Pathologization is to view or to characterize as medically or psychologically abnormal. In the past two decades, the rates at which mental disorders are being labelled as well as diagnosed have been rapidly increasing.
New conditions such as Pre-menstrual Dysphoric Disorder, Hoarding Disorder, and Prolonged Grief Disorder are being added to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM.
The percentage of American children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) tripled to 11.4% over the past 10 years, and 50% of adults aged 18-24 report symptoms of anxiety and depression compared to 30% of adults overall.