Glossary
ADHD
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder marked by persistent patterns of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interfere with functioning or development.
Example:
A student with ADHD might find it challenging to sit still during a lecture or to complete assignments without getting easily distracted.
APA
The American Psychological Association is the leading scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States.
Example:
The APA publishes research journals and sets ethical guidelines for psychologists, ensuring professional conduct and advancing the field.
ASD
Autism Spectrum Disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulties in social interaction and communication, and restricted or repetitive patterns of behavior.
Example:
A child with ASD might struggle to make eye contact or engage in reciprocal conversations, preferring to focus intensely on a specific toy or topic.
Anorexia Nervosa
An eating disorder characterized by an extreme fear of gaining weight, a distorted body image, and severe restriction of food intake, leading to dangerously low body weight.
Example:
Despite being severely underweight, a person with Anorexia Nervosa might look in the mirror and perceive themselves as overweight.
Antisocial personality disorder
A personality disorder characterized by a pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others, often involving deceitfulness, impulsivity, and a lack of empathy.
Example:
An individual with Antisocial personality disorder might repeatedly lie, manipulate others for personal gain, and show no remorse for their harmful actions.
Anxiety
A state of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an event or something with an uncertain outcome.
Example:
Before a big exam, it's normal to feel some anxiety, but persistent and overwhelming worry that interferes with daily life can be a sign of a disorder.
BP
Bipolar Disorder is a mood disorder characterized by alternating periods of extreme highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression).
Example:
A person with BP might experience weeks of intense energy and euphoria, followed by weeks of profound sadness and hopelessness.
Binge-eating Disorder
An eating disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of consuming unusually large amounts of food in a short period, accompanied by a feeling of loss of control, but without compensatory behaviors.
Example:
Someone with Binge-eating Disorder might eat an entire pizza and a box of donuts in one sitting, feeling distressed and ashamed afterward, but not attempting to purge.
Bulimia Nervosa
An eating disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating (consuming large amounts of food) followed by compensatory behaviors, such as self-induced vomiting, excessive exercise, or laxative misuse.
Example:
After consuming a large quantity of food, an individual with Bulimia Nervosa might feel intense guilt and then engage in purging behaviors to prevent weight gain.
Catatonia
A state of immobility and unresponsiveness, often seen in severe psychological disorders like schizophrenia, where a person may remain motionless for extended periods.
Example:
A patient exhibiting catatonia might hold an unusual body posture for hours, seemingly unaware of their surroundings.
Competency to stand trial
A legal term referring to a defendant's ability to understand the legal proceedings against them and to assist in their own defense.
Example:
If a defendant's mental state is severely impaired, a judge might order a psychological evaluation to determine their competency to stand trial.
Conversion Disorder
A condition where psychological stress or trauma is converted into physical symptoms affecting sensory or motor function, such as paralysis or blindness, without a neurological basis.
Example:
After witnessing a traumatic event, a person might suddenly experience conversion disorder, losing their ability to speak, despite no physical damage to their vocal cords.
DID
Dissociative Identity Disorder, formerly known as multiple personality disorder, is characterized by the presence of two or more distinct personality states that recurrently take control of the individual's behavior.
Example:
An individual with DID might have different 'alters' that emerge, each with their own unique voice, mannerisms, and memories.
DSM-5
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, is the standard classification system used by mental health professionals to diagnose psychological disorders.
Example:
A psychologist might consult the DSM-5 to ensure a patient's symptoms align with the diagnostic criteria for Major Depressive Disorder.
Delusions
False beliefs that are firmly held despite clear evidence to the contrary and are not consistent with the person's culture.
Example:
A person experiencing delusions of grandeur might genuinely believe they are a famous historical figure or possess extraordinary powers.
Depression
A mood disorder characterized by persistent sadness, loss of interest or pleasure in activities, changes in appetite or sleep, and feelings of worthlessness or guilt.
Example:
After experiencing a significant loss, a person might fall into a deep depression, struggling to find joy in anything they once loved.
Dissociative disorders
Conditions involving disruptions or breakdowns of memory, awareness, identity, or perception, often as a way to cope with trauma.
Example:
Someone experiencing dissociative disorders might feel detached from their body or have gaps in their memory regarding significant life events.
Dissociative fugue
A rare dissociative disorder where a person suddenly travels away from home or work, often assuming a new identity, and is unable to remember their past.
Example:
A person experiencing dissociative fugue might suddenly disappear from their life, only to be found weeks later in a different city with no recollection of how they got there.
Etiology
The cause or origin of a disease or disorder, often involving a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors.
Example:
Researchers are studying the etiology of schizophrenia, looking into genetic predispositions, brain chemistry, and environmental stressors.
Explanatory style
A person’s habitual way of explaining life events, particularly successes and failures, which can significantly impact their mood and resilience.
Example:
Someone with a pessimistic explanatory style might attribute a failed test to their own lack of intelligence, rather than to external factors like a difficult exam.
Flat affect
A severe reduction in emotional expressiveness, where a person shows little or no emotion in their facial expressions, tone of voice, or body language.
Example:
Despite receiving exciting news, a person with flat affect might respond with a monotone voice and an unchanging facial expression.
GAD
Generalized Anxiety Disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by persistent, excessive, and uncontrollable worry about various aspects of life, often without a specific focus.
Example:
Someone with GAD might constantly worry about their finances, their health, their family's well-being, and even minor daily tasks, feeling restless and on edge.
Hallucinations
Sensory experiences that occur in the absence of external stimuli, such as seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, or feeling things that are not real.
Example:
During a psychotic episode, an individual might experience auditory hallucinations, hearing voices that no one else can perceive.
Insanity defense
A legal argument that a person should not be held criminally responsible for an illegal act due to a mental disorder that prevented them from understanding the nature of their actions or knowing they were wrong.
Example:
The defense attorney argued for an insanity defense, claiming the defendant's severe psychosis at the time of the crime rendered them unable to distinguish right from wrong.
Labeling
The process of assigning a diagnostic label to a person, which can provide clarity for treatment but also lead to stigma or self-fulfilling prophecies.
Example:
While a diagnosis can help a person understand their struggles, the labeling of 'depressed' might sometimes lead to others making assumptions about their capabilities.
MDD
Major Depressive Disorder is a severe form of depression characterized by a persistent depressed mood or loss of interest in activities for at least two weeks, along with other specific symptoms.
Example:
A diagnosis of MDD would be given to someone experiencing profound sadness, fatigue, and an inability to concentrate on daily tasks for an extended period.
Mania
A state of abnormally elevated mood, energy, and activity, often accompanied by racing thoughts, decreased need for sleep, and impulsive behavior.
Example:
During a period of mania, an individual might feel invincible, engage in reckless spending, and speak rapidly for hours without interruption.
Neurocognitive Disorders
A group of conditions characterized by a decline in cognitive functioning, such as memory, attention, language, or problem-solving, typically due to brain damage or disease.
Example:
Alzheimer's disease is a common form of Neurocognitive Disorder, leading to progressive memory loss and cognitive decline.
Neurodevelopmental Disorders
A group of conditions that begin early in development and are characterized by developmental deficits that produce impairments of personal, social, academic, or occupational functioning.
Example:
Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder are examples of Neurodevelopmental Disorders that affect how the brain develops and functions.
OCD
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is characterized by unwanted, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) that lead to repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) performed to reduce anxiety.
Example:
A person with OCD might have an obsession with germs, leading to compulsive handwashing rituals that consume a significant portion of their day.
Panic Disorder
An anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent, unexpected panic attacks, which are sudden episodes of intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms like heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and dizziness.
Example:
During a panic attack, a person might feel like they are having a heart attack or are about to die, even though there is no real danger.
Personality disorders
Conditions characterized by inflexible and unhealthy patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving that deviate markedly from cultural expectations and cause significant distress or impairment.
Example:
Someone with a personality disorder might consistently struggle with interpersonal relationships due to rigid and maladaptive ways of interacting with others.
Phobia
An irrational, intense, and persistent fear of a specific object or situation that is disproportionate to the actual danger posed.
Example:
A person with arachnophobia experiences extreme terror and avoids any situation where they might encounter a spider, even a small, harmless one, demonstrating a severe phobia.
Posttraumatic growth
Positive psychological change experienced as a result of struggling with highly challenging life circumstances or trauma.
Example:
After surviving a serious illness, some individuals report posttraumatic growth, finding new appreciation for life, stronger relationships, and a clearer sense of purpose.
Psychogenic amnesia
Memory loss due to psychological trauma or stress, rather than a physical injury or neurological condition.
Example:
Following a traumatic car accident, a survivor might experience psychogenic amnesia, unable to recall any details of the crash itself.
Psychological disorders
Conditions characterized by abnormal thoughts, feelings, or behaviors that cause significant distress or impairment in an individual's life.
Example:
Experiencing persistent sadness, loss of interest in activities, and difficulty sleeping for several months could indicate a psychological disorder like depression.
Psychosis
A severe mental disorder in which thought and emotions are so impaired that contact is lost with external reality, often characterized by delusions and hallucinations.
Example:
The sudden onset of disorganized speech and a belief that one is being persecuted could be indicative of a psychosis.
Rumination
The tendency to repetitively dwell on negative thoughts and feelings, often about past events or potential future problems, without actively seeking solutions.
Example:
After a minor disagreement, a person might engage in rumination, replaying the conversation over and over in their mind, intensifying their negative emotions.
SAD
Seasonal Affective Disorder is a type of depression that occurs at certain times of the year, typically during the fall and winter months when there is less natural sunlight.
Example:
Someone living in a northern climate might experience SAD, feeling lethargic and down during the dark winter months but feeling much better in the spring.
Schizophrenia
A chronic psychotic disorder characterized by disturbances in thought, perception, emotion, and behavior, often involving delusions and hallucinations.
Example:
Someone experiencing schizophrenia might believe that government agents are communicating with them through coded messages on television.
Social Anxiety Disorder
An anxiety disorder characterized by an intense fear of social situations where one might be scrutinized, judged, or humiliated by others.
Example:
Someone with Social Anxiety Disorder might avoid public speaking or even eating in front of others due to overwhelming fear of negative evaluation.
Somatic Symptom Disorder
A condition where psychological distress manifests as significant physical symptoms, causing distress or functional impairment, without a clear medical explanation.
Example:
A person with Somatic Symptom Disorder might experience chronic pain or fatigue that severely impacts their daily life, even after extensive medical evaluations find no physical cause.
Somatogenic
Originating from physical or biological causes, often used in contrast to psychogenic origins.
Example:
Early theories about mental illness sometimes focused solely on somatogenic explanations, such as imbalances in bodily fluids.
Substance use disorder
A condition characterized by the compulsive use of a substance despite harmful consequences, leading to significant impairment or distress.
Example:
Despite losing their job and damaging relationships, a person with a substance use disorder might continue to prioritize obtaining and using drugs.