NIHILISM (Nihilistic Delusion)
In psychiatry, the delusion of nonexistence. The patient believes he no longer exists, that his mind or a part of…
NOREPINEPHRINE (Noradrenalin)
A substance secreted by the medulla of the adrenal gland.Since it has important effects on the activity of the sympathetic…
NOSOLOGY (literally, “study of disease”)
The classification of diseases, or the branch of medicine that deals with naming and classifying diseases.Nosology has an extremely important…
NURSERY SCHOOL EXPERIENCE
Many studies have been made of the effect of nursery school on the intellectual, social, and emotional development of the…
NYMPHOMANIA (Andromania)
A sexual deviation in females consisting of an excessive or insatiable desire for gratification.In nymphomaniacs, the desire for sexual stimulation…
NEUROTIC DEPRESSIVE REACTION (Reactive Depression)
An acute depression precipitated by an intensely distressing situation such as loss of a job, death of a loved person,…
NEUROTIC PERSONALITY
A pattern of personality traits which renders the individual susceptible to an actual or “symptom” neurosis.The neurotic personality does not…
NEWBORN INFANT (Neonate)
Anyone who looks through the window of a hospital nursery is bound to be impressed by the fact that individuality…
NIGHT HOSPITAL (Night Care Program)
A psychiatric unit offering treatment and residential care to patients after working hours. In most cases the patients reside at…
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR MENTAL HEALTH
The national voluntary citizens’ organization working to combat mental illness and advance mental health.The Association was formed in 1950 by…
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH (NIMII)
In response to increased public awareness of the need for more research, training, and services in the mental health field,…
NECROMANIA (literally, mania for the dead)
Pathological preoccupation with dead bodies.The interest in corpses is usually of a sexual character and may in some cases take…
NECROPHILIA (literally, love of corpses)
A sexual deviation consisting of a morbid sexual interest in dead bodies.This perversion seems to be confined to men. The…
NERVE CONDUCTION
The process by which impulses are carried by nerve cells.Our knowledge of nerve conduction has gone through a number of…
NEURASTHENIA (literally, nerve weakness)
An obsolescent term for a neurotic condition marked by severe fatigue, bodily weakness, poor concentration, feelings of inadequacy, and mental…
NEUROFIBROMATOSIS (Von Recklinghausen’s Disease)
A disorder transmitted by a dominant gene, causing mild or moderate mental defect in about one third of the cases.…
NEURON (Nerve Cell)
The basic structural unit of the nervous system, which transmits impulses from one part of the body to another.The nervous…
NAIVE PERSONALITY THEORIES
are ideas about a person or object which are normally held implicitly rather than explicitly. They are a collection of…
NARCOSYNTHESIS
involves the administration of narcotics which stimulate the recall of emotional traumas in the individuals life. These experiences are then…
NATIONAL ACADEMIES NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR THE MENTALLY 111 (NAMI)
is a network of self-help groups which span across America providing emotional and educational support for the families of those…