GLOSSARY

ABSENCE SEIZURE.: An epileptic seizure characterized by a sudden, momentary loss of consciousness, occasionally accompanied by some minor, jerky movements in the neck or upper arms, a twitching of the face, or a loss of muscle tone.
ABSTINENCE.: Refraining from sexual intercourse for a period of time; may also refer to refraining from use of a substance, such as alcohol.
ABSTRACTION.: Ability to think about concepts or ideas separate from specific examples.
ABUSE.: Substance abuse is a milder form of addiction than substance dependence. Generally, people who have been diagnosed with substance abuse don't experience the tolerance or withdrawal symptoms—the signs of physiological dependence—that people dependent on a substance experience.
ACETYLCHOLINE.: A naturally occurring chemical in the body that transmits nerve impulses from cell to cell. Generally, it has opposite effects from dopamine and norepinephrine; it causes blood vessels to dilate, lowers blood pressure, and slows the heartbeat. Central nervous system well-being is dependent on a balance among acetylcholine, dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine.
ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE.: The chemical responsible for the breakdown of acetylcholine.
ACTIVE COPING STRATEGIES.: Ways of handling stress that affect the problem or situation in some way.
ACUTE PSYCHOSIS.: A severe mental disorder marked by delusions, hallucinations, and other symptoms that indicate that the patient is not in contact with reality.
ACUTE STRESS DISORDER.: Symptoms occuring in an individual following a traumatic event to oneself or surrounding environment. Symptoms include a continued response of intense fear, helplessness, or terror within four weeks of the event, extreme nervousness, sleep disorders, increased anxiety, poor concentration, absence of emotional response to surroundings, and sometimes a dissociative amnesia—not recalling the significance of the trauma. Symptoms last a minimum of two days and maximum of four weeks. Can become post-traumatic stress disorder.
ADAPTOGEN.: A remedy that helps the body adapt to change, and thus lowers the risk of stress-related illnesses.
ADDICTION.: A compulsive need for, and use of, a habit-forming substance or behavior.
ADDICTIVE DISORDER.: A disorder involving repetitive participation in a certain activity, in spite of negative consequences and despite attempts to stop the behavior. Alcohol abuse is an example.
ADDISON'S DISEASE.: Disease caused by malfunctioning adrenal glands that can be treated with cortisol replacement therapy. Symptoms include anemia, low blood pressure, digestive complaints, and diarrhea.
ADENOSINE.: A compound that serves to modulate the activities of nerve cells (neurons) and to produce a mild sedative effect when it activates certain types of adenosine receptors. Caffeine is thought to produce its stimulating effect by competing with adenosine for activation of these receptors.
ADJUNCT.: A form of treatment that is not strictly necessary to a therapy regimen but is helpful.
ADJUSTMENT DISORDER.: A disorder defined by the development of significant emotional or behavioral symptoms in response to a stressful event or series of events. Symptoms may include depressed mood, anxiety, and impairment of social and occupational functioning.
ADRENAL GLAND.: A small organ located above each kidney that produces hormones related to the sex drive.
ADRENALINE.: Another name for epinephrine, the hormone released by the adrenal glands in response to stress. It is the principal blood pressure-raising hormone and a bronchial and intestinal smooth muscles relaxant.

AEROSOL.: A liquid substance sealed in a metal container under pressure with an inert gas that propels the liquid as a spray or foam through a nozzle.
AFFECT.: The expression of emotion displayed to others through facial expressions, hand gestures, tone of voice, etc. Types of affect include: flat (inanimate, no expression), blunted (minimally responsive), inappropriate (incongruous expressions of emotion relative to the content of a conversation), and labile (sudden and abrupt changes in type and intensity of emotion).
AFFECTIVE DISORDER.: A disorder involving extreme emotional experience that is not congruent with the environmental circumstances (for example, feeling sad when there is no easily identifiable reason, as in depression).
AGE-ASSOCIATED MEMORY IMPAIRMENT (AAMI).: A condition in which an older person suffers some memory loss and takes longer to learn new information. AAMI is distinguished from dementia in that it is not progressive and does not represent a serious decline from the person's previous level of functioning. Benign senescent forgetfulness is another term for AAMI.
AGITATION.: Excessive restlessness or emotional disturbance often associated with anxiety or psychosis. Agitation may be associated with middle-stage Alzheimer's disease.
AGNOSIA.: Loss of the ability to recognize familiar people, places, and objects.
AGONIST.: A chemical that reproduces the mechanism of action of a neurotransmitter.
AGORAPHOBIA.: People with this condition worry that they will not be able to get help or flee a place if they have a panic attack and may refuse to go to places that might trigger a panic attack.
AGRANULOCYTOSIS.: A blood disorder characterized by a reduction in the number of circulating white blood cells (granulocytes). White blood cells defend the body against infections. Agranulocytosis is a potential side effect of some of the newer antipsychotic medications used to treat schizophrenia.
AKATHISIA.: Agitated or restless movement, usually affecting the legs. Movement is accompanied by a sense of discomfort and an inability to sit, stand still, or remain inactive for periods of time. Akathisia is a common side effect of some neuroleptic (antipsychotic) medications.
AKINESIA.: Absence of physical movement.
ALBUMIN.: A simple protein that is widely distributed in human blood.
ALLOSTASIS.: The process of an organism's adaptation to acute stress.
ALOPECIA.: Hair loss (also, loss of feathers or wool in animals).
ALTER.: An alternate or secondary personality in a person with dissociative identity disorder. Each alter has a unique way of looking at and interacting with the world.
ALVEOLAR.: Pertaining to alveoli, which are tiny air sacs at the ends of the small air passages in the lungs.
ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.: An incurable dementia marked by the loss of cognitive ability and memory over a period of 10–15 years. Usually affects elderly people.
AMBULATION.: Ability to walk.
AMENORRHEA.: Absence of menstrual periods.
AMINO ACID.: A building block of protein.
AMNESIA.: A general medical term for loss of memory that is not due to ordinary forgetfulness. Amnesia can be caused by head injuries, brain disease, or epilepsy, as well as by dissociation.
AMNIOCENTESIS.: A test usually done between 16 and 20 weeks of pregnancy to detect any abnormalities in the development of the fetus. A small amount of the fluid surrounding the fetus (amniotic fluid) is drawn out through a needle inserted into the mother's womb. Laboratory analysis of this fluid can detect various genetic defects, such as Down syndrome, or neural tube defects.
AMOTIVATIONAL SYNDROME.: Loss of ambition associated with chronic cannabis (marijuana) use.
AMPHETAMINE ABUSE.: An amphetamine problem in which the user experiences negative consequences from the use, but has not reached the point of dependence.
AMPHETAMINE DEPENDENCE.: The most serious type of amphetamine problem.
AMPHETAMINE INTOXICATION.: The effects on the body that develop during or shortly after amphetamine use.
AMPHETAMINE WITHDRAWAL.: Symptoms that develop shortly after reducing or stopping heavy amphetamine use.
AMPHETAMINES.: A group of powerful and highly addictive substances that stimulate the central nervous system. May be prescribed for various medical conditions, but are often purchased illicitly and abused.

AMYGDALA.: An almond-shaped brain structure in the limbic system that is activated in stressful situations to trigger the emotion of fear. It is thought that the emotional overreactions in Alzheimer's patients are related to the destruction of neurons in the amygdala.
AMYLOID.: A waxy translucent substance composed mostly of protein, that forms plaques (abnormal deposits) in the brain during the progression of Alzheimer's disease.
ANALEPTIC.: A substance that acts as a stimulant of the central nervous system. Caffeine is classified as an analeptic.
ANALGESIC.: A substance that provides relief from pain.
ANANDAMIDE.: One type of endocannabinoid that appears to help regulate early pregnancy.
ANANKASTIC PERSONALITY DISORDER.: The European term for obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.
ANDROGYNY.: A way of behaving that includes high levels of both masculinity and femininity.
ANEMIA.: Condition that results when there is a deficiency of oxygen in the blood. Can cause fatigue and impair mental functions.
ANEURYSM.: A symptomless bulging of a weak arterial wall that can rupture, leading to stroke.
ANGINA.: Severe pain and a feeling of constriction around the heart.
ANGIOGRAPHY.: A procedure in which a contrast medium is injected into the bloodstream (through an artery in the neck) and its progress through the brain is tracked. This illustrates where a blockage or hemorrhage has occurred.
ANHEDONIA.: Loss of the capacity to experience pleasure. Anhedonia is one of the so-called negative symptoms of schizophrenia, and is also a symptom of major depression.
ANOREXIA.: Loss of appetite or unwillingness to eat. Can be caused by medications, depression, or many other factors.
ANOREXIA NERVOSA.: An eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of weight gain accompanied by a distorted perception of one's own underweight body.
ANOSOGNOSIA.: Lack of awareness of the nature of one's illness. The term is usually applied to stroke patients, but is sometimes used to refer to lack of insight on the part of patients with schizophrenia. Anosognosia appears to be caused by the illness itself; it does not appear to be a form of denial or inappropriate coping mechanism. It is, however, a factor in nonadherence to treatment regimens and the increased risk of relapse.
ANOXIA.: Lack of oxygen.
ANTI-ANXIETY AGENT.: A medication that is used to treat symptoms of generalized fear that dominates a person's life.
ANTAGONIST.: A substance whose actions counteract the effects of or work in the opposite way from another chemical or drug.
ANTECEDENTS.: Events that occur immediately before the target behavior.
ANTEROGRADE AMNESIA.: Amnesia for events that occurred after a physical injury or emotional trauma but before the present moment.
ANTHELMINTHIC.: A type of medication given to expel or eliminate intestinal worms.
ANTICHOLINERGIC.: Related to the ability of a drug to block the nervous system chemical acetylcholine. When acetylcholine is blocked, patients often experience dry mouth and skin, increased heart rate, blurred vision, and difficulty in urinating. In severe cases, blocking acetylcholine may cloud thinking and cause delirium.
ANTICHOLINERGIC TOXICITY.: A poisonous effect brought about by ingestion of medications or other toxins that block acetylcholine receptors. When these receptors are blocked, the person taking the medication may find that he or she gets overheated, has dry mouth, has blurry vision, and his or her body may retain urine.
ANTICIPATION.: In medicine, a phenomenon in which certain diseases manifest at earlier ages or in more severe phenotypes in each successive generation of an affected family.
ANTICOAGULANT.: A medication (such as warfarin, Coumadin, or Heparin) that decreases the blood's clotting ability, preventing the formation of new clots. Although anticoagulants will not dissolve existing clots, they can stop them from getting larger. These drugs are commonly called blood thinners.
ANTICONVULSANT MEDICATION.: A medication that prevents convulsions or seizures; often prescribed in the treatment of epilepsy. Several anticonvulsant medications have been found effective in the treatment of bipolar disorder.
ANTIDEPRESSANT.: A medication used to treat the symptoms of depression.

ANTIHISTAMINE.: A medication used to alleviate allergy or cold symptoms such as runny nose, itching, hives, watering eyes, or sneezing.
ANTIHYPERTENSIVE.: An agent used in the treatment of hypertension (high blood pressure).
ANTIOXIDANT.: Substance that protects the body from damaging reactive oxygen molecules in the body. These reactive oxygen molecules can come from inside the body or from environmental pollution and are thought to play a role in the aging process and the development of degenerative disease.
ANTIPSYCHOTIC MEDICATION.: A medication used to treat psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia such as hallucinations, delusions, and delirium. May be used to treat symptoms in other disorders, as well.
ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR.: Behavior characterized by high levels of anger, aggression, manipulation, or violence.
ANTISOCIAL PERSONALITY DISORDER.: Disorder characterized by behavior pattern of disregard for others' rights. People with this disorder often deceive and manipulate, or their behavior might include aggression to people or animals or property destruction, for example. This disorder has also been called sociopathy or psychopathy.
ANTISPASMODIC.: A medication or preparation given to relieve muscle or digestive cramps.
ANXIETY.: A feeling of apprehension and fear characterized by physical symptoms (heart palpitations, sweating, and feelings of stress, for example).
ANXIETY AND ANXIETY DISORDERS.: Chronic conditions that can be characterized by an excessive and regular sense of apprehension, with physical symptoms such as sweating, palpitations, and feelings of stress. Anxiety disorders can be caused by biological and environmental events.
ANXIETY-REDUCTION TECHNIQUES.: Skills taught by a therapist to help an individual overcome anxiety, stress, and tension, and can include relaxation, visualization and imagery, diaphragmatic breathing, stress inoculation, and meditation.
ANXIOLYTIC.: A preparation or substance given to relieve anxiety; a tranquilizer.
APATHY.: Lack of feelings or emotions.
APHASIA.: Loss of language abilities.
APHONIA.: Inability to speak caused by a functional disturbance of the voice box or vocal cords.
APHRODISIAC.: A medication or preparation given to stimulate sexual desire.
APLASTIC ANEMIA.: A form of anemia in which the bone marrow does not produce adequate amounts of peripheral blood components such as red cells, white cells, and platelets.
APNEA.: A brief suspension or interruption of breathing.
APOLIPOPROTEIN E.: A protein that transports cholesterol through the body. One form of this protein, apoE4, is associated with a 60% risk of late-onset Alzheimer's disease.
APPERCEPTION.: The process of understanding through linkage with previous experience. The term was coined by one of the authors of the Thematic Apperception Test to underscore the fact that people don't "perceive" the story cards in a vacuum; rather, they construct their stories on the basis of past experiences as well as present personality traits.
APPETITE SUPPRESSANTS.: Medications that assist in weight loss by reducing appetite or increasing the sensation of fullness.
APRAXIA.: Inability to perform purposeful movements that is not caused by paralysis or loss of feeling.
ARRHYTHMIA.: Any disturbance in the normal rhythm of the heartbeat.
ARSON.: The deliberate setting of fires for criminal purposes, usually to collect insurance money or to cover up evidence of another crime. It is distinguished from pyromania by its connection with planning and forethought rather than failure of impulse control.
ARTERIOSCLEROSIS.: A thickening, hardening, and loss of elasticity of the walls of the arteries.
ASANA.: The Indian term for the poses or postures that are done in sequence during hatha yoga practice.
ASPERGER'S DISORDER.: A condition in which young children experience impaired social interactions and develop limited repetitive patterns of behavior.
ASSAULTIVE.: An act with intent of causing harm.
ASSERTIVE.: Confidently self-assured; able to express oneself constructively and directly.
ASSESSMENT.: In the context of psychological assessment (a structured interview), assessment is information-gathering to diagnose a mental disorder.
ASSISTED SUICIDE.: A form of self-inflicted death in which a person voluntarily brings about his or her own death with the help of another, usually a physician, relative, or friend.

ASSOCIATIONISM.: A theory about human learning that explains complex psychological phenomena in terms of coincidental relationships. For example, a person with agoraphobia who is afraid of riding in a car may have had a panic attack in a car on one occasion and has learned to associate cars with the physical symptoms of a panic attack.
ASTRINGENT.: A substance or compound that causes contraction or constriction of soft tissue.
ATAQUE DE NERVIOS.: A culture-specific anxiety syndrome found among some Latino groups in the United States and in Latin America. It resembles panic disorder in some respects but also includes dissociative symptoms, and frequently occurs in response to a stressful event.
ATHEORETICAL.: Unrelated to any specific theoretical approach or conceptual framework. The classification system of DSM-IV-TR is atheoretical.
ATHEROSCLEROSIS.: Clogging of the arteries, creating a risk factor for stroke.
ATRIAL FIBRILLATION.: A disorder in which the upper chambers (atria) of the heart do not completely empty with each contraction (heartbeat). This can allow blood clots to form and is associated with a higher risk of stroke.
ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER.: A condition that mostly affects children and involves the inability to concentrate on various tasks.
ATTENTION-DEFICIT/HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD).: A learning and behavioral disorder characterized by difficulty in sustaining attention, impulsive behavior, and excessive activity.
ATYPICAL ANTIPSYCHOTICS.: A group of newer medications for the treatment of psychotic symptoms that were introduced in the 1990s. The atypical antipsychotics include clozapine, risperidone, quetiapine, ziprasidone, and olanzapine. They are sometimes called serotonin dopamine antagonists, or SDAs.
AUDITORY.: Pertaining to the sense of hearing.
AURA.: An energy field that is thought to emanate from the human body and to be visible to people with special psychic or spiritual powers.
AUTISM.: A developmental disability that appears early in life, in which normal brain development is disrupted and social and communication skills are retarded, sometimes severely.
AUTISTIC PSYCHOPATHY.: Hans Asperger's original name for the condition now known as Asperger's disorder. It is still used occasionally as a synonym for the disorder.
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM.: The part of the nervous system that governs the heart, involuntary muscles, and glands.
AVERSION.: A strong feeling of dislike or disgust. Aversion therapy makes use of this feeling to reduce or eliminate an undesirable behavior.
AVERSION THERAPY.: An approach to treatment in which an unpleasant or painful stimulus is linked to an undesirable behavior in order to condition the patient to dislike or avoid the behavior. Chemicals or medications used to produce unpleasant effects are called aversants.
AVOIDANT COPING STRATEGIES.: Ways of coping with stress that do not alter the problem in any way, but instead provide temporary relief or distraction.
AYURVEDIC MEDICINE.: The traditional medical system of India. Ayurvedic treatments include diet, exercises, herbal treatments, meditation, massage, breathing techniques, and exposure to sunlight.

BACK-UP REINFORCER.: A desirable item, privilege, or activity that is purchased with tokens and serves as a delayed reward and subsequent motivation for desired behavior.
BARBITURATES.: A class of medications (including Seconal and Nembutal) that causes sedation and drowsiness. They may be prescribed legally but may also be used as drugs of abuse.
BASAL GANGLIA.: A group of masses of gray matter located in the cerebral hemispheres of the brain that control movement as well as some aspects of emotion and cognition.
BASELINE DATA.: Information regarding the frequency and severity of behavior, gathered before treatment begins.
BATTERY.: A number of separate items (such as tests) used together. In psychology, a group or series of tests given with a common purpose, such as personality assessment or measurement of intelligence.
BEHAVIOR.: A stereotyped motor response to an internal or external stimulus.

BEHAVIOR DISORDERS.: Disorders characterized by disruptive behaviors such as conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION.: An approach to therapy based on the principles of operant conditioning. Behavior modification seeks to replace undesirable behaviors with preferable behaviors through the use of positive or negative reinforcement.
BEHAVIOR THERAPIES.: Numerous techniques all having their roots in principles of learning.
BEHAVIORAL CONTRACTS.: A behavioral contract is a written agreement that defines the behaviors to be performed and the consequences of the specified behaviors.
BEHAVIORAL DEFICIENCY.: Failure to engage in a positive, desirable behavior frequently enough.
BEHAVIORAL EXCESS.: Engaging in negative, undesirable behavior too often.
BEHAVIORAL INHIBITION.: A set of behaviors that appear in early infancy that are displayed when the child is confronted with a new situation or unfamiliar people. These behaviors include moving around, crying, and general irritability, followed by withdrawing and seeking comfort from a familiar person. These behaviors are associated with an increased risk of social phobia and panic disorder in later life. Behavioral inhibition in children appears to be linked to anxiety and mood disorders in their parents.
BEHAVIORAL PHENOTYPE.: A term that refers to the greater likelihood that people with a specific genetic syndrome will have certain behavioral or developmental characteristics, compared to people who do not have the syndrome.
BEHAVIORAL THERAPY.: An approach to treatment that focuses on extinguishing undesirable behavior and replacing it with desired behavior.
BENIGN PROSTATE HYPERTROPHY.: Enlargement of the prostate gland.
BENZODIAZEPINES.: A group of central nervous system depressants used to relieve anxiety or to induce sleep.
BEREAVEMENT.: The emotional experience of loss after the death of a friend or relative.
BETA AMYLOID PROTEIN.: A starchy substance that builds up in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease to form the plaques that are characteristic of the disease. Beta amyloid is formed when amyloid precursor protein, or APP, is not broken down properly by the body.
BETA BLOCKER.: Drugs that block beta-adrenergic receptors on neurons in the central nervous system. When these sites are blocked, heart rate, blood pressure, and anxiety levels decrease.
BEZOAR.: A hard ball of hair or vegetable fiber that may develop in the stomach of humans as the result of ingesting nonfood items.
BINGE.: An excessive amount of food consumed in a short period of time. Usually, while a person binge-eats, he or she feels disconnected from reality, and feels unable to stop. The bingeing may temporarily relieve depression or anxiety, but after the binge, the person usually feels guilty and depressed.
BINGEING.: An excessive amount of food consumed in a short period of time. Usually, while a person binge-eats, he or she feels disconnected from reality, and feels unable to stop. The bingeing may temporarily relieve depression or anxiety, but after the binge, the person usually feels guilty and depressed.
BIOAVAILABILITY.: Medication that is available in the body. If the bioavailability of a drug is increased, more is available to the body for use, and if it is decreased, less is available for use.
BIOCHEMICAL.: Chemical reactions occurring in living systems.
BIOFEEDBACK.: Biofeedback is a technique that uses monitoring instruments to measure and feed back information about muscle tension, heart rate, sweat responses, skin temperature, or brain activity.
BIOFIELD THERAPIES.: A subgroup of energy therapies that make use of energy fields (biofields) thought to exist within or emanate from the human body. Biofield therapies include such approaches as Reiki, therapeutic touch, qigong, and polarity balancing.
BIOLOGICAL MARKER.: An indicator or characteristic trait of a disease that facilitates differential diagnosis (the process of distinguishing one disorder from other, similar disorders).
BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL HISTORY.: A history of significant past and current experiences that influence client behaviors, including medical, educational, employment, and interpersonal experiences. Alcohol or drug use and involvement with the legal system are also assessed in a biopsychosocial history.
BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL MODEL.: A hypothetical explanation for why something occurs that includes biological, psychological, and social causes or correlates.

BIOSOCIAL.: A biosocial model in psychology asserts that social and biological factors contribute toward the development of personality.
BIPOLAR AFFECTIVE DISORDER.: A disorder in which a person alternates manic and depressive episodes.
BIPOLAR DISORDER (FORMERLY MANIC-DEPRESSIVE DISORDER).: A mental disorder characterized by dramatic and sometimes rapid mood swings, resulting in both manic and depressive episodes.
BIPOLAR DISORDER NOT OTHERWISE SPECIFIED.: Disorder of mood involving mood swings that do not meet criteria for other disorders specified above.
BIPOLAR DISORDERS.: Disorders characterized by wide fluctuations in mood.
BIPOLAR I DISORDER.: A major mood disorder characterized by full-blown manic episodes, often interspersed with episodes of major depression.
BIPOLAR II DISORDER.: Disorder with major depressive episodes and mild manic episodes known as hypomania.
BLACKOUT.: A period of loss of consciousness or memory.
BLENDED FAMILY.: A family formed by the remarriage of a divorced or widowed parent. It includes the new husband and wife, plus some or all of their children from previous marriages.
BLEOMYCIN HYDROLASE.: An enzyme involved in the body's processing of amyloid precursor protein. If the gene that governs production of BH mutates, the APP accumulates, producing the plaques in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease.
BLUNTED AFFECT.: A term that refers to the loss of emotional expressiveness sometimes found in patients with schizophrenia. It is sometimes called flattened affect.
BODY IMAGE.: A term that refers to a person's inner picture of his or her outward appearance. It has two components: perceptions of the appearance of one's body, and emotional responses to those perceptions.
BODY MASS.: The quantity of matter in the body (measured by dividing weight by acceleration due to gravity).
BODY MASS INDEX, OR BMI.: A measure of body fat, calculated as weight in kilograms over the square of height in meters.
BODYWORK.: Any technique involving hands-on massage or manipulation of the body.
BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER.: A severe and usually life-long mental disorder characterized by violent mood swings and severe difficulties in sustaining interpersonal relationships.
BRACHYCARDIA.: Slow heartbeat, defined as a rate of less than 60 beats per minute.
BRAIN STEM.: The part of the brain that is continuous with the spinal cord and controls most basic life functions. It is the last part of the brain that is destroyed by Alzheimer's disease.
BREEMA.: An alternative therapy that originated in California in the 1980s. Breema combines biofield therapy with certain elements of chiropractics and bodywork.
BRUXISM.: Habitual, often unconscious, grinding of the teeth.
BULIMIA NERVOSA.: An eating disorder characterized by binges in which large amounts of food are consumed, followed by forced vomiting.
BUPRENORPHINE.: A medication that blocks some of the withdrawal effects during heroin detoxification.
BURDEN.: First described by Treudley in 1946, this term generally refers to the consequences for the family of close contact with a person who is severely mentally ill.
BURNOUT.: An emotional condition that interferes with job performance, marked by fatigue, loss of interest, or frustration; usually regarded as the result of prolonged stress.

CAFFEINISM.: A disorder caused by ingesting very high doses of caffeine (10g or more per day) and characterized by seizures and respiratory failure.
CALORIE.: The quantity of heat necessary to raise the temperature of 1kg of water 1°C.
CANCER SCREENING.: A procedure designed to detect cancer even though a person has no symptoms, usually performed using an imaging technique.
CANNABIS.: The collective name for several varieties of Indian hemp plant. Also known as marijuana.
CANNABIS ABUSE.: Periodic use of cannabis, less serious than dependence, but still capable of causing problems for the user.

CANNABIS DEPENDENCE.: The compulsive need to use cannabis, leading to problems.
CANNABIS INTOXICATION.: The direct effects of acute cannabis use and the reactions that accompany those effects.
CAPITATED PAYMENT SYSTEM.: A contract between managed care organizations and health care providers involving a prepaid amount for blocks of services.
CARDIAC TAMPONADE.: A condition in which blood leaking into the membrane surrounding the heart puts pressure on the heart muscle, preventing complete filling of the heart's chambers and normal heartbeat.
CARMINATIVE.: A substance or preparation that relieves digestive gas.
CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME.: A disorder of the hand and wrist characterized by pain, weakness, or numbness in the thumb and other fingers. It is caused by pressure on a nerve in the wrist. Carpal tunnel syndrome is frequently associated with heavy use of a computer, typewriter, or musical keyboard.
CARRIER.: A vegetable oil such as safflower, olive, grapeseed, or wheatgerm oil used to dilute essential oils for massage.
CARVE-OUT PLANS.: Managed care plans that make provision for mental health services by creating subcontracts involving different terms of payment and utilization review from those used for general health care.
CASE MANAGER.: A professional who designs and monitors implementation of comprehensive care plans(i.e., services addressing medical, financial, housing, psychiatric, vocational, social needs) for individuals seeking mental health or social services.
CASE RATE.: A type of contract between managed care organizations and health care providers involving a prepaid amount for services on a case-by-case basis.
CASTRATION.: Desexing a person or animal by surgical removal of the testes (in males) or ovaries (in females). Castration is sometimes offered as a treatment option to violent rapists and pedophiles who are repeat offenders.
CATALEPSY.: An abnormal condition characterized by postural rigidity and mental stupor, associated with certain mental disorders.
CATAPLEXY.: A symptom of narcolepsy marked by a sudden episode of muscle weakness triggered by strong emotions. The muscle weakness may cause the person's knees to buckle, or the head to drop. In severe cases, the patient may become paralyzed for a few seconds to minutes.
CATATONIC BEHAVIOR OR CATATONIA.: Term that describes both possible extremes related to movement. Catalepsy is the motionless aspect of catatonia—a person with catalepsy may remain fixed in the same position for hours on end. Rapid or persistently repeated movements, frequent grimacing and strange facial expressions, and unusual gestures are the opposite end of the catatonia phenomenon, involving an excess or distorted extreme of movement.
CATATONIC DISORDER.: A severe disturbance of motor behavior characterized by either extreme immobility or stupor, or by random and purposeless activity.
CATATONIC SCHIZOPHRENIA.: A subtype of a severe mental disorder that affects thinking, feeling, and behavior, and that is also characterized by catatonic behaviors—either extreme stupor or random, purposeless activity.
CATCHMENT.: In mental health, a term that refers to a particular geographical area served by a particular mental health agency.
CATECHOLAMINE.: A group of neurotransmitters synthesized from the amino acid tyrosine and released by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system in the brain in response to acute stress. The catecholamines include dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and epinephrine.
CATHARSIS.: A powerful emotional release followed by a feeling of great relief.
CATHETERIZATION.: Placing a tube in the bladder so that it can be emptied of urine.
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DEPRESSANT.: Any drug that lowers the level of stimulation or excitement in the central nervous system.
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM STIMULANT.: Any drug that raises the level of activity in the central nervous system.
CEREBRAL ATERIOGRAPHY.: A procudure that allows a wire to be inserted in blood vessels in the brain, which generates an image of diseases in these arteries.
CEREBROVASCULAR.: Blood flow in the brain.
CERVIX.: The neck or narrow lower end of a woman's uterus.
CHAKRA.: One of the seven major energy centers in the body, according to traditional Indian yoga.

CHASING.: Betting larger and larger sums of money, or taking greater risks, in order to make up for money previously lost in gambling.
CHELATION.: A method of treating lead or mercury poisoning by giving medications that remove heavy metals from the bloodstream. The medications that are used are called chelating agents.
CHOLINESTERASE INHIBITORS.: A group of medications given to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease.
CHOREATHETOID MOVEMENTS.: Repetitive dance-like movements that have no rhythm.
CHROMATHERAPY.: An alternative form of light therapy in which colored light is directed toward a specific chakra or part of the body in order to heal or correct energy imbalances. Practitioners of chromatherapy are sometimes called chromapaths.
CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE.: Disorder characterized by the decreasing ability of the lungs to ventilate adequately.
CHRYSIN.: A flavonoid found in passionflower that may be the source of its anxiolytic properties.
CLASSICAL CONDITIONING.: In psychology, a process in which a previously neutral stimulus eventually produces a specific response by being paired repeatedly with another stimulus that produces that response. The best-known example of classical conditioning is Pavlov's dogs, who were conditioned to salivate when they heard a bell ring (the previously neutral stimulus) because the sound had been paired repeatedly with their feeding time.
CLEARINGHOUSE.: A centralized organization that is a repository of information and that facilitates access to information.
CLITORIS.: The most sensitive area of the female external genitals. Stimulation of the clitoris causes most women to reach orgasm.
CLONIC-TONIC SEIZURE.: This is the most common type of seizure among all age groups and is categorized into several phases beginning with vague symptoms hours or days before an attack. These seizures are sometimes called grand mal seizures.
CLOZAPINE.: A newer antipsychotic medication that is often given to patients who are developing signs of tardive dyskinesia.
CLUSTER SUICIDE.: Refers to the phenomenon of additional suicides being attempted or completed after one suicide has occurred within a small community, such as a group of high school students.
COCA PLANT.: The plant that is the source of cocaine.
COCAINE.: An illegal drug that increases energy and induces euphoria. It is addictive and is often abused.
CODEINE.: A medication that may be prescribed but also may be purchased illegally and is used to reduce pain.
CODON.: A three-member nucleotide sequence in messenger RNA that codes for a specific amino acid in synthesizing protein molecules.
COGNITION.: The act or process of knowing or perceiving.
COGNITIVE.: Pertaining to the mental processes of memory, perception, judgment, and reasoning.
COGNITIVE RESTRUCTURING.: An approach to psychotherapy that focuses on helping the patient examine distorted patterns of perceiving and thinking in order to change their emotional responses to people and situations.
COGNITIVE STYLE.: A way in which an individual works with and performs cognitive tasks such as reasoning, learning, thinking, understanding, making decisions, and using memory.
COGNITIVE THERAPY.: Psychological treatment aimed at changing a person's way of thinking in order to change his or her behavior and emotional state.
COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL THERAPY (CBT).: An approach to psychotherapy that emphasizes the correction of distorted thinking patterns and changing one's behaviors accordingly.
COGWHEEL RIGIDITY.: An abnormal rigidity in muscles, characterized by jerky movements when the muscle is passively stretched.
COITUS.: Sexual intercourse.
COLD TURKEY.: A slang term for stopping the use of nicotine (or any other addictive drug) suddenly and completely.
COMA.: Unconsciousness.
COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS.: Organizations that manage and deliver a comprehensive range of mental health services, education, and outreach to residents of a given community.
COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS ACT OF 1963.: Federal legislation providing grants for the operation of community mental health centers and related services.

COMORBID.: Having another disorder or condition simultaneously.
COMORBID PSYCHOPATHOLOGY.: The presence of other mental disorders in a patient together with the disorder that is the immediate focus of therapy.
COMORBIDITY.: Association or presence of two or more mental disorders in the same patient. A disorder that is said to have a high degree of comorbidity is likely to occur in patients diagnosed with other disorders that may share or reinforce some of its symptoms.
COMPENSATORY.: Counterbalancing or offsetting. A compensatory strategy is one that makes up for or balances a weakness in some area of functioning.
COMPETING BEHAVIORS.: Behaviors that interfere with the target behavior because they are preferred by the individual.
COMPLEX ABSENCE SEIZURE.: Absence (petit mal) seizures usually begin with a brief loss of consciousness and last between one and 10 seconds. People having a petit mal seizure become very quiet and may blink, stare blankly, roll their eyes, or move their lips. A petit mal seizure lasts 15–20 seconds. When it ends, the individual resumes whatever he or she was doing before the seizure began, and may not realize that anything unusual happened.
COMPLEX SEIZURE.: In complex seizures, the person experiences impaired consciousness.
COMPLIANCE.: In medicine or psychiatry, cooperation with a treatment plan or schedule of medications.
COMPULSION.: A strong impulse to perform an act, particularly one that is irrational or contrary to one's will.
CONDUCT DISORDER.: A behavioral and emotional disorder of childhood and adolescence in which children display physical aggression and infringe on or violate the rights of others. Youths diagnosed with conduct disorder may set fires, exhibit cruelty toward animals or other children, sexually assault others, or lie and steal for personal gain.
CONFABULATION.: In psychiatry, the filling-in of gaps in memory with false information that the patient believes to be true. It is not deliberate telling of lies.
CONGENITAL.: Present at birth.
CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE.: Condition characterized by abdominal pain, swelling in the lower extremities, and weakness caused by a reduced output of blood from the left side of the heart.
CONGRUENCE.: A quality of the client-centered therapist, consisting of openness to the client.
CONSEQUENCES.: Events that occur immediately after the target behavior.
CONSTIPATION.: Difficult bowel movements caused by the infrequent production of hard stools.
CONTINGENCIES.: Naturally occurring or artificially designated reinforcers or punishers that follow a behavior.
CONTRAST AGENT, or MEDIUM.: A substance injected into the body that illuminates certain structures that would otherwise be hard to see on the radiograph (film).
CONTROLLED BEHAVIOR.: The behavior to be changed by self-control strategies; also known as the target behavior.
CONTROLLING BEHAVIORS.: Self-control strategies used to change the controlled or target behavior.
CONVERSION.: In psychiatry, a process in which a repressed feeling, impulse, thought, or memory emerges in the form of a bodily symptom.
CONVERSION DISORDER.: A type of somatoform disorder in which unconscious psychological conflicts or other factors take the form of physical symptoms that are produced unintentionally.
CONVULSION.: A violent, involuntary contraction or series of contractions of muscles.
COPING.: In psychology, a term that refers to a person's patterns of response to stress.
COPROLALIA.: A vocal tic characterized by uttering obscene, hostile, or inappropriate words. A motor tic characterized by obscene gestures is called copropraxia.
CORONARY OCCLUSION.: Blockage of the arteries supplying the blood to the heart.
CORPUS CALLOSUM.: (plural, corpora callosa) A thick bundle of nerve fibers lying deep in the brain that connects the two cerebral hemispheres and coordinates their functions.
CORTEX.: Region in the brain where sensation and perception are processed and integrated into thoughts, memories, and abilities; also where actions are planned and initiated.
CORTICOSTEROIDS.: Any one of a number of hormonal steroid compounds that are derived from the adrenal gland.

CORTISOL.: A steroid hormone released by the cortex (outer portion) of the adrenal gland when a person is under stress.
COVERT.: Concealed, hidden, or disguised.
CRACK.: A slang term for a form of cocaine that is smokable.
CREUTZFELDT-JAKOB DISEASE.: A degenerative disease of the central nervous system caused by a prion, or "slow virus."
CRITICAL INCIDENT.: Also known as a crisis event. An event that is stressful enough to overwhelm the coping skills of a person or group.
CROSS-DRESSING.: Wearing clothing and other attire appropriate to the opposite sex.
CRYSTALLIZED INTELLIGENCE.: A type of intelligence that reflects knowledge and skills influenced by a person's sociocultural environment.
CT SCAN.: An imaging technique that uses a computer to combine multiple x-ray images into a two-dimensional cross-sectional image. The full name is computed tomography.
CUE.: Any behavior or event in a person's environment that serves to stimulate a particular response. For example, the smell of liquor may be a cue for some people to pour themselves a drink.
CUTOFF SCORES.: In psychological testing, scores that indicate the borderline between normal and impaired functioning.
CYCLIC AMP.: A small molecule of adenosine monophosphate (AMP) that activates enzymes and increases the effects of hormones and other neurotransmitters.
CYCLOTHYMIA.: An alternate name for cyclothymic disorder.
CYCLOTHYMIC DISORDER.: A relatively mild mood disorder characterized by mood swings between mild depression to mild mania.
CYTOGENETICS.: The branch of biology that combines the study of genetic inheritance with the study of cell structure.

DAWN SIMULATION.: A form of light therapy in which the patient is exposed while asleep to gradually brightening white light over a period of an hour and a half.
DECISION-MAKERS.: In some mental health contexts, the term refers to prison or court officials, treatment facility administrators, or family members.
DECONDITIONING.: Loss of physical strength or stamina resulting from bed rest or lack of exercise.
DEDUCTIBLE.: The amount of money that must be paid out of pocket by health care consumers before the insurance provider will make payments.
DEFENSE.: An unconscious mental process that protects the conscious mind from unacceptable or painful thoughts, impulses, or desires. Examples of defenses include denial, rationalization, projection, and repression. Some defenses are considered to represent lower levels of maturation than others; thus, identifying a child's defenses may be helpful in evaluating his or her level of psychological maturity.
DEFENSE MECHANISMS.: Indirect strategies used to reduce anxiety rather than directly facing the issues causing the anxiety.
DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION.: The process of moving people out of mental hospitals into treatment programs or halfway houses in local communities. With this movement, the responsibility for care shifted from large (often governmental) agencies to families and community organizations.
DELIRIUM.: A disturbance of consciousness marked by confusion, difficulty paying attention, delusions, hallucinations, or restlessness. It can be distinguished from dementia by its relatively sudden onset and variation in the severity of the symptoms.
DELIRIUM TREMENS.: Serious alcohol withdrawal symptoms that must be treated in a hospital and that may include shaking, delirium, and hallucinations.
DELTA-9-TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL(THC).: The primary active ingredient in marijuana.
DELUSION.: A false belief that is resistant to reason or contrary to actual fact. A patient may be convinced, for example, that someone is trying to poison him or her, or that he or she has a fatal illness despite evidence to the contrary.
DELUSIONAL DISORDER OF THE PERSECUTORY TYPE.: A psychotic disorder characterized by a patient's belief that others are conspiring against him or her.
DEMENTIA.: A group of symptoms (syndrome) associated with a progressive loss of memory and other intellectual functions that is serious enough to interfere with a person's ability to perform the tasks of daily life. Dementia impairs memory, alters personality, leads to deterioration in personal grooming, impairs reasoning ability, and causes disorientation.

DEMENTIA INFANTILIS.: Another term for childhood disintegrative disorder, used more frequently in the European medical literature. The Latin name literally means "early childhood dementia."
DEMENTIA PRAECOX.: A late nineteenth-century term for schizophrenia.
DENIAL.: A psychological defense mechanism that reduces anxiety by excluding recognition of an addiction or similar problem from the conscious mind.
DEPENDENCE.: The adaptation of neurons and other physical processes to the use of a drug, followed by withdrawal symptoms when the drug is removed; physiological and/or psychological addiction.
DEPENDENT PERSONALITY DISORDER.: Personality disorder characterized by a constant, unhealthy need to be liked and appreciated by others at all costs.
DEPERSONALIZATION.: A dissociative symptom in which the patient feels that his or her body is unreal, changing, or dissolving.
DEPERSONALIZATION NEUROSIS.: Another name for depersonalization disorder.
DEPRESSANT.: Something that slows down functioning.
DEPRESSION.: A mental state characterized by excessive sadness. Other symptoms include altered sleep patterns, thoughts of suicide, difficulty concentrating, agitation, lack of energy, and loss of enjoyment in activities that are usually pleasurable.
DEREALIZATION.: A dissociative symptom in which the external environment is perceived as unreal or dreamlike.
DERVISH.: A person who belongs to one of the various mystical and ascetic Muslim orders, such as the Sufis. A whirling dervish meditates by whirling or spinning in an ecstatic dance.
DESENSITIZATION.: The reduction or elimination of an overly intense reaction to a cue by controlled, repeated exposures to the cue.
DESIGNER AMPHETAMINES.: Substances close in chemical structure to classic amphetamines that provide both stimulant and hallucinogenic effects.
DETOXIFICATION.: A process in which the body is allowed to free itself of a drug while the symptoms of withdrawal are treated. It is the primary step in any treatment program for drug or alcohol abuse.
DEVELOPMENTAL DELAY.: The failure to meet certain developmental milestones, such as sitting, walking, and talking, at the average age. Developmental delay may indicate a problem in development of the central nervous system.
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.: Disabilities that are present from birth and delay or prevent normal development, such as mental retardation or autism.
DEXFENFLURAMINE (REDUX).: A prescription appetite suppressant for weight loss that was withdrawn from the market due to unacceptable health risks.
DIABETES MELLITUS.: A chronic disease affecting the metabolism of carbohydrates that is caused by insufficient production of insulin in the body.
DIABETIC NEUROPATHY.: A condition in which the nerve endings, particularly in the legs and feet, become less sensitive. Minor injuries, such as blisters or callouses, are not felt and can thus become infected and become more serious problems.
DIAGNOSTIC AND STATISTICAL MANUAL OF MENTAL DISORDERS.: A handbook for mental health professionals that includes lists of symptoms that indicate diagnoses of mental disorders.
DIATHESIS.: The medical term for predisposition. The stress/diathesis model is a diagram that is used to explain why some people are at greater risk of suicidal behavior than others.
DIETHYLPROPION (TENUATE, TENUATE DOSPAN).: A prescription appetite suppressant currently on the market for weight loss.
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS.: The process of distinguishing one disorder from other, similar disorders.
DIFFERENTIATION.: The ability to retain one's identity within a family system while maintaining emotional connections with the other members.
DIGRAPH.: A pair of letters that represents a single speech sound. In English, the th in "thumb" and the ei in "vein" are examples of digraphs.
DIPLOPIA.: A disorder of vision in which a single object appears double. Diplopia is sometimes called double vision.
DISFLUENCY.: Disruptions, breakage, or blockages in the forward flow of speech.
DISPLACEMENT.: A psychological process in which feelings originating from one source are expressed outwardly in terms of concern or preoccupation with an issue or problem that the patient considers more acceptable. In some patients with body dysmorphic disorder, obsession about the body includes displaced feelings, often related to a history of childhood abuse.

DISSOCIATED.: Feelings of experiencing an altered state of reality, similar to a trance state. During the period of dissociation, the affected person may feel as if he or she is an observer instead of a participant in events, and may feel as if surroundings are unreal or distorted.
DISSOCIATION.: A reaction to trauma in which the mind splits off certain aspects of the traumatic event from conscious awareness. Dissociation can affect the patient's memory, sense of reality, and sense of identity.
DISSOCIATIVE AMNESIA.: A dissociative disorder characterized by loss of memory for a period or periods of time in the patient's life. May occur as a result of a traumatic event.
DISSOCIATIVE DISORDERS.: A group of disorders marked by the separation (dissociation) of perception, memory, personal identity, and consciousness. Depersonalization disorder is one of five dissociative disorders defined by DSM-IV-TR.
DISSOCIATIVE IDENTITY DISORDER (DID).: Term that replaced multiple personality disorder. A condition in which two or more distinctive identities or personality states alternate in controlling a person's consciousness and behavior.
DISTENSION.: The condition of being stretched or expanded, as the abdomen of a pregnant woman.
DISULFIRAM.: A medication helps reinforce abstinence from alcohol in people who are recovering from alcohol abuse. If a person taking disulfiram drinks even a small amount of alcohol, he or she experiences facial flushing, headache, nausea, and vomiting.
DIURETIC.: A medication or substance given to increase the amount of urine excreted.
DIZYGOTIC.: Developed from two fertilized ova. Dizygotic twins are sometimes called fraternal twins.
DOMINANT HAND.: The hand that one prefers to use when performing various tasks such as writing or throwing an object.
DOPAMINE.: A chemical in brain tissue that serves to transmit nerve impulses (is a neurotransmitter) and helps to regulate movement and emotions.
DOUBLE ANXIETY.: Acute anxiety from a recent stressful event combined with underlying persistent anxiety associated with generalized anxiety disorder.
DOUBLE-BLIND PLACEBO-CONTROLLED STUDY.: A study in which patients are divided into two groups— those who will recive a medication, and those who will receive a placebo (a pill that looks like the medication but has no active ingredients). Neither the patients nor their physicians know which pill any specific patient is receiving.
DOUCHE.: A jet or current of water, often with a medication or cleansing agent dissolved in it, applied to a body cavity for medicinal or hygienic purposes.
DOWN SYNDROME.: A genetic disorder characterized by an extra chromosome 21 (trisomy 21), mental retardation, and susceptibility to early-onset Alzheimer's disease.
DREAM ANXIETY DISORDER.: Another name for nightmare disorder.
DSM.: Abbreviation for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, a handbook for mental health professionals that includes lists of symptoms that indicate specific diagnoses. The text is periodically revised, and the latest version was published in 2000 and is called DSM-IV-TR, for Fourth Edition, Text Revised.
DUE PROCESS.: A term referring to the regular administration of a system of laws that conform to fundamental legal principles and are applied without favor or prejudice to all citizens. In the context of involuntary commitment or hospitalization, due process means that people diagnosed with a mental illness cannot be deprived of equal protection under the laws of the United States on the basis of their diagnosis.
DYSARTHRIA.: A group of speech disorders caused by disturbances in the strength or coordination of the muscles of the speech mechanism as a result of damage to the brain or nerves. Difficulty talking and speaking.
DYSKINESIA.: Difficulty in performing voluntary muscular movements.
DYSLEXIA.: A type of reading disorder.
DYSMORPHIC.: Malformed.
DYSPAREUNIA.: Painful sexual intercourse.
DYSPRAXIA.: Developmental dyspraxia is an impairment or immaturity of the organization of movement. It is a defect in the way the brain processes information, resulting in messages not being correctly or fully transmitted. The term dyspraxia comes from the word "praxis," meaning "doing" or "acting." Dyspraxia is associated with problems of perception, language, and thought.

DYSSOMNIA.: A type of sleep disorder characterized by a problem with the amount, quality, or timing of the patient's sleep.
DYSTHYMIA.: Depression of low intensity.
DYSTHYMIC DISORDER.: A mood disorder that is less severe than depression but usually more chronic.
DYSTONIA.: A neurological disorder characterized by involuntary muscle spasms. The spasms can cause a painful twisting of the body and difficulty walking or moving. Some medications can cause dystonia.

ECHOLALIA.: Meaningless repetition of words or phrases spoken by another.
ECHOPRAXIA.: Imitation of another person's physical movements in a repetitious or senseless manner.
ECSTASY.: Best known of the so-called designer amphetamines, also known as MDMA. It produces both stimulant and hallucinogenic effects.
ECT.: Electroconvulsive therapy is sometimes used to treat depression or mania when pharmaceutical treatment fails.
ECZEMA.: An inflammation of the skin characterized by itching and oozing of a clear fluid.
EDEMA.: Abnormal accumulation of fluid in the interstitial spaces of bodily tissue.
EGO.: In Freudian psychology, the conscious, rational part of the mind that experiences and reacts to the outside world.
EGOCENTRICITY.: Self-centeredness.
EJACULATION.: The discharge of semen by the male reproductive organs.
ELECTROACUPUNCTURE.: A variation of acupuncture in which the practitioner stimulates the traditional acupuncture points electronically.
ELECTROCARDIOGRAM.: (EKG) A test that measures the electrical activity of the heart as it beats. An abnormal EKG can indicate possible cardiac disease.
ELECTROCONVULSIVE THERAPY.: Medical treatment that uses electrical currents to cause seizures; sometimes used to treat depression.
ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAM.: (EEG) A test that measures the electrical activity of the brain by means of electrodes placed on the scalp or on or in the brain itself.
ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPH.: (EEG) An instrument that measures the normal and abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY.: The measurement and recording of the brain's electrical activity.
ELECTROLYTES.: Substances or elements that dissociate into electrically charged particles (ions) when dissolved in the blood. The electrolytes in human blood include potassium, magnesium, and chloride.
ELECTRON.: One of the small particles that make up an atom. An electron has the same mass and amount of charge as a positron, but the electron has a negative charge.
ELIMINATION.: The medical term for expelling wastes from the body.
EMETIC.: A medication intended to cause vomiting. Emetics are sometimes used in aversion therapy in place of electric shock. Their most common use in mainstream medicine is in treating accidental poisoning.
EMPATHY.: A quality of the client-centered therapist, characterized by the therapist's conveying appreciation and understanding of the client's point of view.
EMPIRICAL.: Verified by actual experience or by scientific experimentation.
ENCEPHALITIS.: Inflammation of the brain.
ENCEPHALOPATHY.: Brain disease that causes damage or degeneration.
ENCOUNTER GROUPS.: A term coined by Carl Rogers for therapist-run groups that focus on personal exploration, experiencing in the here-and-now (that is, feelings and interpersonal exchanges occurring in the group setting), and genuine concern and honesty among the members.
ENDOCANNABINOIDS.: Cannabis-like compounds produced naturally in the human body.
ENDOGENOUS DEPRESSION.: Depression arising from causes within a person, such as chemical or hormonal imbalances.
ENDORPHINS.: A group of peptide compounds released by the body in response to stress or traumatic injury. Endorphins react with opiate receptors in the brain to reduce or relieve pain.
ENERGY.: The capability of producing force, performing work, or generating heat.

ENFLEURAGE.: A technique for extracting essential oils from flower petals by placing them on a layer of purified fat.
ENURESIS.: The inability to control urination; bedwetting.
EPHEBOPHILIA.: Sexual desire on the part of an adult for youths in the early stages of puberty, as distinct from prepubertal children.
EPHEDRINE.: An amphetamine-like substance used as a nasal decongestant.
EPIDEMIOLOGY.: The study of the causes, incidence, transmission, and control of diseases.
EPILEPSY.: A neurological disorder characterized by the onset of seizures. Seizures are caused by a disturbance in the electrical activity in the brain and can cause loss of consciousness, muscle spasms, rhythmic movements, abnormal sensory experiences, or altered mental states.
EPINEPHRINE (ADRENALINE).: The principal blood-pressure raising hormone secreted by the adrenal glands in response to stress; a bronchial and intestinal smooth muscles relaxant.
EPISODIC DYSCONTROL.: Another term for intermittent explosive disorder.
EROTOMANIC DELUSIONS.: Erotomanic delusions involve the mistaken conviction that someone is in love with the delusional person. Often, the love object is a public figure of some prominence, such as an actress, rock star, or political figure. David Letterman and Jodie Foster are celebrities who have both been victimized by persons with erotomanic delusions.
ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS (EFAS).: a group of polyunsaturated fats that are essential to life and growth but cannot be produced by the body.
ESSENTIAL OIL.: The product of special ducts or cells in the tissues of aromatic plants (or the sap of certain trees) that gives the plant its characteristic aroma and therapeutic properties. Essential oils are sometimes called volatile oils because they evaporate readily at room temperature.
ETIOLOGY.: The cause or origin of a disease or disorder. The word is also used to refer to the study of the causes of disease.
EUPHORIA.: A feeling or state of well-being or elation.
EUSTRESS.: A term that is sometimes used to refer to positive stress.
EUTHANASIA.: The act of putting a person or animal to death painlessly or allowing them to die by withholding medical services, usually because of a painful and incurable disease. Mercy killing is another term for euthanasia.
EXECUTIVE.: Pertaining to supervision, planning, and carrying out duties or actions.
EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS.: A set of cognitive abilities that control and regulate other abilities and behaviors. Necessary for goal-directed behavior, they include the ability to initiate and stop actions, to monitor and change behavior as needed, and to plan future behavior when faced with novel tasks and situations.
EXISTENTIAL FACTORS.: Realities of life including death, isolation, freedom, and meaninglessness that must be faced by all individuals.
EXON.: A segment of DNA that is transcribed to RNA and encodes information about the protein sequence.
EXPANSION MUTATION.: A genetic mutation caused by additional repetitions of a triplet, or trinucleotide sequence, during the process of genetic transmission. In Huntington's disease, the expansion mutation produces more of a toxic gene product.
EXPERIENTIAL KNOWLEDGE.: Knowledge gained from experience, often practical, in contrast with theoretical or professional knowledge.
EXPERIENTIAL THERAPY.: An approach to therapy that focuses on experiencing inner feelings, rather than talking about problems in a disconnected, intellectual way. Although it is based on person-centered therapy, experiential therapy is more directive because it uses techniques from a variety of therapeutic approaches to draw out a person's inner experiences.
EXPLICIT MEMORY.: Consciously recalled memory for facts or events.
EXPOSURE THERAPY.: A form of cognitive-behavioral therapy in which patients suffering from phobias are exposed to their feared objects or situations while accompanied by the therapist. The length of exposure is gradually increased until the association between the feared situation and the patient's experienced panic symptoms is no longer present.
EXPRESSIVE THERAPY.: An approach to psychotherapy that seeks to relieve the patient's symptoms through exploration of previously unconscious material, leading to greater insight and more adaptive behaviors.
EXTENDED FAMILY FIELD.: A person's family of origin plus grandparents, in-laws, and other relatives.

EXTENSIVE SUPPORT.: Ongoing daily support required to assist an individual in a specific adaptive area, such as daily help with preparing meals.
EXTERNALIZING DISORDERS.: Mental disorders with primary symptoms that involve outward behavior as opposed to inner emotions.
EXTINCTION.: The elimination or removal of a person's reaction to a cue as a result of exposure treatment.
EXTRAPYRAMIDAL.: Brain structures located outside the pyramidal tracts of the central nervous system.
EXTRAPYRAMIDAL MOVEMENT DISORDERS.: Involuntary movements that occur as a side effect of some psychiatric medications.
EXTRAPYRAMIDAL SIDE EFFECTS.: A group of neurological side effects including muscle spasms, involuntary movements, and symptoms that resemble Parkinson's disease (also called drug-induced Parkinsonism).

FACTITIOUS DISORDER.: A type of mental disturbance in which patients intentionally act physically or mentally ill without obvious benefits. It is distinguished from malingering by the absence of an obvious motive, and from conversion disorder by intentional production of symptoms.
FACTOR ANALYSIS.: A statistical method for summarizing relationships between variables. For the HAS, factor analysis was utilized to determine the specific sets of symptoms relating to overall anxiety, somatic anxiety, and psychic anxiety.
FADING.: Gradually decreasing the amount or frequency of a reinforcer so that the target behavior will begin to occur independent of any rewards.
FAIR HOUSING ACT OF 1968.: Federal legislation regarding access to housing that prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, disability, or familial status.
FALSE-POSITIVE.: A test result that is positive for a specific condition or disorder, but this result is inaccurate.
FAMILY SYSTEMS THEORY.: An approach to treatment that emphasizes the interdependency of family members rather than focusing on individuals in isolation from the family. This theory underlies the most influential forms of contemporary family therapy.
FARADIC.: A type of discontinuous alternating electric current sometimes used in aversion therapy. It is named for Michael Faraday, an eminent British physicist.
FASCIA (PLURAL, FASCIAE).: A band or sheath of connective tissue that covers, supports, or connects the muscles and the internal organs.
FECES.: Waste products eliminated from the large intestine; excrement.
FEEDBACK.: A reaction or response from others to a particular behavior or activity.
FEEDBACK LOOP.: A naturally occurring process whereby individuals control their behavior by self-monitoring, self-evaluation, and self-reinforcement.
FEEDBACK LOOPS.: Chains of biochemical reactions in which the products of reactions limit or enhance the subsequent reactions, and in which the chain ends up back at the first reaction, either limiting or enhancing it.
FEMININITY.: Prescribed behavior for females, characterized by interpersonal warmth, passivity, and lack of aggression.
FENFLURAMINE (PONDIMIN).: A prescription appetite suppressant for weight loss that was withdrawn from the market due to unacceptable health risks.
FETISHISM.: A paraphilia in which a person requires a nonliving object (or occasionally a nongenital part of the body, such as the partner's feet) in order to achieve sexual arousal and satisfaction.
FIRST-RANK SYMPTOMS.: A list of symptoms that have been considered to be diagnostic of schizophrenia. They include, delusions, somatic hallucinations, hearing voices commenting on one's behavior, and thought insertion or withdrawal. First-rank symptoms are sometimes called Schneiderian symptoms, after the name of Kurt Schneider, the German psychiatrist who listed them in 1959.
FLASHBACK.: The re-emergence of a traumatic memory as a vivid recollection of sounds, images, and sensations associated with the trauma. The person having the flashback typically feels as if he or she is reliving the event.
FLAVONOIDS.: Plant pigments that have a variety of effects on human physiology. Some of these pigments have anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, and antioxidant effects, for example.
FLOODING.: A type of exposure treatment in which the patient is exposed to an anxiety-provoking or feared situation all at once and kept in it until the anxiety and fear subside.

FLUID INTELLIGENCE.: A type of intelligence that involves inductive and deductive reasoning ability.
FOLIC ACID.: An essential B-vitamin that humans obtain through diet.
FOOD FREQUENCY QUESTIONNAIRE.: A listing of how often a person consumes foods from certain food groups in a given period of time.
FORENSIC.: Pertaining to courtroom procedure or evidence used in courts of law.
FORMICATION.: The sensation of bugs creeping on the skin.
FREE-FLOATING.: A term used in psychiatry to describe anxiety that is unfocused or lacking an apparent cause or object.
FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION.: In statistics, the correspondence between a set of frequencies and the set of categories used to classify the group being tested.
FRONTAL CORTEX.: The part of the human brain associated with aggressiveness and impulse control. Abnormalities in the frontal cortex are associated with an increased risk of suicide.
FRONTAL LOBE DEMENTIA.: Dementia caused by a disorder, usually genetic, that affects the front portion of the brain.
FRONTAL LOBES.: A region of the brain that influences higher mental functions often associated with intelligence, such as the ability to foresee the consequences of actions, planning, comprehension, and mood.
FROTTAGE.: The act of touching or rubbing against the body or genitals of a non-consenting individual.
FUGUE.: A dissociative experience during which a person travels away from home, has amnesia for their past, and may be confused about their identity but otherwise appears normal.
FUGUE STATE.: A form of amnesia in which the person appears to be conscious and to make rational decisions, but upon recovery, the period is not remembered. Fugue states represent one type of reaction to traumatic experiences.

GABA.: Gamma-aminobutyric acid, an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain.
GADOLINIUM.: A very rare metallic element useful for its sensitivity to electromagnetic resonance, among other things. Traces of it can be injected into the body to enhance MRI pictures.
GALACTORRHEA.: Lactation occurring in the absence of pregnancy.
GAMMA RAY.: A high-energy photon emitted by radioactive substances.
GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID (GABA).: A neurotransmitter that helps to lower or reduce the level of excitement in the nerves, leading to muscle relaxation, calmness, sleep, and prevention of seizures.
GANSER SYNDROME.: A rare subtype of factitious disorder accompanied by dissociative symptoms. It is most often seen in male patients under severe stress in prison or courtroom settings.
GANTRY.: A name for the couch or table used in a CT scan. The patient lies on the gantry while it slides into the x-ray scanner.
GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY/MASS SPECTROMETRY (GC/MS).: A definitive method of testing for specific drugs, used to confirm immunoassay results indicating drug use. GC/MS separates the substances present in the urine sample, then breaks them into unique molecular fragments, which are matched against a database of known substances.
GASTRITIS.: Inflammation of the lining of the stomach.
GATEWAY DRUG.: A mood-altering drug or substance, typically used by younger or new drug users, that may lead to the use of more dangerous drugs.
GENDER DYSPHORIA.: A state of persistent discomfort or depression associated with one's gender role or biological sex.
GENDER ROLE CONFLICT OR STRESS.: A negative psychological state resulting from a discrepancy between gender role expectations and how one actually thinks, feels, or behaves.
GENDER ROLES.: Stereotypical expectations regarding how one should think, behave, and feel depending on whether one is male or female.
GENERALIZATION.: A person's ongoing use of new behaviors that were previously modeled for him or her. Generalization is also called transfer of training or maintenance.
GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER.: A general form of fear that can dominate a person's life.
GENERIC.: A term that refers to a medication that is not protected by a registered trademark.

GENETIC POOL.: The genetic material of an entire population.
GENOGRAM.: A family tree diagram that represents the names, birth order, sex, and relationships of the members of a family. Therapists use genograms to detect recurrent patterns in the family history and to help the members understand their problem(s).
GENOME.: The total genetic makeup of a cell or organism. The human genome is the complete genetic constitution of a human being.
GENOMIC IMPRINTING.: The process in which specific genes or DNA segments are modified during the development of sperm or egg cells in a parent-specific fashion. The modification is reversible and appears to include the addition or removal of methyl groups to specific areas within the DNA sequence.
GENOTYPE.: The genetic makeup of an organism or a set of organisms.
GESTALT.: A German word that means "form" or "structure." The Gestalt Closure subtest on the K-SNAP measures a person's ability to identify a whole object from a partially completed drawing of its form.
GESTALT THERAPY.: A therapeutic approach that focuses on increasing awareness of feelings and impulses in the present.
GHB.: GHB, or gamma hydroxybutyrate, is a central nervous system depressant that has been abused in the United States for euphoric, sedative, body-building, and date-rape purposes.
GILLBERG'S CRITERIA.: A six-item checklist for AS developed by Christopher Gillberg, a Swedish researcher. It is widely used in Europe as a diagnostic tool.
GINGKO BILOBA.: A shade tree native to China with fan-shaped leaves and fleshy seeds with edible kernels. Gingko extract is being studied as a possible complementary or adjunctive treatment for Alzheimer's.
GINSENG ABUSE SYNDROME.: A group of symptoms recognized by Chinese physicians as the result of excessive use of ginseng. The symptoms include dizziness, high blood pressure, restlessness, nausea, possible bleeding from the digestive tract, and skin rashes.
GLANS.: The tip of the penis.
GLAUCOMA.: A group of eye diseases characterized by increased pressure within the eye significant enough to damage eye tissue and structures. If untreated, glaucoma results in blindness.
GRAND MAL SEIZURE.: A seizure characterized by a sudden loss of consciousness that is immediately followed by generalized convulsions. Such a seizure is usually preceded by a sensory experience, called an aura, which provides a warning as to an impending convulsion.
GRANDIOSE.: Having an exaggerated belief in one's importance or status. In some people, grandiosity may be so extreme as to be delusional.
GRANDIOSE DELUSIONS.: Grandiose delusions magnify the person's importance; the delusional person may believe himself or herself to be a famous person, to have magical superpowers, or to be someone in a position of enormous power (such as being the Prime Minister or President).
GRANDIOSITY.: Exaggerated and unrealistic self-importance; inflated self-assessment. Grandiosity is considered one of the core characteristics of persons diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder.
GRIDIRON ABDOMEN.: An abdomen with a network of parallel scars from repeated surgical operations.
GROUP COHESIVENESS.: The degree to which a group functions well in its assigned task.
GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPY; GROUP THERAPY.: A form of therapy in which a small, carefully selected group of individuals meets regularly with a therapist to assist each individual in emotional growth and personal problem-solving. The group provides support and correction through feedback, constructive criticism, and a forum for consultation and reference.
GUANETHIDINE.: A medication used to treat high blood pressure.
GUIDED IMAGERY.: Techniques in which individuals actively imagine themselves in a scene (usually a different location, such as a relaxing beach, or a trigger situation where one handles the situation successfully), typically guided by another person describing the scene.

HABITUATION.: The reduction of a person's emotional or behavioral reaction to a cue by repeated or prolonged exposure.
HALF-LIFE.: The time required for half of the atoms in a radioactive substance to disintegrate.
HALLUCINATIONS.: False sensory perceptions. A person experiencing a hallucination may "hear" sounds or "see" people or objects that are not really present. Hallucinations can also affect the senses of smell, touch, and taste.

HALLUCINOGENS.: Substances that cause hallucinations.
HASHISH.: The dark, blackish resinous material that exudes from the leaves of the Indian hemp plant.
HATHA YOGA.: The form of yoga most familiar to Westerners; often practiced as a form of physical therapy.
HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATION (HMO).: A type of managed care system that involves payment contracts with a group or panel of health care providers.
HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATION ACT OF 1973.: Federal legislation that provided aid to develop HMOs.
HEBEPHRENIC SCHIZOPHRENIA.: An older term for what is now known as the disorganized subtype of schizophrenia.
HEMATEMESIS.: Vomiting blood. Hematemesis is a symptom that sometimes occurs with gastrointestinal ulcers made worse by high levels of caffeine consumption.
HEMATOMA.: An accumulation of blood, often clotted, in a body tissue or organ, usually caused by a break or tear in a blood vessel.
HEMISPHERE.: One side of the brain, right or left.
HEPATITIS.: An inflammation of the liver that can be caused by a variety of factors.
HIB DISEASE.: An infection caused by Haemophilus influenza, type b (Hib). This disease mainly affects children under the age of five. In that age group, it is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis, pneumonia, joint and bone infections, and throat inflammations.
HIERARCHY.: In exposure therapy, a list of feared items or situations, ranked from least fearsome to most fearsome.
HIGH-DENSITY SEX OFFENSES.: Several offenses within a short period of time.
HIGH-FUNCTIONING AUTISM (HFA).: A subcategory of autistic disorder consisting of children diagnosed with IQs of 70 or higher.
HIPPOCAMPUS.: A part of the brain that is involved in memory formation and learning. The hippocampus is shaped like a curved ridge and belongs to an organ system called the limbic system.
HISTAMINE.: Substance released during allergic reactions.
HISTRIONIC.: Theatrical.
HOLDING THERAPY.: A controversial treatment for autism, reactive attachment disorder, and other problems of children in which an adult holds a child despite any resistance from the child until the child submits and experiences an emotional release.
HOLISTIC.: An approach to health care that emphasizes the totality of an individual's spiritual, psychological, and physical, well-being, and that situates a disease or disorder within that totality.
HOMEOSTASIS.: The tendency of a family system to maintain internal stability and resist change.
HOMOCYSTEINE.: A chemical that builds up in the blood when methionine is not properly processed. High blood levels of homocysteine increase risk of heart disease and stroke.
HOST.: The dominant or main alter in a person with dissociative identity disorder.
HUMAN POTENTIAL MOVEMENT.: A movement dating back to the beginning of the 1900s that reflected an altered perspective of human nature from inherently corrupt to inherently good.
HUMANISTIC AND EXISTENTIAL THERAPIES.: Therapies that focus on achieving one's full potential, guided by subjective experience.
HUMOR.: In ancient medicine, one of four body fluids (blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile) that were thought to determine a person's basic constitution and personality.
HUMORAL.: A term describing a hormonal substance secreted by an endocrine gland (such as the thyroid).
HUNTINGTON'S DISEASE.: A hereditary disorder that appears in middle age and is characterized by gradual brain deterioration, progressive dementia, and loss of voluntary movement. It is sometimes called Huntington's chorea.
HYDRATED.: Combining a substance with water.
HYDROCEPHALUS.: The accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the ventricles of the brain.
HYDROGEN.: The simplest, most common element known in the universe. It is composed of a single electron (negatively charged particle). It is the nuclear proton of hydrogen that makes MRI possible by reacting resonantly to radio waves while aligned in a magnetic field.
HYDROMORPHONE.: A prescribed opiate (Dilaudid) used to treat severe pain; also abused illegally.

HYPERACTIVE.: Behavior disturbances, usually in children and adolescents, that involves impulsiveness, low levels of concentration, and distractibility.
HYPERAROUSAL.: A symptom of traumatic stress characterized by abnormally intense reactions to stimuli. A heightened startle response is one sign of hyperarousal.
HYPEREMESIS GRAVIDARUM.: Uncontrollable nausea and vomiting associated with pregnancy. Acupuncture appears to be an effective treatment for this condition.
HYPERPHAGIA.: An abnormally large appetite for food. Hyperphagia is one of the symptoms of Prader-Willi syndrome.
HYPERSENSITIVE INTERNAL SUFFOCATION ALARM.: A sensitive alarm goes off and the affected person's brain sends the body false signals that not enough oxygen is being received, which causes an increase in their breathing rate.
HYPERTENSION.: High blood pressure, often brought on by smoking, obesity, or other causes; one of the major causes of strokes.
HYPERTHERMIA.: Elevated body temperature resulting from ingestion of amphetamines.
HYPERTHYROIDISM.: Condition resulting from the thyroid glands secreting excessive thyroid hormone, causing increased basal metabolic rate, and causing an increased need for food to meet the demand of the metabolic activity; generally, however, weight loss results.
HYPERVENTILATION.: A pattern of rapid, shallow breathing that is frequently found in patients with Rett's disorder.
HYPERVIGILANCE.: A state of abnormally intense wariness or watchfulness that is found in survivors of trauma or long-term abuse. Hypervigilance is sometimes described as "being on red alert all the time."
HYPERVIGILANT.: Extreme attention to both internal and external stimuli.
HYPNAGOGIC HALLUCINATIONS.: Dream-like auditory or visual hallucinations that occur while a person is falling asleep.
HYPNOSIS.: The means by which a state of extreme relaxation and suggestibility is induced; used to treat amnesia and identity disturbances that occur in dissociative disorders.
HYPNOTHERAPY.: The use of an induced trance state, or hypnosis, as a therapy.
HYPNOTIC.: A type of medication that induces sleep.
HYPOCHONDRIASIS.: A mental condition in which the affected person perceives illness or symptoms of illness when none exist.
HYPOGONADISM.: Abnormally decreased gonad function with retardation of sexual development.
HYPOKALEMIA.: Abnormally low levels of potassium in the blood. Hypokalemia is a potential medical emergency, as it can lead to disturbances of the heart rhythm. Muscle cramps and pain are a common symptom of hypokalemia in bulimic patients.
HYPOKINESIA.: A condition of abnormally diminished motor activity.
HYPOMANIA.: A milder form of mania which is characteristic of bipolar II disorder.
HYPONATREMIA.: A condition characterized by an abnormally low concentration of sodium in the blood.
HYPOPNEA.: Breathing that is too shallow to maintain adequate levels of oxygen in the blood.
HYPOTENSION.: Low blood pressure.
HYPOTHALAMIC-PITUITARY-ADRENAL (HPA) SYSTEM.: A part of the brain involved in the human stress response. The HPA system releases cortisol, the primary human stress hormone, and neurotransmitters that activate other brain structures associated with the "fight-or-flight" reaction. The HPA system appears to function in abnormal ways in patients diagnosed with depersonalization disorder. It is sometimes called the HPA axis.
HYPOTHALAMUS.: A part of the forebrain that controls heartbeat, body temperature, thirst, hunger, blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and other functions.
HYPOTHESIS.: An assumption, proposition, or educated guess that can be tested empirically.
HYPOTHYROIDISM.: Thyroid gland that is abnormally low-functioning. A lowered metabolic rate results.
HYPOVENTILATION.: An abnormally low level of blood oxygenation in the lungs.
HYSTERIA.: In nineteenth-century psychiatric use, a neurotic disorder characterized by violent emotional outbursts and disturbances of the sensory and motor (movement-related) functions. The term "hysterical neurosis" is still used by some psychiatrists as a synonym for conversion disorder.

ID.: A construct in Freudian psycho dynamic theory that represents the irrational, self-centered aspects of human thought.
IDEAL WEIGHT.: A range of body weights recommended for generally healthy adults.
IDENTIFIED PATIENT (IP).: The family member in whom the family's symptom has emerged or is most obvious.
IDENTITY DIFFUSION.: A character formation that is scattered or spread around rather than an identity that becomes solidified or consolidated.
IDIOGRAPHIC.: An approach to interpreting the results of a projective test within the context of the individual subject's record.
IEP.: See Individualized Education Plan
ILLUSION.: A misperception or misinterpretation in the presence of a real external stimulus.
IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR.: Behaviors of a therapist or group member that are imitated, consciously or unconsciously, by other group members.
IMMUNOASSAY.: The method used in routine or preliminary urine drug screening.
IMMUNOSUPPRESSANT.: Medications that suppress or lower the body's immune system, primarily used to help the body accept a transplanted organ.
IMPLICIT.: Implied or suggested without being clearly stated. Some critics of DSM-IV-TR maintain that its contributors based the criteria sets for certain disorders on an implicit notion of a mentally healthy human being.
IMPLICIT MEMORY.: Unconsciously recalled memory for skills, procedures, or associations.
IMPULSE CONTROL DISORDERS.: Group of disorders characterized by impulsive behavior, such as stealing.
IN VIVO.: A Latin phrase that means "in life." In modeling and exposure therapies, it refers to practicing new behaviors in a real setting, as distinct from using imagery or imagined settings.
INBORN ERROR OF METABOLISM.: A rare enzyme deficiency; children with inborn errors of metabolism do not have certain enzymes that the body requires to maintain organ functions. Inborn errors of metabolism can cause brain damage and mental retardation if left untreated. Phenylketonuria is an inborn error of metabolism.
INCEST.: Unlawful sexual contact between persons who are biologically related. Many therapists, however, use the term to refer to inappropriate sexual contact between any members of a family, including stepparents and stepsiblings.
INCISORS.: The four teeth in the front of each jaw in humans. The incisors of patients with bulimia frequently show signs of erosion from stomach acid.
INCONTINENCE.: Inability to control the release of urine or feces.
INDEMNITY INSURANCE.: Insurance plans that pay on a fee-for-service basis in the event of illness or injury.
INDICES.: Scores based on performance in more than one area. On the WAIS, there are four index scores, each based on an individual's performance in more than one subtest.
INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PLAN (IEP).: A plan of instruction drawn up for an individual student who is having specific difficulties with mathematics, reading, or other skills necessary to progress beyond elementary school.
INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOTHERAPY.: A relationship between therapist and patient designed to foster the patient's emotional growth and personal problem-solving skills.
INFORMATION GIVING.: Imparting of information about a disease or condition as part of the therapeutic process.
INFORMED CONSENT.: A person's agreement to undergo a medical or surgical procedure, or to participate in a clinical study, after being properly advised of the medical facts related to the procedure or study and the risks involved.
INFUSION.: The most potent form of extraction of an herb into water. Infusions are steeped for a longer period of time than teas.
INHALANTS.: A class of drugs that are inhaled in order for the user to experience a temporary "high." These chemicals include volatile solvents (liquids that vaporize at room temperature) and aerosols (sprays that contain solvents and propellants), and include glue, gasoline, paint thinner, hair spray, and others. They are dangerous because they can cause hallucinations, delusions, difficulty breathing, headache, nausea, vomiting, and even "sudden sniffing death." Inhalants can also cause permanent damage to the brain, lung, kidney, muscle, and heart.
INSIDIOUS.: Proceeding gradually and inconspicuously but with serious effect.

INSOMNIA.: A chronic inability to sleep or to remain asleep throughout the night.
INSULIN RESISTANCE.: The body's inability to utilize blood sugar, at times leading to diabetes.
INSULT.: In medicine, an injury or trauma to the brain or other part of the body.
INTEGRATED SETTING.: Placing individuals in typical employment situations rather than making placements into sheltered workshops or other segregated settings.
INTELLIGENCE QUOTIENT (IQ).: A measurement of intelligence obtained by dividing a person's mental age (determined by level of performance on an age-graded test) by his or her chronological age and multiplying by 100. For example, a ten-year-old with a mental age of thirteen would have an IQ of 130.
INTER-RATER RELIABILITY.: The degree to which judgments about a person are consistent among raters or diagnosticians.
INTERMEDIATE CARE FACILITY.: An inpatient facility that provides periodic nursing care.
INTERNALIZING DISORDERS.: Mental disorders with primary symptoms that involve inner emotions as opposed to outward behavior.
INTEROCEPTIVE.: Referring to stimuli or sensations that arise inside the body. In interoceptive exposure treatment, the patient is asked to exercise or perform other actions that produce feared internal physical sensations.
INTERPERSONAL LEARNING.: Learning that takes place via feedback from others.
INTERPERSONAL THERAPY.: An approach that includes psychoeducation about the sick role, and emphasis on the present and improving interpersonal dynamics and relationships. Interpersonal therapy is effective in treating adjustment disorders related to physical illness.
INTOXICATION.: The condition of being drunk.
INTRAMUSCULAR.: An injection that is given into a muscle.
INTRAPSYCHIC.: Occurring inside a person's mind or psyche.
INTRON.: A segment of DNA that interrupts an exon and that does not encode any information about the protein sequence.
IONIZING RADIATION.: Electromagnetic radiation that can damage living tissue by disrupting and destroying individual cells. All types of nuclear decay radiation (including x rays) are potentially ionizing. Radio waves do not damage organic tissues they pass through.
IPECAC.: The dried root of Caephalis ipecacuanha, a South American plant. Given in syrup form, ipecac is most commonly used to induce vomiting in cases of accidental poisoning.
IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME (IBS).: A condition affecting the small and large intestine, usually associated with emotional stress. There may be complaints of diarrhea and pain in the lower abdomen.
ISCHEMIA.: Localized anemia of tissues due to obstructed inflow of blood.

JAUNDICE.: A yellowing of the skin caused by excess bilirubin in the blood; a liver disorder.
JOURNALING.: Involves writing out thoughts and feelings in an unstructured format. A "stream of consciousness" approach (writing whatever comes to mind) is suggested for greatest effectiveness.

KAVALACTONES.: Medically active compounds in kava root that act as local anesthetics in the mouth and as minor tranquilizers.
KAVAPYRONES.: Compounds in kava root that act as muscle relaxants and anticonvulsants.
KETAMINE.: An anesthetic, used predominantly by veterinarians to treat animals, that can be used as a date-rape drug.
KI.: The Japanese spelling of qi, the traditional Chinese term for vital energy or the life force.
KILOGRAM.: A metric unit of weight. It equals 2.2 lb.
KLEPTOMANIA.: A disorder of impulse control characterized by repeated stealing or shoplifting of items that the person does not need.
KLINEFELTER'S SYNDROME.: A genetic disorder in males characterized by the presence of an extra X chromosome in addition to the normal XY. Most men with Klinefelter's syndrome have learning problems, are sterile, and have a shortened life expectancy.
KORSAKOFF'S SYNDROME.: A disorder of the central nervous system resulting from long-term thiamine deficiency. It is characterized by amnesia, confusion, confabulation, and unsteady gait, and is most commonly seen in alcoholics.

KUNDALINI.: In Indian yoga, a vital force or energy at the base of the spine that is activated or released by certain yoga postures or breathing techniques. This release is called the "awakening" of the kundalini. Some Westerners have had kundalini experiences that were diagnosed as psychotic episodes or symptoms of schizophrenia.

(LA) BELLE INDIFFÉRENCE.: A psychiatric symptom sometimes found in patients with conversion disorder, in which the patient shows a surprising lack of concern about the nature or implications of his/her physical symptom.
LABIA.: The outside folds of tissue that surround the clitoris and the opening of the urethra in women.
LABILE.: Subject to frequent change, particularly in reference to mood.
LANUGO.: Downy hair, usually associated with infants, that sometimes develops on the face and back of people affected by anorexia nervosa.
LAPSE.: A single, isolated occurrence of a symptom or negative behavior.
LARYNGOSPASM.: Spasms that close the vocal apparatus of the larynx (the organ of voice production).
LATERALIZATION.: The control of specific neurological functions by one side of the brain or the other; for example, in most right-handed people, language functions are controlled by the left side of the brain and spatial and visual functions are controlled by the right side of the brain.
LAXATIVE.: Substance or medication that encourages a bowel movement.
LEAST RESTRICTIVE ENVIRONMENT.: Refers to care options that involve the least amount of restraint and the greatest degree of independence possible, while still meeting the individual's needs and maintaining safety.
LEUCOTOMY OR LEUKOTOMY.: White matter cutting—severing the white matter of the frontal lobe of the brain.
LEUKODYSTROPHY.: A disturbance of the white matter of the brain.
LEWY BODIES.: Areas of injury found on damaged nerve cells in certain parts of the brain associated with dementia. Lewy body dementia was first ecognized in the 1980s and is now distinguished from Alzheimer's disease.
LEWY-BODY DISEASE.: A type of dementia that resembles Alzheimer's disease, but progresses more rapidly. Common symptoms include fluctuations in confusion and recurring visual hallucinations. In this disease, abnormal brain cells are distributed throughout the brain.
LIBIDO.: Psychic energy or instinctual drive associated with sexual desire, pleasure, or creativity.
LIMBIC SYSTEM.: A group of structures in the brain that includes the amygdala, hippocampus, olfactory bulbs, and hypothalamus. The limbic system is associated with homeostasis and the regulation and arousal of emotions.
LIMITED SUPPORT.: A predetermined period of assistance required to deal with a specific event, such as training for a new job.
LOBOTOMY.: A surgical procedure involving the cutting of nerve fiber bundles in the brain.
LOCALIZATION.: The control of specific neurological functions by specific areas in the brain.
LOCUS CERULEUS.: A part of the brain where the neurotransmitter causes excitation.
LOFEXIDINE.: A medication approved for use in England to aid the opioid detoxification process.
LOW AFFECT.: Severe lack of interest and emotions; emotional numbness.
LUX.: The International System unit for measuring illumination, equal to one lumen per square meter.

MACERATION.: A technique for extracting essential oils from plant leaves and stems by crushing the plant parts and soaking them in warm vegetable oil.
MACHISMO.: The exaggerated image of extreme masculinity that includes such qualities as concern for personal honor, virility, physical strength, heavy drinking, toughness, aggression, risk taking, authoritarianism, and self-centeredness.
MACROSOCIAL.: Pertaining to the wider society, as distinct from such smaller social groupings as families, neighborhoods, etc.
MAGNETIC FIELD.: The three-dimensional area surrounding a magnet, in which its force is active. During MRI, the patient's body is permeated by the force field of a superconducting magnet.

MAINTENANCE TREATMENT.: The period of treatment beginning after the initial introduction of the treatment medication. During this period, the dose of medication can be either increased or decreased, depending on the program and needs of the patient.
MALADROITNESS.: Another word for awkwardness or clumsiness.
MALAISE.: The medical term for a general condition of unease, discomfort, or weakness.
MALINGERING.: Knowingly pretending to be physically or mentally ill to avoid some unpleasant duty or responsibility, or for economic benefit.
MANIA.: An elevated or euphoric mood or irritable state that is characteristic of bipolar I disorder. This state is characterized by mental and physical hyperactivity, disorganization of behavior, and inappropriate elevation of mood.
MANIC.: Referring to mania.
MANTRA.: Originally, a sacred word or phrase repeated over and over to help focus the mind during meditation; in the Western world, this may refer to any repeated syllable, word, or phrase used to meditate.
MAO INHIBITORS.: A group of antidepressant drugs that decrease the activity of monoamine oxidase, a neurotransmitter found in the brain that affects mood.
MARIJUANA.: The dried and shredded or chopped leaves of the Indian hemp plant.
MASCULINITY.: Prescribed behavior for males, characterized by independence, strength, control, and avoidance of emotional expressiveness.
MASOCHISM.: A mental disorder in which a person obtains sexual satisfaction through pain or humiliation inflicted by the self or by another person. The term is sometimes used more generally to refer to a tendency to find pleasure in submissiveness or self-denial.
MASOCHISTIC TENDENCIES.: Tendencies to direct harm or hatred toward oneself.
MAZINDOL (SANOREX, MAZANOR).: A prescription medication for weight loss currently on the market.
MEAN.: The mathematical average of all scores in a set of scores.
MEDICAID.: A program jointly funded by state and federal governments that reimburses hospitals and physicians for the care of individuals who cannot pay for their own medical expenses. These individuals may be in low-income households or may have chronic disabilities.
MEDICAID HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED WAIVER.: Legislation regarding the use of Medicaid funds for care services; allows certain federal requirements to be bypassed so that states can use the funds more flexibly for accessing home- and community-based services rather than using hospitals or intermediate-care facilities.
MEDICAL MODEL.: The basic conceptual framework in the West since the nineteenth century for understanding, researching, and classifying mental disorders.
MEDICARE.: A federally funded health insurance program for individuals age 65 and older or certain categories of younger persons with disabilities.
MEDROXYPROGESTERONE.: A progestin, a female hormone.
MEDROXYPROGESTERONE ACETATE (MPA).: A female hormone that may be prescribed for male patients with sexual sadism or other paraphilias. MPA helps to control sexual urges in men by speeding up the clearance of testosterone from the bloodstream.
MELANCHOLIA.: A form of severe depression characterized by weight loss, insomnia, and an inability to experience pleasure.
MENINGES.: A membrane covering the brain and spinal cord that consists of three layers: the pia mater, the innermost layer; the arachnoid, in the middle; and the dura mater, the outermost layer.
MENOPAUSE.: A period of decreasing hormonal activity in women, when ovulation stops and conception is no longer possible.
MERIDIANS.: In traditional Chinese medicine, a network of pathways or channels that convey qi (also sometimes spelled "ki"), or vital energy, through the body.
MERYCISM.: Another name for rumination disorder.
META-ANALYSIS.: The statistical analysis of a large collection of analyses from individual studies for the purpose of integrating the findings.
METABOLISM.: The group of biochemical processes within the body that release energy in support of life.
METHADONE.: A drug often prescribed legally as a replacement for heroin. It induces a slight high but blocks heroin from producing a more powerful euphoric effect. It may be used in heroin detoxification to ease the process, or it may be used daily after detoxification as maintenance therapy. Methadone maintenance therapy is controversial.

METHAMPHETAMINE.: The most common illegally produced amphetamine.
METHIONINE.: An amino acid that, when not metabolized properly, allows homocysteine to build up in the blood. Folic acid aids methionine metabolism.
METHYLPHENIDATE.: A mild central nervous system stimulant that is used to treat hyperactivity.
MIDDLE NOTE.: A term used in perfumery and aromatherapy to designate essential oils whose odors emerge later than top notes but evaporate more rapidly than bottom notes. Chamomile is considered a middle note in aromatherapy.
MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT (MCI).: A transitional phase of memory loss in older people that precedes dementia or Alzheimer's disease.
MILLIGRAM (MG).: One-thousandth of a gram. A gram is the metric measure that equals about 0.035 ounces.
MILLON CLINICAL MULTIAXIAL INVENTORY (MCMIII).: A self-report instrument designed to help the clinician assess DSM-IV-related personality disorders and clinical syndromes. It provides insight into 14 personality disorders and 10 clinical syndromes.
MINNESOTA MULTIPHASIC PERSONALITY INVENTORY (MMPI-2).: A comprehensive assessment tool widely used to diagnosed personality disorders.
MIXED MANIA/MIXED STATE.: A mental state in which symptoms of both depression and mania occur simultaneously.
MODALITY.: One of the primary forms of sensation, such as vision, touch, or hearing.
MODELING.: A type of teaching method used in social skills training. Therapists who use this method may offer positive and negative examples of the behaviors that make up a social skill.
MONOAMINE OXIDASE INHIBITORS (MAOIS).: A group of antidepressant drugs that decrease the activity of monoamine oxidase, a neurotransmitter found in the brain that affects mood.
MONOGENIC.: Determined or controlled by a single gene. Huntington's disease is one of the few psychiatric disorders that is monogenic.
MONOMANIA.: A nineteenth-century term for a pathological obsession with one idea or one social cause. Nineteenth-century psychiatrists often associated explosive behavior with monomania. The word is no longer used as a technical term.
MONOZYGOTIC.: Developed from a single fertilized ovum. Monozygotic twins are sometimes called identical twins.
MORBIDITY.: The unhealthiness or disease characteristics associated with a mental disorder.
MOSAICISM.: A genetic condition in which some cells in an organism have one set of chromosomes and other cells have a different set.
MOTIVATIONAL ENHANCEMENT THERAPY.: Therapy that focuses on increasing motivation for change by empathically comparing and contrasting the consequences and benefits of changing or not changing.
MOTOR.: Involving muscle movement.
MOTOR SKILLS.: Skills pertaining to or involving muscular movement.
MOVEMENT EDUCATION.: A term that refers to the active phase of bodywork, in which clients learn to move with greater freedom and to maintain the proper alignment of their bodies.
MOXIBUSTION.: A technique in traditional Chinese medicine that involves burning a Moxa, or cone of dried wormwood leaves, close to the skin to relieve pain. When used with acupuncture, the cone is placed on top of the needle at an acupuncture point and burned.
MRI.: Magnetic resonance imaging. A special imaging technique used to image internal parts of the body, especially soft tissues.
MULTI-INFARCT DEMENTIA.: Dementia caused by damage to brain tissue resulting from a series of blood clots or clogs in the blood vessels. It is also called vascular dementia.
MULTIAXIAL.: Refers to a type of classification system that involves numeric measurement along more than one dimension and is not based on assignment to mutually exclusive categories.
MULTIMODAL.: Involving several types of therapeutic interventions such as heat or ice packs, electrical stimulation, and ultrasound; sometimes refers to a mix of physical and psychological therapies.
MULTIPLE PERSONALITY DISORDER (MPD).: An older term for dissociative identity disorder (DID).
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS.: A disease characterized by patches of hardened tissue in the brain or spinal cord, paralysis, and/or muscle tremors.
MUSCLE DYSMORPHIA.: A subtype of BDD, described as excessive preoccupation with muscularity and bodybuilding to the point of interference with social, educational, or occupational functioning.

MUTATION.: A spontaneous change in the sequence of nucleotides in a chromosome or gene. Mutations may affect the number and structure of chromosomes or cause deletions of part of a chromosome. Rett's disorder is caused by a mutation on the long arm of the X chromosome.
MUTISM.: Inability to speak due to conscious refusal or psychological inhibition.
MYASTHENIA GRAVIS.: A disease characterized by weakness of the muscles caused by an autoimmune reaction.
MYELIN SHEATHS.: A fatty layer around nerve cells that aids the transmission of nerve impulses.
MYOCARDIAL DISEASE.: Disease of the muscular layer of the heart wall.
MYOCLONUS.: An abrupt spasm or twitching in a muscle or group of muscles. It is more common in early-onset AD than in late-onset Alzheimer's.

NARCISSISTIC PERSONALITY DISORDER.: Personality characterized by continually exaggerating one's own positive qualities and refusing to recognize personal defects or flaws.
NARCISSISTIC PERSONALITY INVENTORY (NPI).: The most widely used English-language diagnostic instrument for narcissistic personality disorder. Based on the DSM-III criteria for NPD, the NPI is frequently used in research studies as well as patient assessment.
NARCOLEPSY.: A disorder characterized by frequent and uncontrollable attacks of deep sleep.
NARCOTHERAPY.: A form of psychotherapy that involves the administration of a drug that makes the patient drowsy.
NALOXONE.: A drug that combines competitively with opiate receptors on the nerve cells and blocks or reverses the action of narcotic analgesics.
NARROW-ANGLE GLAUCOMA.: An eye disorder caused by a buildup of fluid pressure inside the eyeball due to an abnormally small angle between the iris (the colored portion of the eye) and the cornea (the transparent front part of the eye).
NATURAL SUPPORTS.: Using a person's already existing support network to help the person reach a goal, such as the employment of their choice.
NEGATIVE SYMPTOMS.: Symptoms of schizophrenia that represent a loss or reduction of normal functioning.
NEPHRITIS.: Inflammation of the kidney.
NERVOUS TIC.: A repetitive, involuntary action, such as the twitching of a muscle or repeated blinking.
NEUROFIBRILLARY TANGLES.: Accumulations of twisted protein fragments found inside the nerve cells in the brains of Alzheimer's patients.
NEUROLEPTIC.: Another name for the older antipsychotic medications, such as haloperidol (Haldol) and chlorpromazine (Thorazine).
NEUROLEPTIC MALIGNANT SYNDROME (NMS).: An unusual but potentially serious complication that develops in some patients who have been treated with antipsychotic medications. NMS is characterized by changes in blood pressure, altered states of consciousness, rigid muscles, and fever. Untreated NMS can result in coma and death.
NEUROLEPTIC-INDUCED ACUTE DYSTONIA.: A severe form of dystonia, a neurological movement disorder, caused by the use of neuroleptic drugs.
NEUROLEPTIC-INDUCED AKATHISIA.: Refers to the disorder characterized by a physical restlessness (the inability to sit still, for example), and excessive voluntary movements, as a result of the use of neuroleptic drugs; research indicates it is likely the most common of neuroleptic-induced movement disorders.
NEUROLEPTIC-INDUCED PARKINSONISM.: Symptoms similar to Parkinson's disease that may appear in people taking neuroleptic (antipsychotic) medications. These symptoms include tremors in muscles and a shuffling gait.
NEUROLEPTIC-INDUCED TARDIVE DYSKINESIA.: A potentially irreversible neurological disorder caused by the use of antipsychotic/neuroleptic medications, with symptoms involving uncontrollable movement of various body parts. Some of these movements include involuntary movements of the tongue and mouth, grimacing, and lip-smacking.
NEUROLOGIC.: Pertaining to the nervous system (brain and nerve cells).
NEURONS.: Nerve cells in the brain that produce nerve impulses.
NEUROPATHIC.: Relating to neural damage.
NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTIONING.: The ability of the nervous system and brain to process and interpret information received through the senses.

NEUROTRANMISSION.: The conduction of a nerve impulse along a chain of nerve cells, which occurs when a cell in the chain secretes a chemical substance, called a neurotransmitter, onto a subsequent cell.
NEUROTRANSMITTER.: A chemical in the brain that transmits messages between neurons, or nerve cells.
NEUROTRANSMITTERS.: Chemicals that carry nerve impulses from one nerve cell to another. Alzheimer's disease causes a drop in the production of several important neurotransmitters.
NIMBY PHENOMENON.: Acronym for Not In My Backyard, describing the common opposition displayed by citizens toward the placement of group homes or other social service facilities in their neighborhoods.
NOMOTHETIC.: An approach to interpreting the results of a projective test in which the subject's answers are measured against a normative comparison sample.
NON-AMBULATORY.: Unable to walk.
NON-DOMINANT HAND.: The hand that one does not typically use when performing various tasks, such as writing or throwing an object.
NONDIRECTIVE THERAPY.: An approach to therapy in which the therapist actively attempts to avoid giving advice, making interpretations, or otherwise influencing the focus of the individual's thoughts or statements.
NONENDOGENOUS.: A factor that arises or is produced outside of the organism.
NORADRENERGIC.: Acts similarly to norepinephrine or noradrenaline.
NOREPINEPHRINE.: A neurotransmitter in the brain that acts to constrict blood vessels and raise blood pressure. It works in combination with serotonin.
NOREPINEPHRINE (NORADRENALINE).: A hormone with similar stimulatory effects to epinephrine but, in contrast to epinephrine, has little effect on cardiac (heart) output and in relaxing smooth muscles.
NORMAL CURVE EQUIVALENTS.: Standard scores with an average of 100. The normal curve equivalents divide the normal or bell-shaped curve into 100 equal parts. As a result, those scores can be used for statistical analysis because they can be added, subtracted, multiplied, and divided.
NORMED.: Describes a process used in the developmental stages of a test instrument. The new test is first given to a cross-section of a population for which it is designed. The scores, placements, rankings, etc., of these persons then become the source for all future comparisons (norm group). When a new subject takes the test, his/her score, placement, ranking, etc., is determined based upon comparison with or deviation from the norm group.
NOSOLOGY.: The branch of medicine that deals with the systematic classification of diseases and disorders.
NUCLEAR FAMILY.: The basic family unit, consisting of father, mother, and their biological children.
NUCLEOTIDE.: One of the molecules that form the building blocks of DNA or RNA. The nucleotides of DNA include a phosphate group, four chemical bases (adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine), and a sugar containing five carbon atoms. In RNA, the thymine base is replaced by uracil.
NYSTAGMUS.: A persistent involuntary movement of the eyes from side to side. It is one of the symptoms of inhalant intoxication syndrome.

OBJECT RELATIONS.: In psychology, a phrase that refers to the way in which a subject describes relationships with other people in their environment, and the ways in which he or she has internalized interpersonal relationships.
OBJECT-RELATIONS THEORY.: An approach to psychological development that includes Nancy Chodorow's stating that children develop according to interactions with their primary caregivers.
OBSESSION.: A persistent image, idea, or desire that dominates a person's thoughts or feelings.
OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE.: Characterized by obsessive and compulsive behaviors.
OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER.: Disorder in which the affected individual has an obsession (such as a fear of contamination, or thoughts he or she doesn't like to have and can't control) and feels compelled to perform a certain act to neutralize the obsession (such as repeated handwashing).
OCCIPITAL.: The occipital bone forms the back part of the skull.
OEDIPAL CONFLICT.: A developmental conflict that emerges during the third or oedipal stage of Freud's psychosexual development stages. During this stage, a conflict emerges with regard to the triad of father, mother, and child. The conflict concerns the sexual impulses that the child has toward the parent of the opposite gender and the hostile impulses that the child has towards the parent of the same gender. During this stage, the developmental conflict concerns a resolution of oedipal issues.

OLFACTORY NERVE.: The cranial nerve that regulates the sense of smell.
ONSET.: The point in time at which the symptoms of a disorder first became apparent.
OPERANT.: Conditioning in which the desired response is reinforced by an introduced stimulus.
OPIATES.: A class of drugs that is either derived from opium (i.e. morphine, hydromorphone, oxymorphone, heroin, codeine, hydrocodone, oxycodone) or resembles these opium derivatives (such as meperidine) and is commonly referred to as narcotics.
OPIOIDS.: Substances that reduce pain and may induce sleep. Some opioids are endogenous, which means that they are produced within the human body. Other opioids are produced by plants or formulated synthetically in the laboratory.
OPPOSITIONAL DEFIANT DISORDER.: An emotional and behavioral problem of children and adolescents characterized by defiant, hostile, or disobedient behavior that has lasted for longer than six months.
ORAL PHASE.: The first of Freud's psychosexual stages of development in which satisfaction is focused on the mouth and lips. During this stage sucking and eating are the primary means of gratification.
ORGANIC BRAIN SYNDROME.: A class of disorders characterized by progressive deterioration of mental processes caused by temporary brain dysfunction or permanent brain damage. Symptoms include delusions, dementia, amnesia, and delirium that are not caused by drugs, alcohol, or as a side effect of medication.
ORGASM.: Another word for sexual climax.
ORIENTATION.: In psychiatry, the ability to locate oneself in one's environment with respect to time, place and people.
ORLISTAT (XENICAL).: A prescription medication for weight loss currently on the market.
ORTHOSTATIC HYPOTENSION.: A sudden decrease in blood pressure due to a change in body position, as when moving from a sitting to standing position.
OSTEOPOROSIS.: A loss of bone minerals.
OUTCOME EXPECTANCIES.: What one believes will happen as a result of engaging in a certain behavior.
OVERCOMPENSATION.: An attempt to overcome or correct a behavior by going too far in the opposite direction.
OVERVALUED IDEA.: An unreasonable, sustained belief that is held with less than delusional intensity (i.e., the person can acknowledge, to some degree, that the belief may be false). The belief is not accounted for by the individual's cultural or religious background.
OXIMETRY.: The measurement of blood oxygen levels.

PAIN DISORDER.: One of several somatoform disorders described in the revised, fourth edition of the mental health professional's handbook, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The term "somatoform" means that symptoms are physical but are not entirely understood as a consequence of a general medical condition or as a direct effect of a substance, such as a drug.
PAINSTATES.: Refers to the four-way classification of pain disorder as being (1) acute with psychological factors, (2) acute with psychological factors and a general medical condition, (3) chronic with psychological factors, and (4) chronic with psychological factors and a general medical condition.
PANACEA.: A medicine or other substance regarded as a cure for all ills.
PANIC ATTACK.: Specific periods of time when a person has a feeling that s/he is dying or having a heart attack with chest pain, a feeling as though s/he could pass out, and fear that s/he is going insane.
PANIC DISORDER.: An anxiety disorder in which an individual experiences sudden, debilitating attacks of intense fear.
PANIC DISORDER WITH AGORAPHOBIA.: Repeated panic attacks in which the patient is worried about the attacks enough that the worry restricts their activity.
PANIC DISORDER WITHOUT AGORAPHOBIA.: Repeated panic attacks without symptoms of agoraphobia.
PARAMETER.: A characteristic or factor that is measured during a test of a complex process or activity like sleep.
PARANOIA.: A mental disorder characterized by baseless suspicions or distrust of others, often delusional in intensity.

PARANOID.: A mental attitude characterized by unjustified or excessive distrust of other people, usually combined with anger.
PARANOID PERSONALITY.: A personality disorder characterized by unwarranted suspicion, jealousy, hypersensitivity, social isolation and a tendency to detect malicious intent in the words and actions of others.
PARAPHILIAS.: A group of mental disorders that is characterized by recurrent intense sexual urges and sexually arousing fantasies generally involving (1) non-human objects, (2) the suffering or humiliation of oneself or one's partner (not merely simulated), or (3) children or other non-consenting persons.
PARASOMNIA.: A type of sleep disorder characterized by abnormal changes in behavior or body functions during sleep, specific stages of sleep, or the transition between sleeping and waking.
PARESTHESIAS.: Abnormal sensations of tingling or "pins and needles." Paresthesias are a common panic-like symptom associated with agoraphobia.
PARKINSON'S DISEASE.: A disease of the nervous system most common in people over 60, characterized by a shuffling gait, trembling of the fingers and hands, and muscle stiffness. It may be related in some way to Lewy body dementia.
PARKINSONIAN.: Related to symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease. These symptoms may be induced by certain medications, and, in these cases, the person does not have Parkinson's disease—they have Parkinson-like or Parkinsonian symptoms.
PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIORS.: Behaviors that represent covert expressions of hostile or negative feelings that the person is unable or unwilling to express directly.
PATHOGNOMONIC.: Describing symptoms characteristic of a particular disease.
PATIENT CARE EPISODES.: A specific measure of the volume of care provided by an organization or system. It begins with a treatment visit to a health care facility (a hospital or residential treatment center, for example) and ends when a person leaves the facility, so it may vary by patient and visit. Over time, the volume of patient care episodes indicates the degree to which a population uses certain health care capacities. Other measures that may be used to measure volume of care include number of beds or bed-days, total number of patients served, and also more specific measures like patient-contact hours.
PAVOR NOCTURNUS.: The Latin medical term for sleep terror disorder.
PELVIS.: The basin-like cavity in the human body below the abdomen, enclosed by a framework of four bones.
PENETRANCE.: In genetics, the frequency with which a specific gene produces its effects in a group of people or other organisms. Penetrance is expressed as a percentage.
PENIS.: The external male sex organ.
PERCENTILE RANK.: The point at which a given percentage of people fall at or below the individual's test score being calculated. For example, if a person's test score was at the 60th percentile, 40% of other test takers received a higher score, while 60% received a score that was at or below that of the test taker.
PERFORMANCE ANXIETY.: A subcategory of circumscribed social phobia in which the patient's fear is limited to performing certain activities or tasks in public. Common areas of performance anxiety include public speaking, acting on stage, solo singing, and playing instrumental solos.
PERINEAL.: An anatomical area located between the external genitals and the anus.
PERIPHERAL NERVE.: A nerve in a distant location from the brain that receives information in the form of an impulse from the brain and spinal cord.
PERSECUTORY DELUSIONS.: Unrealistic conviction of being harassed, tormented, and persecuted.
PERSON-CENTERED PLANNING.: A technique in which a plan for a person's future is developed by a team consisting of the person, family members, service providers and friends (natural supports). The team develops a practical plan based on the person's wishes and dreams. Each team member agrees to perform certain tasks identified in the plan to help the person reach goals.
PERSON-CENTERED THERAPY.: A therapeutic approach that believes the client's own drive towards growth and development is the most important factor in healing.
PERSONALITY DISORDER.: A personality disorder is a maladaptive pattern of behavior, affect, and/or cognitive style displayed in a broad range of settings. The pattern deviates from the accepted norms of the individual's culture and can occur over a lifetime.
PERSONALITY INVENTORY.: A type of psychological test that is designed to assess a client's major personality traits, behavioral patterns, coping styles, and similar characteristics. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory is an example of a personality inventory.
PERSONALIZATION.: The tendency to refer large-scale events or general patterns of events to the self in inappropriate ways. For example, a person who regards the loss of a friend or relative in an accident as punishment for having quarreled with them before the accident is said to be personalizing the event. Personalization increases a person's risk of developing acute stress disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder after a traumatic event.

PERVASIVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS (PDDS).: A category of childhood disorders that includes Asperger's syndrome and Rett's disorder. The PDDs are sometimes referred to collectively as autistic spectrum disorders.
PET.: Abbreviation for positron emission tomography, a highly specialized imaging technique using radioactive substances to identify active tumors, as well as nuerological disease progression.
PETECHIAE.: Pinpoint-sized hemorrhages in the skin or a mucous membrane. In bulimia, petechiae may appear in the skin around the eyes as a result of increased pressure in the capillaries caused by vomiting.
PHENCYCLIDINE.: The full name of the drug commonly called PCP that is often abused to induce hallucinations.
PHENOL.: A white crystalline water-soluble substance used chiefly as an antiseptic and disinfectant.
PHENOMENOLOGICAL THERAPY.: A therapeutic approach that focuses on the interpretations individuals place on their experiences.
PHENOTHIAZINES.: A class of drugs widely used in the treatment of psychosis.
PHENOTYPE.: The observable signs, symptoms, and other aspects of the makeup of an organism. The term is also used sometimes to refer to the appearance of an organism resulting from the interaction between its genotype and its environment.
PHENYLKETONURIA.: (PKU) An inherited disease in which the body cannot metabolize the amino acid phenylalanine properly. If untreated, phenylketonuria can cause mental retardation.
PHOBIA.: Irrational fear of places, things, or situations that leads to avoidance.
PHONICS.: A method of teaching reading and spelling based on the phonetic interpretation of ordinary spelling.
PHONOLOGICAL DISORDER.: A developmental disorder of childhood in which the child fails to use speech sounds that are appropriate for his or her age level and native language or dialect.
PHOTON.: A light particle.
PHOTOTHERAPY.: Another name for light therapy in mainstream medical practice.
PHYSICAL DEPENDENCE.: A maladaptive behavior that over a three-month period has caused the individual to experience tolerance and withdrawal symptoms.
PHYSIOLOGY.: The branch of medicine concerned with biological processes or functions in the human body or any of its parts.
PHYSOSTIGMINE.: A short-acting drug that enhances levels of a substance (acetylcholine) between neurons in the brain.
PICK'S DISEASE.: A rare type of primary dementia that affects the frontal lobes of the brain. It is characterized by a progressive loss of social skills, language, and memory, leading to personality changes and sometimes loss of moral judgment.
PLACEBO.: An inactive substance or preparation used as a control in experiments with human subjects to test the effectiveness of a drug or herbal preparation. Some patients may experience a medicinal response or experience side effects to a placebo simply because they have faith in its powers even though it contains no medicine.
PLAQUE.: A sticky cholesterol-containing substance that builds up on the walls of blood vessels, reducing or blocking blood flow.
PLAQUES.: Clumps or clusters of beta amyloid fragments, dead or dying nerve cells, and other cellular debris, found in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease.
PLAY THERAPY.: A type of psychotherapy for young children involving the use of toys and games to build a therapeutic relationship and encourage the child's self-expression.
PNEUMOTHORAX.: A condition in which air or gas is present in the chest cavity.
POLARITY THERAPY.: A form of energy therapy influenced by Ayurvedic medicine that integrates bodywork with diet, home exercises, and self-awareness techniques. It is sometimes called polarity balancing.
POLYGENIC.: A trait or disorder that is determined by a group of genes acting together. Most human characteristics, including height, weight, and general body build, are polygenic. Schizophrenia and late-onset Alzheimer's disease are considered polygenic disorders.
POLYSOMNOGRAM.: A machine that is used to diagnose sleep disorders by measuring and recording a variety of body functions related to sleep, including heart rate, eye movements, brain waves, muscle activity, breathing, changes in blood oxygen concentration, and body position.

PORPHYRIA.: A group of disorders that arise from changes in the metabolism of porphyrin, a naturally occurring compound in the body. The disorders are characterized by acute abdominal pain and neurological problems.
PORPHYRIN.: Any iron- or magnesium-free pyrrole derivative occurring in many plant or animal tissues.
POSITIVE AFFIRMATION STATEMENTS.: Statements repeated to oneself, either aloud or mentally, that reflect attitudes of self-worth.
POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT.: A procedure or response that rewards a desired behavior.
POSITIVE SYMPTOMS.: Symptoms of schizphrenia that represent excesses or distortions of normal mental functions.
POSITRON.: One of the small particles that make up an atom. A positron has the same mass and amount of charge as an electron, but the positron has a positive charge.
POST MORTEM.: After death. The definitive diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease can be made only after the patient's death.
POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER.: A disorder caused by an extremely stressful or traumatic event (such as rape, act of war, or natural disaster) in which the trauma victim is haunted by flashbacks. In the flashbacks, the event is re-experienced in the present. Other symptoms include nightmares and feelings of anxiety.
POSTURAL TREMOR.: A continuous quiver that affects body posture and movement.
PRADER-WILLI SYNDROME.: A developmental disorder of childhood characterized by mental retardation, poor muscle tone, delayed growth and sexual maturation, and childhood onset of an abnormally large appetite for food.
PRANA.: The Sanskrit word for vital energy, roughly equivalent to qi in traditional Chinese medicine.
PRANAYAMA.: The breathing exercises that accompany the asanas in hatha yoga.
PRE-MENSTRUAL SYNDROME.: A severe change in mood that occurs in women immediately prior to, and during, their menstrual period.
PREECLAMPSIA.: A complication of pregnancy characterized by high blood pressure, fluid retention, and protein in the urine. If the patient develops convulsions, the condition is called eclampsia.
PREFERRED PROVIDER ORGANIZATION (PPO).: A type of managed care system involving payment contracts with a group or panel of health care providers.
PREMIUM.: The cost of enrollment in a health insurance plan. Premiums are usually paid on a monthly basis.
PRESENILE DEMENTIA.: An older name for Alzheimer's disease.
PRESSURE ULCERS.: Also known as pressure sores or bed sores, these can develop in stroke patients who are unable to move. If not treated properly, they can become infected.
PREVALENCE.: Occurence in a population.
PRIAPISM.: Persistent abnormal erection of the penis, usually without sexual desire, and accompanied by pain and tenderness.
PRIMARY ENURESIS.: Bed-wetting in a child who has not yet developed bladder control.
PRIMARY GAIN.: In psychiatry, the principal psychological reason for the development of a patient's symptoms. In conversion disorder, the primary gain from the symptom is the reduction of anxiety and the exclusion of an inner conflict from conscious awareness.
PRIMARY NARCISSISM.: Sigmund Freud's term for a normal phase in early childhood development in which the infant has not yet learned to distinguish between itself and its world, and sees other people and things in its environment as extensions of itself.
PRIMARY PERSONALITY.: The core personality of a patient with dissociative identity disorder. In women, the primary personality is often timid and passive, and may be diagnosed as depressed.
PRIMARY PULMONARY HYPERTENSION (PPH).: A rare but potentially fatal disorder that affects the blood vessels in the lungs.
PRION.: A protein particle that lacks nucleic acid.
PROCESS ADDICTION.: An addiction to a mood-altering behavior or series of behaviors rather than a substance.
PROCESS-EXPERIENTIAL THERAPIES.: A group of therapies based on a person-centered approach that incorporates elements of cognitive and Gestalt therapies.
PRODROMAL.: Premonitory; having the character of a warning. The first psychotic episode in schizophrenia is often preceded by a prodromal phase.

PROGRESSIVE RELAXATION.: A technique for managing stress in which the person relaxes major muscle groups in a fixed sequence, often beginning with the feet and moving towards the head.
PROJECTION.: A psychological process in which a person unconsciously attributes unacceptable feelings to someone else. Narcissists often project their envy onto other people, claiming that the person in question is envious of them.
PROJECTIVE TEST.: A psychological test in which the test taker responds to or provides ambiguous, abstract, or unstructured stimuli, often in the form of pictures or drawings. A projective test may assess a person's thinking patterns, observational ability, feelings, and attitudes.
PROLACTIN.: A hormone that stimulates milk production and breast development.
PROSTAGLANDINS.: A group of unsaturated fatty acids involved in the contraction of smooth muscle, control of inflammation, and many other body processes.
PROSTATE GLAND.: The gland at the base of a male's urethra that produces a component of semen.
PROTOCOL.: A plan for carrying out a scientific study or a patient's course of treatment.
PSEUDODEMENTIA.: A term for a depression with symptoms resembling those of dementia. The term "dementia of depression" is now preferred.
PSEUDOSEIZURE.: An attack that resembles an epileptic seizure but is not associated with abnormal electrical discharges in the patient's brain.
PSYCHIATRIC EPIDEMIOLOGY.: A field of research for establishing the incidence, distribution or prevalence, and control of mental disorders in a population, including the sum of the factors controlling the presence of mental disorders.
PSYCHIC NUMBING.: An inability to respond emotionally with normal intensity to people or situations; this affects positive emotions as well as fear or anger.
PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCE.: A drug that produces mood changes and distorted perceptions; a mind-altering drug.
PSYCHOANALYTIC THEORY.: A psychological theory proposed by Sigmund Freud involving unconscious conflicts and specific stages of development; central themes include sexuality and male superiority.
PSYCHODRAMA.: A specific form of role play that focuses on acting out "scripts" of unresolved issues within the family, or helping family members adopt new approaches and understanding of one another.
PSYCHODYNAMIC.: Referring to the motivational forces, unconscious as well as conscious, that form human attitudes and behavior.
PSYCHODYNAMIC GROUPS.: Psychotherapy groups that utilize the principles of unconscious needs and motivations developed by Sigmund Freud.
PSYCHODYNAMIC THEORISTS.: Therapists who believe that the origins of mental problems lie in a person's internal conflicts and complexes.
PSYCHOEDUCATION.: An approach to treatment that combines instruction with various therapeutic techniques.
PSYCHOGENIC.: Originating in the mind, or in a mental process or condition. The term "psychogenic" is sometimes used as a synonym for "conversion."
PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT.: A process of gathering and synthesizing information about a person's psychological makeup and history for a specific purpose, which may be educational, diagnostic, or forensic.
PSYCHOMETRIC.: Pertaining to testing and measurement of mental or psychological abilities. Psychometric tests convert an individual's psychological traits and attributes into a numerical estimation or evaluation.
PSYCHOMOTOR.: Referring to a response or reaction that involves both the brain and muscular movements.
PSYCHOMOTOR RETARDATION.: Slowed mental and physical processes characteristic of a bipolar depressive episode.
PSYCHOMOTOR SEIZURE.: A seizure characterized by electrical activity that is characterized by variable degrees of loss of consciousness and often accompanied by bizarre behavior.
PSYCHONEUROTIC.: Pertaining to a neurosis or disorder of the brain; emotionally unstable.
PSYCHOPATH.: A person who ruthlessly preys on others, using charm, deceit, violence or other methods that allows him or her to get what they want. Another word that is sometimes used for psychopath is sociopath.
PSYCHOPATHY.: A psychological syndrome that includes lack of a conscience or sense of guilt, lack of empathy, egocentricity, pathological lying, repeated violations of social norms, disregard of the law, shallow emotions, and a history of victimizing others.
PSYCHOSEXUAL CONFLICTS.: In Freudian categories, internal conflicts related to problems at a particular stage of childhood development. Freud associated each developmental stage with a particular part of the human body, such as the mouth or the phallus.

PSYCHOSIS.: (Plural: psychoses) Severe state that is characterized by loss of contact with reality and deterioration in normal social functioning; examples are schiz ophrenia and paranoia. Psychosis is usually one feature of an overarching disorder, not a disorder in itself. Psychotic symptoms include delusions and hallucinations.
PSYCHOSOCIAL.: A term that refers to the emotional and social aspects of psychological disorders.
PSYCHOSOMATIC.: Physical disorder originating in, or aggravated by, the psychic or emotional processes of the individual.
PSYCHOTIC.: Mental disorder characterized by dis turbances of personality and a loss of normal association with reality.
PSYCHOTROPIC.: Having an effect on the mind, brain, behavior, perceptions, or emotions. Psychotropic medications are used to treat mental illnesses because they affect a patient's moods and perceptions.
PTOSIS.: Drooping of the upper eyelid.
PUNISHER.: Anything that causes a decrease of a particular behavior.
PUNITIVE.: Concerned with, or directed toward, punishment.
PURGING.: Inappropriate actions taken to prevent weight gain, often after bingeing, including self-induced vomiting or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics, enemas, or other medications.

QI.: The Chinese term for energy, life force, or vital force.
QIGONG.: A traditional form of Chinese energy therapy that includes physical exercises, breathing techniques, postures, and mental discipline. Internal qigong refers to exercises practiced to maintain one's own health and vitality; external qigong refers to the transfer of energy from a qigong master to another person for healing purposes. External qigong is also known as medical qigong.
QUICKENING.: A term that refers to the movements or other signs of life of a fetus in the womb.

RADIO WAVES.: Electromagnetic energy of the frequency range corresponding to that used in radio communications, usually 10,000 cycles per second to 300 billion cycles per second. Radio waves are the same as visible light, x rays, and all other types of electromagnetic radiation, but are of a higher frequency.
RADIOLOGIST.: A medical doctor specially trained in radiology (x ray) interpretation and its use in the diagnosis of disease and injury.
RAPID EYE MOVEMENT (REM) SLEEP.: A type of sleep during which the person's eyes move back and forth rapidly underneath their closed eyelids. REM sleep is associated with dreaming.
RAPPORT.: A relation of empathy and trust between a therapist and patient.
RATIONAL EMOTIVE THERAPY.: A form of psychotherapy developed by Albert Ellis and other psychotherapists based on the theory that emotional response is based on the subjective interpretation of events, not on the events themselves.
RAYNAUD'S SYNDROME.: A disorder of the circulatory or vascular system characterized by abnormally cold hands and feet because of constricted blood vessels in these areas.
REALITY TESTING.: A phrase that refers to a person's ability to distinguish between subjective feelings and objective reality. A person who knows that their body is real even though they may be experiencing it as unreal, for example, is said to have intact reality testing.
REBOUND EFFECT.: A physical reaction to stopping a medication characterized by the reappearance of the symptom that the medication was given to suppress. For example, people who stop taking a sedative may experience rebound insomnia.
RECIDIVISM.: A tendency to return to a previously treated activity, or repeated relapse into criminal or deviant behavior.
REFERENTIAL.: A type of delusion in which the person misinterprets items, minor occurrences, or other people's behavior as referring to them. Misinterpretations of this sort that are not as resistant to reality as a delusion are sometimes called ideas of reference.
REFOCUSING TECHNIQUES.: Techniques that direct one's attention away from overwhelming, negative thoughts and emotions by focusing on inner peace and managing one issue at a time.

REGIMEN.: A regulated course of treatment for a medical or mental disorder.
REGISTERED DIETITIAN.: A person who has met certain education and experience standards and is well-qualified to provide nutrition counseling.
REGURGITATION.: The return of partly digested food from the stomach to the mouth. Regurgitation may be either an intentional act or an involuntary physical reaction.
REHABILITATAIVE.: To restore; to put back into good condition.
REIKI.: A form of energy therapy that originated in Japan. Reiki practitioners hold their hands on or slightly above specific points on the patient's body in order to convey universal life energy to that area for healing.
REINFORCEMENT.: Praise or criticism (or, in substance use, physical consequences) that make a behavior more or less likely in the future. Positive reinforcement (like praise or rewards) increase the likelihood of the behavior, and negative reinforcement (such as criticism or withholding of rewards) decrease the likelihood of the behavior.
REINFORCEMENT SCHEDULE.: The frequency and amount of reinforcers administered.
REINFORCER.: Anything that causes an increase of a particular behavior.
RELAPSE.: A person experiences a relapse when he or she re-engages in a behavior that is harmful and that he or she was trying to change or eliminate. Relapse is a common occurrence after treatment for many disorders, including addictions and eating disorders.
RELAXATION RESPONSE.: The body's inactivation of stress responses and return of stress hormone levels to normal after a threat has passed.
RELIABILITY.: The ability of a test to yield consistent, repeatable results.
REMISSION.: In the course of an illness or disorder, a period of time when symptoms are absent.
REPETITIVE STRESS INJURY (RSI).: A type of injury to the musculoskeletal and nervous systems associated with occupational strain or overuse of a specific part of the body.
RESPIRATORY DEPRESSION.: Significant impairment of the respiratory system.
RESPONSE COST.: A behavioral technique that involves removing a stimulus from an individual's environment so that the response that directly precedes the removal is weakened. In a token economy system, response cost is a form of punishment involving loss of tokens due to inappropriate behavior, which consequently results in decreased ability to purchase back-up reinforcers.
RESPONSE-CONTINGENT.: An approach to treatment in which rewards or punishments are given in response to a particular behavior to be encouraged or corrected.
RESPONSE-CONTINGENT LEARNING.: A principle that posits that the consequences of a behavior determine whether it will increase or decrease in frequency. Behaviors that bring about desired responses tend to increase, while those that either remove the chance to obtain a desirable outcome, or those that cause some unpleasant or painful consequence, tend to decrease.
RETROGRADE AMNESIA.: Amnesia for events that occurred before a traumatic injury.
RETROPERITONEAL.: The anatomical area between the peritoneum (lining of the abdominal cavity) and the muscular and connective tissues of the abdominal wall.
RHIZOME.: The fleshy underground horizontal root of certain plants. Valerian preparations are made from dried rhizomes as well as from roots of the valerian plant.
RISK ASSESSMENT.: The process of gathering and interpreting data useful in estimating the probability that an individual will demonstrate violence.
RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN.: Using the results of a risk assessment to tailor intervention strategies intended to reduce the probability that an individual will demonstrate violence.
ROLE.: The set of customary or expected behavior patterns associated with a particular position or function in society. For example, a person's role as mother is associated with one set of expected behaviors, and her role as a worker with a very different set.
ROLE TRANSITION.: Life changes that require an alteration in one's social or occupational status or self-image.
ROLE-PLAYING.: A technique used in assertiveness training and other forms of therapy in which participants act out roles relevant to real-life situations in order to change their attitudes and behaviors.
RORSCHACH TEST.: Also known as the Rorschach Psychodiagnostic Test. A commonly administered projective measure in which subjects are asked to describe a series of black or colored inkblots. The inkblots allow the patient to project his or her interpretations, which can be used to diagnose particular disorders.
RUMINATE.: To chew or rechew regurgitated food.

RUMINATION.: A tendency to dwell on certain thoughts, particularly negative ones, repeatedly or obsessively.
RUSH.: The initial intensely pleasurable sensation experienced from injecting a narcotic or stimulant drug. The term has also been applied to the feeling of excitement experienced from the behaviors involved in process addictions.

SADISM.: A mental disorder in which sexual arousal and gratification are obtained by inflicting pain or humiliation on another person.
SCALE.: A subset of test items from a multi-item test.
SCAPEGOATING.: the emergence of behavioral problems in one family member, usually the identified patient, who is often punished for problems within the entire family.
SCHILDER'S DISEASE.: A disturbance of the white matter of the brain that causes blindness, deafness, and mental deterioration
SCHIZOAFFECTIVE DISORDER.: A mental disorder that shows a combination of symptoms of mania and schizophrenia.
SCHIZOPHRENIA.: A severe mental illness in which a person has difficulty distinguishing what is real from what is not real. It is often characterized by hallucinations, delusions, language and communication disturbances, and withdrawal from people and social activities.
SCHNEIDERIAN SYMPTOMS.: Another name for first-rank symptoms of schizophrenia.
SCOLIOSIS.: An abnormal lateral (sidewise) curvature of the spine.
SCREENING TEST.: A test given as a preliminary tool, that helps to later target a more thorough analysis.
SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER (SAD).: A mood disorder characterized by depression, weight gain, and sleepiness during the winter months. An estimated 4–6% of the population of Canada and the northern United States suffers from SAD.
SECONDARY BEHAVIORS.: Negative behavioral, emotional, or cognitive reactions to stuttering.
SECONDARY ENURESIS.: Bed-wetting in a child who has established bladder control but has begun to wet the bed again, usually as the result of emotional stress.
SECONDARY GAIN.: A term that refers to other benefits that a patient obtains from a conversion symptom. For example, a patient's loss of function in an arm might require other family members to do the patient's share of household chores; or they might give the patient more attention and sympathy than he or she usually receives.
SECTION 504.: This section of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 provides that no person may be discriminated against because of a physical disability.
SEDATION.: A state of emotional or physical relaxation. The term is usually used to refer to this condition when it is produced by a medication.
SEDATIVE.: A medication that induces relaxation and sleep.
SELECTIVE SEROTONIN REUPTAKE INHIBITORS (SSRIS).: Commonly prescribed drugs for treating depression. SSRIs affect the chemicals that nerves in the brain use to send messages to one another. These chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) are released by one nerve cell and taken up by others. Neurotransmitters not taken up by other nerve cells are taken up by the same cells that released them. This process is termed "reuptake." SSRIs work by inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin, an action which allows more serotonin to be taken up by other nerve cells.
SELF-ACTUALIZATION.: The belief that all human beings have an inborn tendency toward growth and self-improvement.
SELF-CONCEPT.: Attitudes about oneself.
SELF-EFFICACY.: One's belief about how well he or she can perform a given task, regardless of that person's actual ability.
SELF-HELP GROUPS.: Groups that fall outside the realm of psychotherapy groups, but that offer help to individuals around a particular problem or concern. These groups typically are not professionally led.
SELF-INSTRUCTIONAL TRAINING.: Teaches individuals to become aware of their self-statements, evaluate whether these self-statements are helpful or hindering, and replace maladaptive self-statements with adaptive ones.
SELF-RATED.: A term in psychological testing that means that the person taking the test is the one who decides whether a question applies to them and records the answer, as distinct from an examiner's evaluating and recording answers.
SEMANTIC-PRAGMATIC DISORDER.: A term that refers to the difficulty that some children with pervasive developmental disorders have with pragmatic language skills. Pragmatic language skills include knowing the proper tone of voice for a given context, using humor appropriately, making eye contact with a conversation partner, maintaining the appropriate volume of one's voice, etc.

SEMEN.: A thick whitish fluid containing sperm, produced by the male reproductive organs.
SEMINAL VESICLES.: Sac-like structures bordering the male urethra and serving as storage depots for seminal fluid.
SENSITIVITY TRAINING.: Training conducted in T-groups to reduce tensions and racial prejudice among the public.
SENSITIZATION.: To make sensitive or susceptible.
SENSORY INTEGRATION THERAPY.: A treatment that was originally designed for children with autism. Sensory integration therapy is often performed by occupational or physical therapists; its goal is to help the child with autism process information acquired through the senses (hearing, touch, taste, and smell as well as sight) more effectively.
SEQUELA (PLURAL, SEQUELAE).: An abnormal condition resulting from a previous disease or disorder. An episode of depression is a common sequela of acute stress disorder.
SEROTONERGIC.: Containing, activating, or otherwise involving serotonin, which is a chemical that aids in the transmission of nerve impulses.
SEROTONIN.: A widely distributed neurotransmitter that is found in blood platelets, the lining of the digestive tract, and the brain, and that works in combination with norepinephrine. It causes very powerful contractions of smooth muscle, and is associated with mood, attention, emotions, and sleep. Low levels of serotonin are associated with depression.
SEROTONIN SYNDROME.: A condition characterized by at least three of the following symptoms: diarrhea, fever, extreme perspiration, mood or behavior changes, overactive reflexes, fast heart rate, restlessness, shivering or shaking. It is a result of too much serotonin in the body.
SEXUAL VIOLENCE.: Actual, attempted or threatened sexual contact with a person who is non-consenting or unable to give consent.
SHAMAN.: In certain indigenous tribes or groups, a person who acts as an intermediary between the natural and supernatural worlds. Shamans are regarded as having the power or ability to cure illnesses.
SHAPING.: A technique used in teaching social skills by prompting and reinforcing behaviors that come close to the desired behavior.
SHIFT.: The transition of control from one alter to another in a person with dissociative identity disorder. Usually shifts occur rapidly, within seconds but in some cases a more gradual change over is observed. Also referred to as a switch.
SHORT-CIRCUITING OF CONTINGENCIES.: The proper reinforcer or punisher for a given behavior is not administered.
SIBLING RIVALRY.: Competition among brothers and sisters in a nuclear family. It is considered to be an important influence in shaping the personalities of children who grow up in middle-class Western societies but less relevant in traditional African and Asian cultures.
SIMPLE PHOBIA.: An older term for specific phobia.
SKILLED NURSING FACILITY.: An inpatient facility that provides 24-hour nursing services to individuals in need of extended care.
SLE (SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS).: An autoimmune disease that leads to inflammation and damage to various body tissues and parts, including joints, skin, kidneys, heart, lungs, blood vessels, and brain.
SLEEP APNEA.: Short periods in which a person stops breathing during sleep. Breathing re-starts spontaneously; however, this condition can lead a lack of oxygen in the body.
SLEEP PARALYSIS.: An abnormal episode of sleep in which the patient cannot move for a few minutes, usually occurring while falling asleep or waking up. Sleep paralysis is often found in patients with narcolepsy.
SLEEP TERROR DISORDER.: A sleep disorder that is distinguished from nightmare disorder by the intensity of associated anxiety symptoms, the absence of complete wakefulness, and the person's difficulty recalling the episode.
SLOW SUICIDE.: A term used to refer to lifestyle behaviors known to shorten life expectancy, such as smoking, drinking heavily, having unsafe sex, etc.
SOCIAL COGNITIVE THEORY.: The theory that behavior is determined by an interaction between cognitive, behavioral, and environmental factors.
SOCIAL LEARNING.: Learning by observing others' responses and acquiring those responses through imitation of the role model(s).

SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY.: A subset of learning theories based on the concept that human behavior originates in and is affected by the interplay among the person's learned experiences, previous behaviors, and environmental influences.
SOCIAL MODELING.: A process of learning behavioral and emotional response patterns from observing one's parents or other adults. Some researchers think that social modeling plays a part in the development of conversion disorder in children.
SOCIAL PERSPECTIVE-TAKING.: A skill that involves a person's capacity to perceive or recognize other people's thoughts and feelings.
SOCIALIZATION.: An ongoing process in which a person learns and internalizes the values and behavior patterns of his or her culture and social group.
SOLUTION-FOCUSED THERAPY.: A type of therapy that involves concrete goals and an emphasis on future direction rather than past experiences.
SOMATIC.: Relating to the body or to the physical.
SOMATIC CONCERN.: Excessive concern about the body, particularly in relation to illness.
SOMATIC EDUCATION.: A term used in both Hellerwork and the Feldenkrais method to describe the integration of bodywork with self-awareness, intelligence, and imagination.
SOMATIZATION.: When mental or emotional distress is expressed physically in a way that disrupts body function.
SOMATIZATION DISORDER.: A type of mental disorder in which the patient suffers from physical complaints that serve as coping strategies for emotional distress.
SOMATOFORM.: Referring to physical symptoms with a psychological origin.
SOMATOFORM DISORDERS.: A group of psychiatric disorders that are characterized by external physical symptoms or complaints.
SPECIFIC PHOBIA.: A type of phobia in which the object or situation that arouses fear is clearly identifiable and limited. An older term for specific phobia is simple phobia.
SPECT.: Abbreviation for single photon emission computerized tomography, a highly specialized imaging technique using radioactive substances used in research, and to identify neurological disorder/disease progression.
SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST.: Specialist trained in assessment and diagnosis of communication disorders.
SPIRAL CT.: Also referred to as helical CT, this method allows for continuous 360-degree x-ray image capture.
SPLITTING.: A psychological process that occurs during the childhood of a person with NPD, in which the child separates aspects of him- or herself that the parents value from those that they disregard.
SPONTANEOUS REMISSION.: Recovery from a disease or disorder that cannot be attributed to medical or psychiatric treatments.
STALKING.: The intentional pursuit or surveillance of another person, usually with the intent of forcing that person into a dating or marriage relationship. Stalking is now punishable as a crime in all 50 states.
STANDARD DEVIATION.: A measure of variability in a set of scores. The standard deviations are based on a comparison to others in the same age group.
STANDARDIZATION.: The administration of a test to a sample group of people for the purpose of establishing test norms.
STANDARDIZED TEST.: A test that follows a regimented structure, and each individual's scores may be compared with those of groups of people.
STIGMA.: A mark or characteristic trait of a disease or defect; by extension, a cause for reproach or a stain on one's reputation. Such sexually transmitted diseases as HIV infection carry a severe social stigma.
STIMULUS.: Something that incites or moves a person to thought, emotion, or action. In mainstream psychotherapy, a stimulus can be anything from a certain picture or image to a smell, a sound, or a word or idea. In aversion therapy, the stimulus is typically a mild electric shock or a medication that produces unpleasant results.
STIMULUS FADING.: A form of behavior modification used to treat children with selective mutism, in which goals of gradually increasing difficulty are set for the child.
STOOLS.: Feces, bowel movements.
STREPTOCOCCUS (PLURAL, STREPTOCOCCI).: A type of bacterium that is spherical in shape and occurs in chains or pairs. Some diseases that are caused by streptococci appear to be related to obsessive-compulsive disorder.

STRESS.: A physical and psychological response that results from being exposed to a demand or pressure.
STRESS MANAGEMENT.: A set of techniques and programs intended to help people cope more effectively with stress in their lives by analyzing the specific stressors and taking positive actions to minimize their effects. Most stress management programs deal with job stress and workplace issues.
STRESSOR.: A stimulus or event that provokes a stress response in an organism. Stressors can be categorized as acute or chronic, and as external or internal to the organism.
STRIATUM.: A part of the basal ganglia, a deep structure in the cerebral hemisphere of the brain. Abnormally high levels of dopamine in the striatum are thought to be related to the delusions and hallucinations of schizophrenia.
STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION.: The term used to describe the method and philosophy of life associated with Rolfing. Its fundamental concept is the vertical line.
STUPOR.: A trance-like state that causes a person to appear numb to their environment.
SUBDURAL HEMATOMA.: Active bleeding or a blood clot inside the dura (leathery covering of the brain). This bleeding or clot causes swelling of the brain, and, untreated, the condition can cause death.
SUBJECTIVE.: Referring to a person's unique internal thoughts and feelings, as distinct from the objects of those thoughts and feelings in the eternal world.
SUBJECTIVE UNITS OF DISTRESS (SUDS) SCALE.: A scale used by patients during exposure treatment to rate their levels of fear and anxiety with numbers from zero to 100.
SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER.: Disorder that is characterized by: an individual's need for more of a drug or alcohol than intended, an inability to stop using by choice, and an ongoing difficulty in recovering from the effects of the substance.
SUBSTANTIA NIGRA.: Dark-colored matter located in a section of the crus cerebri area of the brain.
SUDDEN SNIFFING DEATH.: Death resulting from heart failure caused by heavy use of inhalants in a single lengthy session.
SUICIDE GESTURE.: Attempted suicide characterized by a low-lethality method, low level of intent or planning, and little physical damage. Pseudocide is another term for a suicide gesture.
SUPEREGO.: According to Freud, the part of the mind that represents traditional parental and societal values. The superego is the source of guilt feelings.
SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME.: A federal program that provides cash to meet basic needs for food, shelter and clothing for aged, blind, and disabled individuals who have little or no income.
SUPPORT GROUP.: A group whose primary purpose is the provision of empathy and emotional support for its members. Support groups are less formal and less goal-directed than group therapy.
SUPPORTIVE THERAPY.: An approach to psychotherapy that seeks to encourage the patient or offer emotional support to him or her, as distinct from insight-oriented or educational approaches to treatment.
SURVIVOR'S GUILT.: A psychological reaction in trauma survivors that takes the form of guilt feelings for having survived or escaped a trauma without serious injury when others did not.
SYDENHAM'S CHOREA.: A serious manifestation of acute rheumatic fever that commonly occurs in children ages seven through 14, peaking at age eight. This disease of the central nervous system is characterized by emotional instability, purposeless movements, and muscular weakness. At its peak in the 1950s it occured in nearly 50% of the acute rheumatic fever cases, but by 2002 had subsided to a degree of less than 10% of the acute cases.
SYNAPTIC CLEFT.: An area between nerve cells that can contain neurotransmitters.
SYNCOPE.: A brief lapse of consciousness caused by a temporarily insufficient flow of blood to the brain.
SYNDROME.: A group of symptoms that together characterize a disease or disorder.
SYSTOLIC.: Referring to the rhythmic contraction of the heart (systole), when the blood in the chambers of the heart is forced out. Systolic blood pressure is blood pressure measured during this phase.

T-GROUPS.: Short for "basic skills training groups" that are focused on education and discussion regarding social issues, personal problems experienced outside the group setting, and problems from one's past.
TACHYCARDIA.: A pulse rate above 100 beats per minute.
TACTILE/TACTUAL.: Perceptible by touch.

TANNIN.: An astringent compound found in chamomile, oak bark, and certain other plants. Tannin in large quantities can interfere with iron absorption.
TARDIVE DYSKINESIA.: A condition that involves involuntary movements of the tongue, jaw, mouth or face or other groups of skeletal muscles that usually occurs late in antipsychotic therapy or even after the therapy is discontinued. It may be irreversible.
TARGET BEHAVIOR.: The specific behavior to be increased or decreased during treatment.
TAU PROTEIN.: A protein that is involved in maintaining the internal structure of nerve cells. The tau protein is damaged in Alzheimer's disease and ends up forming the neurofibrillary tangles.
TEMPERAMENT.: A person's natural disposition or inborn combination of mental and emotional traits.
TEMPORAL LOBE.: Large lobe of each side of the brain that contains a sensory area associated with hearing.
TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT DISORDER (TMJ).: Inflammation, irritation, pain, limited range of motion, and clicking sounds in the jaw caused by improper opening and closing of the joint.
TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT DYSFUNCTION.: Condition resulting in pain in the head, face, and jaw. Muscle tension or abnormalities of the bones in the area of the hinged joint (the temporomandibular joint) between the lower jaw and the temporal bone are usually the cause.
TERMINATION.: The important process of ending a therapy group.
TETRAHYDRACANNABINOL (THC).: The active substance in marijuana.
THALAMUS.: The middle part of the diencephalon (a part of the human forebrain), responsible for transmitting and integrating information from the senses.
THEMATIC APPERCEPTION TEST (TAT).: A projective test using stories and descriptions of pictures to reveal some of the dominant drives, emotions, sentiments, conflicts, and complexes of a personality.
THEMATIC DREAM MATERIAL.: Psychoanalysts use the technique of dream interpretation to offer patients insight into their unconscious conflicts. The dreams of patients include themes, notions, or underlying ideas about specific objects, situations, or issues. When patients begin to understand the content or themes of their dreams, they may gain insight into their unconscious motives.
THERAPEUTIC ALLIANCE.: The technical term for the cooperative relationship between therapist and patient that is considered essential for successful psychotherapy.
THERAPEUTIC DYAD.: A term that refers to the two people involved in a psychotherapeutic relationship, namely the therapist and the person seeking treatment.
THERAPEUTIC LETTER.: A letter written to the deceased in order to help the survivors express feelings and thoughts they may not have been able to before the loss.
THERAPEUTIC TOUCH (TT).: An American form of energy therapy based on the ancient tradition of the laying-on of hands. TT is thought to work by removing energy blockages or disturbances from the patient's aura.
THERAPEUTIC VALUE.: The potential benefit of an object or situation, in terms of its ability to enhance functioning (social, emotional, intellectual, occupational, etc.) in an individual.
THERAPEUTIC WRITING.: A treatment technique in which patients are asked to set down in writing an account of the traumatic event and their emotional responses to it.
THERMISTOR.: An electrical device whose resistance decreases with rises in temperature.
THIAMIN.: A B-vitamin that is essential to normal metabolism and nerve function, and whose absorption is affected by alcoholism.
THORACIC.: Refers to the chest area. The thorax runs between the abdomen and neck and is encased in the ribs.
THOUGHT INSERTION/WITHDRAWAL.: The notion that an outside force (space aliens, evil people, etc.) can put thoughts or ideas into one's mind or remove them. It is considered one of the first-rank symptoms of schizophrenia.
THROMBOCYTOPENIA.: A condition involving abnormally low numbers of platelets (blood-clotting agents) in the blood; usually associated with hemorrhaging (bleeding).
THYROID.: A gland in the neck that produces the hormone thyroxin, which is responsible for regulating metabolic activity in the body. Supplemental synthetic thyroid hormone is available as pills taken daily when the thyroid fails to produce enough hormone.
THYROID HORMONE.: A complex hormone that regulates metabolic rate of all cells.
THYROTOXICOSIS.: A disease characterized by an enlarged thyroid gland and speeded-up body metabolism caused by excessive thyroid secretion. It is also known as Graves' disease.

TIC.: A sudden involuntary behavior that is difficult or impossible for the person to suppress. Tics may be either motor (related to movement) or vocal, and may become more pronounced under stress.
TINCTURE.: An alcohol-based herbal extract prepared by soaking parts of the plant in a mixture of alcohol and water. Established ratios and dilutions are followed.
TISSUE PLASMINOGEN ACTIVATOR (TPA).: A drug that is sometimes given to patients within three hours of a stroke to dissolve blood clots within the brain; also used to treat heart attack victims.
TOKEN.: Any item that can be seen and collected (such as stickers or points in a point tally) that has no value of its own, but is used as an immediate reward for desirable behavior that is later exchanged for back-up reinforcers.
TOLERANCE.: Progressive decrease in the effectiveness of a drug with long-term use.
TONIC-CLONIC (GRAND MAL) SEIZURE.: This is the most common type of seizure and is categorized into several phases beginning with vague symptoms hours or days before an attack. During the seizure, there is abnormal muscle contraction and relaxation and the individual may lose consciousness.
TOPICAL.: A type of medication or preparation intended for use on the skin or external surface of the body.
TORPOR.: Sluggishness or inactivity.
TOURETTE SYNDROME.: Neurological disorder characterized by multiple involuntary movements and uncontrollable vocalizations called tics that come and go over years, usually beginning in childhood and becoming chronic. Sometimes the tics include inappropriate language.
TOURNIQUET.: A rubber tube or length of cloth that is used to compress a blood vessel in order to stop bleeding or to shut off circulation in a part of the body. The tourniquet is wrapped around the arm (or other limb) and tightened by twisting.
TOXICOLOGY SCREEN.: A blood or urine test that detects the presence of toxic chemicals, alcohol, or drugs in body fluids.
TOXOCARIASIS.: Infection with roundworm larvae, commonly transmitted by the feces of dogs and cats.
TOXOPLASMOSIS.: A parasitic infection caused by the intracellular protozoan Toxoplasmosis gondii. Humans are most commonly infected by swallowing the oocyte form of the parasite in soil (or kitty litter) contaminated by feces from an infected cat; or by swallowing the cyst form of the parasite in raw or undercooked meat.
TRACE MINERAL.: An element essential to nutrition or bodily processes that is found in minute quantities.
TRACHEOSTOMY.: A surgical procedure in which an artificial opening is made in the patient's windpipe to relieve airway obstruction.
TRAIT ANXIETY.: A type of persistent anxiety found in some patients with generalized anxiety disorder. Trait anxiety is regarded as a feature (trait) of a person's temperament.
TRANQUILIZER.: A medication that induces a feeling of calm and relaxation.
TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION (TM).: A meditation technique based on Hindu practices that involves the repetition of a mantra.
TRANSSEXUAL.: A person whose gender identity is opposite his or her biologic sex.
TRANSVESTITE.: A person who derives sexual pleasure or gratification from dressing in clothing of the opposite sex.
TRAUMA.: A disastrous or life-threatening event that can cause severe emotional distress, including dissociative symptoms and disorders.
TREMOR.: Involuntary shaking of the hands and arms.
TREPANATION OR TREPANNING.: Surgical removal of a piece of the skull to expose the brain.
TRIANGLING.: A process in which two family members diminish the tension between them by drawing in a third member.
TRICHOBEZOAR.: A hairball that results from a buildup of swallowed hairs becoming lodged in the digestive system.
TRICHOPHAGIA.: Eating hair.
TRICHOPHAGY.: Biting hair.
TRICHOTILLOMANIA.: A disorder marked by repeated pulling and tugging of one's hair, usually resulting in noticeable hair loss on the scalp or elsewhere on the body.
TRICHURIASIS.: Infection with the larvae of roundworms. These parasites may live for 10–20 years in humans.

TRICYCLIC ANTIDEPRESSANTS (TCAS).: Antidepressant medications that have the common characteristic of a three-ring nucleus in their chemical structure. Imipramine and amitriptyline are examples of tricyclic antidepressants.
TRIGGER.: Any situation (people, places, times, events, etc.) that causes one to experience a negative emotional reaction, which is often accompanied by a display of symptoms or problematic behavior.
TRIGLYCERIDES.: Fats in the blood.
TRISOMY.: An abnormality in chromosomal development. Chromosomes are the structures within a cell that carry its genetic information. They are organized in pairs. Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes. In a trisomy syndrome, an extra chromosome is present so that the individual has three of a particular chromosome instead of the normal pair. An extra chromosome 18 (trisomy 18) causes mental retardation.
TRYPTOPHAN.: An essential amino acid released from proteins during the process of digestion. Tryptophan is an important ingredient in the body's production of serotonin.
TSUBO.: In shiatsu, a center of high energy located along one of the body's meridians. Stimulation of the tsubos during a shiatsu treatment is thought to rebalance the flow of vital energy in the body.
TUBERCULOSIS.: An infection caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis that usually affects the lungs. Individuals with tuberculosis may have nighttime sweating, fever, weight loss, cough, and may spit up blood and mucus.
TYPE II DIABETES.: Resistance to the effects of insulin in the presence of normal or elevated insulin levels, resulting in failure of glucose to enter cells and in a cascade of other abnormal physiologic reactions.
TYRAMINE.: Intermediate product between the chemicals tyrosine and epinephrine in the body and a substance normally found in many foods. Found especially in protein-rich foods that have been aged or fermented, pickled, or bacterially contaminated, such as cheese, beer, yeast, wine, and chicken liver.

ULTRASONOGRAPHY.: A process that uses the reflection of high-frequency sound waves to make an image of structures deep within the body. Ultrasonography is routinely used to detect fetal abnormalities. In stroke victims, a cardiac ultrasound, or echocardiogram, allows the beating heart to be examined.
UNCONDITIONAL POSITIVE REGARD.: A quality of the client-centered therapist, characterized by the therapist's acceptance of the client without judgment.
UNIVERSALITY.: The feeling of being isolated, unique, and separate from others, often experienced by therapy group members.
URETHRA.: The tubular passage conducting urine from the bladder to the exterior. In the male, the urethra traverses the penis.
URETHRITIS.: Inflammation of the urethra, which is the duct that carries urine and (in males) semen to the outside of the body.
URINARY INCONTINENCE.: A term that is sometimes used for enuresis in adults. Urinary incontinence is often found in patients with late-stage Alzheimer's disease or other adult-onset dementias.
URINARY RETENTION.: Excessive storage of urine in the body.
URINARY SYSTEM.: The kidney, urethra, bladder, and associated organs that process urine and eliminate it from the body.
UTERUS.: The hollow muscular sac in which a fetus develops; sometimes called the womb.
UTILIZATION REVIEW.: A process used by managed care organizations involving scrutiny of service care delivery to determine whether services are necessary.

VAGINA.: The part of the female reproductive system that opens to the exterior of the body and into which the penis is inserted during sexual intercourse.
VAGINISMUS.: An involuntary tightening of the vaginal muscles that makes sexual intercourse painful, difficult, or impossible.
VALERENIC ACID.: The primary medicinal component in valerian preparations.
VALIDITY.: The ability of a test to measure accurately what it claims to measure.
VASCULAR.: Pertaining to the bloodstream (arteries, veins, and blood vessels).
VETERAN'S ADMINISTRATION HOSPITALS.: Medical facilities operated by the federal government explicitly for veterans of the United States military.

VICARIOUS.: Acquired through imagined participation in the experience of others. Modeling is a form of vicarious learning.
VIRTUAL REALITY.: A realistic simulation of an environment, produced by a computer system using interactive hardware and software.
VOLATILE SOLVENT.: A solvent (substance that will dissolve another substance) that evaporates at room temperature.
VOYEUR.: A person who engages in the behavior of voyeurism.
VOYEURISM.: A paraphilia that involves watching unsuspecting people, usually strangers, undress or engage in sexual activity.
VULVAR VESTIBULITIS SYNDROME (VVS).: Vulvar vestibulitis syndrome is thought to be the most frequent cause of dyspareunia in premenopausal women. A chronic, persistent clinical syndrome, vulvar vestibulitis is characterized by severe pain on vestibular touch or attempted vaginal entry.

WAXY FLEXIBILITY.: A condition in which a person can be molded into a strange position and hold that position for a long period of time.
WERNICKE'S SYNDROME.: A group of symptoms that appears in some people who are dependent on alcohol. Due to low levels of thiamin, the syndrome results in disordered eye movements, very poor balance and difficulty walking.
WERNICKE-KORSAKOFF SYNDROME.: Group of symptoms that appears in people who are dependent on alcohol. The syndrome is due to a thiamin deficiency, and severely affects one's memory, preventing new learning from taking place.
WITHDRAWAL.: Symptoms experienced by a person who has become physically dependent on a drug, experienced when the drug use is discontinued.
WRAPAROUND.: A relatively new form of mental health service delivery that strives to accommodate all family members based on self-defined needs, flexibly incorporating both formal and informal community services.

XANTHINE.: A class of crystalline nitrogenous compounds that includes caffeine.

YIN AND YANG.: In traditional Chinese medicine and philosophy, a pair of opposing forces whose harmonious balance in the body is necessary to good health.
YOGA.: A system of exercises for achieving bodily or mental control and well-being.
YOGI (FEMININE, YOGINI).: A person who is a respected expert in or teacher of yoga.