Common terms in Psych Flashcards
Define Affect:
Clinical term for feelings or emotions. Affect can be normal, blunted, or flat.
Define Labeling:
A term that refers to the practice of referring to individuals by their disorder, rather than who they are.
Examples: An Autistic child. This is inappropriate and demeans the individual. Instead, label the behavior or disorder.
A child with Autism. Rather than, the schizophrenic, we should say, the person with schizophrenia.
Define Comorbidity:
The presence of two or more disorders diagnosed at the same time.
Example: Schizophrenia & Depression. We would say, “The client has schizophrenia and is comorbid for depression”.
Define Multi-determined:
The notion that all disorders have multiple causes or etiologies.
Define Off-Label:
The practice of prescribing medications for a different disorder than the one for which the medication was designed, or for a population (age group) for which it was not initially intended. It’s done all the time. It’s acceptable practice.
Example: Drugs that are used to treat psychotic disorders, referred to as antipsychotics, are also anticonvulsants, used to treat seizures.
Define Psychotropic Medications:
Any medication that treats mood, cognition (thoughts), and/or behavior.
Define Etiology:
Clinical term for the causes of disorders.
Define Prognosis:
An estimate of how a person will function in the future.
Define Neurotransmitters:
Chemicals in the brain that transmit signals across the synapse of the neurons, from the presynaptic neuron to the postsynaptic neuron.
Define Psychotherapy/Counseling:
A generic term referring to any type of talk therapy. For our purposes this term, we will use the terms interchangeably.
Define Therapist/Counselor:
A term referring to the person who conducts the counseling or therapy session. For our purposes this term, we will use the terms interchangeably.
Define Psychoanalysis:
A very specific type of psychotherapy using classical Freudian techniques.
Define Psychoanalyst:
The therapist who conducts psychoanalysis.
Define Primary Care Physicians:
Amedical doctor who sees patients that have common medical problems. The PCP is often involved in patient careover a long period of time. This is generally the first person you might see when not feeling well. They can prescribe all types of medication.
Define Psychiatrist:
A licensed physician (medical doctor) who typically diagnoses and prescribes medication for individuals with psychiatric disorders. They are certified to practice psychotherapy, but typically don’t. They tend to refer the patient to a psychologist or LCSW, with whom they work collaboratively. They’re experts at diagnosing and prescribing psychotropic medications.
Define Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner:
An individual who has a BS in nursing, is a RN (Registered Nurse) and then completes a graduate program in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. There are two options, MNP (master’s level) and DNP (doctoral level). They can work independently, diagnose and prescribe medications. Typically they concentrate on diagnosing and prescribing medications.
Define Psychologist:
An individual who has earned their Doctoral degree (Ph.D., Psy.D.) in psychology. They can legally practice independently if they become licensed. Not all psychologists are licensed, some who are academics or researchers may decide not to be licensed. The license is what allows them to practice psychotherapy, & diagnose patients, but in most states, including NY, they can’t prescribe medication.
Define Licensed Clinical Social Worker:
An individual who’s successfully completed a 60-credit graduate program in social work. Social workers can legally practice independently & diagnose patients after they’ve completed their post-graduate training (3,000 hours) and then pass a licensing exam. They often work in hospitals, clinics or private practice. They are experts at coordinating outreach services for patients/clients. They can’t prescribe medication.
Define Licensed Mental Health Counselor:
An individual who’s successfully completed a 60-credit graduate program in mental health counseling. MHC can legally practice independently & diagnose patients after they’ve completed their post-graduate training (3,000 hours) and then pass a licensing exam. They most often work in clinics. This certification/license exists in New York but does not exist in every state. They can’t prescribe medication.
Define School Psychologist:
An individual who’s successfully completed a 60-credit graduate program in school psychology. After completing pre-graduate training (1200 hours) and becoming certified, they can work as school-based psychologists who conduct psychological evaluations and do counseling. They’re the only mental health professionals who can classify students so they may be eligible for special education services in schools. They can’t practice outside of the school setting, or prescribe medication, and can’t diagnose. However, if they go on for their doctorate and get their psychologist’s license, then they can practice independently and diagnose patients.
