ECT
Speed is the usual reason it is chosen, since a response can arrive faster than medication typically achieves in severe illness.
Read definitionSearch the glossary
Speed is the usual reason it is chosen, since a response can arrive faster than medication typically achieves in severe illness.
Read definitionThe name survives from an era the procedure no longer resembles, since it is now given under anesthesia with no visible convulsion at all.
Read definitionPersistent exhaustion that does not fully resolve with rest, fatigue can arise from physical illness, psychological strain, or simply insufficient sleep.
Read definitionFluphenazine is a first generation antipsychotic medication used mainly to manage schizophrenia and other conditions involving psychosis.
Read definitionDaytime consequences rather than hours counted are what define it, since a short sleeper without them does not have insomnia.
Read definitionA small pancreatic tumor that keeps releasing insulin when blood sugar is already low, producing confusing spells of odd behavior.
Read definitionIsolation refers to separating a person from others, whether for infection control purposes or as a broader social or psychological state.
Read definitionMusic therapy is a credentialed clinical practice using structured musical activities, guided by a trained therapist, to address physical, emotional, or cognitive treatment goals.
Read definitionThe bridge word between neurology and psychiatry, covering changes in conduct and mood that trace back to the brain itself.
Read definitionA type of drug used to treat symptoms of psychosis.
Read definitionNeurotransmitters are chemical messengers released by nerve cells to relay signals across the small gaps separating one nerve cell from another or from a muscle.
Read definitionLicensing sits with the state, so what one nurse practitioner may do alone differs from what another may do elsewhere.
Read definitionWhat one may legally do varies by jurisdiction, so the same credential means independent practice in one place and a supervised role in another.
Read definitionDistinct from denial: an accurate grasp of a diagnosis and a hopeful outlook about living with it can sit together.
Read definitionThe commonest misconception is that it signals giving up, when it can begin on the day of diagnosis.
Read definitionParanoia describes a pervasive pattern of unwarranted suspicion and distrust of others, ranging from a personality trait to a symptom of psychiatric illness.
Read definitionPhenergan is the brand name for promethazine, an antihistamine also used to control nausea, vomiting, and to promote sedation.
Read definitionThe three-ring chemical skeleton that gave psychiatry its first effective antipsychotics and medicine several reliable anti-sickness drugs.
Read definitionPhotophobia is unusual discomfort or sensitivity to light, a symptom of many different eye and neurological conditions rather than a fear of light.
Read definitionDoctor is a courtesy title held across many professions, while physician names a specific license with a legally defined scope.
Read definitionFor learning, not diagnosis. This glossary provides general educational information and is not a substitute for advice from a qualified healthcare professional. If you may be experiencing a medical emergency, contact local emergency services.