the branch of medicine dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders

originally a psychiatric term referring to a mental sickness or to an underlying problem, often classified into disorders such as depression, agoraphobia, post-traumatic stress disorder, borderline personality disorder, etc. Many counsellors dispute the reality behind, or helpfulness of, such labelling.

1.the behavioural manifestations of any mental disorder; 2.the study of the causes, processes and manifestations of any mental disorder.

the study of psychological disorders. (478)

the branch of medicine that deals with the causes and nature of mental disease.