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A
Acculturation Problem
Problem involving adjustment to a different culture (eg. following
migration).
Acute
Recent onset of severe clinical symptoms of mental illness.
Acute Stress Disorder
Anxiety, fear and other symptoms that occur within one (1) month after
exposure to an extreme traumatic stressor.
Addiction
A state of dependence produced by the habitual taking of alcohol and/or
drugs, characterized by compulsion, loss of control and continued
patterns of use despite negative consequences.
Adjustment Disorder
Development of clinically significant emotional or behavioral symptoms in
response to a psychological stressor such as family bereavement or breakup
of relationship.
Adolescence
Period of growth and development from puberty to maturity.
Adulthood
Stage of growth and development that follows adolescence.
Advocate
Person who intercedes for and acts on behalf of a client when the client
is unable to do so, may be a professional or lay person.
Against Medical Advice (AMA)
When a voluntary patient departs from inpatient psychiatric treatment,
against the recommendation of the psychiatrist or other care-givers.
Age-related Cognitive Decline
A decline in cognitive functioning, including memory and reasoning, as a
result of the ageing process.
Aggression
Physical or verbal behavior that is forceful or hostile and enacted to
intimidate others.
Agoraphobia
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.
Amphetamine
A prescribed drug that has a marked stimulant action on the central
nervous system. It produces a feeling of mental alertness and well being.
Tolerance to amphetamine develops rapidly and prolonged use may lead to
dependence.
Amphetamine Use Disorder
Presence of inappropriate behavior or physiological changes that develop
during, or shortly after, use of amphetamines or related substances.
Anorexia Nervosa
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.
Anxiety Disorder
A form of neurosis in which anxiety dominates the person's life.
Examples are Acute Stress Disorder, Agoraphobia, Generalized Anxiety
Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Panic Attack, Panic Disorder,
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Separation Anxiety Disorder, Social
Phobia, Specific Phobia, Substance-induced Anxiety Disorder.
Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder
(ADHD)
A disorder with a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity
and impulsivity.
Avoidant Personality Disorder
The essential feature of Avoidant Personality Disorder is a pervasive
pattern of social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy and
hypersensitivity to negative evaluation that begins by early adulthood
and is present in a variety of contexts.
B
Behavioral Therapy
Treatment based on the belief that psychological problems are the
products of faulty learning and not the symptoms of an underlying
disease. Treatment is directed at the problem or target behavior and is
designed for the particular person, not for the particular diagnostic
label that has been given.
Bereavement
A reaction to the death of a loved one (eg. feelings of sadness and
associated symptoms such as insomnia, poor appetite, and weight loss).
Bipolar Affective Disorder
A severe mental illness with repeated episodes of mania and depression.
The person is usually well in the intervals between episodes.
Brief Psychotic Disorder
A disturbance that involves the sudden onset of at least one of the
following psychotic symptoms: delusions, hallucinations, disorganized
speech etc.
Bulimia Nervosa
An eating disorder characterized by overeating followed by techniques to
prevent weight gain, eg. induced vomiting, use of laxatives. Can occur
as a phase of anorexia nervosa.
C
Case Management
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.
Child or Adolescent Antisocial Behavior
This category can be used when the
focus of clinical attention is antisocial behavior in a child or
adolescent that is not due to a mental disorder.
(see also: Conduct Disorder and Impulse-Control Disorder).
Childhood Disintegrative Disorder
A developmental disorder occurring as a result of a brain disease such
an encephalitis in childhood. Symptoms include abnormalities of behavior,
progressing to psychosis.
Chronic Mental Illness
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.
Client or Patient
A recipient of mental health services: may be a person, family, group or
community.
Cognitive Development
The development of intelligence, conscious thought and reasoning that
begins in infancy
Cognitive Disorder
A disorder where the person shows decreased abilities in memory, problem
solving, etc. It is generally associated with a general medical
condition but could be a psychological impairment.
Communication Disorders
A group of disorders where there are problems in communicating, either
through difficulties in receiving language or in speech. Generally these
disorders stems from a general medical condition such as a brain injury
or stroke, or a developmental problem in children. Examples are:
Expressive Language Disorder, Mixed Receptive-Expressive Language
Disorder, Phonological Disorder, Stuttering and Communication Disorder
Not Otherwise Specified.
Compulsive
Irresistible impulsive behavior in which a person feels compelled to
carry out certain actions, such as repetitive hand washing based on a
fear of contamination.
Conduct Disorder
A repetitive or persistent pattern of aggressive behavior. It is usually
recognized in childhood or adolescence and can lead to an impulsive
personality disorder.
Conscious
Being aware of the existence of one's own mental state.
Coping
Efforts directed toward how to manage stress, conflict and change.
Counselor
A health-care professional who helps clients and families evaluate their
patterns of problem solving and develop more effective ones.
Crisis
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.
Culture-Bound Syndromes
The methods of communicating distress, symptoms, or the need for social
support, which are acceptable in relation to the norms of a person's
cultural group (eg. nerves, possessing spirits, somatic complaints,
inexplicable misfortune.
Cyclothymic Disorder
A disorder with marked swings of mood from cheerfulness to depression.
These fluctuations are not as severe as those of Bipolar affective
disorder
D
Decompensation
Deterioration in a person's ability to cope with life stresses, which
may lead to the development of symptoms of psychological distress.
Delirium
A disorder of mental processes accompanying organic brain disease. It
may include illusions, hallucinations or extreme excitement.
Delirium Tremens
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.
Delusion
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.
Dementia
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.
Dependence on Substance
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.
Dependent Personality Disorder
A disorder with a pervasive and excessive need to be taken care of that
leads to submissive and clinging behavior and fears of separation. This
pattern begins by early adulthood.
Depersonalization Disorder
A disorder in which the person feels unreal or strangely altered, or
that the mind is becoming separated from the body. The person may feel
like an automaton or as if he or she is living in a dream or a movie.
Depression
A mental state characterized 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.
Depressive Episode - Major
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.
Disability
A chronic condition that makes a person unable to perform in a usual
manner.
Disorganized Type of Schizophrenia
A disorder with disorganized speech, disorganized behavior and flat or
inappropriate mood. The disorganized speech may be accompanied by
silliness and laughter that are not closely related to the content of
the speech.
Dissociative Fugue (formerly Psychogenic Fugue)
A disorder in which the person leaves home or usual surroundings and
wanders aimlessly, with inability to recall some or all of one's past.
This is accompanied by confusion about personal identity or even the
assumption of a new identity.
Dissociative Identity Disorder (formerly Multiple Personality Disorder)
The presence of two (2) or more distinct identities or personality
states that recurrently take control of behavior. In children, the
symptoms cannot be attributed to imaginary playmates or other fantasy
play.
Dissociation
The process whereby thoughts and ideas can be split off from
consciousness and may function independently, thus allowing conflicting
opinions to be held at the same time about the same object.
DSM-IV
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders 4th
Edition.
Dysthymia
A chronically depressed mood that occurs for most of the day, more days
than not, for at least two (2) years. Individuals with Dysthymia
describe their mood as sad or "down in the dumps". In children
the mood may be irritable rather than depressed and required minimum
duration is only one (1) year.
E
Eating Disorders
Severe disturbances of eating behavior in which people starve themselves
or use other techniques to induce weight loss. See also: Anorexia
Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa.
Ego
The part of the mind that develops from a person's experience of the
outside world and is most in touch with external realities.
Electro Convulsive Therapy (ECT)
A treatment for severe depression and sometimes for schizophrenia and
mania. A convulsion is produced by passing an electric current through the
brain.
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
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 tumors and epilepsy.
Euphoria
A sense of extreme well-being and optimism, the absence of pain or stress
which might be exaggerated in psychiatric cases.
Exhibitionism
Exposure of one's genitals to a stranger.
F
Family Therapy
Psychotherapeutic treatment of the family as a unit to clarify and modify
the ways they relate together and communicate.
Fetishism
Sexual attraction to an inappropriate object (known as a
"fetish"). It may be part of the body, clothing or objects, eg.
women's underpants, bras, stockings, shoes, boots or other objects such a
leather handbags, rubber sheets.
Flashbacks
A vivid involuntary reliving of the experiences during episodes of drug
intoxication.
Frotteurism
Touching and rubbing against a non-consenting person as a means of sexual
pleasure. The behavior usually occurs in crowded places from which the
individual can more easily escape arrest.
G
Gender Identity Disorder
A strong and persistent gender identification, which is desired to be, or
the insistence that one is, of the other sex.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
A disorder with excessive anxiety and worry, occurring more days than not
for a period of at least six (6) months about a number of events or
activities.
Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) Scale
An assessment scale which can be used to indicate an overall judgment of
the functioning of a family or other ongoing relationship on a
hypothetical continuum ranging from competent relational functioning to a
disrupted, dysfunctional relationship.
H
Hallucination
False sensory perception of something that is not really there. It may
involve, vision, touch, taste or smell.
Histrionic Personality Disorder
A disorder with pervasive and excessive emotionality and attention-seeking
behavior. This pattern begins by early adulthood and is present in a
variety of contexts.
Huntington's Disease
A disease with involuntary jerky movements particularly affecting the
shoulders, hips and face, and accompanied by a progressive dementia.
Hypersomnia
Excessive sleepiness for at least one (1) month as evidenced prolonged
sleep episodes or by daytime sleep episodes occurring almost daily.
Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder
A deficiency or absence of sexual fantasies and desire for sexual activity
which is causing marked distress or interpersonal difficulty.
Hypochondriasis
Preoccupation with fears of having, or the idea that one has a serious
disease based on a misinterpretation of one or more bodily signs or
symptoms.
Hypomanic Episode
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.
Hysteria
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.
I
Identity
The awareness of being a person separate and distinct from all others.
Illusion
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.
Insanity
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.
Insight
A term which relates to the person's recognition or lack of recognition
that he/she has a mental illness.
K
Kleptomania
A strong impulse to steal items, even though the items are not needed for
personal use or for their monetary value.
L
Learning Disorders
A disorder where the child/person shows achievement in standardized tests
in reading, mathematics, or written expression which is substantially
below that expected for age, schooling and level of intelligence.
M
Male Orgasmic Disorder (formerly Inhibited
Male Orgasm)
A persistent or recurrent delay in, or absence of, orgasm following a
normal sexual excitement phase.
Malingering
Pretending to be ill, usually in order to avoid work or to gain attention
or access to drugs.
Mania
A state of mind characterized 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 behavior may
be overactive, extravagant, overbearing. There may be grandiose delusions.
Manic Episode
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.
Manic-Depressive Psychosis (Bipolar Affective Disorder)
A severe mental illness with repeated episodes of mania and depression.
The person is usually well in the intervals between episodes.
Masochism
Sexual pleasure derived from the experience of pain and/or humiliation.
Mental Health
A dynamic process in which a person's physical, cognitive, affective, behavioral
and social dimensions interact functionally with one another and with the
environment.
Mental Illness
Physical, cognitive, affective, behavioral and social patterns that
interact dysfunctionally with the environment.
Mental Status Examination
Examination in which the following mental processes are reviewed:
appearance and behavior, thought content, sensorium and intellect, thought
processes, emotional tone and insight.
Mixed Affective State
A Mixed Episode is characterized by a period of time (lasting at least one
(1) week) in which the criteria are met, both for a Manic Episode and for
a Major Depressive Episode, nearly every day. The individual experiences
rapidly alternating moods (sadness, irritability, euphoria).
Multiple Personality
Disorder
see Dissociative Identity Disorder
N
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
A pervasive pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration and lack of
empathy that begins by early adulthood and is present in a variety of
contexts.
Narcolepsy
Repeated irresistible tendency to fall asleep in quiet surroundings or
when engaged in monotonous activities
Neurasthenia
A set of psychological and physical symptoms, including fatigue,
irritability, headache, dizziness, anxiety and intolerance of noise.
Neurosis
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.
Nicotine-induced Disorder (Nicotine Withdrawal)
The presence of a characteristic withdrawal syndrome that develops after
the abrupt cessation of, or reduction in, the use of nicotine-containing
products such as cigarettes followed by a prolonged period of daily use
Norms
Unspoken rules of conduct or standards of acceptable behavior in a
culture.
O
Obsession
A recurrent thought, feeling or action which the person cannot prevent,
that is unpleasant and provokes anxiety.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
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 behaviors (eg., hand washing,
checking) or mental acts (eg., praying, counting, repeating words
silently) the goal of which is to prevent or reduce anxiety or distress.
Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder
A disorder with a preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism and mental
and interpersonal control at the expense of flexibility, openness and
efficiency.
Occupational Therapy
A form of therapy in which clients are encouraged to perform useful tasks
and develop interests that may either re-establish old skills and
knowledge or initiate new ones. The aim is to reach the maximum level of
function and independence in all aspects of daily life.
Opioid Use Disorder (Opioid Dependence)
Dependence on opioid drugs such as heroin. Most individuals with Opioid
Dependence will experience withdrawal on abrupt discontinuation of opioid
substances.
Orientation
Awareness of oneself in time, space and place. Introduction given to staff
and clients as they enter the unfamiliar environment of an inpatient unit.
P
Panic Attack
A sudden, unpredictable, intense episode of anxiety characterized by
personality disorganization, a fear of losing one's mind, going crazy,
being unable to control one's behavior, a sense of impending doom,
helplessness and being trapped.
Panic Disorder
A disorder with recurrent, unexpected Panic Attacks followed by at least
one (1) month of persistent concern about having another Panic Attack,
worry about the possible implications or consequences of the Panic
Attacks, or significant behavioral change related to the attacks.
Personality
An enduring disposition to act and feel in particular ways. These patterns
are sometimes described by different dimensions, eg., extroverted,
neurotic.
Personality Disorder
A disorder with deeply ingrained and maladaptive patterns of behavior,
persisting through many years, usually commencing in adolescence. The
abnormality of the behavior must be sufficiently severe that it causes
suffering.
Phobia
Unrealistic fear or aversion to a situation or thing. Avoiding the feared
situation may severely restrict one's life and cause much suffering.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
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.
Prognosis
The prediction of the probable outcome of an illness over a given period
of time
Psychoanalysis
A treatment modality based on Freudian constructs, the analysis of the
relationship that the client develops with the psychoanalyst.
Psycho-geriatric Services
A component of the mental health service which targets older people with
mental illness who require both specialized mental health and aged care
expertise.
Psychomotor
Refers to the combination of physical and mental ability. The term is used
for disorders in which muscular activities are affected by brain
disturbance.
Psychopath
Person suffering chronic mental disorder characterized by anti-social behavior
and lack of guilt, and little capacity for forming emotional relationships
with others.
Psychosis
A severe disease or disorder of the mind characterized 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.
Psychosomatic
Refers to the mind/body relationship. Usually refers to illnesses which
are caused by the interaction of mental and physical factors.
Psychotherapy
Psychological methods for the treatment of mental disorders and
psychological problems, eg., psychoanalysis, individual therapy,
psychodynamic, family therapy, group therapy.
Psychotropic Drugs
Drugs which affect mood, eg., antidepressants, stimulants, tranquillizers.
Pyromania
A disorder where the person repeatedly starts fires. The person may be
indifferent to the consequences to life or property caused by the fire, or
they may derive satisfaction from the resulting property destruction.
R
Rationalization
An unconscious defense mechanism where an individual uses a feasible and
acceptable reason to explain irrational behavior, motives or feelings.
Regression
A return to more immature level of functioning
Relational Problem, Parent - Child
This category should be used when the focus of clinical attention is a
pattern of interaction between parent and child (eg., impaired
communication, overprotection, inadequate discipline).
Relational Problem, Partner
When the focus of clinical attention is a pattern of interaction between
spouse or partners characterized by negative communication (eg.,
criticism) distorted communication (eg., unrealistic expectations) or
non-communication .
Relational Problem, Sibling
This category is used when the focus of clinical attention is a pattern of
interaction among siblings that is associated with clinically significant
impairment in individual or family functioning or the development of
symptoms in one or more siblings.
Relationship Problems
Relational problems include patterns of interaction between or among
members of a unit that are associated with clinically significant
impairment in functioning, or symptoms among one or more members of the
unit, or impairment in the functioning of the unit itself.
Religious or Spiritual Problem
This category can be used when the focus of clinical attention is a
religious or spiritual problem. Examples include distressing experiences
that involve loss or questioning of faith, problems associated with
conversions to a new faith, or questioning of spiritual values that may
not necessarily be related to an organized church or religious
institution.
S
Sadism
Sexual excitement from inflicting pain or thinking about inflicting pain
or humiliation on other people.
Schizoaffective Disorder
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.
Schizophrenia
A severe mental illness characterized 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.
Self-Concept
The sum total of perceptions, feelings and beliefs about oneself.
Self -Determination
A person's control of decisions that influence his or her life.
Self-Efficacy
The belief in one's own capacity to perform the actions needed to
control events affecting one's well being and the ability to
successfully execute the appropriate required behaviors.
Self-Esteem
The evaluative internal image of oneself formed by the interaction of
one's experiences with influential variables in the environment.
Separation Anxiety Disorder
Excessive anxiety concerning separation from the home or from those to
whom the person is attached.
Sleepwalking Disorder (Somnambulism)
Repeated episodes walking about and performing other actions during sleep
without later memory of doing so.
Somatization Disorder
A disorder characterized by multiple recurrent changing physical symptoms
such as back pain, the absence of physical disorders that could explain
them.
Stress
Any factor that threatens the health of the body or has an adverse effect
on its functioning such as injury, disease or worry. The existence of on e
form of stress tends to diminish resistance to other forms.
Substance Withdrawal
Symptoms associated with abrupt stopping of excessive use of alcohol or
drugs. Features may include anxiety, tremor, sweating, and vivid and
terrifying visual and sensory hallucinations.
Support Groups
Groups of people who meet regularly to discuss specific problems that are
common to all of them.
Symptoms
Characteristics by which diseases are recognized. The complaints which a
patient presents.
Syndrome
Set of symptoms occurring together.
T
Tic Disorders
A tic is a sudden, rapid, recurrent, non-rhythmic, stereotyped movement or
vocalization. It is experienced as irresistible but can be suppressed for
varying lengths of time. All forms of tic may be exacerbated by stress and
attenuated during absorbing activities (eg., reading or sewing).
Trauma
Any injury - either physical or emotional.
U
Unspecified Mental Disorder
There are several circumstances in which it may be appropriate to assign
this code:
(1) for a specific mental disorder not included in the DSM-IV
Classification,
(2) when none of the available Not Otherwise Specified
categories is appropriate, or
(3) when it is judged that a non-psychotic
mental disorder is present but there is not enough information available
to diagnose one of the categories provided in the classification.
In some
cases, the diagnosis can be changed to a specific disorder after more
information is obtained.
V
Values
Individualized rules by which people live.
Voyeurism
Obtaining sexual pleasure by watching other people undressing or having
sex.
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