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Glossary of Mental Health Terms
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Anxiety, fear and other symptoms that occur within one (1) month after exposure to an extreme traumatic stressor.
A state of dependence produced by the habitual taking of drugs, including alcohol, characterised by compulsion, loss of control and continued patterns of use despite negative consequences.
Fear and anxiety about being in places or situations from which escape may be difficult (or embarrassing), or in which help may not be available in the event of having a Panic Attack. Fear of the outdoors or going out, especially alone. It is the most common phobia.
Eating disorder in which the person starves him/herself or uses other techniques such as vomiting, to induce weight loss. It is motivated by a false perception of being fat and/or phobia about becoming fat. It can be life threatening.
A form of neurosis in which anxiety dominates the person's life. Examples are Acute Stress Disorder, Agoraphobia, Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Panic Attack, Panic Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Separation Anxiety Disorder, Social Phobia, Specific Phobia, Substance-induced Anxiety Disorder.
A severe mental illness with repeated episodes of mania and depression. The person is usually well in the intervals between episodes.
The mechanism for ensuring continuity of care across inpatient and community settings, for access to and co-ordination of the range of services necessary to meet the individual and identified needs of a person within and outside the mental health service.
An illness or disorder which is severe in degree and persistent in duration. The symptoms may be permanent or episodic. There may also be a substantially diminished level of functioning in the primary aspects of daily living.
The provision of routine treatment and support services in a variety of community settings to people with mental disorders and serious mental health problems. These include clinic based services, outpatient services, domiciliary and other visiting services, and consultation and liaison services to general practitioners, primary health care and private sector providers.
Irresistible impulsive behaviour in which a person feels compelled to carry out certain actions, such as repetitive hand washing based on a fear of contamination.
The provision of barrier-free access to the necessary range of health care services and other support agencies, with the level of support and care varying according to individual needs.
A health professional who helps clients and families evaluate their patterns of problem solving and develop more effective ones.
A turning point that results from a stressful event or a perceived threat to one's well-being that cannot be readily solved by methods that have been successful in the past.
A disorder with marked swings of mood from cheerfulness to depression. These fluctuations are not as severe as those of Bipolar affective disorder.
Delirium associated with excessive use of alcohol, usually seen as a withdrawal symptom. Features include anxiety, tremor, sweating, and vivid and terrifying visual and sensory hallucinations.
Irrational belief that cannot be altered by rational argument. In mental illness it is often a false belief that the person is persecuted by others, or is a victim of physical disease.
A chronic or persistent disorder of the mental processes due to organic brain disease. It is marked by short term memory loss, changes in personality, deterioration in personal care, impaired reasoning ability, and disorientation.
The physical and/or psychological effects produced by the habitual taking of certain drugs, including alcohol, leading to a compulsion to continue to take the drug.
A mental state characterised by excessive sadness. Activity may be agitated and restless or slow and retarded. The person may experience feelings of worthlessness, despair and extreme pessimism. There are usually disruptions to sleep, appetite and concentration.
The essential feature of a Major Depressive Episode is a period of at least two (2) weeks during which there is either depressed mood or the loss of interest or pleasure in nearly all activities. In children and adolescents, the mood may be irritable rather than sad.
A chronic condition that makes a person unable to perform in a usual manner.
A disorder with disorganised speech, disorganised behaviour and flat or inappropriate mood. The disorganised speech may be accompanied by silliness and laughter that are not closely related to the content of the speech.
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders 4th Edition.
A treatment for severe depression and sometimes for schizophrenia and mania. A convulsion is produced by passing an electric current through the brain.
A tracing to record electrical discharges in the brain. The pattern of EEG reflects the state of the person's brain and level of consciousness. EEG is used to detect and locate disease such a tumours and epilepsy.
Psychotherapeutic treatment of the family as a unit to clarify and modify the ways they relate together and communicate.
False sensory perception of something that is not really there. It may involve, vision, touch, taste or smell.
A disease with involuntary jerky movements particularly affecting the shoulders, hips and face, and accompanied by a progressive dementia.
A distinct period during which there is a mild degree of mania or elevated mood that lasts at least four (4) days. This period must be accompanied by at least three (3) symptoms: decreased need for sleep, rapid and animated speech, flight of ideas etc.
A neurosis, with emotional instability, repression, dissociation, physical symptoms such as paralysis. This is not the same as malingering and it should not be confused with psychopathic conditions.
A false perception due to misinterpretation of stimuli. For example, a person may misinterpret the conversation of others as the voices of enemies conspiring to destroy him or her.
A degree of mental illness such that the affected person is not responsible for his/her actions or is not capable of entering into a legal contract. This term is used in legal rather than medical contexts.
Syndrome occurring to hospitalised clients, characterised by a loss of identity as a person, seeing oneself instead as a patient with total dependence on external sources of reinforcement, pleasure and affirmation. The person loses community living skills and feels uncomfortable in environments other than the institution.
A organic disorder affecting the brain that results in a memory defect in which new information fails to be learnt although events from the past are still recalled. The commonest cause is alcoholism, especially when this has led to a deficiency of vitamin B1.
A state of mind characterised by excessive cheerfulness and increased activity. The mood is euphoric and changes rapidly to irritability. Thought and speech are rapid to the point of incoherence and behaviour may be overactive, extravagant, overbearing. There may be grandiose delusions.
A distinct period during which there is an abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive or irritable mood. This period of abnormal mood must last at least one (1) week.
A severe mental illness with repeated episodes of mania and depression. The person is usually well in the intervals between episodes.
Examination in which the following mental processes are reviewed: appearance and behaviour, thought content, sensorium and intellect, thought processes, emotional tone and insight.
A mental illness in which insight is retained but there is a maladaptive way of behaving or thinking that causes suffering. For example, depression, anxiety, phobias or obsessions.
A recurrent thought, feeling or action which the person cannot prevent, that is unpleasant and provokes anxiety.
A disorder with persistent ideas, thoughts, impulses or Images that are experienced as intrusive and inappropriate and that cause marked anxiety or distress. Compulsions are repetitive behaviours (eg., handwashing, ordering, checking) or mental acts (eg., praying, counting, repeating words silently) the goal of which is to prevent or reduce anxiety or distress.
Statements of measurable client goals that are expected to be reached as a result of therapeutic interventions.
A disorder with deeply ingrained and maladaptive patterns of behaviour, persisting through many years, usually commencing in adolescence. The abnormality of the behaviour must be sufficiently severe that it causes suffering, either to the patient or to other people or both.
Unrealistic fear or aversion to a situation or thing. Avoiding the feared situation may severely restrict one's life and cause much suffering.
A disorder which follows a traumatic event such as major disaster, rape, torture or accidents. Involves re-living the event and withdrawal from the external world.
The prediction of the probable outcome of an illness over a given period of time
A severe disease or disorder of the mind characterised by derangement of personality and loss of contact with reality. There is often a lack of insight, although memory and intellect tend to remain intact.
Psychological methods for the treatment of mental disorders and psychological problems, eg., psychoanalysis, family therapy, group therapy.
Drugs which affect mood, eg., antidepressants, stimulants, tranquillisers.
A return to more immature level of functioning
A disorder with an uninterrupted period of illness during which there is a Major Depressive, Manic or Mixed Episode concurrent with symptoms that meet criterion for Schizophrenia.
A severe mental illness characterised by a disintegration of the process of thinking, of contact with reality, and of emotional responsiveness. Delusions and hallucinations (especially of voices) are usual features, and the person may feel that thoughts, sensations and actions are controlled by or shared with others. The person may become socially withdrawn and lose energy. No single cause of the disease is known. There are strong genetic factors in the causation and environmental stress can precipitate illness.
A sign of disgrace or shame associated with an illness.
Characteristics by which diseases are recognised. The complaints which a patient presents.
Set of symptoms occurring together.
Any injury - either physical or emotional.
Admission to a mental health unit for treatment that results from the client making the decision for admission and signing the necessary agreement for inpatient treatment.
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