The American Psychiatric Association defines a psychological disability as any persistent psychological or psychiatric disorder or emotional or mental illness resulting in impairment of educational, social, or vocational functioning as reported by a mental health professional, based on a diagnosis from the Diagnosis and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (1987, 3rd ed., revised). Examples of psychological disabilities include manic depression, bi-polar disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders, post traumatic stress disorders, anxiety disorders, delusional disorders, and eating disorders.
Psychological disabilities can create barriers to education in different ways. First, stigmas associated with psychological disabilities prevent many students from self identifying and subsequently receiving the help that they may need. Additionally, individuals with psychological disabilities often take medication that may produce side effects such as restlessness, fatigue, or excessive thirst. Following is a list of strategies that can be used with students who have psychological disabilities.
Information Courtesy of Guilford Technical Community College. Used with permission.