Lesson 12: Mental Health

anxi/o

anxiety

claustr/o

barrier, enclosed space

narc/o

sleep, stupor

phren/o

mind (also: diaphragm)

psych/o

mind

schiz/o

split

somn/o

sleep

traumat/o

injury

anti-

against

para-

around, abnormal

post-

after

-mania

madness or obsessive preoccupation

-phobia

abnormal fear

-tic

pertaining to

-tropic

having an affinity for

acrophobia

An excessive fear of heights.

affect

The outward display of a person’s mood.

agoraphobia

An excessive fear of places where escape feels hard or a panic attack might happen.

alcoholism

Chronic alcohol dependence with withdrawal symptoms when stopping.

anorexia nervosa

An eating disorder involving food restriction and a distorted view of one’s body.

antidepressant

A medication used to treat depression.

anxiety disorders

A group of disorders marked by excessive fear and worry.

anxiolytic drug

A medication that temporarily relieves anxiety.

autism spectrum disorder

A disorder affecting social interaction and communication.

attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder

A disorder of short attention span and impulsive, overactive behavior.

bipolar disorder

A disorder with cycles between mania and severe depression.

binge eating disorder

An eating disorder with recurrent episodes of eating large amounts, without purging.

biofeedback

A technique that uses body-signal monitoring to learn to control physical responses.

body dysmorphic disorder

A preoccupation with a perceived flaw in one’s appearance.

borderline personality disorder

A personality disorder with unstable moods, relationships, and self-image.

bulimia nervosa

An eating disorder with binge eating followed by purging.

claustrophobia

An excessive fear of small or enclosed spaces.

cognitive behavioral therapy

Talk therapy that reshapes unhelpful thoughts and behaviors.

delirium tremens

Severe confusion and seizures caused by alcohol withdrawal.

delusion

A false belief held despite clear evidence against it.

depression

A mood disorder of persistent sadness, low energy, and loss of interest.

dissociative disorders

Disorders with disruptions in memory, identity, or awareness.

dyslexia

A learning disability that makes processing written symbols and reading difficult.

electroconvulsive therapy

Treatment using brief electric currents through the brain to relieve severe mental illness.

emotion

A conscious feeling or reaction.

exposure therapy

Therapy that gradually confronts a feared object or situation to reduce fear.

factitious disorder

Faking or inducing illness in oneself for attention.

gender dysphoria

Distress from a mismatch between gender identity and sex assigned at birth.

hallucination

Sensing something that isn’t really there.

hoarding disorder

Persistent difficulty discarding possessions.

hypnotherapy

Guided hypnosis used as a form of treatment.

intellectual disability

Below-average intellectual functioning with limits in everyday skills.

limbic system

The brain region tied to mood, memory, and emotion.

mania

An abnormally elevated, energetic, or irritable mood state.

mental illness

A health condition affecting thinking, emotion, or behavior.

mood

A sustained inner emotional state.

narcolepsy

A sleep disorder with sudden, brief daytime sleep attacks.

neurodevelopmental disorders

Childhood-onset conditions affecting brain development (e.g., ADHD, autism).

obsessive-compulsive disorder

Unwanted recurring thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions).

oppositional defiant disorder

A childhood pattern of angry, defiant behavior toward authority.

panic attack

A sudden surge of intense fear with no real danger present.

paranoia

Intense anxiety from persistent mistrust and suspicion.

paraphilic disorders

Disorders involving atypical sexual interests that cause distress or harm.

parasomnia

Abnormal events during sleep, such as sleepwalking or night terrors.

personality disorder

A long-term pattern of rigid, unhealthy thinking and behavior.

phobia

A persistent, irrational fear that causes avoidance.

posttraumatic stress disorder

A stress disorder following a traumatic, life-threatening event.

psychiatrist

A physician who diagnoses and treats mental health disorders.

psychology

The scientific study of the mind.

psychopharmacology

The use of drugs to treat mental health disorders.

psychosis

A break in thinking that blurs what is real and not real.

psychotic disorder

A loss of contact with reality with declining social functioning.

psychotherapy

Treatment of mental disorders through talking and psychological methods.

psychotropic drug

A medication that changes mood, emotion, or behavior.

schizophrenia

A psychotic disorder with disordered thinking, delusions, and hallucinations.

self-harm

Deliberately injuring one’s own body.

sexual dysfunctions

Problems that interfere with sexual functioning or satisfaction.

stimulant

A drug that increases alertness and nervous-system activity.

suicide

The act of intentionally ending one’s own life.

trauma

A deeply distressing experience, or a physical injury.