Do You Have a Mental Disorder?

It is not uncommon to identify certain traits and behaviours indicative of mental disorders that apply to ourselves after reading through resources such as Diagnosis and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5 (DSM-5). It was very common during med school, where as medical students, we were diagnosing ourselves with a myriad of illnesses not limited to mental disorders.

If we look at obsessive compulsive personality disorder for example, the diagnostic criteria is:  A pervasive pattern of preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and mental and interpersonal control, at the expense of flexibility, openness, and efficiency, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by 4 (or more) of the following:

1. Is preoccupied with details, rules, lists, order, organization, or schedules to the extent that the major point of the activity is lost
2. Shows perfectionism that interferes with task completion (e.g. – is unable to complete a project because his or her own overly strict standards are not met)
3. Is excessively devoted to work and productivity to the exclusion of leisure activities and friendships (not accounted for by obvious economic necessity)
4. Is overconscientious, scrupulous, and inflexible about matters of morality, ethics, or values (not accounted for by cultural or religious identification)
5. Is unable to discard worn-out or worthless objects even when they have no sentimental value
6. Is reluctant to delegate tasks or to work with others unless they submit to exactly his or her way of doing things
7. Adopts a miserly spending style toward both self and others; money is viewed as something to be hoarded for future catastrophes
8. Shows rigidity and stubbornness 

I am sure you would know at least a few people who would fit this criteria to be diagnosed with this “personality disorder”. 

To understand psychiatry, there are four key aspects to consider to formally diagnose and manage psychiatric conditions.

1)    Psychosis

2)    Neurosis

3)    Functionality

4)    Sociability

Out of the four aspects of psychiatry, this article will discuss an aspect of neurosis  – the mood spectrum.

The Mood Spectrum

In psychiatry, the mood spectrum refers to a range of mood states that an individual can experience, from severe depression to extreme elation. It is a sustained emotional state that significantly influences a person’s perception of the world and their way of interacting with it.

Unlike fleeting emotions that respond to specific events and quickly change, mood is more enduring and can colour a person’s entire emotional landscape. Psychiatrists often focus on mood as it plays a crucial role in mental health conditions like depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorders.