Psychiatry terminology

Question 1

Neoligism

Answer 1

A new word created by the patient. Classically associated with schizophrenia and can also occur in organic brain disorder.

Question 2

Echolalia

Answer 2

Describes the syndrome where a patient senselessly repeats words or phrases that have been spoken near them. Occurs in a range of psychiatric conditions including schizophrenic catatonia, autism and brain injury

Question 3

Flight of ideas

Answer 3

Thinking that is markedly accelerated and results in a stream of loosely connected concepts. The links between concepts can be normal, tenuous or through puns and clanging. Final goal unlikely to be reached.

Question 4

Circumstantiality

Answer 4

Describes over-inclusive speech that is delayed in reaching its final goal due to excessive diversion and detail. However, unlike flight of ideas, the final goal will be reached. It is increased in anxiety disorders and hypo-mania.

Question 5

Hallucination

Answer 5

Perception in the absence of a stimuli

Question 6

illusion

Answer 6

Misperceptions of real external stimuli. Assoc. w/ tiredness, inattention and strong emotion.

Question 7

Delusion

Answer 7

False, unshakeable belief which is not in keeping with the patients, cultural, religious or educational background.

Question 8

Over-valued idea

Answer 8

An incorrect belief that is not impossible, is held with marked emotional investment but not with unshakeable conviction. Typical disorders that feature over-valued ideas: anorexia nervosa, hypochondriacal disorders, personality disorders and dysmorphophobia.

Question 9

Perseveration

Answer 9

An abnormality of speech. Occurs when a patient unnecessarily repeats words or phrases they have previously expressed. Classically assoc. w/ Parkinson’s disease.

Question 10

Pseudohallucinations

Answer 10

A false perceptual experience. Appears to arise in the subjective inner space of the mind rather than external stimulation: “mind’s eye/inner eye”. Examples are distressing flashbacks from PTSD or a recently bereaved widow.

Question 11

Derailment/Knights move thinking/loosening of association

Answer 11

Knight’s move thinking is characterized by odd, tangential associations between ideas that lead to disruptions in the smooth continuity of speech. There is discourse consisting of a sequence of unrelated or only remotely related ideas. The frame of reference often changes from one sentence to the next.

Question 12

Agnosia

Answer 12

Agnosia is a loss of ability to recognize objects, persons, sounds, shapes, or smells. The specific sense is not defective, nor is there any significant memory loss. It usually associated with brain injury.

Question 13

Dysarthia

Answer 13

A motor speech disorder resulting from neurological injury of the motor component of the motor-speech system and is characterized by poor articulation

Question 14

Dysthymia

Answer 14

Also known as chronic depression. It is a mood disorder consisting of the same cognitive and physical problems as in depression, with less severe but longer-lasting symptoms.

Question 15

word salad

Answer 15

Speech that becomes a mixture of incoherent words and phrases

Question 16

Thought echo

Answer 16

A from of first person auditory hallucination

Question 17

Waxy flexibility

Answer 17

Catatonic phenomenon characterized by decreased response to stimuli and a tendency to remain in an immobile posture. e.g. if one were to move the arm of someone with waxy flexibility, they would keep their arm where one moved it

Question 18

Akinesis

Answer 18

lack of voluntary movement

Question 19

Nihilistic delusions

Answer 19

The belief that oneself, a part of one’s body, or the real world does not exist or has been destroyed e.g. rotting insides