What are Psychological Disorders?

Psychological disorders (also referred to as abnormal behavior, mental illness, behavior and emotional disorders) are psychological dysfunctions that interfere with a person's functioning in relationships or create distress. Causes, description and classification of cognitive, emotional and behavioral disorders are part of the study of psychological disorders.

Getting Started

Before beginning your research, spend some time thinking about the topic at hand and how to develop a search strategy. Consider the following:

• Do you need a category classification, an overview, research reports, a biographical narrative?
• What type of disorder are you researching?
• Will statistical information be useful?
• Are you interested in a particular population (based on age, gender, socio-economic background)?
• Will you be providing an historical perspective?

Finding General or Background Information on Psychological Disorders

Use both general and subject reference sources to find background information on psychology. You can explore broad concepts such as theories, big names in the field, controversies, as well as specific terminology. General sources include:

• The New Encyclopaedia Britannica - R AE 5 .E363 2002
• Encyclopaedia Britannica

To find specific psychology reference sources, search ROSIE for keywords like “psychology and handbooks” (or "encyclopedias").

You can start your search looking for a very specific reference source – but if there is none, be sure to turn to a source with a broader coverage. If the search for keywords “clinical and psychology and encyclopedia” finds nothing, continue with “psychology and encyclopedia” - and then browse the titles you found for broad and specific topics related to mental health.

Consider starting with the following titles:

• The Corsini Encyclopedia of Psychology and Behavioral Science, Vol. 1-4 [electronic resource]
• Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-IV - R RC 455.2.C4 D536 2000
• Annual Review of Psychology - BF30 .A56 (this online title contains in-depth reviews of primary research in psychology)

Note that electronic books - encyclopedias, handbooks and dictionaries - from databases like XreferPlus, Oxford Reference Online and Gale Virtual Reference Library are also available through ROSIE.

Look for background information beyond ROSIE:

• AccessScience (Psychiatry and Psychology section) has introductory encyclopedia articles and overviews of current research. Note that this resource is not comprehensive - only selected topics are included.
  

Finding Information about Psychological Disorders in Books

Searching ROSIE Using Keywords

Search by keyword using terms related to your topic of interest – you may have found these looking through the background sources. Remember that you are searching book titles, subjects assigned to books, and (in some cases only) tables of contents – and not the contents of books. Leave the very specific, detailed search for periodical databases; in ROSIE, search for a single term or combination of two.

Search ROSIE for keywords describing a particular disorder in which you are interested, as well as for a category to which the disorder belongs. For example, search for "depression and mental" as well as for "affective disorders." Consider searching for broad concepts like “psychopathology” or “mental health.”

Searching ROSIE by Subject

Library of Congess Subject Headings in this area are often the same as psychological or mental health terminology; remember to explore the “related subjects” links as well:

• Personality disorders
• Eating disorders
• Affective disorders
• Sexual deviation
• Depression mental
• Psychology pathological
• Developmental disabilities
• Mental health
• Mental illness

Browsing Call Numbers

Because books are arranged on the Library’s shelves by subject, browsing the library stacks in the call number areas suggested below can also be useful. You can get additional ideas from a book's table of contents or index. You can browse book records online through ROSIE, but remember that only records of recently published books list tables of contents and none lists an index.

RC 435 - RC 571 (this section covers the subject of psychiatry; it is best to start with the Reference section)

Finding Articles About Psychological Disorders Using Research Databases

Bowman Library subscribes to many Web-based databases where you will find newspaper, magazine and scholarly journal articles. Ones that are particularly useful for researching topics in psychology are listed below. See Searching Electronic Resources Effectively for guidelines on making the most of your search.

ProQuest
Search ProQuest for psychology articles published in scholarly, popular and general interest periodicals. Explore the drop-down menus and “More Search Options” to broaden or narrow your search. Note, in particular, the limit to “Full text documents only.” Wait to limit your search to scholarly journals from the results page; some quality magazines, like Scientific American, The New Yorker or The New York Times Magazine, often publish well-researched articles you do not want to exclude from your search.

PsycArticles
PsycARTICLES© is a database of full-text articles from journals published by the American Psychological Association, the APA Educational Publishing Foundation, the Canadian Psychological Association, and Hogrefe Publishing Group. It currently contains 61 journals. Coverage for some of them extends back to XIX c. Note the Thesarus (link at the bottom of the screen) for help in finding synonyms, and broader, narrower and related concepts.

Wilson Select Plus
Search Wilson for psychology articles published in academic and professional publications. The best strategy is to use search capabilities from the Advanced Search: use the top menu tab to get there and then explore the drop-down menus. Limit your search to full text.

Congressional Quarterly Researcher (CQ Researcher)
You will find here reports about issues widely discussed in the media, for example, eating disorders, ADHD, depression, autism, substance abuse, etc. While these topics are not discussed from a strictly psychological perspective, the reports can provide context and background for your research.
Each 20+ page report contains background information on the topic, pro/con statements from representatives of opposing positions, analysis of the current and future (outlook) situation, a bibliography and list of readings for further research.

Contemporary Women's Issues (CWI)
This database focuses on contemporary issues affecting the lives of women around the world. Its broad range of topics includes law, health, human rights, education, culture, customs, demographics, family life and more. The articles’ perspective might be unique, as CWI's content includes mainstream periodicals as well as reports from NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations), non-profit organizations, special interest groups, government and international agencies, and research institutes.

Selected Free Web Sites

The following Web sites have been selected by Bowman Librarians as examples of sites appropriate for college research. Keep in mind, however, that free Web resources are rarely filtered, often making it difficult to determine the content's accuracy. Use our guide Evaluating Web Resources to help you review the authority, currency, and objectivity or bias of every site you use.

Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy
http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section15/sec15.jsp
See "Section 15 – Psychiatric Disorders" of this widely used and authoritative medical textbook.

BehaveNet – Clinical Capsules™
http://www.behavenet.com/capsules/index.htm
Clinical Capsules - Terminology of Behavioral Health Care presents disorder diagnostic criteria based on current DSM-IV-TR (“Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,” 4th ed., text revision). Please note that only the criteria, and not the diagnostic features, recording procedures or differential diagnosis are included. The menu in the left frame contains links to DSM-IV codes by number.

Medline Plus - Mental Health
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/mentalhealth.html
Medline Plus is a database of health information from the world's largest medical library, the National Library of Medicine. Each entry in the list leads to an organized set of links of information on diagnosis, treatment, latest findings, law, statistics, etc.

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/healthinformation/index.cfm
You will find here information about adult mental health, including signs, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment for a variety of disorders.

National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI)
http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness
NAMI is a nonprofit, grassroots, self-help, support and advocacy organization of consumers, families and friends of people with severe mental illnesses. This link leads to mental illness descriptions written or reviewed by MDs, and aimed at a general reader.

National Action Agenda for Children's Mental Health
http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/cmh/
In 2001 David Satcher, Assistant Secretary for Health and Surgeon General, released a "National Action Agenda for Children's Mental Health" that outlines goals and strategies to improve the services for children and adolescents with mental health problems, and for their families.

National Mental Health Information Center
http://www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/resources/dictionary.aspx
This site is created and maintained by SAMSHA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Follow the “Resources” menu for Mental Health Services Locator. "Online publications" range from brief pamphlets to longer reports, all aimed at the general public.

California Department of Mental Health (DMH)
http://www.dmh.cahwnet.gov/
The DMH site contains information about law, county and state health departments, programs and services in California.

National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression (NARSAD)
http://www.narsad.org/dc/
NARSAD is a private, not-for-profit public charity organized for the purpose of raising funds for scientific research into the causes, cures, treatments and prevention of severe psychiatric brain disorders, such as schizophrenia and depression. Available descriptions of disorders are aimed at the general reader.

Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA)
http://www.adaa.org/home.asp
ADAA is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote the prevention, treatment and cure of anxiety disorders, and to improve the lives of all people who suffer from them. Follow the “Getting Help” menu choice to find a glossary, descriptions, articles, links and more.

Depression and Related Affective Disorder Association (DRADA)
http://www.drada.org/
DRADA is a community organization established by Johns Hopkins University. Follow the “Facts on Depressive Disorders” link to find relevant information.

Mental Health Statistical Data

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/healthinformation/statisticsmenu.cfm
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
http://www.nationaloutcomemeasures.samhsa.gov/
Center for Mental Health Services Knowledge Exchange Network (KEN)
http://www.mentalhealth.org/cmhs/MentalHealthStatistics/default.asp
Mental Health Matters – links to statistical data sources
http://www.mental-health-matters.com/research/statistics.php

 

Citing Your Sources

Be sure to check with your professor on which citation style is required. Bowman Library provides the following resources to assist with citation format:

For online resources, see How to Cite Your Research for links to MLA, APA and Chicago citation styles.

MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers - LB2369 .G53 2003 (Located in Library Permanent Reserves).

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association - BF76.7 .P83 2001 (Located in Library Permanent Reserves).

The Chicago Manual of Style - Z253 .U69 2003 (Located in Library Permanent Reserves).

Have Questions?

• Explore WOODIE for help with Research.
• The following guides include related information that may assist your research:
  • Introductory Psychology Research Guide
  • Developmental Psychology Research Guide
• Ask a Librarian. We are here to help!