GLOSSARY OF MENTAL ILLNESSES
Many misunderstandings in the depiction of people with mental illnesses have arisen from misunderstanding of the vocabulary of mental illnesses, or inaccuracies in that vocabulary's use. The following glossary has been developed from The American Psychiatric Association's Psychiatric Glossary and a list prepared by the Mental Health Association in Los Angeles County, of preferred and misunderstood terms used to describe mental illnesses. The glossary contains examples of both proper language and language that perpetuates misunderstanding and stigma. Those marked with an asterisk (*) are examples of outmoded, inaccurate and stigmatizing language.
Select the first letter of the word from the list above to jump to the appropriate section of the glossary. If the term you are looking for starts with a digit or symbol, choose the '#' link.
- Addiction-
- Dependence on a chemical substance to the extent that a physiological or strong psychological need is established. The need appears as withdrawal symptoms when the substance is removed. Narcotics, alcohol, nicotine and most sedative drugs may produce addiction.
- AIDS-related dementia-
- One of the syndromes commonly associated with infection by the AIDS virus. AIDS-related dementia, which is caused by the disease's effect on the central nervous system, usually begins with impaired concentration and mild memory loss and is often misdiagnosed as depression or as a psychological response to the threat of impending death. Over a period of several weeks or months, the syndrome causes severe deterioration in mental functioning and motor control.
- Alcoholism-
- A chronic illness evidenced by compulsive, repeated drinking that injures one's health and social and economic functioning.
- Alzheimer's disease-
- A progressive, irreversible disease, most prevalent late in life, characterized by deterioration of the brain cells and leading to impaired mental functioning.
- Anorexia nervosa-
- An eating disorder characterized by severe and prolonged refusal to eat, extreme weight loss, distorted body image, termination of the menstural cycle or impotence, and intense fear of becoming obese; most often occurs in girls and young women.
- Antidepressants-
- A wide range of medications used principally to prevent or relieve the symptoms of depression. Antidepressants can't make someone feel better than he/she normally does, but they can help him/her feel as good as he/she did before becoming depressed. These medications include the benzodiazepines, beta-blocks, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) and tricyclics.
- Anxiety-
- Anxiety and fear are often used to describe the same thing. When the word "anxiety" is used to discuss a group of mental illnesses (anxiety disorders), it refers to an unpleasant and overriding inner emotional tension that has no apparent identifiable cause. Fear, on the other, causes emotional tension due to to specific, external reason. Anxiety disorders include phobias, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. These disorders are severe enough to interfere with social or occupational functioning.
- *Asylum-
- An outmoded term for hospitals specializing in the treatment of mental illnesses.
- Attention Deficit Disorder-
- A childhood disorder characterized by short attention span and poor concentration.
- Autism-
- A condition caused by a physical disorder of the brain that appears during the first three years of life. Symptoms include disturbances in physical, social and language skills; abnormal responses to sensations; and abnormal ways of relating to people, objects and events.
- Behavior Therapy-
- A form of treatment based on the theory that a troubled person's behavior results from learned bad habits. This type of therapy seeks to modify such behavior by teaching new adaptive skills.
- Benzodiazepines-
- A class of medications that has a tranquilizing effect by depressing the central nervous system.
- Bipolar (Manic-Depressive) Disorder-
- A major affective or mood disorder in which there are episodes of both mania and severe, disabling depression. Psychiatric researchers believe it is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain.
- Bulimia-
- A disorder characterized by compulsive eating binges followed by some effort to counteract the weight gain that would result from these binges--usually vomiting, but often excessive exercising, fasting or use of diet pills, laxatives or diuretics. Over concern with weight and body shape are also symptoms of bulimia. It is often accompanied by depression.
- Chronic-
- Continuing over a long period of time or recurring frequently. Chronic conditions often begin inconspicuously and symptoms are less pronounced than in acute conditions
- Cognitive Therapy-
- A treatment method based on the theory that negative thinking, perception and attitude cause psychological disturbances, especially depression, and that these problems can be corrected through rational understanding.
- *Combat Fatigue-
- Along with "battle fatigue" and "shell-shock", this is an outmoded term of post-traumatic stress disorder. If used, "battle fatigue," "combat fatigue" and "shell-shock" are misleading in that they lead people to believe that PTSD is a condition arising only from the trauma of war. Actually, it is a condition much more common to victims of accidents, rape and other forms of domestic violence.
- Compulsion-
- An insistent, repetitive and unwanted urge to perform an act as a means of relieving anxiety. However ritualistic behavior, such as repeated hand washing, is not related realistically to what the person is trying to avoid.
- Confidentiality-
- The ethical principle that a physician may not reveal any information disclosed in the course of medical treatment.
- Crack-
- A street name for rock-like pieces or pellet-sized chips of cocaine. Crack is smoked, creating an intensely euphoric feeling in the user within 4 to 6 seconds, followed by an overwhelming low period within 5 to 7 minutes. Crack is more addictive than heroin and produces many side effects, including a dramatic rise in blood pressure, heart rate and temperature; narrowing of the arteries to restrict blood flow to the heart, possibly causing a heart attack; erratic and ineffective heart beat, possibly resulting in death; and respiratory failure.
- *Crazy-
- Along with numerous terms--such as "nuts," "wacko," "looney" or bonkers--these are generic, insulting terms used to describe mentally ill people or people who are acting in an eccentric manner. Not only are they denigrating, they are also inaccurate catch-all terms, lumping all mental illnesses together. Specific mental illnesses have specific symptoms, and specific names.
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- Delirium Tremens (DTs)-
- An acute and sometimes fatal brain disorder (in 10 to 15 percent of untreated cases) caused by total or partial withdrawal from excessive alcohol intake. Usually developing 24 to 96 hours after a person stops drinking, it is a medical emergency. Symptoms include fever, tremors, failure of muscle coordination and sometimes convulsions, frightening delusions and hallucinations. The disorder is often accompanied by nutritional deficiencies.
- Delusion-
- A false belief persistently held despite indisputable and obvious proof to the contrary. The belief id not one ordinarily accepted by other members of the person's culture. Examples are delusions of grandeur or of persecution.
- Dementia-
- A disorder in which there is loss or impairment of mental powers due to organic causes (physical disease) and severe enough to interfere with work or social functioning. Memory disturbance is the most prominent symptom. Other symptoms include personality change and impairment of abstract thinking, judgment and control of impulses. Dementia may be progressive, static or reversible, depending on the particular conditions of the disease and its treatment.
- Depression-
- When used to describe a mood, depression refers to what may be normal feelings of sadness, despair and discouragement. Most serious depression may be a symptom of a variety of physical and mental disorders, a syndrome of associated symptoms secondary to an underlying disorder or it may itself be a specific mental disorder. The disorder known as major depression is characterized by slowed thinking, decreased purposeful physical activity, sleep and appetite disturbances, low self-esteem, loss of sex drive and feelings guilt and hopelessness.
- Diagnosis-
- The process of determining the nature of a case, disease or illness by examining the signs and symptoms.
- Dopamine-
- A neurotransmitter (brain chemical). Disturbance in the level of dopamine may be associated with some forms of psychosis such as schizophrenia and with abnormal movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease. Research suggests that neurons sensitive to dopamine may play an important role in the positive reinforcing properties of cocaine and the opiate drugs.
- Down's Syndrome-
- The preferred term used for what was once known as Mongolism, a common form of mental retardation caused by a chromosomal abnormality. In addition to mental deficiency, the disease is characterized by a broad face with widely spaced, slanting eyes, small flat-backed head, lax joints, flabby hands, small ears and congenital abnormalities of the heart.
- Eating Disorders-
- Marked disturbance in eating behavior, including, among others, overeating, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and pica.
- Ego-
- In psychoanalytic theory, one of the three major divisions in the psyche, the others being id and the superego. Psychiatric use of the term should not be confused with common usage, which usually connotes self-love or selfishness.
- Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)-
- Use of electric current applied to the brain to induce convulsive seizures. This form of therapy is most effective in the treatment of major depression, particularly for patients who cannot take medications due to heart conditions, old age, severe malnourishment or inability to respond to antidepressant drugs. An anesthetic and muscle relaxant are used to protect patients from injury or pain. "Electroconvulsive therapy" or "ECT" are the preferred terms over "shock treatment."
- Epilepsy-
- A disorder characterized by periodic motor or sensory seizures, or their equivalents, resulting from abnormal electrical discharge generated within the brain; sometimes accompanied by a loss of consciousness. Some cases of epilepsy have a known organic cause, while others are a result of organic injury.
- Euphoria-
- An exaggerated feeling of emotional and physical well being, usually of psychological origin. This condition is seen in organic mental disorders, toxic and drug-induced states and mania.
- Exhibitionism-
- A paraphilia in which sexual gratification is derived from exposure of one's genitals to a person in socially unacceptable situations. More common in males than in females.
- Family Therapy-
- A form of psychotherapy which treats the family rather than the individual, bringing the entire family together for therapeutic sessions. This type of therapy is based on the theory that improvement of communication and emotional expression among family members promotes understanding and cooperation
- Fear-
- A normal emotion and physiological response to recognized external sources of danger. Fear is characterized by alarm, apprehension, or agitation. Unrealistic fears are common in a variety of psychiatric conditions.
- Fetishism-
- A paraphilia in which any nonsexual object, such as a foot or glove, abnormally excites erotic feelings.
- Freud, Sigmund (1856-1939)-
- An Austrian neurologist recognized as the founder of psychoanalysis.
- Frigid-
- A term commonly used to describe a woman who is unable to achieve orgasm through physical stimulation, or who is repelled by sexual activity. May be caused by any number of physical, psychological or interpersonal problems.