Psychiatric Disorders Dictionary

addiction: A chronic, relapsing disease characterized by the compulsive seeking and abuse of a certain substance such as food, drugs, nicotine and alcohol. In addiction long-lasting chemical changes occur in the brain.

adolescence: The period of transition to adulthood from childhood to adulthood. The development to sexual maturity. Typically the 10-19 year age range is used to define adolescence. Early adolescence occurs from 10-14 years, and late adolescence from15-19 years.

affective spectrum: Related psychiatric and medical disorders which may accompany bipolar, unipolar and schizoaffective disorders at higher rates than should be expected.

anorexia: Lack or loss of an appetite for food, which is accompanied by a noticeable weight loss if it is chronic.

anticonvulsant: A class of drug that prevents or relieves convulsions, seizures or epilepsy.

antidepressant: A psychiatric medication or other substance that is used for alleviating depression or dysthmia.

antipsychotic: A class of drug which is primarily used to treat schizophrenic, paranoid, schizoaffective and other psychotic disorders.

anxiety disorder: A condition characterized by extreme, chronic anxiety that disturbs mood, thought, behavior and/or physiological activity.

aromatherapy: The use of essential oils from plants, flowers, trees and herbs to achieve health, vitality and rejuvenation of the body, mind and spirit. Different oils can be used for different therapeutic benefits.

arrhythmia: Any variation from the normal rhythm of the heartbeat. Includes affections such as sinus arrhythmia, arrial flutter, heart block, premature beat, atrial fibrillation and paroxystic tachycardia.

behavioral therapy: A therapeutic method that focuses on modifying or the unlearning of a maladaptive behavior. Problem behaviors are identified and discouraged.

binge drinking: Heavy drinking that occurs during an extended period of time. Five or more drinks in a row on a single occasion for a man or four or more drinks for a woman.

binge eating: Eating an abnormally large amount of food within a certain amount of time, typically accompanied by a feeling of lack of control over eating. Binge eating occurs in bulimia.

bipolar disorder: A category of mood disorders defined by the presence of one or more episodes of abnormally elevated mood, or mania.

bipolar disorder: A disorder in which a person experiences recurrent bouts of depression and mania or hypomania. Previously referred to as manic depressive illness.

body image: The perception of one's body related to appearance and function. A person with a poor body image will perceive their own body as being unattractive. While a person with good body image will accept it as is.

bright light therapy: A treatment that uses exposure to specific wavelengths of light using lasers, LEDs and fluorescent lamps, as well as dichroic lamps or very bright, full spectrum light.

bulimia: An eating disorder that is characterized by binge eating that is followed by fasting, self-induced vomiting or the use of diuretics and/or laxatives.

carbohydrates: Simple organic compounds that are often craved by SAD sufferers.

circadian rhythm: A physiological process that helps regulate the body’s internal clock to let someone know when a person can sleep or wake.

clinical depression: A common psychiatric disorder that is characterized by a persistent lowering of mood, loss of interest in usual activities and a diminished ability to experience pleasure.

compliance: The act of submitting or giving your power over to another person.

cyclic: A type of condition in which signs and symptoms usually come back and go away at the same times every year.

cyclothymia: A mild mood disorder that is sometimes considered to be more of a personality trait than an illness. Cyclothymia is characterized by periods of mild depression followed by periods of normal or even slightly elevated mood.

dawn simulation: A technique used in treatment of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) that involves timing lights in the bedroom to come on gradually, over a period of 30 minutes to 2 hours, before awakening.

dehydration: An excessive loss of fluids from the body.

delusional disorder: A mental disorder in which a person suffers from persistent false beliefs.

depression: Any downturn in mood, which may be relatively transitory and even due to something trivial. This is different than clinical depression (see definition).

detoxification: The process of removing toxic substances (such as alcohol or drugs) from the body.

dopamine: A neurotransmitter in the brain that is associated with motor activity, reward, learning, memory and various other functions.

dysthymia: A depressionary mood disorder that is longer lasting and less disabling.

electroconvulsive therapy: A procedure in which an electric current is used produce a seizure in a patient. This is used to relieve symptoms of depression and other mental disorders.