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.
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