The symptom lists below have been culled and summarized from
current diagnostic criteria most commonly used in the United
States by mental health professionals. The lists are divided
into three broad categories: adult, childhood, and personality
disorders; some disorders may fall under more than one category.
Only an experienced mental health professional can make an
actual diagnosis. Childhood disorders, often labeled as
developmental disorders or learning disorders, most often occur
and are diagnosed when the child is of school-age. Although some
adults may also relate to some of the symptoms of these
disorders, typically the disorder's symptoms need to have first
appeared at some point in the person's childhood. These
disorders typically aren't diagnosed until an individual is a
young adult, often not until their 20's or even 30's. Most
individuals with personality disorders lead pretty normal lives
and often only seek psychotherapeutic treatment during times of
increased stress or social demands. Most peo