All Words Glossary

Glossary of Psychiatry Terms
beginning with letter A
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aberration
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noun
  1. The act of wandering; deviation, especially from truth or moral rectitude, from the natural state, or from a type.
  • The of youth - Hall
  • Aberrations from theory - Burke
    1. A partial alienation of reason.
  • Occasional aberrations of intellect - Lingard
  • Whims, which at first are the aberrations of a single brain, pass with heat into epidemic form - I. Taylor
    1. (astronomy) A small periodical change of position in the stars and other heavenly bodies, due to the combined effect of the motion of light and the motion of the observer.
    2. (context, optics) The convergence to different focus, foci, by a lens or mirror, of rays of light emanating from one and the same point, or the deviation of such rays from a single focus.
    3. (physiology) The passage of blood or other fluid into parts not appropriate for it.
    4. The producing of an unintended effect by the glancing of an instrument, as when a shot intended for A glances and strikes B.
    5. (context, zoology, botany) atypical development or structure
aboulia
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noun
  1. absence of will-power or decisiveness, especially as a symptom of mental illness
  • 1969: He felt without volition, plunged into a state of . " John Fowles, The French Lieutenant's Woman
abreact
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verb
  1. (transitive) To eliminate by relieve, relieving previously repressed emotions.
abreaction
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noun
  1. (psychoanalysis) The re-living of an experience with a view to purging its emotional dross.
abstinence
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noun
  1. The act or practice of abstaining, refraining from indulge, indulging a desire.
The from a present pleasure that offers itself is a pain, nay, oftentimes, a very great one. - w:John Locke, John Locke
  1. Specifically, the practice of abstaining from intoxicating/alcoholic beverages (also called total abstinence, teetotalism).
  2. Specifically, the practice of abstaining from sexual intercourse, either permanently or until marriage.
  3. The practice of self-denial by depriving one's self (partly or totally) of certain kinds of food or drink, especially meat.
Penance, fasts, and , / To punish bodies for the soul's offense. - w:John Dryden, John Dryden
abulia
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noun
  1. Variant spelling of aboulia.
acalculia
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noun
  1. (pathology) The condition of lack, lacking basic mathematics, mathematical skills.
acarophobia
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noun
  1. the fear of itching or of the insects that cause itching
acrophobia
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noun
  1. Fear of heights
aerophobia
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noun Disputed plural. See talk page.
  1. Fear of drafts, air swallowing or airborne noxious substances.
affect
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noun
  1. (psychology) Emotion.
  2. (colloquial, psychology) A strong emotional experience. See
    1. Usage notes, usage notes below.
  3. (psychology) external, External display of emotion or mood.
He seemed completely devoid of .
verb
  1. (transitive) To influence or alter.
The experience affected me deeply.
The heat of the sunlight affected the speed of the chemical reaction.
  1. (transitive) To move to emotion.
He was deeply affected by the themes in the play.
  1. (transitive) To make a false display of.
He managed to a smile despite feeling quite miserable.
  1. (transitive) Of an illness or condition, to infect or harm (a part of the body).
Hepatitis affects the liver.
aggression
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noun
  1. The act of initiating hostility, hostilities or invasion.
  2. The practice or habit of launching attacks.
  3. Hostile or destructive behavior or actions.
agitation
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noun
  1. The act of agitate, agitating, or the state of being agitated; the state of being moved with violence, or with irregular action; commotion.
The sea after a storm is in .
  1. A stirring up or arousing; disturbance of tranquillity; disturbance of mind which shows itself by physical excitement; perturbation.
She causes great within me.
  1. Excitement of public feeling by discussion, appeals, etc.
the antislavery
labor
religious agitations "Prescott
  1. Examination or consideration of a subject in controversy, or of a plan proposed for adoption; earnest discussion; debate.
a logical of the matter "L'Estrange.
the project now in "Swift.
agnosia
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noun
  1. The inability to recognize objects by use of the senses.
agoraphobia
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noun
  1. The fear of wide open spaces, crowds, or uncontrolled social conditions.
ailurophobia
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noun
  1. An irrational fear or hatred of cats or other felines.
alexithymia
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noun
  1. A mental disorder, characterised by cognitive-emotional deficits.
algolagnia
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noun
  1. a physical condition that causes a person to gain sexual pleasure by suffering pain, particularly to erogenous zones.
algophobia
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noun
  1. fear of pain
amentia
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noun
  1. Mental impairment; state of being mentally handicapped.
amok
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adverb (from Malay language, Malay)
  1. Out of control, especially when armed and dangerous
  2. In a frenzy of violence, or on a killing spree; berserk
anaclitic
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adjective
  1. (psychoanalysis) denoting a person whose choice of love-interest arises from the dependence of the libido on another instinct (e.g. hunger)
  • 1982: I don"t think I have to gloss the true purport behind your need to humiliate a woman doctor symbolically. (Fowles, Mantissa)
    1. pertaining to an acute emotional dependence on another person or persons
anal retentive
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adjective
  1. alternative spelling of anal-retentive
anesthesia
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noun
  1. (medicine) A method of preventing sensation, used to eliminate pain.
  2. The loss or prevention of pain, as caused by anesthesia.
anorexia
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noun
  1. Loss of appetite, especially as a result of disease
  2. anorexia nervosa
anorexia nervosa
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noun
  1. An eating disorder characterized by self starvation due to a fear of gaining weight.
anorexic
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noun
  1. Somebody suffering from anorexia nervosa.
  2. A medicine which suppresses appetite.
adjective
  1. Pertaining to, or suffering from anorexia nervosa.
  2. thin, skinny
antisocial
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adjective
  1. Unwilling or unable to associate normally with other people
  2. Antagonistic, hostile, or unfriendly toward others; menacing
  3. Opposed to social order or the principles of society
anxiety
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noun (anxieties)
  1. Concern or solicitude respecting some thing or event, future or uncertain, which disturbs the mind, and keeps it in a state of painful uneasiness.
    • 2005, w:Plato, Plato, Sophist. Translation by Lesley Brown. w:Stephanus pagination, 268a.
    • : But the other, because he's been immersed in arguments, gives the appearance of harbouring considerable and suspicion that he's ignorant of those matters he presents himself to others as an expert on.
      1. (Medical) A state of restlessness and agitation, often with general indisposition and a distressing sense of oppression at the epigastrium. --Dunglison.
astraphobia
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noun
  1. an abnormal fear of thunder and lightning
asylum
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noun
  1. A place of safety
  2. The protection, physical and legal, afforded by such a place.
  3. A place of protection or restraint for one or more classes of the disadvantaged, especially the mentally ill.
autism
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noun
  1. (clinical psychology) Abnormal self-absorption, first observed in childhood, characterised by lack of response to people and limited ability to communicate.
aviophobia
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noun
  1. Fear of flying.

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