MENTAL DISORDERS Mental disorders are defined as conditions that create distress and affect a person’s ability to function. These conditions affect how people behave and think. They can also impact how people are able to function at home, work, school, relationships, and other important life domains. A mental disorder is often used interchangeably with the terms psychological disorder , psychiatric disorder , and mental illness . The “official” term is mental disorder . A mental disorder is a syndrome that causes significant disturbance in behavior, emotion, and cognition. The mental disorders are also usually accompanied by significant distress that affects a person's work, school, and social relationships. If a disorder is seen as something that lies outside of the statistical norm, then people who are considered exceptionally talented or gifted in a particular area would also be regarded as abnormal. So rather than focusing on actions that are considered outside of the nor...