BILIRUBIN ENCEPHALOPATHY (Kemicterus)
A toxic brain disorder occurring in infants, due to accumulation in the gall bladder of bilirubin, a red breakdown product…
BINET, ALFRED (1857-1911)
Binet, originator of the first true intelligence test, was born in Nice, France. Though trained as a lawyer, he never…
BENDER GESTALT TEST (Bender Visual-Motor Gestalt Test)
A personality test based on the way a subject copies nine geometrical figures. It is designed to throw light not…
BEHAVIOR DISORDERS
A somewhat loose term with three major applications. First, it is occasionally applied to any type of abnormal behavior, or…
AURA (literally, “air” or “atmosphere”)
In psychiatry, subjective premonitory symptoms preceding an epileptic convulsionand in some cases an acute migraine attack or other approaching disorder.…
BIBLIOTHERAPY
A form of supportive psychotherapy in which the patient is given carefully selected material to read.During the era of “moral…
AUTISM (Autistic Thinking)
Uncritical thinking dominated by fantasies that have little or no relation to reality, the gratification of wishes and desires in…
BIRTH ADJUSTMENTS
When a baby is born he goes through the most abrupt, complete, and dramatic change of surroundings in his entire…
AVOIDANCE LEARNING
Learning to avoid an unpleasant or painful stimulus by responding to a warning signal.In the course of our lives we…
ARTERIOSCLEROTIC BRAIN DISORDER
A psychotic disorder caused by hardening of the arteries in the brain; classified by The American Psychiatric Association (1952) as…
ASYLUM (Insane Asylum)
(literally, “refuge”)- An obsolete term for a mental hospital or psychiatric institution The word has a long history. According to…
ATTITUDE SCALES
Psychological instruments designed to measure personal attitudes on a variety of topics and issues.Typically, attitude scales contain a set of…
ALLPORT - VERNON - LENDZEY STUDY OF VALUES
A personality test which attempts to uncover the individual’s dominant and pervasive interests.The study is in the form of a…
ATARACTIC (Atanndc)
(literally “undisturbed”). A drug used to control anxiety, tension, and overactivity without causing somnolence—a tranquilizer. See tranquilizers, chemotherapy.The get of…
ASSERTION-STRUCTURED THERAPY
A systematic approach to psychotherapy developed by E. Lakin Phil lips, based upon the theory that neurotic tendencies can be…
AMERICAN PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION
The Association describes itself as “A society of medical specialists brought together by a common interest in the continuing study…
ASCLEPIADES (124 B.C.-?)
This early physician, who anticipated many modem ideas on mental illness, was born in the Greek colony of Bithynia and…
ARISTOTLE (384-322 B.C.)
Little is known of the life of this great physician other than the fact that he was bom in the…