Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder that involves self-imposed weight-loss. It affects adolescent females and young women more than males. Symptoms are refusal to maintain body weight near a minimally normal level for age and height; intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat; disturbance in perception of one’s body; undue influence of body on self-evaluation or denial of the seriousness of low body weight and cessation of menstruation. www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/Helpline1/Anorexia_Nervosa.htm

Affect refers to an individual’s immediate emotional state or mood, which the person can recognize subjectively and which can also be recognized objectively by others.

Affective Disorders (formerly called mood disorders) are mental illnesses characterized by extreme emotional responses and persistent mood disturbances. Examples are bipolar disorder and depression.

Alzheimer’s Disease is an extremely debilitating condition characterized by progressive impairment of overall mental function and including dementia. Scientific research has linked Alzheimer’s disease, which usually occurs later in life, to dying brain cells.
www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic%5Ftext/health/alzheim/alzheim.htm

Antidepressants are medications used to treat depressive disorders. There are several types including newer medications, the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), the trycyclics and the monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).

Anti-psychotics are medications used to treat psychotic illnesses.

Anxiety Disorder (sometimes called Generalized Anxiety Disorder) is characterized by generalized and persistent anxiety not associated with any particular event or circumstance. Chronic stress appears to be one factor in its development. Sufferers experience a variety of worries and symptoms including muscle tension, nervousness and gastrointestinal discomfort. Sleep disturbance is common.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) describes significant problems with inattention, excessive activity and impulsivity. ADHD is probably the most common developmental disorder; it is often associated with learning disorders and other developmental and psychosocial problems. Pure ADHD is fairly responsive to the treatment of core symptoms by medication; there is a growing interest in alternative methods of treatment including cognitive therapy as well as so-called “natural pharmaceuticals.”
www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/Helpline1/Attention-Deficit_Hyperactivity_Disorder.htm

Autistic Disorder is a pervasive developmental disorder with severe disturbances in socialization, communication and repetitive behaviors. It occurs in early infancy and serious developmental problems leave most autistic children handicapped or neurodevelopmentally retarded. While there is no specific treatment for core symptoms, there has been some progress made in early communicative intervention and remediation, and with medication for a few targeted behaviors.
www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=whatisautism

Body Dysmorphic Disorder describes an individual’s morbid concern about a mild or imagined physical defect; also known as Somatoform disorder.
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000922.htm

Bipolar Disorder, also known as manic depressive disorder, is characterized by repeated mood swings between depression and mania (elevation of mood and increased energy and activity). Between episodes the person may have no symptoms. Treatment almost always includes medications, most typically Lithium Carbonate. Anticonvulsant medications are also prescribed frequently; Carbamazepine is the most widely used.
www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/Helpline1/Bipolar_Disorder.htm

Bulimia (sometimes known as bulimia nervosa) is an eating disorder characterized by repeated bouts of binge eating and a preoccupation with controlling body weight that leads the patient to adopt extreme forms of purging (self-induced vomiting and/or laxative abuse) to mitigate the “fattening” effects of food. Repeated purging is likely to give rise to electrolyte imbalance, physical complications such as epileptic seizures and cardiac arrhythmias and further severe loss of weight.
www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/Helpline1/Bulimia.htm

Compulsion is the behavioral component of an obsession. The individual feels compelled to repeat a behavior that has no immediate benefit beyond reducing the anxiety associated with the obsessional idea. For instance, for a person obsessed by the idea that they are dirty, repeated ritual handwashing may serve to reduce anxiety.

Cognitive therapy is an approach to psychotherapy that focuses on helping people change how they think about things. In contract to other approaches, cognitive therapy is usually more focused on the present, more time-limited, and more problem-solving oriented. Much of what the patient does is solve current problems. In addition, patients learn specific things such as identifying distorted thinking, modifying beliefs, relating to others in different ways and changing behaviors.

Counselling, as defined by Steadman’s Medical Dictionary, is “a professional relationship and activity in which one person endeavors to help another to understand and to solve his or her adjustment problems; the giving of advice, opinion and instruction to direct the judgment or conduct of another.” It is, then, a broader term than psychotherapy, which can be thought of as a form of counseling used as a treatment for mental disorders.

Delusion is an illogical or incorrect belief which is out of keeping with an individual’s cultural context, intelligence and social background and which is held with unshakeable conviction even in the face of evidence that it is false. Delusion is a symptom of many mental illnesses.

Dementia is a chronic, organic mental illness that produces a global deterioration in one’s cognitive abilities (thinking clearly and logically, remembering, etc.) and which usually runs a deteriorating course.

Depression (major depression, clinical depression) is an affective disorder; the most prominent symptoms are depressed mood and loss of interest or pleasure in episodes lasting at least two weeks. Other symptoms vary considerably and may include insomnia and weight loss or their opposites, and psychotic and/or anxiety features. Treatment involves anti-depressant medication and psychotherapy.
www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/Helpline1/Major_Depression.htm

DSM IV is the current, fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association. It is the official set of diagnostic criteria for mental disorders in the United States.

Eating Disorders are severe disturbances with respect to eating behaviors. Anorexia nervosa and bulimia are eating disorders.

Electro-Convulsive Therapy (ECT) is a psychiatric treatment for persons with very severe mental disorders that have proven unresponsive to other forms of treatment (typically multiple attempts to treat with different medications). It involves sending an electric current through the sedated patient’s brain under very controlled conditions. ECT often has a remarkable therapeutic effect when no other known form of treatment can help.

Fragile X Syndrome is a spectrum of symptoms that correlate with autistic disorder, in this case resulting from a defect on the X chromosome. It affects males more severely with mental retardations, severe communicative problems and repetitive behaviors. Females are generally socially withdrawn and have borderline intelligence; they are also subject to mood disorders.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder. See Anxiety Disorder. This is also known as anxiety neurosis, anxiety state, anxiety reaction, nervous breakdown, overanxious disorder or anxiousness.

Hallucination is a false or distorted perception of objects or events, including sensations of sight, sound, taste, smell or touch. In other words, it is seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling or touching something that isn’t real, accompanied by the conviction that it is.

Mania is a collection of symptoms seen in bipolar disorder and other affective disorders. It includes exaggerated gaiety; grandiose thoughts and a sense of invincibility; irritability; hyperactivity; hypersexuality; poor concentration and rapid thinking and speaking.

Manic Depression. See bipolar disorder.

Memory Disorder describes a problem with one or more types of memory loss: short-term memory, long-term memory or working memory loss.
www.abledev.com/l.htm#memory

Neuroleptics are a class of psychiatric medicines that are used to treat psychosis and a variety of other conditions. Thorazine and Haldol are examples.

Obsession is a repetitive, unwanted thought that intrudes into a person’s mind and just won’t go away.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is characterized by the presence of obsessions and compulsions. Obsessive thoughts take many different forms but frequently center on themes of personal vulnerability such as locking the door or turning off the stove. An action based on an obsessive thought is called a compulsion: checking to see the door is locked, the stove turned off, etc. Compulsions often need to be acted on continually in a never-ending cycle. There are pharmaceutical and psychotherapeutic treatments for OCD.
www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/Helpline1/ Obsessive_Compulsive_Disorder _(OCD).htm

Panic Attack is a barrage of frightening and uncomfortable symptoms often including terror, a sense of unreality or a fear of losing control. It seems to come out of the blue and can last from several seconds to several minutes.

Panic Disorder has symptoms of recurrent and unexpected panic attacks and fears of having such attacks. The episodes occur repeatedly and unexpectedly in the absence of any external stimulus. A form of psychotherapy called cognitive behavioral therapy and medications are both effective treatments.
www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/Helpline1/Panic_Disorder_.htm

Personality Disorder, also known as Borderline Personality Disorder, is a disorder of relating to others and to self. Most people have a fairly flexible personality that allows them to adapt to a variety of circumstances, people and events. Persons with personality disorders, however, do not. Their rigid personality style is pervasive and chronic and causes problems in work, social and intimate relationships. Psychiatric medications and some forms of psychotherapy have proven effective in alleviating suffering if not as a 100% “cure.”
www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/Helpline1/ Borderline_Personality_Disorder_(BPD).htm

Parkinson’s Disease affects movement, muscle control and balance. Dopamine deficiency is the primary cause, most likely resulting from a combination of genetic and biologic factors triggered by some environmental assault. Parkinson’s disease seldom begins before age 50, and usually progresses gradually over 10 to 15 years. There is no cure but medication and, in some cases, surgery can help relieve symptoms.
www.parkinson.org/index.htm

Psychosis is a group of symptoms in major mental illness that include loss of contact with reality, the breakdown of normal social functioning, and extreme personality changes. Psychotic episodes may be short-lived or chronic and worsening. People affected may experience hallucinations, delusions, regressive behavior and an inability to control impulses.

Psychotherapy is a form of treatment for mental disorders based primarily on verbal communications between the patient and a mental health professional, often combined with prescribed medications. It can be done in one-on-one sessions with a therapist or in a group setting (“group therapy”) where other patients also participate.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an extremely debilitating condition that can occur after a terrifying ordeal such as rape or mugging, disasters, accidents or military combat. People with PTSD may repeatedly re-experience the ordeal in the form of flashbacks or nightmares; other symptoms include emotional numbness and sleep disturbances, depression, anxiety, irritability and feelings of intense guilt. Psychotherapy can help sufferers work through the trauma and medications have been shown to help ease some symptoms.
www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/ Helpline1/Post-Traumatic_Stress_Disorder_.htm

Schizoaffective Disorder is diagnosed when symptoms of schizophrenia (hallucinations, delusions, etc.) happen concurrently with all necessary symptoms of Bipolar Disorder or Major Depression. The diagnosis is only appropriate when the psychotic symptoms continue in the absence of mood symptoms for at least two weeks, since mood disorders can produce psychotic symptoms all by themselves. Some professionals consider schizoaffective a “nosoligist’s loophole” and prefer to diagnose schizophrenia and a separate mood disorder.
www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/Helpline1/ Schizoaffective_Disorder.htm

Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe and disabling mental disorder. Sufferers often experience hallucinations (usually hearing voices not heard by others) or delusions (believing that other people are reading their minds, controlling their thoughts or plotting to harm them). They usually have disturbed interpersonal relationships. They are often fearful and withdrawn, with disorganized speech and behavior. Treatment almost always includes medications, the newer ones being more effective than older ones and having fewer side effects.
www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/Helpline1/Schizophrenia.htm

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a form of depressive illness occurring only during the short daylight, winter months. It is associated with overeating and sleepiness. SAD is responsive to antidepressants and phototherapy (exposure to certain light spectra). The disorder is little researched and scientifically controversial.
web.nami.org/helpline/sad.htm

Social Phobia is an anxiety disorder characterized by intense, irrational fear of being embarrassed or humiliated in a social setting. It often begins in adolescence and occurs equally in men and women. The disorder can be restricted to certain kinds of interactions (such as eating in public or public speaking) or global, involving almost all social situations outside the family. Avoidance of other people can be extreme and may result in almost complete isolation.
www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/phobiafacts.cfm

Split Personality is a slang term often inaccurately associated with schizophrenia and multiple personality disorder.

Substance Abuse is a destructive pattern of substance use (typically prescription of “street” drugs or alcohol) that impairs an individual’s ability to function. It is a major public health problem, costing our society in excess of $300 billion annually. The problem exists in all segments of the population. Substance abuse disorders may affect many domains of an individual’s functioning. Goals of treatment include reduction in the use and effects of substances or achievement of abstinence, reduction in the frequency and severity of relapse, and improvement in psychological and social functioning.

Tardive Dyskinesia is an abnormal, involuntary and irreversible movement disorder that occurs as a side effect of prolonged use of some anti-psychotic medications. Symptoms include twitching of the face and tongue and involuntary movements of the trunk and limbs.
www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/ Helpline1/Tardive_Dyskinesia.htm

Tourettes Syndrome is a neurobiological disorder characterized by tics, which are involuntary, rapid, sudden movements, and/or vocal outbursts that occur repeatedly. The symptoms change periodically in number, frequency, type and severity - disappearing for weeks or months at a time. Motor tics include eye blinking, head jerking, shoulder shrugging and facial grimacing. Vocal tics include throat clearing, barking, sniffing, tongue clicking and inappropriate profanity.
www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/ Helpline1/Tourettes_Syndrome.htm