Four pebbles of different sizes stacked on top of one another, probably on a beach. Setting sun with rays reflected in water in the background.

Psyche

“Psyche” is the ancient Greek word for soul. In modern language usage, it refers to the way a person thinks, feels, and behaves. However, when people talk about mental (psych) disorders, it is not always immediately clear what is meant. Medical practitioners and psychotherapists use the international classification of diseases ICD-10 for diagnosis and treatment purposes.

Postpartum depression

Postpartum depression is one type of depression that can occur in women shortly after they give birth. Depressive symptoms and feeling very mixed emotions in relation to the baby are typical.

Man sitting in front of a psychotherapist in a consultation room at a practice.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop as a result of a trauma that has been experienced. Typical symptoms are flashbacks, anxieties and sleeping problems.

A woman’s face is reflected the other way round in a vase.

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia involves phases of an altered perception of reality. This can take the form of delusions, hearing voices or a feeling of being watched, for example.

A person standing on perfectly aligned paving stones.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

An obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can have a major impact on every aspect of daily life. There is no cure for OCD. There are treatment options to help people manage it.

Eine Frau sitzt mit geschlossenen Augen an einer U-Bahn-Haltestelle.

Generalized anxiety disorder

It is normal to experience fear at times. Fear puts us in a state of readiness so that we can react quickly. However, persistent worry could be an indication of generalized anxiety disorder.

Sleep disturbances: older woman lying in bed clutching her head and looking at the ceiling. There is an alarm clock next to her on the bedside table.

Sleep disorders (insomnia)

People with sleep disorders are often tired and exhausted because they have not had enough restful sleep. Up to one third of people experience problems falling asleep or getting a good night’s sleep.

Burnout

What is referred to as burnout is usually a personal crisis. It is a reaction to constant stress and overload. But there is no exact scientific definition of “burnout”.

Depression

People with depression have sad and negative thoughts for weeks, withdraw from family and friends. Depression determines the way they act and think. Daily life, work, and studying become difficult.

A woman lies in bed with a hot water bottle on her abdomen.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

Premenstrual syndrome refers to set of symptoms that women may have before their monthly menstrual period. Typical symptoms include mood swings, headaches and abdominal pain.

Alzheimer-Demenz: Ältere Frau mit Gehstock

Alzheimer’s disease

People with Alzheimer’s disease suffer a considerable loss of memory and cognitive functioning. The disease cannot be cured. However, treatment can have a positive effect on its progression.

Older man sitting at a table looking puzzled.

Vascular dementia

With vascular dementia, circulatory disorders in the brain lead to a reduction in mental abilities. It is the second most common type of dementia after Alzheimer’s disease.

Functional symptoms: man sitting on a chair in a medical examination room holding his knee.

Non-specific physical disorders (functional somatic syndromes)

Many people experience persistent somatic symptoms with no clear medical cause. Functional somatic syndromes can be caused by stress and conflict.

A young man sits on the bed, holding his head in his hands.

Premature ejaculation

If a man almost always reaches orgasm too soon, this is known as premature ejaculation, the medical term for which is ejaculatio praecox. Exercises, medication or sex therapy can help.

ADHD

Children with ADHD are particularly inattentive, impulsive, and active. The symptoms may persist into adulthood.

A woman experiencing a range of moods – active, thoughtful, sad.

Bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that causes extreme fluctuations in mood. The person either feels on an emotional high or feels low and empty.

A child leans against a windowpane in which he and multiple lights are reflected, and gazes dreamily upward.

Autism

Autism spectrum disorders are developmental disorders with specific characteristics: people with autism have problems communicating with others and with social competence.