Reading this thread has got me thinking that being diagnosed with a mental disorder would be quite nice.
To explain why, in a round-about way... I believe a lot of mental disorders would be more aptly described as personality traits. Aspergers syndrome, ADHD, depression, etc. I think the only reason they're classified as mental disorders is so that people can blame the disorder and not themselves (or their kids, or whatever) for problems they might encounter. As an example of the thoughts that might go through someones head... I have a tough time studying, but it's not my fault - I have ADHD.
I hate to break it to people, but if fault is to be placed, then it seems to me that you really ought to place it with yourself - not with some cooked up mental condition. People with ADHD aren't the only ones who have tough times studying - they're just the ones who so desperatly wanted to justify their inability to study that they went to psychologist.
Here's a more direct explanation of why I think it'd be great to have a mental disorder - not only would I have achieved everything that I already have - I would have done it in spite of a mental disorder! And of course, if mental disorders are barriers to achievement, then just think what someone could accomplish if they didn't have a mental disorder!
But alas, I haven't been diagnosed with a mental disorder.
Also, what about those people who have real tangible problems, such as cancer, physical birth defects, severed limbs, burned down houses, etc? These - and not those diagnosed with mental disorders - are the people who are deserving of respect and sympathy.
Anyway, all that said, my views are probably influenced by fact that our societies view of males would have them never seeking professional help and never seeking excuses (see this thread). They can also probably, incidently, be changed, if someone makes a good case (I haven't heard many perspectives on either side, actually).