Definition

1. Noun:
   • A mental health condition: An "emotional disorder" is a type of psychological condition. Its primary feature is a significant and persistent disturbance in a person's emotional state, mood, or feelings.
   • Non-organic origin: By definition, it is not caused by detectable physical damage or disease in the brain (like a tumor or injury). The disturbance stems from psychological or emotional factors.

Usage

• The term "emotional disorder" is used in clinical, educational, and general contexts to describe conditions where emotional dysregulation is the core symptom.
• It is often used as a broad category that can include specific diagnoses.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The child's anxiety and frequent outbursts led to a diagnosis of an emotional disorder.
  • Schools provide support services for students with emotional disorders.
  • Effective therapy can help manage the symptoms of an emotional disorder.

Advanced Usage

• In educational psychology, the term Emotional and Behavioral Disorder (EBD) is commonly used to describe students whose emotional issues significantly impact their educational performance.
• The phrase "major disturbance of emotions" from the formal definition highlights that the emotional responses are intense, prolonged, and impair daily functioning.

Variants and Related Words

• Emotional disturbance: A very similar term, often used interchangeably, especially in legal and educational contexts (e.g., the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in the U.S.).
• Mood disorder: A related but more specific category of emotional disorders characterized primarily by disturbances in mood, such as depression or bipolar disorder.
• Affective disorder: A synonym for mood disorder, used more frequently in clinical settings.

Synonyms

• Psychological disorder
• Mental disorder (when emphasizing the non-organic, emotional aspect)
• Affective disorder (more specific to mood)

Related Phrases

• Internalizing disorder: A subtype of emotional disorder where problems are directed inward (e.g., anxiety, depression).
• Externalizing disorder: A subtype where problems are directed outward (e.g., conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder).

Noun

1. any mental disorder not caused by detectable organic abnormalities of the brain and in which a major disturbance of emotions is predominant