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A
Anorexia: Loss of appetite
or aversion to food. Anorexia nervosa is a serious
psychological disorder characterised by an extreme
aversion to food, most often affecting young women.
Antidepressants: Medications
that are used in the treatment of depression,
as well as other psychiatric disorders.
Anxiety: A feeling of
unease and fear that can involve physical symptoms
such as palpitations, sweating and feelings of
stress.
Apathy: A lack of feeling
or emotion.
B
Biochemistry: A science
that studies the chemistry of living organisms,
including human beings.
C
Chronic: Persistence
for a long time. In some disorders, chronic is
specified as persisting for 6 months or longer.
Co-existing: Occurring
together at the same time.
Co-morbid: Two diseases
or illnesses occurring at the same time.
Cognitive behavioural therapy
(CBT): A method of treating psychiatric disorders
based on the idea that the way we think about
the world and ourselves (our cognitions) affects
our emotions and behaviour.
D
Depression: Feelings
of sadness, hopelessness, pessimism and a general
loss of interest in life, combined with a sense
of reduced emotional well being.
Diagnosis: A label that
describes the exact type of illness or disorder
that a person is experiencing.
Dysthymia: Chronic,
mild depression that has lasted for 2 or more
years.
E
Electroconvulsive therapy
(ECT): The treatment of mental disorder, especially
severe depression in which mild convulsions are
produced by the passage of electric current through
the brain of an anaesthetised person.
F
G
Generalised anxiety disorder
(GAD): An illness involving persistent anxiety,
worry and tension that is difficult to control
and has persisted for at least 6 months, leading
to serious functional impairment.
H
Hyperventilation: Abnormally
deep or rapid breathing, often seen when someone
is anxious.
Hypoglycaemia: An abnormally
low level of glucose (sugar) in the blood.
Hypothyroidism: Underactivity
of the thyroid gland, possibly causing tiredness,
cramps, a slowed heart rate and weight gain.
I
Insomnia: A prolonged
inability to obtain adequate sleep.
Interpersonal therapy (IPT):
A form of psychotherapy that focuses on a patient's
interpersonal relationships; it may be used to
treat depression.
J
K
L
Lethargy: A feeling
of tiredness, drowsiness, or lack of energy.
M
Melancholia: An older
term for depression. Melancholia is used today
to describe some symptoms that occur in severe
depression.
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
(MAOIs): Drugs used in the treatment of clinical
depression. They block an enzyme that breaks down
neurotransmitter chemicals in the brain.
N
Neurotransmitters: Natural
chemicals that transfer messages from one nerve
cell to another, or from a nerve cell to a muscle
cell.
Noradrenaline: A chemical
messenger produced by specialised cells in the
brain.
O
P
Postpartum: The time
immediately after childbirth.
Prognosis: An individual's
likely outcome of an illness.
Psychiatrist: A doctor
who specialises in the treatment of mental, emotional,
or behavioural problems.
Psychologist: A non-medical
specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of mental
and emotional problems. Psychologists cannot prescribe
drugs. Their role usually involves testing, counselling
and psychotherapy.
Psychosocial: Involving
both psychological and social aspects, or relating
social conditions to mental health.
Psychotherapy: The treatment
of mental and emotional disorders using psychological
methods such as counselling.
Q
R
Recurrence: Return of
an illness after recovery.
Relapse: The recurrence
of depressive illness after some initial improvement.
Remission: A return
to wellness.
Reuptake: The return
of neurotransmitters to the nerves that released
them. Some antidepressants inhibit the reuptake
of neurotransmitters and increase their level
of activity.
S
Selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitors (SSRIs): A commonly prescribed
class of drugs for treating depression. SSRIs
inhibit the reuptake of serotonin, allowing more
serotonin to be available to be taken up by other
nerves.
Serotonin: A neurotransmitter
thought to be involved in controlling consciousness
and mood.
Serotonin and noradrenaline
reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs): A commonly prescribed
class of drugs for treating depression which inhibit
the reuptake of serotonin and noradrenaline, an
action that allows serotonin and noradrenaline
to be available to be taken up by other nerves.
T
Thyroid gland: An organ
that helps regulate growth and the rate of chemical
reactions (metabolism), mainly through the production
of thyroid hormone.
Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs): Drugs used in the treatment of depression.
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