Glossary
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
A
Advanced directive
Written instructions agreed between a service user and Health Professional before treatment begins, in which the service user specifies his or her preferred treatments and identifies the treatments he or she does not wish to receive 1.
Antipsychotics
A group of drugs used to treat psychoses (mental disorders involving loss of contact with reality), particularly schizophrenia and mania in bipolar disorder2.
Atypicals
Novel antipsychotic medication.
B
Bipolar disorder
An illness also known as manic-depressive illness, characterized by swings in mood between the opposite extremes of severe depression and overexcitability (mania). Initially, the mood disturbance may consist of depression or mania but eventually it alternates between the two. In a severe form that is sometimes referred to as manic-depressive psychosis, there may also be grandiose ideas or negative delusions2.
C
Carer, caregiver
Someone who looks after a sick or dependent person3.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
A psychological treatment that helps people to establish links between their thoughts, feelings or actions and their current or past symptoms and to re-evaluate their perceptions, beliefs or reasoning about the target symptoms. It's useful for reducing symptoms, reducing breakdowns and helping to understand the illness and may help people take their medicines regularly1.
Consultation
1. A discussion between two doctors about a case. 2. A meeting between a doctor and a patient, in which the doctor may examine the patient, discuss his or her condition and prescribe treatment3.
D
Depression
A mental condition that prevents someone from carrying out the normal activities of life in the usual way3.
Delusions
A false belief which a person holds which cannot be changed by reason3.
Diagnosis
The process of finding the nature of a disorder. The doctor listens to a patient’s account of his or her illness and a physical examination is usually involved. Tests may be ordered after the formation of a provisional diagnosis2.
Diagnostic
Referring to diagnosis3.
E
Empowerment
The act of giving someone authority and power to make decisions that will affect them3.
H
Hallucinations
An experience of seeing an imaginary scene or hearing an imaginary sound as clearly as if it were really there3.
Healthcare Professional (HCP)
A qualified person who works in an occupation related to health care e.g. a nurse3.
Hypersalivation
Excessive production of saliva4.
M
Mania
A state of bipolar disorder in which the person is excited, very sure of his or her own abilities and has increased energy3.
Medications
Any substance prescribed to treat disease2.
N
Neuroleptics
An antipsychotic drug which calms a person and stops him or her from worrying3.
NHS
National Health Service3.
NICE
National Institute for Clinical Excellence3.
P
Paranoia
A behaviour characterised by mistaken ideas or delusions of persecution or self-importance3.
Prescribe
To give instructions for a person to get a specific dosage of a drug or a specific form of therapeutic treatment3.
Psychiatrist
A doctor who specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of mental and behavioural disorders3.
Psychosis
Any serious mental disorder in which a person has a distorted perception of reality3.
S
Schizophrenia
A mental disorder in which someone withdraws from contact with other people, has delusions and seems to lose contact with the real world3.
Service user
Patient, client.
Psychosexual dysfunction
A disorder in which there is interference with the sexual response for no physical cause2.
Side effects
A reaction or consequence of medication or therapy that is additional to the desired effect. The term usually refers to an unwanted or adverse effect, usually following a normal dose, rather than the toxic effects of a drug overdose2.
T
Typicals
Conventional antipsychotic medication.
References
1. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE): Treating and managing schizophrenia (core interventions). Understanding NICE guidance - information for people with schizophrenia, their advocates and carers, and the public, Dec 2002
2. Peters M, The British Medical Association Illustrated Medical Dictionary; 2007, 2nd Ed. Penguin. Dorling Kindersley Limited
3. Collin P, Dictionary of Medical Terms 2004. 4th Ed. Bloomsbury Publishing plc
4. Oxford Concise Medical Dictionary 1998 2nd Ed. Market House Books Ltd
