AUTOSCOPIC SYNDROME
A rare psychotic disorder in which the patient suffers from the delusion of seeing a “double” who looks, talks, dresses,…
AVOIDANCE LEARNING
Learning to avoid an unpleasant or painful stimulus by responding to a warning signal.In the course of our lives we…
AUDITORY SPACE PERCEPTIO
The perception of spatial qualities through the sense of hearing.Space perception occurs in audition as well as vision since hearing…
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.…
AUTISM (Autistic Thinking)
Uncritical thinking dominated by fantasies that have little or no relation to reality, the gratification of wishes and desires in…
AUTOEROTISM
Sexual pleasure derived from one’s own body.The term was invented by Havelock Ellis and is most frequently used as a…
AUTOMATISM
This term is used in several senses. Basically, as English and English (1958) state, it is “an act performed without…
AUTOPSYCHIC
A general term characterizing impulses or ideas which originate from the self; also, pertaining to selfconsciousness or ideas relating to…
APRAXIA (literally, “inability to act or do”)
Loss of ability to perform purposeful movements or manipulate common objects.This disorder is caused by injury or disease which damages…
ARACHNODACTYLY (Marfan’s syndrome)
A rare inherited disorder characterized by long limbs and spidery hands and feet (the term means “spidery fingers”), and usually…
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…
ARTERIOSCLEROTIC BRAIN DISORDER
A psychotic disorder caused by hardening of the arteries in the brain; classified by The American Psychiatric Association (1952) as…
ASCLEPIADES (124 B.C.-?)
This early physician, who anticipated many modem ideas on mental illness, was born in the Greek colony of Bithynia and…
ASSERTION-STRUCTURED THERAPY
A systematic approach to psychotherapy developed by E. Lakin Phil lips, based upon the theory that neurotic tendencies can be…
ASTHENIC REACTION (Neurasthenia)
A neurotic reaction marked by persistent feelings of mental and physical fatigue, diffuse “nervousness,” and vague aches and pains.The asthenic…
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…
ASYLUM (Insane Asylum)
(literally, “refuge”)- An obsolete term for a mental hospital or psychiatric institution The word has a long history. According to…
ATARACTIC (Atanndc)
(literally “undisturbed”). A drug used to control anxiety, tension, and overactivity without causing somnolence—a tranquilizer. See tranquilizers, chemotherapy.The get of…
AMERICAN PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION
The Association describes itself as “A society of medical specialists brought together by a common interest in the continuing study…