Which statement correctly defines a disorder?

Which statement correctly defines a disorder?

• A. A disease is a harmful condition of the body.
• B. A syndrome is a collection of symptoms.
• C. A disorder is a disturbance in health.
• D. A disorder is an identifiable cause of disease.

Answer: (C)

A disorder is a disturbance in health or normal functioning. This broad definition captures the idea that a disorder reflects something off in how the body or mind works, with or without a known cause. That makes it distinct from a disease, which points to a specific pathological process, and from a syndrome, which is a recognizable collection of signs and symptoms that tend to occur together. It also clarifies that a disorder does not require an identifiable cause, so saying it’s an identifiable cause of disease isn’t accurate.

A disorder is a disturbance in health or normal functioning. This broad definition captures the idea that a disorder reflects something off in how the body or mind works, with or without a known cause. That makes it distinct from a disease, which points to a specific pathological process, and from a syndrome, which is a recognizable collection of signs and symptoms that tend to occur together. It also clarifies that a disorder does not require an identifiable cause, so saying it’s an identifiable cause of disease isn’t accurate.