Science / Psychiatry Glossary

Abreaction: An emotional release or discharge after recalling a painful experience that has been repressed because it was not consciously tolerable. Generally the release is surprising to the individual . . . View Full Definition

Abulia: A lack of will or motivation which is often expressed as inability to make decisions or set goals. Quite often, the reduction in impulse to action and thought is coupled with an indifference . . . View Full Definition

Acalculia: The loss of a previously possessed ability to calculate mathematically.

Acculturation Difficulty: A problem stemming from an inability to appropriately adapt to a different culture or environment, the problem is not based on any coexisting mental disorder.

Acetylcholine: A neurotransmitter in the brain, which helps to regulate memory, and in the peripheral nervous system, where it affects the actions of skeletal and smooth muscle.

Acting Out: This is the process of expressing unconscious emotional conflicts or feelings via actions rather than words. The person is not consciously aware of the meaning or etiology of such acts. Acti . . . View Full Definition

Actualization: The realization of ones full potential intellectual, psychological, physical

Acute Dystonia: An extrapyramidal symptom caused by some antipsychotics which takes the form of involuntary twisting of the muscles in the head and neck. Features include involuntary tongue protrusion, grim . . . View Full Definition

Acute Schizophrenia: (a-cute skiz-o-fre-ne-ah) The height of symptoms of schizophrenia.

Adiadochokinesia: The inability to perform rapid alternating movements of one or more of the extremities. This task is sometimes requested by physicians of patients during physical examinations to determine . . . View Full Definition

Affect: pattern of observable behaviours which is the expression of a subjectively experienced feeling state (emotion) and is variable over time in response to changing emotional states

Affective Disorder: (ah-feck-tiv dis-or-der) A mental disorder in which the main symptom is an abnormal mood; usually depression or mania.

Affective Flattening: Limited range and intensity of emotional expression. A negative symptom of schizophrenia.

Affective Symptoms: Symptoms of schizophrenia that relate to mood or emotional expression.

Age-Associated Memory Impairment (AAMI): The mild disturbance in memory function that occurs normally with aging; benign senescent forgetfulness. Such lapses in memory are lately humorously referred to as representing a senior moment.

Agitation: Excessive motor activity that accompanies and is associated with a feeling of inner tension. The activity is usually non-productive and repetitious and consists of such behavior as pacing, . . . View Full Definition

Agnosia: Failure to recognize or identify objects despite intact sensory function; This may be seen in dementia of various types. An example would be the failure of someone to recognize a paper clip . . . View Full Definition

Agnostic Alexia: words can be seen but cannot be read.

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