Psychological Disabilities
Students must
provide complete, typewritten copies of medical or psychological
documents that describe the current diagnosis, the impact of the
condition, and recommendations relevant to the college setting.
Documentation must be prepared by a qualified professional and be
up-to-date for the stated condition.
Psychological
disabilities refer to a wide range of behavioral and/or psychological
problems characterized by anxiety, mood swings, depression, and/or
compromised assessment of reality. These behaviors persist over time;
they are not in response to a particular event. Psychological
disabilities may be hidden with little or no apparent effect on a
student’s learning. Many individuals with psychological
disabilities are stabilized using medications and/or psychotherapy.
Below are brief
descriptions of some common psychological disabilities:
Depression is
a major disorder that can begin at any age. Major depression may
be characterized by a depressed mood most of each day, a lack of
pleasure in most activities, thoughts of suicide, insomnia, and
feelings of worthlessness or guilt. It may appear as apathy,
disinterest, inattention, impaired concentration, irritability, or as
fatigue or other physical symptoms resulting from changes in eating,
sleeping, or other living patterns.
Bipolar
Disorder (manic depressive disorder) causes a person to
experience periods of mania and depression. In the manic phase,
a person might experience increased initiative and a decreased need
to sleep.
Anxiety
Disorders can disrupt a person’s ability to concentrate
and cause hyperventilation, a racing heart, chest pains, panic and
extreme fear. Severe anxiety may reduce concentration, distort
perception and weaken the learning process. Anxiety may manifest
itself as withdrawal, complaining of extreme fear.
Schizophrenia can
cause a person to experience a distortion of reality and, in some
instances, delusions and hallucinations.