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A

abstinence Stopping the intake of alcohol or drugs.

abstract thinking The ability to generalize information, make predictions, build on prior memory, and evaluate the effects of decisions.

abuse A pattern of behavior that dominates, controls, lowers self-esteem, or takes away freedom of choice of the victim.

acquaintance rape The perpetrator is known to the victim.

acute stress disorder A numbing and emotionally nonresponsive reaction to an extreme trauma.

advance directive The client's formulation of a plan of care to assist family and caregivers who must make decisions for them when they are unable to make them for themselves.

advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) Nurses with a doctorate or master's degree.

advocacy Supporting and defending people's rights to their beliefs, attitudes, and values.

affect Immediate emotional expression; what others observe.

affective violence The verbal expression of intense anger and emotions; bullying, ugly taunts, disrespect, alienation, scapegoating, and physical threats.

ageism The process of systematic stereotyping of and discriminating against older people simply on the basis of their age.

aggression Any verbal or nonverbal force meant to harm or abuse another person.

agnosia An inability to recognize familiar situations, people, or stimuli; not related to impairment in sensory organs.

agonist Substance that binds to and activates receptors; may have weak or strong potency.

agoraphobia A phobic disorder characterized by fear of being away from home and of being alone in public places when assistance might be needed.

agraphia An inability to read or write.

akathisia The inability to sit or stand still, along with a feeling of anxiety. It is the result of extrapyramidal side effects of antipsychotic medication.

akinesia Muscular weakness or the partial loss of movement as the result of extrapyramidal side effects of antipsychotic medication.

alcohol withdrawal delirium A complication of withdrawal from alcohol occurring between 2 and 14 days after the last drink; marked by confusion, disorientation, hallucinations, tachycardia, tremors, agitation, diaphoresis, and fever.

alcohol-related birth defects (ARBDs) Abnormalities ranging from subtle cognitive–behavioral impairments to heart defects and malformed facial features.

alexia Inability to identify objects or their use by sight; also called visual agnosia.

alexithymia Inability to analyze, interpret, and name physical feelings and sensations.

alogia Poverty of speech.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) A disease characterized by progressive dementia with atrophy of the central nervous system.

ambivalence The existence of mutually conflicting feelings or thoughts at the same time, such as wanting to die and wanting to live.

anergia Lack of energy.

anger rape Distinguished by physical violence and cruelty to the victim.

anhedonia The state in which a person is unable to experience pleasure.

anorexia nervosa An eating disorder in which a person attempts to lose weight by dramatically decreasing food intake and increasing physical exercise.

antagonist Substance that binds to receptors preventing agonists from binding creating a blockage.

anticholinergic Side effects that occur when medication blocks the acetylcholine receptors, resulting in the inhibition of the transmission of parasympathetic nerve impulses.

antioxidants Enzymes that search out and neutralize dangerous oxygen free radicals.

antisocial behavior Behavior that is against the norms of other individuals and society.

antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) A disorder beginning in childhood and continuing into adulthood, characterized by a pattern of irresponsible and antisocial behavior.

anxiety (1) A feeling of tension, distress, and discomfort produced by a perceived or threatened loss of inner control rather than from external danger. (2) Emotion in response to the fear of being hurt or losing something valued.

aphasia Loss of the ability to understand or use language.

apraxia Inability to carry out skilled and purposeful movement; the inability to use objects properly.

Asperger's disorder Involves severe impairment in social interactions as well as repetitive patterns of behavior and activities.

assisted suicide A person commits suicide with the help of a physician or nurse, who only provides the means for the suicide.

astereognosia Inability to identify familiar objects placed in one's hand; also called tactile agnosia.

ataxia Inability to coordinate voluntary muscular movements.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder A disorder characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

authority killing See homicide.

Autistic disorder A disorder characterized by social isolation, communication impairment, and strange repetitive behaviors.

autonomy The freedom to choose and the ability to assume responsibility for one's own acts.

avoidant personality disorder (APD) A disorder characterized by timidity, fear of negative evaluation, and social discomfort.

avolition Inability to motivate oneself.

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B

behavioral therapy Therapy that is based on the principle that all behavior has specific consequences that lead to an increase or decrease of a particular behavior.

bereavement The feelings, thoughts, and responses that loved ones experience following a death of a person with whom they have shared a significant relationship.

bias, natural How a person's point of view influences what is noticed and not noticed.

bias, negative Refusal to recognize that there are other points of view than one's own.

binge eating disorder The ingestion of huge amounts of food within a short period of time.

biogenic theory A theory that focuses on how genetic factors, neurotransmission, and biological rhythms relate to the cause, course, and prognosis of mental disorders.

biological rhythms Regular fluctuations of a variety of physiological factors over a set period of time.

bioterrorism The use of toxic biological agents to threaten, harm, and kill people.

bipolar disorder A mood disorder characterized by alternating depression and elation, with periods of normal mood in between; also called manic–depressive disorder.

blocking A disruption in the thinking process; thoughts suddenly stop and do not continue for a period of time.

blood–brain barrier A membrane between circulating blood and the brain, which protects the brain against potential toxins and exports waste products.

body dysmorphic disorder A preoccupation with an imagined or slight defect in physical appearance.

body image The integration of people's perceptions, thoughts, and feelings about their own body.

body language Nonverbal communication involving a person's position, posture, and movements.

borderline personality disorder (BPD) A disorder characterized by a pattern of instability in self-image, interpersonal relationships, and mood.

boundaries The edges that maintain clear distinction between individuals within a group or between nurses and clients.

boundaries, family The invisible lines that define the amount and kind of contact allowable between members of the family and between the family and outside systems.

brain attack Also called a stroke; may be the result of a thrombus, emboli, or hemorrhage in the brain.

brief psychotic disorder A rapid onset of at least one of the following psychotic symptoms: delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, or disorganized behavior. The episode lasts at least one day but less than one month, after which the person returns to the premorbid level of functioning.

bulimia nervosa An eating disorder in which a person attempts to manage weight through dieting, binge eating, and purging.

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C

caring A commitment and binding together of individuals in interpersonal connections.

catastrophizing A distorted thinking process that exaggerates failures in one's life.

childhood sexual abuse Inappropriate sexual behavior instigated by a perpetrator for purposes of the perpetrator's sexual pleasure or for economic gain through child prostitution or pornography.

cingulate gyrus Part of the limbic system that is the main information highway of emotion; it integrates emotions with thinking in order to send a coherent message to the hypothalamus.

circadian rhythms Regular fluctuations of a variety of physiological factors over a period of 24 hours.

circumstantial speech Speech that includes many unnecessary and insignificant details before arriving at the main idea.

civil rights protection A person's legal rights to have political, economic, and social equality.

Cluster A personality disorders A category of personality disorders.

Cluster B personality disorders A category of personality disorders characterized by dramatic, emotional, or erratic behavior; disorders are antisocial, borderline, histrionic, and narcissistic.

Cluster C personality disorders A category of personality disorders characterized by anxious and fearful behavior; disorders are avoidant, dependent, and obsessive–compulsive.

co-dependency Non–substance-abusing partners who enable their partners to continue to abuse alcohol or drugs.

cognitive distortions Errors in thinking that continue even when there is obvious contradictory evidence.

cognitive processes In Sullivan's social–interpersonal theory, the development of thinking progresses from unconnected to causal to symbolic.

cognitive schemas Personal controlling beliefs that influence the way people process data about themselves and others.

collaboration The involvement of clients, family members, and professionals working together to improve quality of life and the highest level of functioning.

commitment Detaining a client in a psychiatric facility against his or her will, requested on the basis of dangerousness to self or others; also called involuntary admission.

compensation Covering up weaknesses by emphasizing a more desirable trait or by overachievement in a more comfortable area.

competency A legal determination affirming that a client can make reasonable judgments and decisions about treatment and other significant personal issues.

competency model The belief that all families are resourceful and have the capacity to grow and change.

complementary/alternative therapies The umbrella term for hundreds of therapies from all over the world that are not based on a biomedical model.

complicated grief Grief that includes symptoms such as intrusive images, severe feelings of emptiness, neglect of activities at home and at work, preoccupation with thoughts of the deceased person, yearning and searching for her or him, inability to accept the death, auditory and visual hallucinations of the person, bitterness, and survivor guilt over the death.

compulsion A repetitive behavior or thought used to decrease the fear or guilt associated with an obsession.

concrete thinking Thinking focused on facts and details, a literal interpretation of messages, and an inability to generalize or think abstractly.

Conduct disorder (CD) A disorder characterized by a persistent pattern of aggressive and destructive behavior with disregard for the rights of others and the norms of society.

confabulation Filling in memory gaps with imaginary information.

confidentiality The legal and ethical duty to not share information about clients.

conscious The aspect of consciousness that encompasses all things that are easily remembered.

consumer An Individual who utilizes mental health services.

contextual sensitivity hypothesis The belief that human behavior is highly sensitive to social contexts.

contextualization Maintaining clients in their usual surroundings, both geographic and interpersonal.

control The exercise of authority or domination of another person.

conversion disorder A somatoform disorder characterized by sensorimotor symptoms.

coping mechanisms Conscious attempts to manage stress and anxiety; may be physical, cognitive, or affective.

copralalia Use of obscene words, often involuntary; related to Tourette's syndrome.

copycat suicide Suicide that is inspired by reports of suicides in the media; an adolescent phenomenon.

corporal punishment Hitting or spanking of children.

countertransference A nurse's emotional reaction to a client based on significant relationships in the nurse's past; the process may be conscious or unconscious, and the feelings may be positive or negative.

covert messages The modification of spoken words through tone of voice, rate of speech, body posture, gestures, eye contact, and facial expression.

Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (CJD) Degenerative brain disorder resulting in dementia.

crisis intervention Assisting people to resolve the immediate problem and regain emotional equilibrium.

crisis A turning point in a person's life at which usual resources and coping skills are no longer effective and the person enters a state of disequilibrium.

critical thinking An analytic process used to make reliable observations, draw sound conclusions, create new ideas, solve problems, evaluate lines of reasoning, and improve self-knowledge.

cross-diagnosis behaviors Behaviors or problems that occur as symptoms in a number of different diagnoses of mental disorders.

cultural competence Understanding and respecting cultural diversity in the practice of nursing.

culture Pattern of learned behavior based on values, beliefs, and perceptions of the world; culture is taught and shared by members of a group.

cyberstalking The use of the Internet, e-mail, or other electronic communications to stalk another person.

cycle of violence The pattern of abuse when conflict escalates into violence followed by a begging of forgiveness, a period of calm, and then another violent outbreak.

cyclothymic disorder A mood disorder characterized by a mood range from moderate depression to hypomania, which may or may not include periods of normal mood.

cytokines The chemical messengers of the immune system; types are interferons, lymphokines, and interleukins.

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D

date rape Verbal coercion and deception to pressure a date into having sex.

declarative memory Memory relating to people, places, and objects; the verbal expression of memory.

decompensation Failure to maintain a stable, relatively symptom free status.

defense mechanism An unconscious attempt to deny, misinterpret, or distort reality to alleviate anxiety.

delirium An acute, usually reversible brain disorder characterized by clouding of the consciousness (decreased awareness of the environment) and a reduced ability to focus and maintain attention.

delusions False beliefs that cannot be changed by logical reasoning or evidence.

delusions of grandeur See grandiosity.

dementia A chronic, irreversible brain disorder characterized by impairments in memory, abstract thinking, and judgment, as well as changes in personality.

denial An attempt to screen or ignore unacceptable realities by refusing to acknowledge them.

Dependent personality disorder (DPD) A disorder characterized by an inability to make everyday decisions without an excessive amount of advice and reassurance from others.

Depersonalization disorder Persistent or recurrent feelings of being detached from one's body or thoughts.

Depressive personality disorder A disorder characterized by persistent gloom and inability to experience pleasure, joy, or humor.

diathesis-stress model An etiological theory that proposes that stress can trigger symptoms in individuals with biological predisposition to severe mental illness.

dichotomous thinking Distorted, all-or-none reasoning involving opposite and mutually exclusive categories.

disability A functional loss due to symptoms of mental illness.

discrimination Prejudice that is expressed behaviorally; the "isms" are forms of discrimination.

disenfranchised grief Grief in which the loss cannot be openly acknowledged, socially validated, or publicly mourned.

displacement The transferring or discharging of emotional reactions from one object or person to another object or person.

dissociation A disruption in the usually integrated functions of consciousness, memory, identity, and perception of the environment.

dissociative amnesia Loss of memory in response to trauma; may be localized, selective, generalized, or continuous.

dissociative disorders A category of anxiety disorders characterized by an alteration in conscious awareness of behavior, affect, thoughts, and memories, and an alteration in identity, particularly in the consistency of personality.

dissociative fugue A rare dissociative disorder in which people, while either maintaining their identity or adopting a new identity, wander or take unexpected trips.

dissociative identity disorder (DID) A dissociative disorder characterized by the existence of two or more personalities in the same individual.

diversity Variation among people.

dual diagnosis The concurrent presence of a major psychiatric disorder and chemical dependence.

duty to disclose/protect A physician's obligation to warn identified individuals if a client has made a credible threat to kill them.

dynamism In Sullivan's social-interpersonal theory, a long-standing pattern of behavior.

dysthymic disorder A mood disorder similar to major depression but remaining mild or moderate.

dystonia An impairment of muscle tone of the head, neck, and tongue resulting from extrapyramidal side effects of antipsychotic medications.

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E

echolalia Repeating others' words back to them.

echopraxia Imitating others' movements.

ego In intrapersonal theory, the component of the personality that mediates the drives of the id with objective reality in a way that promotes well-being and survival.

egocentric self Exhibits characteristics such as individualism, separateness, autonomy, competition, and mastery of and control over one's environment.

ego-dystonic behavior Behavior that is inconsistent with one's thoughts, wishes, and values.

ego-syntonic behavior Behavior that conforms to one's thoughts, wishes, and values.

electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) The application of electricity through the temples, which artificially induces a grand mal seizure; used to treat depression.

elopement (LAMA) Leaving a psychiatric facility against medical advice.

emotional availability Describes the quality of the parent–child relationship in terms of sensitivity, structuring, nonintrusiveness, and nonhostility.

emotional intelligence The ability to recognize emotions in oneself and others, the ability to manage one's own emotions, and the ability to handle interpersonal relationships.

empowerment Self-esteem and self-efficacy combined with optimism and a sense of control over present and future; possession of actual power.

enabling behavior Any action by a person, called a co-dependent, that consciously or unconsciously facilitates substance dependence.

endogenous Substances that the body manufactures.

epilepsy Recurring seizures caused by sporadic electrical discharge of cortex neurons.

ethics A system or morals or rules of behavior.

ethnicity Sense of belonging to a particular cultural group.

ethnocentrism The belief that one's own culture is more important and preferable to any other culture.

ethnopharmacology The study of medications in the context of culture and ethnicity.

evidence-based practice The use of critical thinking skills and relevant research to improve the quality of client care and promote clinical judgment.

excitatory neuron Changes the electrical charge of the postsynaptic neuron to cause it to fire.

excitotoxicity The process of killing neurons by overexciting them; usually from the release of toxic levels of glu when neurons are damaged.

executive function Ability to set goals, plan ahead, carry out plans, and adapt as necessary.

exogenous Substances entering the body from the outside.

expressed emotion Family psychosocial factors, such as an environment high in criticism, hostility, and levels of emotional overinvolvement that may contribute to relapse in some cases.

external locus of control The belief that personal events and behavior are imposed from the outside and the individual is not responsible for the cause or the cure.

extrapyramidal side effects (EPSs) Side effects caused by antipsychotic medications, which include dystonia, pseudoparkinsonism, neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), and tardive dyskinesia.

eye contact Looking directly into another person's eyes during the process of interpersonal communication.

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F

factitious disorder The intentional simulation or production of physical or psychological symptoms in order to assume the sick role.

family Two or more persons related by birth, marriage, formal or informal adoption, or by choice.

family burden, objective The actual, identifiable family problems associated with the person's mental illness.

family burden, subjective The psychological distress of the family members in relation to the objective burden.

family cohesion The emotional bonding that family members have toward one another.

family communication The manner in which families listen, speak, self-disclose, and track with one another.

family flexibility The amount of change in a family's leadership, role relationships, and relationship rules.

family structure The hierarchical arrangement according to age, roles, and distribution of power.

family systems theory The consideration of the structure, cohesion, adaptability, and communication patterns of families.

family therapy The family system is treated as a unit, with a focus on family dynamics.

feedback Internal information that allows for a modification of a behavior while it is in progress.

feedforward Internal information that predicts what is about to occur.

fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) A syndrome evidenced by low birth weight, slow growth rate, hyperactivity, maladaptive behavior, learning disabilities, heart defects, and malformed facial features.

frontal lobe dementia Degenerative brain disease resulting in chronic dementia.

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G     

gangs Groups of people, often young, who band together, often for the purpose of conducting illegal or antisocial activities.

gang rape A number of perpetrators against the same victim.

ganglia Dense collections of nerve cells with common functions; a ganglion may have a few as 50 neurons or as many as 10,000 neurons.

gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered (GLBT) Individuals who are attracted to persons of the same gender or to both genders. Some have a dual-gender identity.

general adaptation syndrome (GAS) The structural and chemical changes produced by stress to which a person must adjust; the GAS occurs in three stages: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion.

generalizations The drawing of inferences to process information.

generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) A chronic disorder characterized by persistent anxiety without phobias or panic attacks.

genetic anticipation A progressively earlier onset of mental illness in successive generations and/or an increase in the severity of the disorder in successive generations.

genome The full complement of genetic information.

glial cells Cells that regulate groups of neurons by controlling the concentration of neurotransmitters and ions and by releasing their own neurotransmitters.

grandiosity An exaggerated sense of importance or self-worth usually accompanied by the belief of having magical powers; also called delusions of grandeur.

grooming behaviors Behaviors used to gain the trust of children or family members before sexual abuse begins. The purpose is to persuade the victim to comply with the abuse.

group therapy Therapy in which group members and the group therapist help people with dysfunctions through a process of change.

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H     

hallucination The occurrence of a sight, sound, touch, smell, or taste without any external stimulus to the corresponding sensory organ; the experience is real to the person.

hate crimes Crimes motivated by bias and hatred of minority groups.

helplessness the belief that one can do nothing to make a difference in his or her life.

histogenesis The laying down of nerve and glial cells, cell migration, and cell differentiation during brain development.

histrionic personality disorder (HPD) A disorder characterized by showing excessive emotion for the purpose of gaining attention.

HIV/AIDS encephalopathy Infection of the central nervous system from the direct effect of HIV or from secondary opportunistic infections and malignancies.

homeless Living on streets and in emergency shelters.

homeless population One third suffer from psychiatric disabilities.

homicide (authority killing) Retaliation for real or imagined offenses; targets may be individuals or a building or structure that symbolizes the authority.

homicide, nonspecific Homicide in which only the perpetrator knows the motive.

homicide, revenge killings Retaliation for real or imagined offenses.

hopelessness A belief that one cannot be helped in any way; a negative outlook on the future.

Huntington's disease A hereditary neurodegenerative disorder characterized by undesired movements and lack of muscle tone.

hyperetamorphosis The need to compulsively touch and examine every object in the environment.

hyperorality The need to taste, chew, and examine any object small enough to be placed in the mouth.

hypertonia An increase in muscle tone that results in muscular twitching.

hypochondriasis A somatoform disorder characterized by the belief of having a serious disease despite all medical evidence to the contrary.

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I     

ideas of reference Cognitive distortions in which a person believes that what is in the environment is related to him or her, even when no obvious relationship exists; also called personalization.

identification An attempt to manage anxiety by imitating the behavior of someone feared or respected.

idioms of distress Stressful life events that make people susceptible to a wide variety of physical and mental illnesses.

illnesses of attribution Culture-specific syndromes that have a presumed cause but no specific signs and symptoms.

illogical thinking Thinking in which ideas are inconsistent, irrational, or self-contradictory.

illusion A sensory misperception of environmental stimuli.

impulsivity Failure to resist an impulse or urge or to respond with reflection.

inattention Inability to regulate attention or concentration during the performance of a task.

independent living movement Efforts of people with disabilities to advocate for civil rights and provide peer support in order to recover and maintain control over their lives.

individual psychotherapy A therapeutic relationship between a client and therapist with a goal of solving problems through identifying feelings, thoughts, and behaviors and the gaining of insight.

informed consent A client's right to receive enough information to make a decision about treatment and to communicate the decision to others.

infradian rhythms Regular fluctuations of physiologic factors over periods longer than 24 hours.

inhibitory neuron Changes the electrical charge of the postsynaptic neuron to prevent firing.

insight The ability to observe ourselves and come to an understanding of our motivation for our behavior.

intellectualization A mechanism by which an emotional response that normally would accompany an uncomfortable or painful incident is evaded by the use of rational explanations that remove from the incident any personal significance and feelings.

internal locus of control The recognition that one is responsible for his or her behaviors, thoughts, and feelings as well as his or her own movement toward health or illness.

introjection A form of identification that allows for the acceptance of others' norms and values into oneself.

involuntary admission See commitment.

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L     

labile (emotions) Rapid mood swings with no precipitating stimulus, such as grandiose or irritable at one moment and morose and guilty the next.

least restrictive environment The least drastic placement for a client ranging from hospitalization to living in one's own apartment.

lethality The degree to which a suicide plan is capable of causing death.

ligand Any substance that binds to receptors.

listening Entering into the experience of another person by paying attention to their words as well as the meaning of their communication.

locus coeruleus A pigmented eminence located in the brain stem; the primary source of norepinephrine in the brain.

long-term memory Memory that occurs through strong and repetitive stimulation; bits are stored in different neuronal groups all around the brain; the hippocampus brings the pieces together when it is time to recall the memory.

loose association Thinking in which there is no apparent relationship between thoughts.

loss To be deprived of in terms of a person, object, self-esteem, or control.

Lyme disease A tick-borne infection that may affect the central nervous system.

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M     

magical thinking Belief that thinking about a possible occurrence can make it happen.

magnification A cognitive distortion in which much importance is attributed to unpleasant occurrences.

major depression A mood disorder characterized by loss of interest in life and unresponsiveness, moving from mild to severe, severe lasting at least 2 weeks; also called unipolar disorder.

male rape The victim of the rape is male.

malingering The intentional production of false physical or psychological symptoms for external incentives such as sick leave, financial compensation, or obtaining drugs.

Manic–depressive disorder See bipolar disorder.

marital rape The victim and perpetrator are in an intimate relationship.

memory The retention of knowledge for future use.

mental health A lifelong process that includes a sense of harmony and balance for the individual, family, friends, and community; a growth toward potential; an inner feeling of aliveness.

mental illness A sense of disharmony with aspects of living that may be distressing to the individual, family, friends, or community.

mental status examination An assessment procedure that provides information about a client's appearance, speech, emotional state, and cognitive functioning.

milieu The entire social structure of the unit or residence that is designed to be part of the helping process.

minimization Not acknowledging the significance of one's behavior.

misidentification syndrome Syndrome in which familiar people are seen as unfamiliar and vice versa; may even believe people on television are really present.

mood A sustained emotional state; what the person describes.

motivation Ties emotion to action and creates and guides goal-directed behavior.

motor tics Involuntary movements.

mourning (or grieving) The active process of learning to adapt to a loved one's death.

multiple sclerosis A chronic disorder caused by destruction of the myelin sheath.

Münchhausen syndrome by proxy (MSBP) The parent persistently fabricates or induces illness in a child with the intent of keeping in contact with health care providers and hospitals.

myelin A fatty substance that coats and protects the axon and controls the speed of impulses in the axon.

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N     

narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) A disorder characterized by a pattern of grandiosity, hypersensitivity to evaluation by others, and lack of empathy.

natural bias How a person's point of view influences what is noticed and not noticed.

negative bias Refusal to recognize that there are other points of view than one's own.

negative reinforcement The rebound dysphoria that occurs after the drug “high.”

negative symptoms The loss of normal function that is usually seen in mentally healthy adults.

neglect Acts of omission; a failure to provide adequate care.

neologisms Meaningless words created specifically to express a certain idea.

nerve growth factor Accelerates nerve fiber growth necessary for synapse formation; strengthens synapses.

nerve tracts Groups of nerve fibers carrying signals to and from the same area.

neurobiologic theory The focus on genetic factors, neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and biological rhythms as they relate to the cause, course, and prognosis of mental disorders.

neurodevelopment The migration of cells to various areas in the central nervous system.

neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) A potentially fatal side effect of antipsychotic drugs related to sympathetic nervous system hyperactivity.

neuromodulators Chemicals that alter the threshold to the flow of information but do not necessarily alter the nature of the signal.

neuron A nerve cell with short dense branches called dendrites and a single long nerve fiber called an axon.

neuropeptides Large molecules stored in and released from axons; they serve as neurotransmitters and neuromodulators.

neuroplasticity The brain's ability to improve itself, refine structures, and respond to internal and external changes.

neurotransmitter Brain chemical that carries an inhibiting or stimulating message from one brain cell to another across the synapse. Examples are dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).

nicotinic dysregulation Problems with the nicotinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptors during neurotransmission.

nicotinic receptors A subtype of ACh receptors in the hippocampus.

nonspecific homicide Homicide in which only the perpetrator knows the motive.

normalization Achievement of valued social roles for consumers of mental health care; a guiding principle of psychiatric rehabilitation.

no-suicide contract An agreement the client makes with the staff that spells out the intent to remain safe.

nuclei Dense collection of nerve cells with common specific functions.

Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC) A comprehensive standardized classification of nursing interventions.

Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC) A comprehensive standardized classification of nursing outcomes.

nursing process The organization of scientific data to prescribe practice criteria.

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O     

obesity State of being overweight; the most common form of malnourishment in the United States.

objective family burden The actual, identifiable family problems associated with the person's mental illness.

obsession An unwanted, recurrent persistent idea, thought, image, or impulse.

Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) An anxiety disorder characterized by unwanted, repetitious thoughts and behaviors.

Obsessive–compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) A disorder characterized by perfectionism and inflexibility.

oculogyric crisis An acute onset of muscle spasms in which the eyes are held in a fixed possition, usually up and sideways, for minutes or several hours. It results from the extrapyramidal side effects of antipsychotic medication.

oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) A recurrent pattern of disobedient and hostile behavior toward authority figures.

overgeneralization A cognitive distortion in which information is taken from one situation and applied to a wide variety of situations.

overt messages The part of communication consisting of spoken words.

oxygen free radicals Atoms or groups of atoms that can cause damage to cells, impairing the immune system and leading to infections and various diseases such as heart disease and cancer.

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P     

pain disorder A disorder in which the primary symptom is pain that cannot be explained organically.

PANDAS A neurological complication of streptococcal infections in some children.

panic attacks The highest level of anxiety, characterized by disorganized thinking, feelings of terror and helplessness, and nonpurposeful behavior.

panic disorder A progressive anxiety disorder characterized by sudden and unexpected panic attacks; may or may not be accompanied by agoraphobia.

paralanguage Nonword sounds that provide additional information about the message that is being communicated.

Paranoid personality disorder (PPD) A disorder characterized by a tendency to interpret the actions of others as deliberately demeaning or threatening.

parkinsonism A type of extrapyramidal side effect of antipsychotic drugs that results in stooped posture, shuffling gait, tremors, and stiff facial expression.

Parkinson's disease A degenerative disease of the brain caused by a deficit of dopamine.

partial hospitalization program Day programs that include medication monitoring; groups, individual, and milieu therapies; recreation and socialization.

Passive–aggressive personality disorder A disorder in which a person opposes and resists others' expectations and demands by procrastination, forgetfulness, and chronic lateness.

patricide/matricide homicide Killing of one or both parents, often after many years of physical and sexual abuse.

perception Experience of sensing, interpreting, and comprehending the world; a highly personal and internal process.

perseveration phenomena Continuous, repetitive behaviors that have no meaning or direction.

personal space Culturally determined boundaries that dictate how close other people may be to the individual.

personality, disordered Personality becomes disordered when patterns are exaggerated, inflexible, and maladaptive.

personality Refers to stable patterns of thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and motivation.

personalization See idea of reference.

personification In Sullivan's social-interpersonal theory, an image people have of themselves and others.

pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) Severe impairment in social interaction and very limited verbal communication.

pharmocodynamics The action of medications at the cellular level.

pharmocokinetics The way the body handles medications through the processes of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of drugs.

phenotype The biological characteristics of a cell, organ, or organism, including anatomic, physiologic, biochemical, and behavioral traits.

phobic disorders Anxiety disorders characterized by a persistent disabling fear of an object or situation; when the object or situation cannot be avoided, the person responds with panic.

photosensitivity Increased sensitivity of the skin and the eyes to sunlight.

phototherapy Exposure to full-spectrum fluorescent lamps for the treatment of seasonal affective disorder.

Pick's disease A rare form of a progressive dementia affecting the frontal and temporal lobes.

plaque Found on the outside of dead and damaged neurons, consisting of bits of dying cells mixed with beta-amyloid protein; associated with Alzheimer's disease.

pleasure principle In intrapersonal theory, the tendency for the id to seek pleasure and avoid pain.

positive reinforcement The mood altering effects of some drugs, such as euphoria, energy, mental alertness, self-confidence, sexual arousal.

positive symptoms Excessive or added behaviors that are not normally seen in mentally healthy adults.

posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) An anxiety disorder characterized by a constant anticipation of danger and a phobic avoidance of triggers that remind the person of the original trauma; other characteristics include irritability, aggression, and flashbacks.

potency The power to produce the desired effects per milligram of medication.

poverty (of speech) Brief speech that communicates little; inability to complete sentences.

power rape The intent of the rapist is to command and master the victim sexually.

power The ability to exercise control over another person.

Prader–Willi syndrome A congenital disorder causing morbid obesity by age 2 or 3.

preconscious The aspect of consciousness that encompasses thoughts, feelings, and experiences that have been forgotten but that can easily be recalled to consciousness; sometimes called subconscious.

predatory violence Acts or hate crimes motivated by bias and hatred of minority groups; acts of stalking such as following in a menacing manner and threatening another person.

prejudice A negative feeling about people who are different from us; beliefs, opinions, or points of view that are formed before the facts are known or in spite of them.

premorbid Period of time before the psychiatric illness develops.

pressured speech Tense, strained speech that is difficult to interrupt.

prions Pathogens that transform normal protein molecules into infectious ones; thought to be responsible for Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease.

procedural memory Memory of motor skills; the behavioral expression of memory.

prodromal period Period of time before the full onset of the illness characterized by deterioration in functioning.

projection A process in which blame for unacceptable desires, thoughts, shortcomings, and mistakes is attached to others or the environment.

proprioception The ability to know where one's body is in time and space, and the ability to recognize objects and their functions.

pseudodelirium Symptoms of delirium without any identifiable organic cause.

pseudodementia A disorder, frequently depression, that simulates dementia.

psychiatric rehabilitation The development of skills and support necessary for successful living, learning, and working in the community.

psychoneuroimmunology The study of the relationship between environment, the hormonal system, the immune system, and the central nervous system.

psychosexual development In intrapersonal theory, the process by which personality develops from birth to adolescence.

psychosis A state in which a person is unable to comprehend reality and has difficulty communicating and relating to others; often accompanied by hallucinations and delusions.

psychosocial rehabilitation The development of skills and supports necessary for successful living, learning, and working in the community.

psychotropic medications Medications that affect cognitive functions, emotions, and behaviors.

psychotropic Something that produces effects on behavior, affect, and cognition.

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Q     

quality of life Person's subjective evaluation of the aspects of her or his life that the person deems important.

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R     

racism Excessive and irrational beliefs regarding the superiority of a given group.

rape Any forced sexual activity.

rape-trauma syndrome Symptoms of, or specific responses to, the experience of being raped; also, a nursing diagnosis.

raphe nuclei Located in the brain stem; the primary source for 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in the brain.

rapport A sense of harmony and understanding between nurse and client.

rationalization Justification of certain behaviors by faulty logic and ascription of motives that are socially acceptable but that did not, in fact, inspire the behavior.

reaction formation A mechanism that causes people to act exactly opposite to the way they feel.

Reactive attachment disorder Children either avoid interaction with others or have few boundaries and quickly attach to others.

reality principle In intrapersonal theory, the ability of the ego to delay the immediate achievement of pleasure.

receptor agonist Substance other than the specific neurotransmitter that is capable of stimulating the receptor.

receptors Docking sites for neurotransmitters on the dendrites of the postsynaptic cells.

recidivism Returning to the psychiatric hospital after discharge (e.g., relapse).

recovery A facet of rehabilitation; the incorporating of one's disability as part of reality and the adaptation to one's disorder.

recovery model A lifelong, day-to-day process of recovery from chemical addiction.

regression Resorting to an earlier, more comfortable level of functioning that is characteristically less demanding and responsible.

rehabilitation Development of skills and supports necessary for successful living, learning, and working in the community.

repression An unconscious mechanism by which threatening thoughts, feelings, and desires are kept from becoming conscious; the repressed material is denied entry into consciousness.

residential treatment facility Congregate care setting, such as a group home, that is operated by mental health professionals.

resilience The ability to emerge relatively unscathed from negative life events; resilience is the rule, not the exception.

reticular activating system System that receives impulses from all over the body and relays them to the cortex; responsible for arousal, wakefulness, consciousness, sleep regulation, and learning.

reuptake The process whereby a transporter takes the neurotransmitter back into the presynaptic terminal.

revenge homicide Retaliation for real or imagined offenses.

reward deficiency syndrome The decreased ability to experience pleasure that drives a person to seek external forms of gratification through the use of high-risk behaviors.

ritual abuse Emotional, physical, and sexual abuse that occurs in a ceremonial or systematic form by a specific group.

Russell's sign A callus on the back of the hand, caused by forcing vomiting.

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S     

sadistic rape Brutality is used for sexual excitement for the perpetrator.

SANE A registered nurse who had advanced education and clinical preparation in forensic examination of sexual assault victims.

Schizoaffective disorder A disorder characterized by symptoms that appear to be a mixture of schizophrenia and mood disorders.

Schizoid personality disorder A disorder characterized by a pattern of indifference to social relationships and a restricted range of emotional experience and expression.

schizophrenia A disabling major mental disorder characterized by distortions in thinking, perceiving, and expressing feelings.

Schizophreniform disorder A rapid onset of psychotic symptoms lasting less than six months.

Schizotypal personality disorder (STPD) A disorder characterized by peculiarities of ideation, appearance, and behavior that are not severe enough to meet the criteria for schizophrenia.

school violence Injury or death of students or staff that occur in or around school property.

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) A mood disorder characterized by depression during fall and winter and normal mood or hypomania during spring and summer.

secondary gain An advantage from, or reward for, being ill.

selective abstraction A cognitive distortion that focuses on certain information while ignoring contradictory information.

selective mutism A form of social phobia in which the person is unable to speak in specific social situations.

selective perception The process of filtering out unnecessary and distracting information in order to focus on what is important at any given moment.

self-advocacy Those who are most affected by decisions should have the greatest impact on those decisions.

self-determination Consumers have the right to participate in all decisions that affect their lives; closely related to the concept of empowerment.

self-help Involvement in nonprofessional activities that provide support and information for oneself and others who share a similar illness or problem.

self-mutilation The deliberate destruction of body tissue without conscious intent of suicide.

Separation anxiety disorder A disorder in which a child needs close proximity to caregivers, worries excessively, and has physical symptoms.

serotonin syndrome (SS) A potentially fatal side effect of antidepressant drugs caused by excess serotonin.

sexual harassment Unwanted and unwelcome sexual behavior that interferes with everyday life; a form of sexual violence.

sexual healing An empowering process that enables survivors of sexual abuse to reclaim their sexuality as positive and pleasurable.

sexual violence (or aggression) The use of threat, intimidation, force, and exploitation of authority with the goal of imposing one's will on a nonconsenting person for the purpose of personal gratification that may or may not be predominantly sexual in nature.

shaken baby syndrome A form of child abuse that involves the vigorous shaking of babies, which causes intracranial and intraocular bleeding.

sibling incest Sexual abuse in which the victim and perpetrator are siblings.

sobriety Abstinence from drug use as well as psychological growth and balance.

social network interventions Plans to improve the relationships of clients within their social network.

social skills training Teaching basic coping skills necessary to live as autonomously as possible in the community.

sociocentric self Is interdependent and interconnected and values cooperation, cohesiveness, group identity, and harmony with one's environment.

somatization disorder A somatoform disorder characterized by multiple physical complaints involving several body systems.

somatization Process by which psychological distress is experienced and communicated in the form of somatic (bodily) symptoms.

somatoform disorder An anxiety disorder characterized by physical symptoms that have no underlying organic basis.

somatoform pain disorder A somatoform disorder characterized by pain that cannot be explained organically.

somnolence State of being drowsy.

spectrum disorders Mental disorders linked by overlapping signs and symptoms and genetic similarities.

spiritual recovery Regaining a sense of purpose in life, finding meaning in trauma, and learning to trust others once again.

spirituality The part of a person that deals with relationships and values and addresses the questions of purpose and meaning in life.

stalking The act of following, viewing, communicating with, or moving threateningly toward another person. May be accompained by property damage and assault.

stereotypes Images frozen in time that cause us to see what we expect to see; arise out of negative biases.

Stevens–Johnson syndrome A severe and sometimes fatal allergic reaction that attacks the skin, mucous membranes, lungs, and kidneys. It can be caused by sulfa drugs, penicillin, Dilantin (phenytoin), and Lamictal, especially when Lamictal is combined with Depakote.

street violence Injury or death of people in their neighborhoods or other community settings.

subculture A smaller group within a larger cultural group.

subjective family burden The psychological distress of the family members in relation to the objective burden.

sublimation Displacement of energy associated with more primitive sexual or aggressive drives into socially acceptable activities.

substance abuse The purposeful use, for at least 1 month, of a drug that results in adverse effects to oneself or others; does not meet the criteria for substance dependence.

substance dependence The habitual use of a drug that continues despite adverse effects.

substantia nigra A layer of gray substance located in the brain stem; the major source for dopamine in the brain; involved in the initiation of voluntary movement.

substitution The replacement of a highly valued, unacceptable, or unavailable object by a less valuable, acceptable, or available object.

suicidal behavior The behavior and thoughts leading up to the act of suicide; the act of taking one's own life.

suicide The act of taking one's own life; a person who takes his or her own life; the end result—survival or death—described as either attempted or completed suicide.

sundown syndrome The intensification of behavioral symptoms during the late afternoon or early evening hours; seen in dementia and delirium.

superego In intrapersonal theory, the component of personality that is concerned with moral behavior.

superstitious thinking A cognitive distortion in which a person believes that some unrelated action will magically influence the course of events.

symbolism A type of thinking in which an object or idea comes to represent a different object or idea.

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tangential speech Thoughts veer from main idea and never get back to it.

tangles Thick, insoluble clots of protein inside the damaged brain cells or neurons; associated with Alzheimer's disease.

tardive dyskinesia An irreversible form of extrapyramidal side effects of antipsychotic medications that can be socially disfiguring with spastic facial distortions and abnormal movements of the arms and legs.

terrorism The use of violence or intimidation to achieve power.

therapeutic alliance The conscious process of nurse and client working together toward mutually established goals.

therapeutic milieu An active part of the treatment plan, which includes the physical environment as well as all interactions with staff members and other clients.

titration Process of determining the amount of medication required to bring about the desired clinical effect.

touch Physical contact between two or more persons.

Tourette's disorder (TD) Appears to be attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with chronic motor and vocal tics.

transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) the use of a magnetic field that passes through the skull and causes cells in the cerebral cortex to fire.

transference A client's unconscious displacement of feelings for a significant person in the past onto the nurse in the current relationship; the feelings may be positive or negative.

transporter Takes the transmitter back into the presynaptic terminal (reuptake).

traumatic brain injury Disruption of the central nervous system through internal processes or external assaults.

true syndromes Culture-specific syndromes that are illnesses with specific symptoms.

twelve-step programs Spiritual plans for recovery consisting of prescribed beliefs, values, and behaviors.

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ultradian rhythms Regular fluctuations of physiologic factors shorter than 24 hours.

unconscious The aspect of consciousness that encompasses thoughts, feelings, experiences, and dreams that cannot be brought to conscious thought or remembered.

undoing An action or words designed to cancel some disapproved thoughts, impulses, or acts in which the person relieves guilt by making reparation.

unipolar disorder See major depression.

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values A set of personal beliefs about what is meaningful and significant in life; values are standards of conduct and provide guidelines for behavior.

ventromedial cortex The section of the frontal lobes that is responsible for the emotional component of decision making.

vocal tics Involuntary vocalizations.

voluntary admission The process through which a person consents to confinement for the purpose of assessment and treatment of a mental disorder.

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