clinical Social Worker vocabulary Flashcards
WAX FLEXIBILITY
A phenomenon, associated with catatonic schizophrenia, in which the body, particularly the extremities, will remain for long periods of time in any positions selected by the examiner
VOYEURISM
A form of personality disorder (more specifically, of perversion), in which the subject receives his principal erotic gratification in clandestine peeping.
VEGETATIVE SIGNS (OF DEPRESSION)
A traditionally grouped set of findings, including anorexia, weight loss, constipation, amenorrhea, insomnia and “morning-evening variation in mood,” that, when found in combination, are indicative of severe depression.
UNDOING
One of the defense mechanism, a techic in which a specific action is performed that is (unconsciously) considered by the subject to be in some sense the opposite of a previous unacceptable action (or wish), and thus neutralize (“undue”) the original action.
UNCONSCIOUS
(1) That part of the mind the content of which is only rarely subject to awareness. it is the repository for knowledge that has never been conscious or that may have been conscious briefly and was then repressed.
UNCONSCIOUS
(2) In psychiatry, one of the three levels of awareness; thoughts, sensations, and emotions at this level cannot enter the subject’s awareness through any voluntary effort on his part, but they continue to exert effects upon his behavior.
TURNING AGAINST THE SELF
One of the defense mechanisms, a technic in which an unacceptable drive (usually aggressive) is diverted from its original object and (unconsciously) made to operate against the self, in whole or in part.
TRAUMATIC NEUROSIS (WAR NEUROSIS)
An acute morbid reaction related to psychoneurosis but occurring only in response to overwhelming trauma or stress. The condition is characterized by a temporary, partial disorganization of the personality, followed by such symptoms of anxiety, restlessness, irritability, impaired concentration, evidence of autonomic dysfunction and repetitive nightmares in which the traumatic experience is “relived.”
SIMPLE SCHIZOPHRENIA
One of the four classic schizophrenia subgroups, characterized by slow, insidious onset and chronic course, with the illness being shown by emotional coldness, withdrawal and eccentricity, rather than more striking symptoms.
SOMATOPSYCHIC
A term of recent coinage, intended to indicate psychological effects of somatic pathology.
SPLIT PERSONALITY
A term calling attention to the schizophrenic’s inappropriateness of affect; the “split” is thus between emotions and ideation.
STRESS
Any circumstance that taxes the admustment capacity of the individual.
SUBJECT
The person under discussion or study, as, for example, a patient or a person upon whom an experiment is performed.
SUBLIMATION
(1) A defense mechanism, operating unconsciously, by which instinctual but consciously unacceptable drives are diverted into personally and socially acceptable channels. (2) One of the defense mechanism, the only one that is never pathogenic; a technic whereby the original aim or object of a basic drive is altered in a manner that allows the release of tension and, at the same time, is socially acceptable.
SUPEREGO
0ne of the three major aspects or agencies of the mind; similar to the term “conscience” but more inclusive since it involves both conscious and unconscious components. (see Ego.)
SUPPRESSION
A technic of adjustment - differing from the defense mechanisms in that it is fully conscious and very rarely pathogenic - whereby the ego denies expression to a thought or an impulse. (it is often contrasted with repression, which is automatic, unconsciously effected and frequently pathogenic.)
SYMBOLISM
The use of one mental image to represent another.
TOXIC
Pertaining to, or due to the action of, a poison. Toxic psychosis, a psychosis brought about by the action of a poisonous substance or, more broadly, a psychosis brought about by any chemical interference with normal metabolic processes (grouped with the organic psychosis).
