Alcohol and related disorder definitions & Mood disorders Flashcards
agonist substitution
Replacement of a drug on which a person is dependent with one having a similar chemical makeup, an agonist. Used as a treatment for substance dependence.
alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH)
Enzyme that helps humans metabolize alcohol. Different levels of its subtypes may account for different susceptibilities to disorders such as fetal alcohol spectrum syndrome (FASS).
alcohol-related disorders
Cognitive, biological, behavioural, and social problems associated with alcohol use and misuse.
antagonist drugs
Medications that block or counteract the effects of psychoactive drugs.
barbiturates
Sedative (and addictive) drugs including Amytal, Seconal, and Nembutal that are used as sleep aids.
benzodiazepines
Anti-anxiety drugs, including Valium, Xanax, Dalmane, and Halcion, also used to treat insomnia. Effective against anxiety (and, at high potency, panic disorder), they have some side effects, such as some cognitive and motor impairment, and may result in dependence and addiction. Relapse rates are extremely high when the drug is discontinued.
caffeine use disorder
Cognitive, biological, behavioural, and social problem associated with the use and misuse of caffeine.
delirium tremens (DTs)
Frightening hallucinations and body tremors that result when a heavy drinker withdraws from alcohol. Also called withdrawal delirium.
hallucinogens
Any psychoactive substances such as LSD or marijuana that can produce delusions, hallucinations, paranoia, and altered sensory perception.
gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system
Inhibitory neurotransmitter system that is thought to be associated with excessive anxiety.
intermittent explosive disorder
Episodes during which a person acts on aggressive impulses that result in serious assaults or destruction of property.
kleptomania
Recurrent failure to resist urges to steal things not needed for personal use or their monetary value.
LSD (d-lysergic acid diethylamide)
Most common hallucinogenic drug; a synthetic version of the grain fungus ergot.
psychoactive substances
Substances, such as drugs, that alter mood or behaviour.
cognitive therapy
Treatment approach that involves identifying and altering negative thinking styles related to psychological disorders, such as depression and anxiety, and replacing them with more positive beliefs and attitudes and, ultimately, more adaptive behaviour and coping styles.
stimulants
Group of psychoactive substances that elevate mood, activity, and alertness, including amphetamines, caffeine, cocaine, and nicotine.
pyromania
Impulse-control disorder that involves having an irresistible urge to set fires.
major depressive episode
Most common and severe experience of depression, including feelings of worthlessness, disturbances in bodily activities such as sleep, loss of interest, and the inability to experience pleasure, persisting at least two weeks.
bipolar I disorder
Alternation of major depressive episodes with full manic episodes.
cognitive triad
becks theory that depression may result from a tendency to think negatively abt 1. self, 2. the immediate world, 3. the future
cyclothymic disorder
Chronic (at least two years) mood disorder characterized by alternating mood elevation and depression levels that are not as severe as manic or major depressive episodes.
major depressive disorder
Mood disorder involving one (single episode) or more (separated by at least two months without depression, recurrent) major depressive episodes.
electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
Biological treatment for severe, chronic depression involving the application of electrical impulses through the brain to produce seizures. The reasons for its effectiveness are unknown.
maintenance treatment
Combination of continued psychosocial treatment or medication designed to prevent relapse following therapy.
