Key Terms Lesson 12

Amygdala

A part of the limbic system responsible for both positive and negative emotions.

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Characterized by a short attention span and impulsive behavior that is inappropriate for the child's developmental age.

Autism spectrum disorder

Characterized by difficulty developing normal social relationships and communication skills.

Dyslexia

A learning disability characterized by an inability of the brain to process symbols correctly, leading to difficulty reading.

Hippocampus

A part of the limbic system that creates long-term memories and learning.

Hypothalamus

A part of the limbic system responsible for sexual and behavioral functioning.

Learning disabilities

Disorders in children of normal intelligence who have difficulty with specific skills.

Limbic system

Located within the brain and is associated with thought, mood, and emotion.

Thalamus

A part of the limbic system that receives messages from sensory organs and processes these senses, relaying impulses to and from the cerebrum.

acrophobia

is an excessive fear of heights.

affect

the outward appearance of a person's mood.

agoraphobia

is an excessive fear of environments where a panic attack may occur.

anxiolytic drug

medication administered to temporarily relieve anxiety.

claustrophobia

is an excessive fear of being in small spaces.

delirium tremens

sudden severe mental changes and seizures as a result of stopping the use of alcohol.

delusion

is a personal belief that is false, but maintained despite evidence to the contrary.

electroconvulsive therapy

a procedure in which small electric currents are passed through the brain to reverse symptoms of certain mental illnesses.

hallucination

a sensory perception that is experienced despite the lack of a stimulus.

narcolepsy

a sleep disorder causing sudden and uncontrollable, but brief, episodes of falling asleep during the day.

paranoia

intense anxiety due to persistent mistrust and suspicion of someone or something.

phobia

a persistent, irrational fear of a thing or situation that causes significance distress and avoidance of the thing or situation.

psychiatrist

a specialist who diagnoses and treats mental health disorders, chemical dependencies, and emotional problems.

psychology

the scientific study of the mind.

psychopharmacology

drug therapy for mental health disorders.

psychosis

a disturbed thought pattern that makes it difficult for a person to distinguish real from not real.

psychotic disorder

a state of loss of contact with reality and deterioration of normal social functioning.

psychotropic drug

medication producing temporary changes in mind, emotion, and behavior.

schizophrenia

a psychotic disorder usually characterized by withdrawal from reality, illogical patterns of thinking, delusions, and hallucinations and potentially accompanied by other emotional, behavioral, or intellectual disturbances.

generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

chronic and excessive worrying that causes physical symptoms

panic attack

a sudden, unexpected sensation of fear in the absence of real danger, an unnecessary activation of the fight-or-flight response

panic disorder

fear of panic attacks

phobias

persistent and irrational fear of a thing or situation that causes the individual to avoid the thing or situation

social anxiety disorder

fear of situations where the person is afraid of being embarrassed or being evaluated negatively by others

post-traumatic stress disorder

a severe stress disorder that results from actual or threatened death or injury to the person or someone else

adjustment disorder

feelings of sadness or hopelessness after a stressful event

Outpatient

Care provided via telehealth or in an office setting.

Intensive outpatient

Care is provided several times weekly as patients continue to live at home.

Partial hospitalization

Care is provided in a hospital setting several days a week, and return home in the evenings.

Residential

Care is provided at a facility but without full-time medical care.

Inpatient

Care is provided either voluntarily or involuntarily in the hospital setting.