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electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
electrical shock applied to the brain to induce convulsions; used to treat severely depressed patients
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light therapy
use of specialized illuminating light boxes and visors to treat seasonal affective disorder
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psychotherapy
treatment of psychiatric disorders using verbal and nonverbal interaction with patients, individually or in a group, employing specific actions and techniques
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behavioral therapy
treatment to decrease or stop unwanted behavior
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cognitive therapy
treatment to change unwanted patterns of thinking
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psychotropic drugs
medications used to treat mental illnesses
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antianxiety agents, anxiolytic agents
drugs used to reduce anxiety
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antidepressant
agent that counteracts depression
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neuroleptic agents
drugs used to treat psychosis, especially schizophrenia
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autism
developmental disability commonly appearing during the first 3 years of life, resulting from a neurological disorder affecting brain function, evidenced by difficulties with verbal & nonverbal communication, & an inability to relate to anything beyond oneself in social interactions. Often exhibit rocking, repetitive hand movements, meaningless rituals, preoccupation with small objects or moving parts
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dyslexia
developmental disability characterized by a difficulty understanding written or spoken words, sentences, or paragraphs, affecting reading, spelling, and self-expression
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attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
dysfunction characterized by consistent hyperactivity, distractibility, and lack of control over impulses, which interferes with the ability to function normally at school, home, or work; specific criteria must be met before a Dx is made
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mental retardation
condition of subaverage intelligence charcterized by an IQ of 70 or below, resulting in the inability to adapt to normal social activities
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anorexia nervosa
severe disturbance in eating behavior caused by abnormal perceptions about one's body weight, evidenced by an overwhelming fear of becoming fat that results in refusal to eat & body weight well below normal
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bulimia nervosa
eating disorder characterized by binge eating followed by efforts to limit digestion through induced vomiting, use of laxitives, or excessive exercise
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substance abuse disorders
mental disorders resulting from abuse of substances (drugs, alcohol, other toxins) causing personal & social dysfunction ; identified by the abused substance, such as alcohol abuse, etc.
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schizophrenia
disease of brain chemistry causing distorted cognitive & emotional perception of one's environment characterized by a broad range of "positive" & "negative" symptoms. Positive include distortions of normal function (disorganized thought, delusions, hallucinations). Negative include flat affect, apathy, withdrawal from reality.
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disorganized schizophrenia
featuring disorganized speech, behavior, and flat or inappropriate affect
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catatonic schizophrenia
featuring catatonia
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paranoid schizophrenia
featuring delusions, most often persecutory or grandiose types
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schizoaffective disorder
concurrent with major depression or manic depression
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major depression, major depressive illness, clinical depression, major affective disorder, unipolar disorder
disorder causing periodic disturbances in the mood that affect concentration, sleep, activity, appetite, and social behavior; characterized by feelings of worthlessness, fatigue, and loss of interest
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dysthymia
milder affective disorder characterized by a chronic depression persisting for at least 2 years
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manic depression, bipolar disorder (BD)
affective disorder characterized by mood swings of mania and depression (extreme up and down states)
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seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
affective disorder marked by episodes of depression that most often occur during the fall and winter and remit in the springs
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generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
most common, characterized by chronic, excessive, & uncontrollable worry about everyday problems that affects the ability to relax or concentrate but doesn't interfere with social interactions or employment; physical symptoms are muscle tension, trembling, twitching, fatigue, headaches, nausea, and insomnia - symptoms must exist for 6 months before dx can be made
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panic disorder (PD)
disorder of sudden, recurrent attacks of intense feelings including physical symptoms that mimic a heart attack such as rapid heart rate, chest pain, shortness of breath, chills, sweating, & dizziness, with general sense of loss of control or feeling that death is imminent; often progresses to agoraphobia
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phobia
exaggerated fear of a specific object or circumstance that causes anxiety & panic; named for the object or circumstance
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agoraphobia
fear of marketplace
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claustrophobia
fear of confinement
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acrophobia
fear of high places
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posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
condition resulting from an extremely traumatic experience, injury, or illness that leaves the sufferer with persistent thoughts & memories of the ordeal
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obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
anxiety disorder featuring unwanted, senseless obsessions accompanied by repeated compulsions, which can interfere with all aspects of life
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hypochondriasis
preoccupation with thoughts of disease and concern that one is suffering from a serious condition that persists despite medical reassurance to the contrary
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affect
emotional feeling or mood
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flat affect
significantly dulled emotional tone or outward reaction
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apathy
lack of interest or display of emotions
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catatonia
state of unresponsiveness to one's outside environment, usually including muscle rigidity, staring, and inability to communicate
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delusion
persistent belief that has no basis in reality
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grandiose delusion
person's false belief that he or she possesses great wealth, intelligence, or power
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persecutory delusion
person's false belief that someone is plotting against him or her with intent to harm
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dysphoria
restless, dissatisfied mood
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euphoria
exaggerated, unfounded feelings of well-being
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hallucination
false perception of the senses for which there is no reality, most commonly hearing or seeing things
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alucinor
to wander in mind
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ideation
formation of thoughts of ideas (ex. suicidal thoughts)
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mania
state of abnormal elation and increased activity
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neurosis
psychological condition in which anxiety is prominent
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psychosis
mental condition characterized by distortion of reality, resulting in the inability to communicate or function within one's environment
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thought disorder
thought that lacks clear processing or logical direction
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