Psychiatric Disorders Dictionary

acute mania: An excited mental state seen in a bipolar disorder. Acute mania is characterized by hyperactivity, talkativeness, grandiosity and, sometimes, grandiose delusions.

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.

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 class of drug used to relieve or prevent the symptoms of mood or anxiety disorders.

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

antisocial: Shunning "normal" contact with others. Someone who is hostile to or disruptive of normal standards of social behavior is considered antisocial. Criminal behavior that violates the rights of other individuals is classified as antisocial.

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 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.

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.

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

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.

dehydration: An excessive loss of fluids from the body.

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

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.