What is schizophrenia?Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. People with schizophrenia may seem like they have lost touch with reality. Although schizophrenia is not as common as other mental disorders, the symptoms can be very disabling. Signs and SymptomsSymptoms…

Unhealthy Relationship.Love is one of the most profound emotions known to human beings. There are many kinds of love, but many people seek its expression in a romantic relationship with a compatible partner (or partners). For many, romantic relationships comprise one of the most meaningful aspects of life, providing a…

What is Paranoid Personal Disorder? Paranoid personality disorder (PPD) is one of a group of conditions called “Cluster A” personality disorders which involve odd or eccentric ways of thinking. People with PPD also suffer from paranoia, an unrelenting mistrust and suspicion of others, even when there is no reason to be…

What is oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)?Even the best-behaved children can be difficult and challenging at times. But if your child or teenager has a frequent and persistent pattern of anger, irritability, arguing, defiance or vindictiveness toward you and other authority figures, he or she may have oppositional defiant disorder (ODD).…

What Is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?From hoarding to handwashing to forever checking the stove, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) takes many forms. It is an anxiety disorder that traps people in repetitive thoughts and behavioral rituals that can be completely disabling. Surveys conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health show that 2 percent of the population suffers from OCD—that’s…

What is Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder?The main features of Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) is a preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism (around anything from cleanliness to order) at the expense of flexibility, openness, and efficiency, regardless of the impact on others. Individuals with OCPD attempt to maintain control with painstaking attention…

What is Narcissism Personal Disorder?Narcissistic personality disorder — one of several types of personality disorders — is a mental condition in which people have an inflated sense of their own importance, a deep need for excessive attention and admiration, troubled relationships, and a lack of empathy for others. But behind…

What is mental retardation?Mental retardation is an intellectual disability that results in intellectual capabilities significantly below average. Mental retardation can interfere with learning, the ability to care for oneself, and the ability to meet general societal expectations about how to behave. It is generally defined as an IQ below 70, although…

Who Is Intelligent?Reading a road map upside-down, excelling at chess, and generating synonyms for “brilliant” may seem like three different skills. But each is thought to be a measurable indicator of general intelligence, a construct that includes problem-solving ability, spatial manipulation, and language acquisition.   IQ—or intelligence quotient—is the score most…

What Is Insomnia?Insomnia is a sleep condition that involves difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. Almost everyone goes through bouts of sleeplessness from time to time. But if someone struggles to fall asleep or wakes up at night or early in the morning and finds it difficult to fall back asleep, and this happens at least three…