Psychiatry Definitions Flashcards
Hallucination
Perception in the absence of stimuli
Illusion
Misperception of real stimuli
Pseudohallucinations
Appear to arise in patients mind rather than sensory organ
Overvalued idea
a plausible idea that a patient becomes preoccupied with and causes them distress
Delusion
An inflexible, incorrigible, illogical idea out of keeping with cultural norms
Flight of ideas
o Thinking is accelerated causing a stream of connected concepts
Loosening of association
o Patients train of thought shifts between unconnected ideas
Thought block
Patients thoughts suddenly stop mid sentence
Circumstantial speech
speech that is delayed reaching its final goal but does reach a destination
Tangential thought
speaker never reaches original point
Delusional disorder
Involves the development of a delusion for at least 3 months, where delusions are the only symptom. However, delusions of thought control, which is a first rank symptom of schizophrenia, aren’t normally present. The typical onset is later than schizophrenia, normally in middle age.
Obsession
involuntary thoughts, images or compulsions. They are often intrusive and distressing for patients.
Compulsions
repetitive mental operations (e.g. counting) or physical acts (e.g. hand washing). Patients feel compelled to perform them, and help reduce anxiety.
OCD diagnosis in ICD 10 (4)
- Obsession and compulsions must be present for at least 2 weeks and be a source of distress
- Acknowledged as coming from the patient’s own mind
- The obsessions are unpleasantly repetitive
- A compulsive act is not pleasurable, except for the relief of anxiety
Personality
characteristic patterns of behaviour and modes of thinking that determine a person’s adjustment to the environment
