The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition-text revision (DSM-IV-TR; American Psychiatric Association, 2000) defines a mental disorder in the following manner:

“…each of the mental disorders is conceptualized as a clinically significant behavioural or psychological syndrome or pattern that occurs in an individual and that is associated with present distress (e.g., a painful symptom) or disability (i.e., impairment in one or more important areas of functioning) or with a significantly increased risk of suffering death, pain, disability, or an important loss of freedom. In addition, this syndrome or pattern must not be merely an expectable or culturally sanctioned response to a particular event, for example, the death of a loved one. Whatever its original cause, it must currently be considered a manifestation of a behavioural, psychological, or biological dysfunction in the individual. Neither deviant behaviour (e.g., political, religious, or sexual) nor conflicts that are primarily between the individual and society are mental disorders unless the deviance or conflict is a symptom of a dysfunction in the individual, as described above.” (American Psychiatric, 2000).

DSM-IV and DSM-IV-TR Diagnostic Classes

Disorders Usually First Diagnosed in Infancy, Childhood, or Adolescence

Examples: Mental Retardation, Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Attention-Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders

Delirium, Dementia, and Amnestic and Other Cognitive Disorders

Examples: Substance Intoxication Delirium, Dementia of the Alzheimer’s Type, Substance-Induced Persisting Amnestic Disorder

Mental Disorders Due to a General Medical Condition

Examples: Catatonic Disorder Due to (General Medical Condition), Personality Change Due to (General Medical Condition)

Substance-Related Disorders

Examples: Alcohol-Related Disorders, Inhalant-Related Disorders, Nicotine-Related Disorders

Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders

Example: Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder, Delusional Disorder

Mood Disorders

Examples: Depressive Disorders, Bipolar Disorders

Anxiety Disorders

Examples: Social Phobia, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Somatoform Disorders

Examples: Conversion Disorder, Pain Disorder, Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Facitious Disorders

Examples: Factitious Disorder with Predominantly Psychological Signs and Symptoms, Facitious Disorder with Predominantly Physical Signs and Symptoms

Dissociative Disorders

Examples: Dissociative Amnesia, Dissociative Fugue, Dissociative Identity Disorder

Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders

Examples:Sexual Dysfunctions, Paraphilias, Gender Identity Disorders

Eating Disorders

Examples: Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa

Sleep Disorders

Examples: Primary Sleep Disorders, Sleep Disorders Related to Another Mental Disorder, Other Sleep Disorders

Impulse-Control Disorders Not Elsewhere Classified

Examples: Kleptomania, Pyromania, Pathological Gambling

Adjustment Disorders

Examples: Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood, Adjustment Disorder with Disturbance of Conduct

Personality Disorders

Examples: Paranoid Personality Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, Avoidant Personality Disorder

Other Conditions That May Be a Focus of Clinical Attention

Examples: Medication-Induced Movement Disorders, Relational Problems, Problem Related to Abuse or Neglect