Depression:  Depression is characterized by feelings of sadness (could be irritability in children and adolescents), loss of energy, difficulties with sleeping, finding little pleasure in daily activities, and isolating oneself.

ADHD:  ADHD is characterized by difficulties staying focused, being easily distracted, being forgetful in daily activities, losing necessary things, difficulties with time management, and difficulties staying organized.

Aspergers Syndrome

Compulsive Hoarding:  Compulsive hoarding involves the collection of items that most individuals would deem worthless or of little value, and then having difficulty discarding those items. This type of behavior leads to clutter and disorganization.

Trichotillomania: Trichotillomania is characterized by the recurrent urge to pull out one’s hair, eyebrows, or eyelashes. It is common for individuals to feel a sense of tension or itch before they pull, which is then followed by a sense of pleasure and/or relief after they have pulled. Due to this feeling of relief, it is very difficult for individuals to resist pulling.

Compulsive Skin Picking: Compulsive skin picking is characterized by the the recurrent urge to pick one’s skin. Individuals have imagined skin defects in their skin that noone else can observe, but will repeatedly pick at it to try and make it go away. Much like trichotillomania, individuals will experience a feeling of relief afterwards.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder: Body dysmorphic disorder is characterized by either an imagined flaw or a minor flaw in one’s own appearance. A person views the flaw as so awful that they think about it constantly, and even avoid others to keep them from viewing it.

Tourette's Syndrome and Tic Disorders:

* These criteria are for descriptive and educational purposes only, and not meant to be used as a means of diagnosis.