Anxiety disorders are characterized by distressing, persistent anxiety or maladaptive behaviors intended to reduce anxiety.
Dissociative disorders are rare conditions in which conscious awareness becomes separated (dissociated) from previous memories, thoughts, and feelings.
Personality disorders are characterized by inflexible and enduring behavior patterns that impair social functioning.
Mood disorders are characterized by a disturbance of emotional state or mood.
Schizophrenic disorders are characterized by disorganized and irrational thinking, disturbed perceptions, and inappropriate emotions and actions.
We hope that this exercise helped you understand the distinctive characteristics of the various categories of psychological disorders.
But please remember that, in real life, most cases of psychological disorders are more complex than the ones presented here,
and typically other types of information (including physical examinations, blood tests, and brain scans) would be used in arriving at a diagnosis.
Finally, remember that competent psychologists sometimes disagree about how a particular case should be classified.