Glossary 3 Flashcards
Formerly called frigidity, the inability of a female to reach or maintain the lubrication-swelling stage of sexual excitement or to enjoy a subjective sense of pleasure or excitement during sexual activity
female sexual arousal disorder.
A sexual dysfunction characterised by a loss of sexual interest (urges, fantasies or desires) or lack of physiological or subjective arousal to sexual cues
female sexual interest/arousal disorder.
Retarded growth of the developing fetus and infant involving cranial, facial and limb anomalies as well as intellectual disabilities; caused by heavy consumption of alcohol by the mother during pregnancy
fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).
A paraphilic disorder that involves reliance on an inanimate object for sexual arousal.
fetishistic disorder.
A personality theory that isolates five major dimensions of personality: neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness
five-factor model.
In psychoanalytic theory, the arrest of psychosexual development at a particular stage through too much or too little gratification at that stage
fixation.
An unpredictable recurrence of experiences from an earlier drug high
flashback.
A symptom of mania that involves a rapid shift in conversation from one subject to another with only superficial associative connections
flight of ideas.
Malformation (or even breakage) of the X chromosome, associated with intellectual developmental disorder; symptoms include large, underdeveloped ears; a long, thin face; a broad nasal root; enlarged testicles in males, and, in many cases, attention deficits and hyperactivity
fragile x syndrome.
A key psychoanalytic procedure in which the analysand is encouraged to give free rein to his or her thoughts and feelings, verbalizing whatever comes into the mind without monitoring its content. The assumption is that over time, repressed material will come forth for examination by both analysand and psychoanalyst
free association.
The anterior portion of each cerebral hemisphere, in front of the central sulcus; active in reasoning and other higher mental processes.
frontal lobe.
Dementias that involve impairment of both cognitive and motor functions; include Huntington’s chorea, Parkinson’s disease, normal-pressure hydrocephalus, and vascular dementia.
frontal-subcortical dementias.
Dementia that begins typically in the mid to late 50s, characterised by deficits in executive functions such as planning, problem solving, and goal-directed behaviour as well as recognition and comprehension of emotions in others. Compare Alzheimer’s disease.
frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
A disorder in which the chief concern involves the sexually oriented touching of an unsuspecting person, typically in public places that provide an easy means of escape
frotteuristic disorder.
Subtype of dissociative amnesia disorder in which the person experiences total amnesia, moves and establishes a new identity.
fugue subtype.
Modification of magnetic resonance imaging (MR) that allows researchers to pictures of the brain so quickly that metabolic changes can be measured, resulting in a picture of the brain at work rather than of its structure alone.
functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
Inhibitory neurotransmitter that may be involved in the anxiety disorders.
gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).
The ingrained sense a person has of being either a man or a woman
gender identity.
The smallest portion of DNA within a chromosome that functions as a piece of functional hereditary information
gene.
The switching on and off of the reading (transcription and translation) of genes into their products (usually proteins) and thus their associated phenotypes
gene expression.
The influence of genetics on an individuals sensitivity or reaction to an environmental event. Compare reciprocal gene-environment interaction.
gene-environment interaction.
Hans Selyes model to describe the biological reaction of an organism to sustained and unrelenting stress; the several stages culminate in death in extreme circumstances
general adaptation syndrome (GAS).
Infection of the central nervous system by the spirochete Treponema pallidum, which destroys brain tissue; marked by eye disturbances, tremors, and disordered speech as well as severe intellectual deterioration and psychotic symptoms
general paresis.
Disorder characterised by chronic, persistent anxiety and worry.
generalised anxiety disorder (GAD).
The approach to human behavior that focuses on both heritability of traits and complex interactions between genes and environment.
genetic paradigm.
In psychoanalytic theory, the final psychosexual stage, reached in adulthood, in which heterosexual interests predominate
genital stage.
A disorder in which the woman persistently experiences pain or vaginal muscle spasms when intercourse is attempted
genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder.
Studies of variations in the entire human genome to identify associations between variations in genes and particular behaviours, traits, or disorders. Large sample sizes are needed for these types of studies
genome-wide association studies (GWAS).
An individuals unobservable, genetic constitution, that is, the totality of genes present in the cells of an individual; often applied to the genes contributing to a single trait. Compare phenotype
genotype.
Cells in the brain that are not neurons. They support and protect neurons.
glial cell.
Guanine nucleotide-binding proteins that serve to modulate activity within the postsynaptic cell, are implicated in mania and depression, and are possibly the intracellular target of lithium.
G-proteins.
Found in paranoid schizophrenia, delusional disorder, and mania, an exaggerated sense of ones importance, power, knowledge, or identity. See also delusions.
grandiose delusions.
The neural tissue - made up largely of nerve cell bodies - that constitutes the cortex covering the cerebral hemisphere, the nuclei in lower brain areas, columns of the spinal cord, and the ganglia of the autonomic nervous system. Compare white matter
gray matter.
Insanity plea in which a mentally ill person can be held morally and legally responsible for a crime but can then, in theory, be sent to a prison hospital or other suitable facility for psychiatric treatment rather than to a regular prison for punishment. In reality, however, people judged GBMI are usually put in the general prison population, where they may or may not receive treatment. Compare not guilty by reason of insanity.
guilty but mentally ill (GBMI).
Perceptions in any sensory modality with out relevant and adequate external stimuli.
hallucinations.
A drug or chemical, such as LSD, psilocybin, or mescaline, whose effects include hallucinations often called a psychedelic
hallucinogen.
Proposed definition of mental disorder that contains both a value judgment (harmful) a putatively objective scientific component (dysfunction)
harmful dysfunction.
The dried resin of the cannabis plant, stronger in its effects than the dried leaves and stems that constitute marijuana
hashish.
A branch of psychology dealing with the role of psychological factors in health and illness. See also behavioral medicine.
health psychology.
The extent to which variability in a particular behaviour/disorder within a population can be attributed to genetic factors
heritability.
An extremely addictive narcotic drug derived from morphine
heroin.
A research technique involving the intensive examination of people, such as the offspring of people with schizophrenia, who have a high probability of later developing a disorder
high-risk method.
In the subcortical region of the brain, the long, tubelike structure that stretches from the septal area into the temporal lobe.
hippocampus.
A personality disorder defined by overly dramatic behavior, emotional excess and sexually provocative behavior
histrionic personality disorder.
A disorder in which the person has a compulsive need to acquire objects and extreme difficulty in disposing of those objects
hoarding disorder.
Cognitive theory of depression that began with learned helplessness theory, was modified to incorporate attributions, and has been modified again to emphasize hopelessness - an expectation that desirable outcomes will not occur and that no available responses can change the situation.
hopelessness theory.
The neuroendocrine connections among hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal cortex, central to the body’s response to stress
HPA axis.
An opiate combined with other drugs such as acetaminophen to produce prescription pain medications, including the commonly abused drug Vicodin. See also oxycodone
hydrocodone.
A trancelike state or behavior resembling sleep induced by suggestion, characterised primarily by increased suggestibility.
hypnosis.
A DSM-IV-TR disorder in which the person, misinterpreting rather ordinary physical sensations, is preoccupied with fears of having a serious disease.
hypochondriasis.
An extremely happy or irritable mood accompanied by symptoms like increased energy and decreased need for sleep, but without the significant functional impairment associated with mania
hypomania.
In the subcortical region of the brain, the structure that regulates many visceral processes including metabolism, temperature, perspiration, blood pressure, sleeping, and appetite.
hypothalamus.
Specific expectation or prediction about what should occur or be found if a theory is true or valid.
hypothesis.
In psychoanalytic theory, that part of the personality present at birth, comprising all the energy of the psyche and expressed as biological urges that strive continually for gratification.
id.
Delusional thinking that reads personal significance into seemingly trivial remarks or activities of others and completely unrelated events.
ideas of reference.
A disorder defined by excessive concern and help seeking about health concerns in the absence of major physical symptoms.
illness anxiety disorder.
Treatment for anxiety disorders that involves visualizing feared scenes for extended periods of time. Frequently used in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder when in vivo exposure to the initial trauma cannot be conducted.
imaginal exposure.
Memory that underlies behaviour but is based on experiences that cannot be consciously recalled; typically not compromised in cases of dissociative amnesia. Compare explicit memory
implicit memory.
Literally, “in one’s absence.” Courts are concerned that a person be able to participate personally and meaningfully in his or her own trial and not be tried in absentia because of a distracting mental disorder.
in absentia.
As applied in psychology, taking place in a real-life situation
in vivo.
Emotional responses that are out of context, such as laughter when hearing sad news
inappropriate affect.
Sexual relations between close relatives, most often between daughter and father or between brother and sister.
incest.
In epidemiological studies of a particular disorder, the rate at which new cases occur in a given place at a given time. Compare prevalence.
Incidence.
In a psychological experiment, the factor, experience, or treatment that is under the control of the experimenter and that is expected to have an effect on participants as assessed by changes in the dependent variable
independent variable.
The person who in a genetic investigation bears the diagnosis or trait in which the investigator is interested
index case (proband).
A variation of Freuds psychoanalysis introduced by Alfred Adler, focusing less on biological drives and more on such factors as people conscious beliefs and goals for self-betterment
individual psychology.
The agreement of a person to serve as a research participant or to enter therapy after being told the possible outcomes, both benefits and risks
informed consent.
The legal argument that a defendant should not be held responsible for an illegal act if the conduct is attributable to mental illness. See also not guilty by reason of insanity and guilty but mentally ill
insanity defense.
A disorder characterised by below-average intellectual functioning associated with impairment in adaptive behavior and identified at an early age.
intellectual disability.
A standardised measure indicating how far an individuals raw score on an intelligence test is from the average raw score of his or her chronological age group.
intelligence quotient (IQ).
A standardised means of assessing a person’s current mental ability, for example, the Stanford Binet test or the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale.
intelligence test.
A proinflammatory cytokine; elevated levels can result from stress as well as infection and have been linked to numerous diseases in older adults
interleukin-6 (IL-6).
Domain of childhood disorders characterised by inward-focused experiences and behaviours, such as depression, social withdrawal, and anxiety; the category includes childhood anxiety and mood disorders. Compare externalising disorders.
internalising disorders.
Classical conditioning of panic attacks in response to internal bodily sensations of arousal (as opposed to the external situations that trigger anxiety).
interoceptive conditioning.
A short-term, here-and-now focused psychological treatment initially developed for depression and influenced by the psychodynamic emphasis on relationships.
interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT).
In psychoanalysis, a key procedure in which the psychoanalyst points out to the analysand where resistance exists and what certain dreams and verbalisations reveal about impulses repressed in the unconscious; more generally, any statement by a therapist that construes the client’s problem in a new way
interpretation.
The term used in an 1834 Ohio court ruling on criminal responsibility which determined that an insanity defense can be established by proving that the accused had an uncontrollable urge to perform the act.
irresistible impulse.
Interactions between two people require paying attention to each other, whether speaking or communicating emotion nonverbally. This is impaired in children with autism spectrum disorder
joint attention.
In psychoanalytic theory, the years between ages 6 and 12, during which id impulses play a minor role in motivation.
latency period.
A principle of learning that holds that behavior is acquired by virtue of its consequences
law of effect.
General term for learning disorders, communication disorders, and motor skills disorder
learning disabilities.
A set of developmental disorders encompassing dyslexia and dyscalculia; characterized by failure to develop in a specific academic area to the degree expected by the child’s intellectual level
learning disorders.
The legal principle according to which a hospitalised patient must be treated in a setting that imposes as few restrictions as possible on his or her freedom
least restrictive alternative.
Freudian term for the life-integrating instinct or force of the id; sometimes equated with sexual drive
libido.
A drug useful in treating both mania and depression in bipolar disorder
lithium.
The brain region in the fear circuit that is especially important in panic disorder, the major source in the brain of norepinephrine, which helps trigger sympathetic nervous system activity.
locus ceruleus.
Investigation that collects information on the same individuals repeatedly over time perhaps over many years, in an effort to determine how phenomena change. Compare cross tional design
longitudinal design.
In schizophrenia, an aspect of disorganised thinking wherein the patient has difficulty sticking to one topic and drifts off on a train of associations evoked by an idea from the past.
loose associations (derailment).
d-lysergic acid diethylamide, a drug synthesized in 1938 and discovered by accident to be a hallucinogen in 1943.
LSD.
A technique for measuring the structure (or, in the case of functional magnetic resonance imaging, the activity) of the living brain. The person is placed inside a large circular magnet that causes hydrogen atoms to move; the return of the atoms to their original positions when the current to the magnet is turned off is translated by a computer into pictures of brain tissue
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
A disorder of individuals who have experienced episodes of depression but not of mania. Depression episodes are marked by sadness or loss of pleasure, accompanied by symptoms such as feelings of worthlessness and guilt; withdrawal from others; loss of sleep, appetite, or sexual desire; and either lethargy or agitation.
major depressive disorder (MDD).
A sexual dysfunction disorder defined by absence of or deficiency in sexual fantasies and urges in men; for women, see sexual interest/arousal disorder.
male hypoactive sexual desire disorder.
A recurrent and persistent delay or absence of ejaculation after an adequate phase of sexual excitement.
male orgasmic disorder.
Faking a physical or psychological incapacity in order to avoid a responsibility or gain an end, where the goal is readily recognised from the individuals circumstances; distinct from conversion disorder, in which the incapacity is assumed to be beyond voluntary control
malingering.
Intense elation or irritability, accompanied by symptoms such as excessive talkativeness rapid thoughts, distractibility, grandiose plans, heightened activity, and insensitivity to the negative consequences of actions
mania.
A drug derived from the dried and ground leaves and stems of the female hemp plant Cannabis sativa.
marijuana.
A mental health professional who specialises in treating couples and families and how these relationships impact mental health. Training can be at the master’s or Ph.D. level, and some M.S.W programs offer training in marriage and family therapy
marriage and family therapist.
Methylenedioxymethamphetamine, a chemical component of Ecstasy; initially used as an appetite suppressant for World War I soldiers and derived from precursors found in nutmeg, dill, saffron, and sassafras
MDMA.
A region of the cortex in the anterior frontal lobes involved in executive function and emotion regulation that is implicated in mood an anxiety disorders
medial prefrontal cortex.
Subtype of major depressive disorder in which the individual is unable to feel better even momentarily when something good happens, regularly feels worse in the morning and awakens early, and suffers a deepening of other symptoms of depression.
melancholic.
The DSM defines mental disorder as a clinically significant behavioural or psychological syndrome or patterns. The definition includes a number of key features, including distress, disability or impaired functioning, violation of social norms, and dysfunction
mental disorder.
DSM-IV-TR disorder characterised by below-average intellectual functioning associated with impairment in adaptive behaviour and identified at an early age.
mental retardation.
A structured form of psychodynamic therapy developed for borderline personality disorder in which the person is encouraged to focus on his or her emotions and relationships.
mentalisation-based therapy.
A hallucinogen and alkaloid that is the active ingredient of peyote.
mescaline.
The first term for hypnotise, after Franz Anton Mesmer, an Austrian physician who in the late eighteenth century treated and cured hysterical or conversion disorders with what he considered the animal magnetism emanating from his body and permeating the universe.
mesmerise.
A quantitative method of analysing the results of a set of studies on a topic, by standardising the results
meta-analysis.
A chemical breakdown product of an endogenous molecule, such as a neurotransmitter, or of an exogenous drug; used to gauge current or recent level of its precursor.
metabolite.
The knowledge people have about the way they know and about their world, for example, recognizing the usefulness of a map in finding their way in a new city.
metacognition.
A recurrent and persistent delay or absence of orgasm in a woman during sexual activity adequate in focus, intensity, and duration; in many instances the woman may experience considerable sexual excitement.
female orgasmic disorder.
