Psychological and Medical Terms for Mental Health and Well-being

Hypertension

Chronically high blood pressure that increases risk for heart disease and stroke.

Immune suppression

Reduced effectiveness of the immune system, often caused by chronic stress.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)

Traumatic events in childhood (e.g., abuse, neglect) linked to long-term physical and mental health risks.

Fight-flight-freeze response

The body's automatic physiological reaction to perceived threats.

Meditation

A mental practice that focuses attention to increase awareness and reduce stress.

Feel-good-do-good phenomenon

People are more likely to help others when they are in a positive mood.

Adaptation-level phenomenon

Judging stimuli relative to past experiences.

Relative deprivation

Perception of being worse off compared to others.

Virtues

Core positive traits valued across cultures.

Wisdom

Knowledge and judgment used for a meaningful life.

Courage

Emotional strength to pursue goals despite fear.

Humanity

Care and concern for others.

Justice

Fairness and responsibility to the community.

Temperance

Self-control and moderation.

Transcendence

Connecting to meaning beyond oneself.

Aerobic exercise

Sustained physical activity that increases heart rate and improves cardiovascular health.

Mindfulness meditation

Focusing awareness on the present moment without judgment.

World Health Organization (WHO)

Global agency that defines health as physical, mental, and social well-being.

Maladaptive behaviors

Actions that interfere with daily functioning.

Maladaptive thoughts

Distorted thinking patterns that contribute to psychological distress.

Maladaptive relationships

Interpersonal patterns that harm emotional well-being.

Biopsychosocial model

Approach that considers biological, psychological, and social factors in health.

Delusions of persecution

False beliefs of being harmed or targeted.

Delusions of grandeur

False beliefs of exceptional power or importance.

Word salad

Disorganized and incoherent speech.

Disorganized motor behavior

Erratic or purposeless movements.

Catatonia

Marked decrease in movement or responsiveness.

Stupor

Near-unconscious state with minimal responsiveness.

Catatonic stupor

Complete immobility and unresponsiveness.

Flat affect

Lack of emotional expression.

Dopamine hypothesis

Theory that schizophrenia involves excess dopamine activity.

Cycling

Alternating mood states, especially in bipolar disorder.

Acrophobia

Fear of heights.

Arachnophobia

Fear of spiders.

Panic disorder

Recurrent panic attacks with persistent worry.

Culture-bound anxiety disorder

Anxiety disorders specific to cultural contexts.

Ataque de nervios

Sudden emotional outbursts common in Latino cultures.

Taijin kyofusho

Fear of offending others, common in Japanese culture.

Obsessions

Recurrent intrusive thoughts.

Compulsions

Repetitive behaviors performed to reduce anxiety.

Trauma- and stressor-related disorders

Disorders following exposure to traumatic events.

Hypervigilance

Heightened alertness to potential threats.

Flashbacks

Involuntary reliving of traumatic events.

Insomnia

Persistent difficulty falling or staying asleep.

Emotional detachment

Reduced emotional responsiveness.

Hostility

Chronic anger or aggression.

Feeding and eating disorders

Disorders involving disturbed eating behaviors.

Biomedical therapies

Treatments that target biological processes.

Psychotropic medication therapy

Drug treatment affecting brain chemistry.

Asylums

Institutions for housing the mentally ill (historical).

Deinstitutionalization

Movement to treat patients in community settings.

Psychological therapies

Treatment through psychological techniques.

Cultural humility

Respecting and understanding clients' cultural backgrounds.

Nonmaleficence

Obligation to do no harm.

Fidelity

Maintaining trust and responsibility.

Integrity

Honesty and accuracy in practice.

Respect for rights and dignity

Protecting client autonomy and confidentiality.

Free association

Saying whatever comes to mind.

Dream interpretation

Analyzing dreams for unconscious meaning.

Unconscious mind

Mental processes outside awareness.

Cognitive restructuring

Replacing irrational thoughts.

Fear hierarchies

Ranked list of feared stimuli.

Applied behavior analysis (ABA)

Behavior modification using reinforcement.

Counterconditioning

Replacing negative responses with positive ones.

Biofeedback

Gaining control over physiological processes.

Exposure therapies

Gradual confrontation with feared stimuli.

Systematic desensitization

Pairing relaxation with fear exposure.

Virtual reality exposure therapy

Simulated exposure to feared situations.

Aversive conditioning

Pairing unwanted behavior with unpleasant stimuli.

Token economy

Reinforcement system using tokens.

Person-centered therapy

Therapy emphasizing self-growth.

Active listening

Fully attending to client communication.

Unconditional positive regard

Acceptance without judgment.

Individual therapy

One-on-one treatment.

Psychoactive medications

Drugs that alter mood or perception.

Antianxiety disorders (medications)

Drugs that reduce anxiety.

Lithium

Mood stabilizer for bipolar disorder.

Tardive dyskinesia

Involuntary movements from long-term antipsychotic use.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

Magnetic stimulation of brain regions.

Curiosity, skepticism, humility

Scientific attitudes.

Directionality problem

Correlation doesn't show cause.

Effect size

Strength of a relationship.

Eugenics

Discredited belief in selective human breeding.

Nerves

Bundles of axons in the peripheral nervous system.

Reflex arc

Automatic neural pathway for reflexes.

Excitatory neurotransmitters

Increase likelihood of neural firing.

Inhibitory neurotransmitters

Decrease likelihood of firing.

Hormones

Chemical messengers released by glands.

Leptin

Hormone signaling satiety.

Melatonin

Regulates sleep-wake cycles.

Endocrine system

Hormone-secreting glands.

Adrenaline (epinephrine)

Triggers arousal.

Ghrelin

Hunger hormone.

Oxytocin

Bonding hormone.

Substance use disorder

Continued use despite harm.

Methamphetamines

Powerful stimulant.

Ecstasy (MDMA)

Stimulant and mild hallucinogen.

LSD

Hallucinogen altering perception.

Neuroplasticity

Brain's ability to change.

EEG

Measures electrical activity.