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Agoraphobia: Irrational fear of
being in a situation where escape is difficult or impossible.
Acupuncture: An ancient Chinese
method of healing. It aims to prevent and cure specific diseases and conditions
by sticking very fine, solid needles into specific points on the body.
Anorexia Nervosa: An eating
disorder in which people starve themselves on purpose, despite their hunger, in
order to lose weight. The diagnosis of anorexia requires that a person weigh at
least 15% less than his or her normal body weight.
Antidepressants: Drugs used to
treat depression. Antidepressants are not addictive; they do not make you
"high," have a tranquilizing effect or produce cravings for more.
Anticonvulsants: Medicines used to
prevent seizures that are sometimes prescribed for depression or
depression-related illnesses.
Anxiety disorder: An illness that
produces an intense, often unrealistic and excessive state of apprehension and
fear. This may or may not occur during or in anticipation of a specific
situation, and may be accompanied by a rise in blood pressure, increased heart
rate, rapid breathing, nausea and other signs of agitation or discomfort.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): A
common developmental and behavioral disorder. It is characterized by poor
concentration, distractibility, hyperactivity and impulsiveness that are
inappropriate for the child's age. Children and adults with ADHD are easily
distracted by sights and sounds in their environment, cannot concentrate for
long periods of time, are restless and impulsive, or have a tendency to daydream
and be slow to complete tasks.
Bipolar disorder (manic depressive disorder): A
mental illness that causes people to have severe high and low moods. People with
this illness switch from feeling overly happy and joyful (or irritable) to
feeling very sad and hopeless. In between mood swings, a person’s moods may be
normal.
Body dysmorphic disorder: A
disorder in which a person has an excessive concern with imagined or exaggerated
problems in one’s appearance.
Bulimia Nervosa: An eating disorder
in which people eat large amounts of food in a sitting (binging), and then vomit
(purging). The vomiting is triggered by a fear of weight gain, from stomach pain
or from the guilt of overeating. People with bulimia also use laxatives,
diuretics and vigorous exercise to lose weight. In order for bulimia to be
diagnosed, this behavior must occur at least twice a week for three months in a
row.
Chemical dependency counselors: Health
care professionals trained especially to help people with alcohol and drug
addiction through the process of recovery.
Clinical social workers: Trained
health care employees who provide case management and a variety of supportive
assistance to help patients’ transition from a hospital or medical institution
to home.
Conduct disorder: Disruptive
behavior in children marked by repetitive and persistent violation of the rights
of others, or of age-appropriate social norms or rules. For example, children
with conduct disorder are more likely to bully others, disregard parent curfews,
and use alcohol and other substances.
Depression: A clinical mood
disorder associated with low mood or loss of interest and other symptoms that
prevents a person from leading a normal life. Types of depression include: Major
depression, bipolar depression, dysthymia and seasonal depression (seasonal
affective disorder).
Dysphoric mood: Low mood that may
include dissatisfaction, restlessness or depression.
Dysthymia: Also sometimes
referred to as chronic depression. This type of depression occurs most of the
time over a period of at least two years in adults, and one year in children and
adolescents. It is characterized by less severe, lingering symptoms of
depression that may last for years.
Eating disorder: Eating disorders
are illnesses that cause a person to adopt harmful eating habits. They are most
common among teenage girls and women, and frequently occur along with other
psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety disorders. The poor
nutrition associated with eating disorders can harm organs in the body and, in
severe cases, lead to death. The two most common types of eating disorder are
anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT): A
procedure in which an electric current is briefly applied to produce a seizure.
ECT is used for relief of depressive symptoms or to ease depression that is not
responding well to other forms of treatment.
EKG or ECG (electrocardiogram): A
recording of the electrical activity of the heart.
Guided Imagery: A form of focused
relaxation used to create harmony between the mind and body.
Hypochondria: Fear of imagined
illnesses or disorders.
Manic depression (bipolar disorder): A
mental illness that causes people to have severe high and low moods. People with
this illness swing from feeling overly happy and joyful (or irritable) to
feeling very sad and hopeless. In between these mood swings, a person’s moods
may be normal.
Major depression: A diagnosis of
major depression is made when, in addition to a depressed mood, the individual
suffers from several other typical depressive symptoms that are lasting and
disabling.
Menopause: Menopause is a stage in
life when a woman stops having her monthly period. By definition, a woman is
menopausal after her periods have stopped for one year. Menopause typically
occurs in a woman's late forties to early fifties. It is a normal part of aging,
marking the end of a woman's reproductive years. Women who have their ovaries
surgically removed undergo "sudden" menopause.
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs): A
group of medicines sometimes prescribed to treat severe depression. MAOIs
increase the concentration of chemicals responsible for transmitting information
between nerves in particular regions of the brain, which may lead to increased
mental functioning.
Obsessive-Compulsive disorder (OCD): Obsessive-Compulsive
Disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by intense, recurrent, unwanted
thoughts and rituals that are beyond the person’s control.
Occupational therapists: Health
care professionals who teach people how to return to normal activities after
injury or illness using therapy and rehabilitation.
Panic disorder: An anxiety illness
characterized by attacks of anxiety or terror, often—but not always—occurring
unexpectedly and without reason. In general, the attacks last 15 to 30 minutes.
Phototherapy: Also called light
therapy, phototherapy is sometimes used to treat seasonal depression or seasonal
affective disorder (SAD). It involves exposure to light from a box of white
fluorescent light tubes covered with a plastic screen to block ultraviolet rays.
Light therapy is safe and generally well tolerated. The reported side effects
are minor: eyestrain, headaches and insomnia.
Postpartum depression: Postpartum
depression is a complex mix of physical, emotional and behavioral changes that
occur in a mother after giving birth. It is a serious condition, affecting 10%
of new mothers. Symptoms range from mild to severe depression and may appear
within days of delivery or gradually, perhaps up to a year later. Symptoms may
last from a few weeks to a year.
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS): The
physical and psychological symptoms that occur in the week before a woman’s
menstrual period. Symptoms may include bloating, headache, irritability, anxiety
or depression, low self-esteem, difficulty sleeping, changes in appetite,
fatigue, and breast swelling and tenderness.
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD): PMDD
is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) that affects about 3% to 5% of
menstruating women. Emotional symptoms of PMDD include shifting moods; severe
depression; feelings of hopelessness, anger, anxiety or low self-esteem;
difficulty concentrating; irritability; and tension. Physical symptoms include
fatigue, headaches, joint or muscle pain, breast tenderness, changes in
appetite, food cravings or bingeing, sleep problems and bloating.
Psychiatrists: Physicians who
specialize in treating mental, emotional or behavioral disorders. They have
completed four years of study in an accredited medical school in combination
with four years of postgraduate training in a certain area of psychiatry. They
are doctors who can prescribe medications.
Psychologists: Specialists who
concentrate in the science of the mind and behavior. They usually have a
doctoral degree and receive additional training to work with patients.
Psychologists are not medical doctors and cannot prescribe medication, but do
perform evaluations and use psychotherapy.
Psychosis: An illness that prevents
people from being able to distinguish between the real world and the imaginary
world. Symptoms include hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren't
really there, or delusions), irrational thoughts and fears.
Psychotherapy: Psychotherapy is a
term used to describe a variety of different talking therapies used to treat
depression. Psychotherapy involves talking to a licensed professional during a
scheduled series of appointments. It has proven to be effective in treating mild
and moderate forms of depression, and can be combined with drug therapy to treat
all degrees of depression.
Reflexology: A technique in
which a therapist applies pressure to acupuncture points on the ears, hands and
feet.
Registered Nurses: Health care
professionals who are registered and licensed to practice nursing. They have
completed nursing school and passed an exam administered by a State Board of
Nurse Examiners.
Schizophrenia: A mental illness in
which the person suffers from distorted thinking, hallucinations and a reduced
ability to feel normal emotions.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): SAD
is a depression that occurs each year at the same time, usually starting in fall
or winter and ending in spring or early summer.
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs): A
class of antidepressant drugs that help to increase serotonin, a chemical
responsible for communication between nerves in the brain. Representative drugs
include fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), citalopram
(Celexa), esitalapram (Lexapro) and fluroxamine (Luvox).
Sexual Abuse: Abuse of a sexual
nature such as rape, incest, fondling and indecent exposure. Sexual abuse can
cause various physical and emotional problems including lack of self-esteem,
self-destructive behavior, anxiety and depression.
Social phobia: A disorder that
results in extreme anxiety in social situations. Those who suffer from social
phobia experience intense and disabling self-consciousness in these situations.
People with social phobia have an intense and persistent feeling of being
watched, judged and evaluated in a negative manner.
St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum): An
herbal remedy that may be helpful (although it has not yet been proven useful by
scientists) for depression. It has been widely used to treat mild to moderate
depression in Europe, especially in Germany.
Tourette’s Syndrome: A
neurological disorder characterized by involuntary body movements, called tics,
and uncontrollable speech.
Trichotillomania: A psychological
disorder that produces an uncontrollable desire to pull out one’s hair.
Tricyclic antidepressants: Medicines
commonly used to treat depression. They can be very helpful in restoring sleep
and appetite. Examples include amitriptyline (Elavil), nortriptyline (Pamelor),
imipramine (Tofranil) and desipramine (Norpramin)
Violence: To injure or abuse
another with physical force. Can be a sign of depression in young males, but
also a trigger.
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