Mental illness is defined as which of the following?

Mental illness is defined as which of the following?

• A. Any disorder that affects the mind or behavior
• B. A temporary mood swing
• C. A physical injury to the brain
• D. A personality trait

Answer: (A)

Mental illness is about disorders that affect how a person thinks, feels, or behaves in a way that causes distress or impairment in daily functioning. The statement that describes any disorder that affects the mind or behavior fits this idea best, because it covers the range of conditions diagnosed as mental illnesses. The other options aren’t correct: a temporary mood swing is a normal fluctuation rather than a disorder, a physical injury to the brain is a medical/neurological issue, and a personality trait is an enduring pattern that isn’t a disorder unless it leads to dysfunction.

Mental illness is about disorders that affect how a person thinks, feels, or behaves in a way that causes distress or impairment in daily functioning. The statement that describes any disorder that affects the mind or behavior fits this idea best, because it covers the range of conditions diagnosed as mental illnesses. The other options aren’t correct: a temporary mood swing is a normal fluctuation rather than a disorder, a physical injury to the brain is a medical/neurological issue, and a personality trait is an enduring pattern that isn’t a disorder unless it leads to dysfunction.