What is the definition or description of: nervous breakdown?

Nervous breakdown: Is vague term that has no professional definition. It usually means the person feels overwhelmed and is not functioning well. It is also misleading because nerves don't break down in mental illnesses. To determine a diagnosis, it is necessary to have the person describe what he or she means by the term & what symptoms are being experienced.

Retro description: An old fashioned blanket description of any mental or emotional disturbance. Today, with an elaborate diagnostic coding system, that term is no longer very helpful. A careful clinical evaluation, determining the nature of a person's distress allows the therapist to develop a treatment plan that would be most helpful in helping the patient reach his or her goals.