Center for Psychological Evaluation

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is characterized by a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity that is present before 12 years of age. Inattention may interfere with social, academic, or occupational performance. In childhood, this often manifests in difficulty completing school-related tasks, messy schoolwork, careless errors, and difficulty following directions. Hyperactivity often involves excessive motor activity. Difficulty remaining seated, frequent running and climbing, and excessive talking are often noted. In addition to inattention and hyperactivity, impulsivity may also be present in the form of frequent intrusion of others’ conversations and difficulty delaying responses (e.g., blurting out answers in class). The ability to socialize and obtain/maintain friendships is often hindered as a result.  Adults with ADHD frequently have difficulty organizing and completing tasks. High levels of distractibility and difficulty focusing and maintaining concentration are evident in both children and adults.

Learning Disorders are diagnosed when an individual has significant difficulty learning and using academic skills in a particular area is significantly below what is expected for the individual’s age. Learning Disorders may involve one or a combination of the following: impairment in reading, impairment in written expression, and/or impairment in mathematics. These learning problems significantly interfere with academic achievement, occupational functioning, or activities of daily living that involve these skills.

Intellectual Disability is characterized by deficits in intellectual functioning that can range from mild to profound. It is also accompanied by significant impairments in adaptive functioning (e.g., communication, self-care, social/interpersonal skills, home-living, functional academic skills). For a diagnosis of intellectual disability, the onset of intellectual and adaptive deficits occurs in the developmental period (early childhood).

Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) is characterized by a recurrent pattern of negativistic, defiant, disobedient, and hostile behavior toward authority figures. This may be evident through the frequent loss of temper, persistent arguments with adults, defiance of rules/requests, the deliberate annoyance of others, frequent blame of others for one’s mistakes, and frequent displays of anger, resentment, spite, or vindication.

Conduct Disorder (CD) involves a repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior in which basic rights of others or major age-appropriate societal norms or rules are violated. This may be in the form of aggression to people and animals, destruction of property, deceitfulness or theft, and/or serious violation of rules.

Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED) is characterized by difficulty controlling aggressive impulses which lead to behavioral outbursts which can be in the form of verbal aggression (e.g., temper tantrums, frequent elevated arguments) or behavioral aggression (e.g., damage to property or physical assault to individuals and/or animals). Outbursts are recurrent, out of proportion to the magnitude of the stressor, cause impairments in functioning, and are not pre-meditated.

Antisocial Personality Disorder Individuals with Antisocial Personality Disorder are characterized by a pattern of disregard for or violation of other people’s rights since adolescence. They exhibit a tendency to violate social norms and may engage in behaviors that may lead to run-ins with the law. They may be involved in deception, lying, or conning for personal gain or pleasure. They have a tendency to be impulsive and/or aggressive, leading to physical altercations. They may have little awareness of personal or others’ safety. They lack a sense of responsibility, leading to failure to meet work demands or financial obligations. Furthermore, individuals with Antisocial Personality Disorder lack remorse and may rationalize negative consequences that they may have inflicted on others.

Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder

Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder is chronic, severe, and persistent irritability in children and adolescence.  There are two prominent clinical manifestations: frequent temper outbursts and irritation or a persistent angry mood.  Frequent temper outbursts occur three or more times per week usually brought on by frustration.  These outbursts last more than one year and occur in at least two settings.  Persistent irritable or angry mood is present between the severe temper outbursts.  The mood is clearly observable by others (e.g., parents, teachers, or peers).   Onset is before the age of ten years.

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is characterized by a consistently depressed mood and loss of interest or enjoyment in most activities over a period of two weeks or longer. Other symptoms include a significant change in appetite/weight, problems with sleep, general fatigue, and feeling slowed down. Individuals with MDD may also experience problems related to thought processes, such as difficulty concentrating and making decisions, and having thoughts of hopelessness, self-worth, and death, dying, or suicide. MDD is typically associated with significant distress or dysfunction in one’s life, and can often be observed by others in a person’s mood and behavior. Individuals with MDD frequently describe feeling numb or having an absence of emotional range, and often no longer care about participating in leisure activities or hobbies they once enjoyed. Many with MDD may also become irritable or angry when encountering minor frustrations. Individuals with MDD tend to ruminate on past failures and engage in negative evaluations about their own worth and their future.

Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)

Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia) is a form of chronic (ongoing) depression. Although symptoms of persistent depressive disorder may be less severe than other types of depression, they are longer-lasting in duration. Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD) causes continuous feelings of deep sadness and hopelessness. These feelings may affect an individual’s mood and behavior as well as physical functions, including appetite and sleep. As a result, individuals with PDD often lose interest in doing activities they once enjoyed and have difficulty finishing daily tasks. The chronic nature of PDD can also make it more challenging to cope with the symptoms. PDD is primarily characterized by the presence of a depressed mood on most days for at least 2 years for adults (at least 1 year for children and adolescents). During this period, individuals are depression-free for no longer than 2 months at a time. The symptoms of PDD include persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness; sleep problems; low energy; change in appetite; difficulty concentrating; indecisiveness; a lack of interest in daily activities; decreased productivity; poor self-esteem; negative attitude; and avoidance of social activities.

Bipolar (I) Disorder, once known as Manic Depression, involves one or more manic episodes and one or more depressive episodes. Manic episodes are periods of time with abnormally-heightened energy levels, thoughts, and mood. During a manic episode, an individual may feel euphoric, get little or no sleep, experience pressured or racing thoughts and speech, and may engage in self-destructive or impulsive behavior. Severe manic episodes may also include psychotic-type symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions. Episodes of mania and depression may alternate rapidly, may be separated by periods of normal experience, or may occur simultaneously in a mixed episode. Based on the level of severity of episodes and duration/chronicity, individuals may be diagnosed with other variations of Bipolar Disorder that fall in this category including Bipolar (II) Disorder, and Cyclothymic Disorder.

Separation Anxiety Disorder

Separation Anxiety Disorder is a disorder that is characterized by developmentally inappropriate and excessive fear or anxiety concerning separation from those to whom the individual is attached, as evidenced by at least three of the following: recurrent and excessive distress about anticipating or being away from home or loved ones; constant, excessive worry about losing a parent or other loved one to an illness or a disaster; constant worry that something bad will happen, such as being lost or kidnapped, causing separation from parents or other loved ones; refusing to be away from home because of fear of separation; not wanting to be home alone and without a parent or other loved one in the house; reluctance or refusing to sleep away from home without a parent or other loved one nearby; repeated nightmares about separation; and/or frequent complaints of headaches, stomachaches or other symptoms when separation from a parent or other loved one is anticipated. The fear, anxiety, or avoidance is persistent, lasting at least 4 weeks in children and adolescents and typically 6 months or more in adults. Separation anxiety disorder may be associated with panic disorder and panic attacks ― repeated episodes of sudden feelings of intense anxiety and fear or terror that reach a peak within minutes. 

Specific Phobias

Specific Phobias are identified by the fear or intense anxiety about a specific object or situation (e.g., flying, heights, animals, receiving an injection, seeing blood). The phobic object or situation almost always provokes immediate fear or anxiety.  Individuals may either actively avoid the object/situation or the phobic stimulus is endured with intense fear or anxiety.  The response is disproportionate to the actual danger posed and to the socio-cultural context.  The fear, anxiety, or avoidance typically lasts for six months or more and causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.  

Social Anxiety Disorder

Social Anxiety Disorder is a relatively common problem, characterized by heightened anxiety or fear about being evaluated by others in social situations. The anxiety is considered disproportionate to the actual situation and can be highly distressing. The fear may be related to performance, such as public speaking, or even benign interactions with others, such as speaking with a sales associate or meeting someone new. Some individuals even experience social anxiety while just being watched by others, such as eating in public. Individuals with social anxiety disorder tend to either avoid the feared situation or suffer through it with intense discomfort. Shame and embarrassment are also commonly experienced emotions in individuals with social anxiety. Individuals with social anxiety may also struggle with being assertive.

Panic Disorder

Panic Disorder is characterized by the experience of recurrent and unexpected panic attacks. A panic attack is an abrupt period of intense fear or discomfort that heightens significantly within minutes and is accompanied by 4 or more of the following systemic symptoms: palpitations, pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate; sweating; trembling or shaking; sensations of shortness of breath or smothering; a feeling of choking; chest pain or discomfort; nausea or abdominal distress; feeling dizzy, unsteady, lightheaded, or faint; feelings of unreality (derealization) or being detached from oneself (depersonalization); fear of losing control or “going crazy”; fear of dying; numbness or tingling sensations (paresthesias); chills or hot flushes. In addition, at least one panic attack is followed by one month or more of the individual fearing that they will have more attacks, which may cause them to change their behavior and often includes avoiding situations that might induce an attack.

Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia is characterized by a marked or intense, fear or anxiety triggered by the real or anticipated exposure to a wide range of situations such as the use of public transportation, being in open or enclosed spaces, being in crowds, or being outside one’s home alone.  Individuals with agoraphobia often avoid these situations due to fears that escape would be difficult or that they may not be able to receive help if they were to experience panic-like symptoms.  The situations almost always provoke fear or anxiety. The fear, anxiety, or avoidance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.  

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is among the most common psychological problems. It is characterized by excessive anxiety about numerous situations and is frequently resistant to individuals’ attempts to control the anxiety. Features of GAD are related to mood, thought, and body, including feeling restless, fatigued, irritable, physically tense, and experiencing difficulty with concentration and sleep. Individuals with GAD may also experience other physical symptoms such as sweating, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and gastrointestinal complaints. GAD tends to cause significant distress at home, work, school, and in relationships and is often stable throughout an individual’s life. GAD is differentiated from typical worrying by the intense nature of the mood and physical symptoms, a consistent preoccupation of the individual’s thoughts, and significant impact in many areas of their life.  

Illness Anxiety Disorder (Hypochondriasis)

Illness Anxiety Disorder (Hypochondriasis) is classified under the category of Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders. It is characterized by an individual’s strong belief and excessive worry that they have a serious or life-threatening illness despite having no, or only mild, symptoms.  Symptoms of Illness Anxiety Disorder (IAD) involve excessive worry over having or getting a serious illness, excessive health-related behaviors (e.g., repeatedly checking the body for signs of illness) or abnormal avoidance (e.g., avoiding doctors’ appointments and hospitals), high levels of anxiety and alarm over personal health status, and little to no presence of physical symptoms. Furthermore, signs may include: being preoccupied with having or getting a serious disease or health condition; worrying that minor symptoms or body sensations are indicative of a serious illness; being easily alarmed about a health status; finding little or no reassurance from doctor visits or negative test results, and frequently making medical appointments for reassurance and/or avoiding medical care for fear of being diagnosed with a serious illness. IAD may fluctuate in severity and increase with age or during times of stress.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a disorder that is characterized by the presence of obsessive thoughts or intrusive images, compulsive behaviors, or the combination of obsessions and compulsions. Obsessive thoughts/images/memories are intrusive and inappropriate and cause an individual significant anxiety and distress. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors (e.g., hand washing, putting objects in order, checking) or mental acts (e.g., praying or counting) that a person feels compelled to perform in an attempt to minimize feelings of anxiety and discomfort.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a psychological disorder that involves a misperception of one or more body areas. Individuals with BDD perceive a defect or flaw in their appearance that is either very small or nonexistent. Areas of concern often involve flaws of the face or head (e.g., hair thinning, acne, scars, redness, wrinkles, facial asymmetry, size/shape of facial features such as nose, mouth, lips, etc.). Other areas of concern may include but are not limited to genitals, breasts, buttocks, abdomen, hips, and thighs. Individuals suffering from BDD are preoccupied with the perceived defect(s) to a point where it causes clinically significant distress in several areas of functioning. They may spend excessive amounts of time checking their appearance in mirrors, putting on makeup or otherwise masking their appearance, and seeking reassurance. Individuals with BDD will often avoid social situations and romantic relationships. As a result, high levels of anxiety, depression, embarrassment, shame, and self-disgust are frequently present.

Hoarding Disorder, Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling Disorder), and Excoriation (Skin Picking Disorder) are other conditions that are included in the realm of Obsessive-Compulsive & Related Disorders.