Mental Disorder and Mental Illness

Mental Disorder and Mental Illness (up to 2026) under Disease and Detection of Disease, spanning 12 volumes Each volume covers conceptual foundations, diagnostic systems, specific disorder categories, assessment tools, emerging biomarkers, digital mental health, therapeutics, and global perspectives. The outline is designed to be exhaustive for a reference work of this scope.

Volume 1: Foundations of Mental Disorder – Concepts, History, and Classification

Part I: Defining Mental Disorder

Mental and Mental Health Introduction
Understanding The Mind
Psychology
Consciousness
Brain and Nervous system
Meditation
The concept of mental illness across cultures and eras
Operational definitions: distress, dysfunction, deviance, danger
Mental disorder vs. neurological disease vs. behavioral condition
The biopsychosocial model (Engel, 1977) and its modern updates

Part II: Historical Perspectives (Antiquity–1970s)

Ancient views: demonic possession, trephination, humoral theory
Asylums and moral treatment (Pinel, Tuke, Rush)
Kraepelin’s dichotomy (dementia praecox vs. manic-depression)
Freudian psychoanalysis and its diagnostic legacy
Mid-20th century: psychosurgery, ECT, insulin coma therapy
Deinstitutionalization movement (1960s–1980s)

Part III: Diagnostic Classification Systems

DSM-I to DSM-5-TR (2022) – history, controversies, changes
ICD-8 to ICD-11 (2022) – mental disorders chapter
Comparison of DSM vs. ICD approaches
Dimensional vs. categorical models (HiTOP, RDoC)

Part IV: Epidemiology and Public Health

Global burden of mental disorders (GBD 2021 update)
Prevalence, incidence, and comorbidity patterns
Social determinants (poverty, trauma, discrimination, inequality)
Mental health economics and cost-of-illness studies

Part V: Ethics, Stigma, and Legal Frameworks

Informed consent in psychiatric treatment
Involuntary commitment and civil rights
Mental health parity laws (US MHPAEA, UK Mental Health Act)
Anti-stigma campaigns (e.g., WHO’s “The Great Push”)
Cultural safety and diagnostic bias

Volume 2: Neurobiology and Etiology of Mental Disorders

Part I: Neuroanatomy and Neural Circuits

Prefrontal cortex, amygdala, hippocampus, anterior cingulate, insula
Default mode, salience, and central executive networks
Limbic system and emotional regulation
Basal ganglia circuits in OCD and tic disorders

Part II: Neurotransmitter and Neuroendocrine Systems

Serotonin (5-HT) – depression, anxiety, OCD
Dopamine – schizophrenia, addiction, bipolar mania
Norepinephrine – PTSD, panic, ADHD
Glutamate and GABA – psychosis, anxiety, autism
HPA axis and cortisol dysregulation in depression and PTSD
Thyroid, sex hormones, and mental health

Part III: Genetic and Epigenetic Basis

Heritability estimates from twin and family studies
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) – major findings up to 2026
Polygenic risk scores (PRS) – clinical utility and limitations
Rare variants (CNVs) in schizophrenia and autism
Epigenetic mechanisms: DNA methylation, histone modification, non-coding RNAs
Gene-environment interactions (e.g., 5-HTTLPR × stress)

Part IV: Neuroimmunology and Inflammation

Cytokine hypotheses of depression and fatigue
Microglial activation in psychosis and bipolar disorder
Autoimmune encephalitis mimicking psychiatric disorders (anti-NMDA receptor, etc.)
Gut-brain axis and microbiome in anxiety and depression

Part V: Neuroplasticity and Developmental Origins

Early-life adversity and brain development
Critical periods and sensitive windows
Neurogenesis and antidepressant mechanisms
The role of sleep and circadian rhythms

Volume 3: Assessment, Interviewing, and Psychological Testing

Part I: The Psychiatric Interview

Mental status examination (MSE) – appearance, speech, mood, affect, thought content, perception, cognition, insight, judgment
History taking (chief complaint, HPI, past psychiatric, medical, family, social)
Suicide and violence risk assessment (C-SSRS, SAD PERSONS scale)
Motivational interviewing techniques

Part II: Structured and Semi-Structured Interviews

SCID (for DSM-5 and ICD-11)
MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview
CIDI (Composite International Diagnostic Interview)
ADOS-2 for autism spectrum disorder

Part III: Symptom Rating Scales and Questionnaires

Depression: HAM-D, MADRS, PHQ-9, BDI-II, QIDS
Anxiety: HAM-A, GAD-7, BAI, OASIS
Mania: YMRS, Altman Self-Rating Mania Scale
Psychosis: PANSS, BPRS, SAPS, SANS
OCD: Y-BOCS
PTSD: CAPS-5, PCL-5
Eating disorders: EDE-Q, SCOFF
ADHD: ASRS, Conners’ Rating Scales

Part IV: Personality and Projective Tests

MMPI-3 (2020 update)
PAI (Personality Assessment Inventory)
Rorschach Inkblot Test (Exner system, R-PAS)
TAT (Thematic Apperception Test)
Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI-IV)

Part V: Neuropsychological Testing

General cognitive screening: MoCA, MMSE, RBANS
Executive function: Trail Making Test, Stroop, Wisconsin Card Sorting
Memory: WMS-IV, CVLT, RAVLT
Attention: CPT-3
Premorbid IQ: WTAR, TOPF

Part VI: Cultural and Linguistic Adaptation

Culturally adapted assessment tools
Idioms of distress (e.g., ataque de nervios, khyâl cap)
Use of interpreters in psychiatric assessment

Volume 4: Neurodevelopmental and Childhood-Onset Disorders

Part I: Intellectual Disability (ID)

Definition, severity levels, adaptive functioning (Vineland-3, ABAS-3)
Genetic causes (Down, Fragile X, Rett, Williams, Angelman)
Diagnostic tools: WAIS-IV, WISC-V, Leiter-3
Differential diagnosis from global developmental delay

Part II: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Core domains: social communication deficits, restricted/repetitive behaviors
Prevalence and gender differences (including female phenotype)
Diagnostic instruments: ADOS-2, ADI-R, M-CHAT-R/F
Biomarkers: eye tracking, EEG, neuroimaging (still research)
Co-occurring conditions (ID, epilepsy, anxiety, GI issues)
Adult autism and late diagnosis

Part III: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive, combined presentations
Developmental trajectory (childhood to adulthood)
Rating scales: Vanderbilt, ASRS, Conners’
Neuropsychological and continuous performance tests
Comorbidities: ODD, CD, learning disorders, anxiety, depression

Part IV: Specific Learning Disorders

Dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, and nonverbal learning disability
Psychoeducational assessment (WIAT, KTEA, Woodcock-Johnson)
Response to intervention (RTI) models

Part V: Motor Disorders and Tics

Developmental coordination disorder (DCD)
Stereotypic movement disorder
Tourette’s disorder and persistent tic disorders
Assessment: Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS)

Part VI: Early-Onset Psychosis and Bipolar Disorder

Very early-onset schizophrenia (before age 13)
Pediatric bipolar disorder (controversies, differentiation from ADHD)

Volume 5: Schizophrenia Spectrum and Psychotic Disorders

Part I: Schizophrenia

Diagnostic criteria (DSM-5-TR, ICD-11)
Positive symptoms (delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech/behavior)
Negative symptoms (blunted affect, alogia, avolition, anhedonia, asociality)
Cognitive impairment (working memory, executive function, attention)
Phases: prodromal, active, residual
Subtypes (historical: paranoid, disorganized, catatonic, undifferentiated)

Part II: Other Psychotic Disorders

Schizoaffective disorder (bipolar and depressive types)
Schizophreniform disorder
Brief psychotic disorder
Delusional disorder (erotomanic, grandiose, jealous, persecutory, somatic)
Shared psychotic disorder (folie à deux)
Catatonia (retarded, excited, malignant) – assessment (Bush-Francis scale)

Part III: Assessment Tools for Psychosis

PANSS, BPRS, SAPS, SANS
Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS update)
Clinical Global Impression – Schizophrenia (CGI-SCH)

Part IV: Neurobiology of Psychosis

Dopamine hypothesis and its revisions
Glutamate/NMDA hypofunction hypothesis
Structural MRI findings (ventricular enlargement, gray matter loss)
Connectome dysfunction and dysconnectivity hypothesis

Part V: Early Detection and Prodrome

Ultra-high risk (UHR) criteria
CAARMS (Comprehensive Assessment of At-Risk Mental States)
SIPS (Structured Interview for Prodromal Syndromes)
Biomarkers of conversion (neuroimaging, EEG, inflammatory markers)

Volume 6: Mood Disorders – Depression and Bipolar

Part I: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Single and recurrent episodes – severity specifiers
Atypical, melancholic, catatonic, peripartum, seasonal (SAD) features
Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia)
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD – children)

Part II: Bipolar Spectrum Disorders

Bipolar I disorder (mania + depression)
Bipolar II disorder (hypomania + major depression)
Cyclothymic disorder
Rapid cycling (≥4 episodes/year)
Mixed features specifier

Part III: Assessment Scales for Mood Disorders

Depression: HAM-D, MADRS, PHQ-9, QIDS-SR, BDI-II
Mania/hypomania: YMRS, Altman Self-Rating Scale, MDQ
Bipolarity screening: HCL-32, BSDS

Part IV: Neurobiology of Mood Disorders

Monoamine hypotheses (serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine)
Neurotrophic hypothesis (BDNF)
Circadian rhythm disruption
Inflammatory and metabolic pathways
Structural and functional neuroimaging findings

Part V: Suicidality and Self-Harm

Suicide risk assessment (C-SSRS, SAD PERSONS, Columbia Protocol)
Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI)
Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) for real-time risk
Biomarkers of suicide risk (e.g., low serotonin, high cortisol)

Part I: Anxiety Disorders

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) – excessive worry, somatic symptoms
Panic disorder and agoraphobia
Social anxiety disorder (social phobia)
Specific phobias (animal, natural environment, blood-injection-injury, situational)
Separation anxiety disorder (adult and child)
Selective mutism

Part II: Assessment of Anxiety

HAM-A, GAD-7, BAI, OASIS
Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS)
Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS)

Part III: Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders

OCD (obsessions and compulsions) – insight specifiers
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)
Hoarding disorder
Trichotillomania (hair-pulling)
Excoriation (skin-picking) disorder
Y-BOCS and D-YBOCS for children

Part IV: Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders

PTSD (DSM-5-TR criteria, including dissociative subtype)
Complex PTSD (ICD-11)
Acute stress disorder
Adjustment disorders
Prolonged grief disorder (ICD-11, DSM-5-TR update)

Part V: Assessment of PTSD

CAPS-5 (Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale)
PCL-5 (PTSD Checklist)
Life Events Checklist (LEC-5)

Part VI: Neurobiology of Fear and Stress

Amygdala, medial prefrontal cortex, hippocampus
Fear conditioning and extinction
HPA axis dysregulation
Epigenetics of childhood trauma

Volume 8: Somatic, Dissociative, Feeding/Eating, and Elimination Disorders

Part I: Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders

Somatic symptom disorder (with/without predominant pain)
Illness anxiety disorder (hypochondriasis)
Conversion disorder (functional neurological symptom disorder)
Factitious disorder (imposed on self or another – Munchausen by proxy)
Psychological factors affecting other medical conditions

Part II: Dissociative Disorders

Dissociative identity disorder (multiple personality disorder)
Dissociative amnesia (with/without dissociative fugue)
Depersonalization/derealization disorder
Assessment: DES (Dissociative Experiences Scale), SCID-D

Part III: Feeding and Eating Disorders

Anorexia nervosa (restricting and binge-purge subtypes)
Bulimia nervosa
Binge-eating disorder
Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)
Pica and rumination disorder
Assessment: EDE-Q, EDE interview, SCOFF

Part IV: Elimination Disorders

Enuresis (nocturnal, diurnal)
Encopresis (with/without constipation)

Volume 9: Personality Disorders, Impulse Control, and Disruptive Behavior Disorders

Part I: Personality Disorders – General Concepts

DSM-5-TR alternative model (AMPD) – Criterion A (impairment) and B (pathological traits)
ICD-11 dimensional model (severity + trait domains)
Cluster A (odd/eccentric): paranoid, schizoid, schizotypal
Cluster B (dramatic/erratic): antisocial, borderline, histrionic, narcissistic
Cluster C (anxious/fearful): avoidant, dependent, obsessive-compulsive personality disorder

Part II: Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

Diagnostic criteria (affective instability, identity disturbance, impulsivity, suicidality/NSSI, emptiness, abandonment fears, anger, dissociation)
Assessment: Zanarini Rating Scale, McLean Screening Instrument
Neurobiology: frontolimbic dysfunction

Part III: Antisocial Personality Disorder and Psychopathy

Conduct disorder (childhood antecedent)
Psychopathy checklist (PCL-R) – Hare
Differences between ASPD and psychopathy

Part IV: Impulse-Control and Conduct Disorders

Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)
Intermittent explosive disorder (IED)
Pyromania and kleptomania

Part V: Paraphilic Disorders

Voyeuristic, exhibitionistic, frotteuristic, sexual masochism, sexual sadism, pedophilic, fetishistic, transvestic disorder
Distinction between paraphilia and paraphilic disorder

Volume 10: Neurocognitive, Sleep-Wake, and Sexual Dysfunctions

Part I: Neurocognitive Disorders (NCDs)

Delirium – hyperactive, hypoactive, mixed
Major and mild NCD due to:
Alzheimer’s disease (early vs. late onset)
Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (behavioral variant, PPA)
Lewy body disease (dementia with Lewy bodies, Parkinson’s disease dementia)
Vascular disease (post-stroke, subcortical ischemic)
Traumatic brain injury (chronic traumatic encephalopathy)
HIV infection, prion disease, Huntington’s, Parkinson’s
Assessment: MoCA, MMSE, RBANS, CDR, neuropsychological battery
Biomarkers: CSF Aβ42/p-tau, amyloid/tau PET, MRI volumetrics

Part II: Sleep-Wake Disorders

Insomnia disorder (acute, chronic)
Hypersomnolence disorder (including idiopathic hypersomnia)
Narcolepsy type 1 and 2 (low orexin/hypocretin)
Breathing-related sleep disorders (obstructive sleep apnea)
Circadian rhythm disorders (delayed/advanced phase, shift work, jet lag)
Parasomnias (REM sleep behavior disorder, nightmare disorder, sleepwalking)
Assessment: polysomnography, actigraphy, MSLT, sleep diaries

Part III: Sexual Dysfunctions

Delayed ejaculation, erectile disorder, female orgasmic disorder, female sexual interest/arousal disorder, genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder, male hypoactive sexual desire disorder, premature ejaculation
Assessment: clinical interview, validated scales (FSFI, IIEF)

Part IV: Gender Dysphoria

Diagnostic criteria (children, adolescents, adults)
Assessment: gender identity interviews, Utrecht Gender Dysphoria Scale
Distinction from transvestic disorder

Volume 11: Emerging Technologies, Biomarkers, and Digital Mental Health (2020–2026)

Part I: Digital Phenotyping and Passive Sensing

Smartphone-based behavioral data (GPS, accelerometry, keyboard dynamics, voice, sleep)
Wearables (heart rate, HRV, skin conductance, actigraphy)
Prediction of relapse (mania, depression, psychosis)
Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) for mood and symptoms

Part II: Machine Learning and AI in Psychiatry

Predictive models for treatment response (antidepressants, antipsychotics, psychotherapy)
Natural language processing (NLP) for suicide risk from clinical notes or social media
Speech and facial expression analysis for depression and schizophrenia
Neuroimaging-based diagnostic classifiers (support vector machines, deep learning)
Ethical challenges (algorithmic bias, black-box interpretability)

Part III: Biomarkers and Laboratory Tests

Blood biomarkers: CRP, IL-6, BDNF, kynurenine pathway metabolites
Genetic risk scores (polygenic risk scores) – current limitations
EEG and event-related potentials (mismatch negativity, P300, resting-state alpha)
Eye tracking (smooth pursuit, saccades) for psychosis risk
Salivary cortisol, alpha-amylase, and oxytocin
Inflammatory and autoimmune markers (anti-NMDA receptor, anti-TPO)

Part IV: Neuroimaging Biomarkers

Structural MRI (cortical thickness, subcortical volumes)
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) for white matter integrity
Resting-state fMRI (functional connectivity networks)
PET tracers (amyloid, tau, microglial activation, dopamine D2)
Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (GABA, glutamate, glutathione)

Part V: Digital Therapeutics and App-Based Interventions

FDA-approved digital therapeutics (e.g., reSET for substance use, EndeavorRx for ADHD)
CBT-based apps (e.g., Woebot, SilverCloud, MindSpot)
Ecological momentary intervention (EMI)
Chatbots and large language models (GPT-4, etc.) for psychoeducation and support

Part VI: Telepsychiatry and Remote Assessment

Videoconferencing-based MSE and cognitive testing
Remote pharmacogenetic testing
Regulatory changes post-COVID-19 (DEA rules, interstate compacts)

Volume 12: Treatment, Prevention, and Global Mental Health

Part I: Pharmacotherapy

Antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs, MAOIs, atypical) – mechanisms, side effects, monitoring
Antipsychotics (first-generation/haloperidol; second-generation/clozapine, risperidone, aripiprazole, cariprazine) – metabolic monitoring
Mood stabilizers (lithium, valproate, lamotrigine, carbamazepine)
Anxiolytics/hypnotics (benzodiazepines, buspirone, z-drugs, melatonin agonists)
Stimulants (methylphenidate, amphetamines) and non-stimulants (atomoxetine, guanfacine) for ADHD
Pharmacogenetics (CYP450 testing, HLA-B*1502 for carbamazepine)

Part II: Psychotherapy and Psychosocial Interventions

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) – protocols for depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) for BPD
Interpersonal therapy (IPT)
Psychodynamic therapy (brief, long-term)
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT)
Family therapy and couples therapy
Group therapy (support groups, skills groups)

Part III: Brain Stimulation Therapies

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) – indications (severe depression, catatonia, mania), technique, cognitive side effects
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) – standard, theta-burst (iTBS, cTBS)
Deep TMS (dTMS)
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS)
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) for treatment-resistant depression and OCD
Magnetic seizure therapy (MST) – emerging

Part IV: Lifestyle, Complementary, and Integrative Approaches

Exercise and physical activity interventions
Sleep hygiene and chronotherapy (bright light therapy, dark therapy, sleep deprivation)
Nutrition and nutraceuticals (omega-3s, folate, S-adenosylmethionine, vitamin D, N-acetylcysteine)
Yoga, meditation, and mindfulness
Ketamine and esketamine (intranasal) for treatment-resistant depression
Psilocybin, MDMA, and psychedelic-assisted therapy – clinical trial data up to 2026

Part V: Prevention and Early Intervention

Universal, selective, and indicated prevention
School-based mental health screening
Youth early psychosis programs (e.g., RAISE, EASA)
Suicide prevention gatekeeper training (QPR, ASIST)

Part VI: Global Mental Health

Mental health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) – WHO
Task-sharing with community health workers (e.g., Friendship Bench – Zimbabwe)
Scalable psychosocial interventions (Problem Management Plus, Thinking Healthy)
Refugee and displaced populations mental health
Humanitarian emergencies and trauma-informed care

Part VII: Mental Health Policy and Systems

Integration into primary care (collaborative care model)
Mental health insurance parity and reimbursement
Peer support specialists
Forensic psychiatry and mental health courts

Appendixes

Glossary of psychiatric terms (500+ entries)
Glossary of Psychology, Mind and Dream
Glossary of Female/Woman Psychology: Childhood, Young, Adult, and Old Age
DSM-5-TR and ICD-11 crosswalk (diagnostic codes and criteria summaries)
Rating scales reference table (acronyms, number of items, administration time, scoring)
Psychotropic medication tables (class, mechanism, dosing, side effects, monitoring, pregnancy category)
Brain stimulation safety and contraindications (ECT, rTMS, DBS)
Genetic testing guide for psychiatric disorders (when to order, interpretation)
Emergency psychiatry algorithms (agitation, suicide risk, catatonia, serotonin syndrome, neuroleptic malignant syndrome)
Cultural formulation interview (CFI) – DSM-5
Mental health resources by country (helplines, advocacy groups, professional societies)
Timeline of major discoveries in psychiatry (1840–2026)
Legal standards for involuntary commitment (US, UK, EU, Australia)
Index (cross-referenced by disorder, symptom, assessment tool, treatment, and volume)