitive disorders such as the dementias.
Diagnosis is made by qualified professionals using standardized criteria, most often the DSM-5. These categories are a map, not a label that defines a person; many people experience more than one condition, and symptoms can overlap across categories. The guides below are designed for education and orientation, not self-diagnosis. If something here resonates with your experience, the most useful next step is to speak with a qualified professional who can offer a proper assessment. Use the sections below to explore each category and follow the links to learn more about any specific condition.
Anxiety & OCD-Related Disorders
Conditions defined by excessive fear, worry, avoidance, and intrusive, repetitive thoughts or behaviors.
Anxiety Disorders
An overview of the anxiety family and its shared features.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Persistent, hard-to-control worry across many areas of life.
Panic Disorder
Recurrent panic attacks and fear of their return.
Social Anxiety Disorder
Intense fear of judgment in social or performance situations.
Phobias
Strong, irrational fears of specific objects or situations.
Specific Phobias
Focused fears such as heights, flying, needles, or animals.
Agoraphobia
Fear of places where escape or help may feel difficult.
Separation Anxiety
Excessive distress when apart from attachment figures.
Selective Mutism
Consistent inability to speak in certain social settings.
OCD
Obsessions and compulsions that consume time and cause distress.
Hoarding Disorder
Persistent difficulty discarding possessions regardless of value.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Preoccupation with perceived flaws in physical appearance.
Trichotillomania
Recurrent hair-pulling that results in hair loss.
Excoriation Disorder
Compulsive skin-picking causing tissue damage and distress.
Health Anxiety
Excessive worry about having or developing a serious illness.
Mood Disorders
Sustained disturbances of emotion, energy, and mood, from depression to the cycles of bipolar illness.
Depression
Persistent low mood and loss of interest or pleasure.
Persistent Depressive Disorder
Chronic, lower-grade depression lasting two years or more.
Bipolar Disorder
Alternating episodes of mania or hypomania and depression.
Cyclothymic Disorder
Chronic mood swings that are milder than full bipolar episodes.
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
Severe mood symptoms in the days before menstruation.
Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder
Chronic irritability and severe outbursts in childhood.
Postpartum Depression
Depression that develops during or after pregnancy.
Psychotic Disorders
Conditions involving a loss of contact with shared reality, such as delusions or hallucinations.
Personality Disorders
Enduring patterns of thinking, feeling, and relating that differ markedly from expectations and cause distress.
Personality Disorders
An overview of the clusters and shared features.
Borderline Personality Disorder
Instability in emotions, relationships, and self-image.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Grandiosity, need for admiration, and limited empathy.
Antisocial Personality Disorder
Persistent disregard for the rights of others.
Avoidant Personality Disorder
Social inhibition and hypersensitivity to rejection.
Dependent Personality Disorder
An excessive need to be cared for and fear of separation.
Histrionic Personality Disorder
Excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behavior.
Paranoid Personality Disorder
Pervasive distrust and suspicion of others' motives.
Schizoid Personality Disorder
Detachment from relationships and limited emotional expression.
Schizotypal Personality Disorder
Eccentric thinking, perception, and discomfort with closeness.
Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Conditions that emerge early in development and shape attention, learning, communication, and behavior.
ADHD
Patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.
Autism Spectrum
Differences in social communication and patterns of behavior.
Dyslexia
A learning difference affecting reading and word recognition.
Dyscalculia
A learning difference affecting numbers and arithmetic.
Dysgraphia
A learning difference affecting handwriting and written expression.
Tourette Syndrome
A condition characterized by repeated motor and vocal tics.
Sensory Processing Disorder
Difficulty interpreting and responding to sensory input.
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
A pattern of angry, defiant, and argumentative behavior.
Conduct Disorder
Repetitive behavior that violates rules and the rights of others.
Eating Disorders
Serious disturbances in eating behavior and related thoughts about food, weight, and body image.
Eating Disorders
An overview of the category and its shared warning signs.
Anorexia Nervosa
Restriction of intake and intense fear of weight gain.
Bulimia Nervosa
Cycles of binge eating followed by compensatory behavior.
Binge Eating Disorder
Recurrent episodes of eating large amounts with loss of control.
ARFID
Avoidant/restrictive eating not driven by body image.
Pica
Persistent eating of non-food, non-nutritive substances.
Rumination Disorder
Repeated regurgitation of food that is re-chewed or spit out.
Trauma & Stress-Related Disorders
Conditions that develop in response to traumatic or highly stressful events and their aftermath.
Trauma & PTSD
An overview of how trauma affects the mind and body.
PTSD
Persistent symptoms following exposure to trauma.
Complex PTSD
Symptoms following prolonged or repeated trauma.
Acute Stress Disorder
Trauma-related symptoms in the first weeks after an event.
Adjustment Disorders
Excessive distress in response to identifiable stressors.
Reactive Attachment Disorder
Disturbed attachment following early neglect or deprivation.
Dissociative Disorders
Disruptions in memory, identity, and sense of reality.
Dissociative Identity Disorder
Two or more distinct identity states and memory gaps.
Depersonalization-Derealization
Feeling detached from oneself or one's surroundings.
Somatic & Related Disorders
Conditions in which physical symptoms or health worries become a major source of distress.
Somatic Symptom Disorder
Distressing physical symptoms with excessive related worry.
Illness Anxiety Disorder
Preoccupation with having a serious undiagnosed illness.
Conversion Disorder
Neurological symptoms not explained by medical disease.
Factitious Disorder
Falsifying or inducing symptoms without external reward.
Substance Use Disorders
Patterns of substance use that lead to significant impairment, distress, or loss of control.
Substance Abuse
An overview of substance use disorders and their signs.
Alcohol Use Disorder
Impaired control over drinking despite harmful consequences.
Opioid Use Disorder
Compulsive opioid use and difficulty stopping.
Cannabis Use Disorder
Problematic cannabis use that affects daily functioning.
Nicotine Use Disorder
Dependence on nicotine and difficulty quitting.
Stimulant Use Disorder
Problematic use of cocaine, methamphetamine, or similar drugs.
Psychology of Addiction
How dependence develops in the brain and behavior.
Neurocognitive Disorders (Dementias)
Conditions involving a decline in memory, thinking, and reasoning, often associated with aging.
Alzheimer's Disease
The most common cause of progressive dementia.
Vascular Dementia
Cognitive decline caused by reduced blood flow to the brain.
Lewy Body Dementia
Dementia with visual hallucinations and movement changes.
Mild Cognitive Impairment
A noticeable decline that is milder than dementia.
Delirium
A sudden, often reversible disturbance in attention and awareness.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are mental health conditions diagnosed?
Mental health conditions are diagnosed by qualified clinicians through a structured clinical interview, history-taking, and sometimes questionnaires or psychological testing. In most of the world, diagnoses follow standardized criteria such as the DSM-5 or the ICD-11, which describe the symptoms, duration, and functional impairment required for each condition. There is no single blood test or brain scan that confirms a diagnosis; the process relies on careful evaluation of a person's experiences over time.
Are mental health conditions treatable?
Yes. Most mental health conditions respond to evidence-based treatment, which often combines psychotherapy, medication, lifestyle changes, and social support. The right approach depends on the specific condition, its severity, and individual preferences. Many people experience significant improvement or full recovery, while others learn to manage longer-term conditions effectively. Early treatment generally improves outcomes.
What is the difference between a mental health condition and normal stress?
Everyday stress, sadness, and worry are normal parts of life and usually pass once a situation resolves. A mental health condition involves symptoms that are more intense, last longer, and meaningfully interfere with daily functioning at work, school, or in relationships. Clinicians look at the duration, severity, and impact of symptoms to distinguish ordinary distress from a diagnosable disorder.
Where can I find help for a mental health condition?
A good starting point is a primary care doctor or a licensed mental health professional such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, or counselor. Many people begin by exploring directories to find a therapist, community mental health centers, or telehealth platforms. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, contact local emergency services or a crisis line right away.
Understanding Is the First Step
Learning about a condition can reduce fear and make support easier to seek. These guides are for education only and are not a substitute for professional assessment. If you are struggling, reach out to a qualified clinician.