Glossary
This glossary provides some easy-to-understand definitions of commonly used mental health terms. As our site grows, we will continue to add terms to this glossary. If you don't see what you're looking for email us and we'll add it to our list.
Addiction
Added on July 02, 2010
The continued behaviour (e.g. using a substance such as alcohol) against the desire or attempts to refrain from the behaviour.
Agoraphobia
Added on July 02, 2010
The fear and avoidance of situations in which one would feel unsafe if they began to experience a panic attack.
Alogia
Added on August 06, 2010
Alogia: limited communication and withdrawal from social interaction.
Anxiety
Added on July 02, 2010
Is a negative mood, which is characterized by physical tension, and apprehension about the future.
Avolition
Added on August 06, 2010
Avolition: inability to complete tasks (ie. pay bills, buy something at the store)
Bexting
Added on July 02, 2010
This is where teens are using mobile devices to send text messages (SMS/txt) to a “bookie” to place bets.
Blunted Affect
Added on August 06, 2010
Blunted Affect: these individuals experience less sadness, joy or anger than most people
Clinical Trial
Added on July 02, 2010
A research study that tests a treatment (drug or other therapy) for effectiveness, safety and tolerability.These studies involve at least two groups of participants – one group receives the experimental treatment, and the other group receives a previously established effective treatment, a placebo treatment or no treatment at all. Clinical trials are also called controlled clinical trials (CCTs) or randomized controlled trials (when patients are randomly assigned to treatment and comparison groups.
Cognition
Added on July 02, 2010
The way one thinks and processes thoughts and information. For an example, memory is a part of cognition.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Added on July 02, 2010
A form of psychotherapy (talk therapy), which is tailored to treat various mental illnesses. It focuses on changing the patient’s thoughts and behaviours to reverse the symptoms and increase the patient’s functioning.
Delusion
Added on July 02, 2010
A disorder of thought content or a belief that something has occurred or will occur that is not real or within reality. Persistent false beliefs that are odd, exaggerated and/or irrational. For instance, ‘my brain is being turned to glass by ray guns operated from outer space enemies’
Depression
Added on July 02, 2010
A clinical term used to describe a mental illness which is characterized by depressed mood, loss of interest, change in sleep and weight or appetite, and other specific symptoms.
Diagnosis
Added on July 02, 2010
A description that classifies a medical or mental disorder or illness.
Disorganized speech and behaviour
Added on August 06, 2010
Disorganized speech and behaviour is often noticed when individuals make up words, put words together in random ways that aren’t comprehendible as sentences. Their behaviour may be all over the place, they are not productive at getting anything done.
Distress
Added on July 02, 2010
Distress always has a causal event, functional abilities are only affected mildly, will disappear with a change in the environment, and professional intervention is not usually necessary.
Evidence-Based Medicine
Added on July 02, 2010
Using best evidence in making decisions for the care of individual patients, involving everything from diagnosis to treatment.
Flattened Affect
Added on August 06, 2010
Flattened Affect: the expression of few emotions, which can include expressing the opposite emotion (ie. for instance laughing at death).
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Added on July 02, 2010
A mental illness, which is characterized by excessive anxiety and worry about a number of possible events (not any single, specific event) that leads to functional impairment.
Hallucinations
Added on August 06, 2010
Involve seeing, hearing, smelling, feeling, tasting things that aren’t there.
Hormones
Added on July 02, 2010
Chemicals that are important in affecting growth, development, mood, and metabolism.
Informed Consent
Added on July 02, 2010
Participants are informed about all aspects of the study (purpose, procedure, risks, benefits, etc.) before deciding whether or not to participate in the study.
Knowledge Translation
Added on July 02, 2010
Explaining scientific information at an educational and reading level that can be understood by the target group (e.g. children, adolescents, adults not in a scientific professional setting).
Mental Disorder
Added on July 02, 2010
A mental illness makes the things you do in life hard, like: work, school, and socializing with other people. If you think you (or someone you know) might have a mental disorder, it is best to consult a professional. Early identification and effective intervention is the key to successfully treating the disorder and preventing future disability. A health care professional (doctor, mental health specialist, etc) will connect the symptoms and experiences the patient is having with recognized diagnostic criteria (DSM or ICD) to help formulate a diagnosis.
Mental Health
Added on July 02, 2010
A state of emotional, spiritual and wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
Mental Health Issue
Added on July 02, 2010
A broad term used to describe mental suffering or incompetence that may or may not fit perfectly into the criteria used (by the DSM or ICD) to diagnose a mental disorder.
Mental Health Professional
Added on July 02, 2010
A person who works to help other people with their mental state or mental illness.
Mood Disorders
Added on July 02, 2010
A group of mental illness that are mainly characterized by an abnormal change in mood.
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| If I Had - A Teen With Extensive Mood Disorders - Dr. Stan Kutcher, MD, FRCPC, Professor of Psychiatry at Dalhousie University |
Psychological treatment (psychotherapy)
Added on July 02, 2010
A class of treatment for mental illness which include a variety of talk therapies (e.g. cognitive behavioural therapy, family therapy, social skills training, etc.).
Psychosis:
Added on July 02, 2010
The term psychosis is used to describe the state of a person who projects unusual behaviours, delusions (irrational beliefs) and hallucinations (sensory experiences that are not really happening).
Remission
Added on July 02, 2010
When an individual returns to a normal state after having an active phase of a mental disorder.
Risk factor
Added on July 02, 2010
Anything that increases a person’s chances of getting an illness (can be aspects of a person’s health, lifestyle or environment). Remember, risk factors increase a person’s chances of getting an illness – they do not cause the illness.
Suicidal Ideation
Added on July 02, 2010
Includes thoughts and fantasies about, or ruminations and preoccupations with, death in general, and self-inflicted death in particular.
Suicidal Intent
Added on July 02, 2010
The conscious decision to take one’s life— to decide to die by suicide.
Youth
Added on July 02, 2010
A broad term used to describe an age group between childhood and adulthood. The actual age can be up for interpretation, but the ages generally accepted are between 15 years and 25 or 29 years.
