Mental and Behavioral Health Terms

The brand name is one of several for a single molecule, and what separates them is how fast and how long each releases it.

A sedative reduces central nervous system activity to calm anxiety, ease agitation, or promote sleep, with effects ranging from mild relaxation to deep sedation.

A depression of the bone at the base of the skull where the pituitary gland is located.

The block on reuptake happens within hours, yet the change in mood takes weeks, and that gap is still not fully explained.

A drug used to treat depression.

Illness, surgery, medication and aging all reach this part of life, which is why care teams raise it alongside other quality of life concerns.

A network of family, friends, neighbors, and community members that is available in times of need to give psychological, physical, and financial help.

The word selective refers to serotonin alone, which is what separates this class from antidepressants acting on several messengers at once.

A yellow-flowered plant sold as a supplement, best known in medicine for how strongly it interferes with other drugs.

The use of communication, drugs, or other types of treatments that are specific for an individual or a group to improve health or change behavior.

Treatment of mental, emotional, personality, and behavioral disorders using methods such as discussion, listening, and counseling.

Tradition describes a belief or practice about health passed down within a family, culture, or community, shaping how a person understands and responds to illness.

Sleep arrives sooner, but tolerance, dependence and next day drowsiness are the reasons courses are kept short.