Mental Disorders

From depression to schizophrenia, mental disorders vary greatly in severity and impact on daily life. Learn about the causes and treatments available for a variety of mental disorders.

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Mental illness affects all kinds of people. With this image gallery, learn about mental illness and its associated problems along with famous people who have struggled with mental disorders.

Maybe you don't like anyone sitting right next to you on the train, but you wouldn't call yourself a claustrophobe. According to some theories, we might all have a touch of claustrophobia -- even if it takes undergoing an MRI scan to provoke it.

By Josh Clark

One month you're so revved about life you give up sleep to enjoy it. The next, you're so depressed you can't get out of bed. Can bipolar disorder be treated?

By Jane McGrath

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Most shoplifters steal for personal use or resale, but kleptomaniacs are addicted to stealing. But is kleptomania a real mental disorder?

By Craig Freudenrich, Ph.D.

So much about pyromania is a mystery. Why do pyromaniacs have uncontrollable urges to set fires? Is it the same thing as arson? And is it even a real disease?

By Craig Freudenrich, Ph.D.

Being sick is something most people try to avoid. But some relish the thought of going to the doctor, undergoing tests -- even having painful surgery. Though they know they aren't really sick, people with Munchausen syndrome pretend to be ill because they're seeking attention and sympathy.

By Stephanie Watson

Did you know that ailurophobia is a fear of cats? If you're afraid of it, someone's probably made up a goofy name for your phobia. Read our list of 28 phobias and their definitions.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

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Natascha Kampusch on spending eight years in a cell beneath her captor's basement: "My youth was very different. But I was also spared a lot of things -- I did not start smoking or drinking ... hang out in bad company."

By Julia Layton

Cutting is a disorder that appears to be epidemic in the United States. Learn more about this disorder with advice and guidance for families who are struggling with a loved one that suffers from cutting.

Are looking for a therapy to treat an illness? Discover the many types of therapies there are for helping cure a disease in this article.

By DiscoveryHealth.com writers

"Nervous breakdown" can mean many things. We often hear this term when someone is under a great deal of stress. What exactly does it mean? Learn about this mental condition in this article.