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Nervous and Mental
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| caus/o | Burning or burn. |
| cerebr/o | Cerebrum or brain. |
| concuss/o | Shaken together or violently agitated. |
| contus/o | Bruise. |
| encephal/o | Brain |
| -esthesia | Sensation or feeling. |
| esthet/o | Feeling, nervous sensation, or sense of perception. |
| -graphy | Process of producing a picture or record. |
| mening/o | Meninges or membranes. |
| myel/o | Spinal cord or bone marrow. |
| neur/i, neur/o | Nerve or nerve tissue. |
| phobia | Abnormal fear. |
| psych/o | Mind. |
| radicul/o | Root or nerve root. |
| -tropic | Having an affinity for. |
| acrophobia | An excessive fear of heights. |
| Alzheimer’s disease (AD) | A group of disorders involving the parts of the brain that control thought, memory, and language. It is the leading cause of dementia and is marked by progressive deterioration that affects memory and reasoning capabilities. |
| amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) | A rapidly progressive neurological disease that attacks the nerve cells responsible for controlling voluntary muscles, resulting in complete paralysis and death; also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. |
| anesthetic | Medication used to induce anesthesia. |
| anesthetist | A medical professional who specializes in administering anesthesia but is not a physician. |
| anorexia nervosa | A false perception of body appearance which leads to an intense fear of gaining weight and inability to maintain a healthy body weight. |
| anxiety disorders | Mental conditions characterized by excessive, irrational dread of everyday situations or fear that is out of proportion to the real danger in a situation. |
| autism | A subgroup of autistic spectrum disorders. Children with autism have significant developmental delays, including speech and language, with most having very minimal verbal skills and lacking normal social relationships. |
| Bell’s palsy | Temporary paralysis of the seventh cranial nerve that causes paralysis only on the affected side of the face. |
| carotid ultrasonography | An ultrasound study of the carotid artery to detect plaque buildup in the artery to predict or diagnose an ischemic stroke. |
| causalgia | Persistent, severe burning pain that usually follows an injury to a sensory nerve. |
| cerebral contusion | Bruising of brain tissue as a result of a head injury that causes the brain to bounce against the rigid bone of the skull. |
| cerebral palsy (CP) | A condition characterized by poor muscle control, spasticity, speech defects, and other neurologic deficiencies. |
| cerebrovascular accident | Damage to the brain that occurs when the blood flow to the brain is disrupted; also known as a stroke. |
| cervical radiculopathy | Nerve pain caused by pressure on the spinal nerve roots in the neck region. |
| claustrophobia | An abnormal fear of being in small or enclosed spaces. |
| cognition | The mental activities associated with thinking, learning, and memory. |
| coma | A deep state of unconsciousness marked by the absence of spontaneous eye movement, no response to painful stimuli, and the lack of speech. |
| concussion | A violent shaking up or jarring of the brain that may result in a temporary loss of awareness and function. |
| cranial hematoma | A collection of blood trapped in the tissues of the brain. |
| delirium | An acute condition of confusion, disorientation, disordered thinking and memory, agitation, and hallucinations. |
| delirium tremens | A disorder involving sudden and severe mental changes or seizures caused by abruptly stopping the use of alcohol. |
| delusion | A false personal belief that is maintained despite obvious proof or evidence to the contrary. |
| Dementia | A slowly progressive decline in mental abilities--including memory, thinking, and judgment--that is often accompanied by personality changes. |
| dura mater | The thick, tough, outermost membrane of the meninges. |
| dyslexia | A learning disability characterized by substandard reading achievement due to the inability of the brain to process symbols; also known as a developmental reading disorder. |
| echoencephalography | The use of ultrasound imaging to create a detailed visual image of the brain for diagnostic purposes. |
| electroencephalography (EEG) | The process of recording the electrical activity of the brain through the use of electrodes attached to the scalp. |
| encephalitis | Inflammation of the brain. |
| epidural anesthesia | Regional anesthesia produced by injecting a local anesthetic into the epidural space of the lumbar or sacral region of the spine. |
| epilepsy | A chronic neurological condition characterized by recurrent episodes of seizures of varying severities. |
| factitious disorder | A condition in which a person acts as if he or she has a physical or mental illness when he or she is not really sick. |
| Guillain–Barré syndrome | Inflammation of the myelin sheath of peripheral nerves, characterized by rapidly worsening muscle weakness that may lead to temporary paralysis; also known as infectious polyneuritis. |
| hallucination | A sensory perception (sight, touch, sound, smell, or taste) experienced in the absence of an external stimulation. |
| hemorrhagic stroke | Occurs when a blood vessel in the brain leaks or ruptures; also known as a bleed. |
| hydrocephalus | A condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the ventricles of the brain. |
| hyperesthesia | A condition of abnormal and excessive sensitivity to touch, pain, or other sensory stimuli. |
| ischemic stroke | A type of stroke that occurs when the flow of blood to the brain is blocked by the narrowing or blockage of a carotid artery. |
| lethargy | A lowered level of consciousness marked by listlessness, drowsiness, and apathy. |
| meningitis | Inflammation of the meninges of the brain or spinal cord. |
| meningocele | The congenital herniation of the meninges that surround the brain or spinal cord through a defect in the skull or spinal column. |
| migraine headache | A headache that is characterized by throbbing pain on one side of the head and is sometimes accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light or sound. |
| multiple sclerosis (MS) | A progressive autoimmune disorder characterized by inflammation that causes demyelination of the myelin sheath, resulting in scarring of the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. |
| myelitis | Inflammation of the spinal cord; also inflammation of bone marrow. |
| myelography | A radiographic study of the spinal cord after the injection of a contrast medium through a lumbar puncture. |
| narcolepsy | A sleep disorder consisting of sudden and uncontrollable brief episodes of falling asleep during the day. |
| neurotransmitters | Chemical substances that make it possible for messages to cross from the synapse of a neuron to the target receptor. |
| obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) | An anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent thoughts or impulses that are repetitive, intrusive, and distressing. |
| panic attack | An unexpected, sudden experience of fear in the absence of danger, accompanied by physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, shortness of breath, chest tightness, dizziness, sweating, nausea, feelings of unreality, and/or choking sensations. |
| paresthesia | A burning or prickling sensation that is usually felt in the hands, arms, legs, or feet, but can also occur in other parts of the body. |
| Parkinson’s disease | A chronic, degenerative central nervous system disorder characterized by fine muscle tremors, rigidity, and a slow or shuffling gait caused by inadequate levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain. |
| peripheral neuropathy | A disorder of the peripheral nerves that carry information to and from the brain and spinal cord, producing pain, the loss of sensation, and the inability to control muscles. |
| post-traumatic stress disorder | A disorder that may develop after an event involving actual or threatened death or injury to the individual or someone else, during which the person felt intense fear, helplessness, or horror |
| Reye’s syndrome | A potentially serious or deadly disorder in children that is characterized by vomiting and confusion; sometimes follows a viral illness in which the child was treated with aspirin. |
| schizophrenia | A psychotic disorder usually characterized by withdrawal from reality, illogical patterns of thinking, delusions and hallucinations, and accompanied in varying degrees by other emotional, behavioral, or intellectual disturbances. |
| sciatica | Inflammation of the sciatic nerve. |
| seizure | A sudden surge of electrical activity in the brain that affects how a person feels or acts for a short time. |
| shaken baby syndrome | The results when a child has been violently shaken by someone; can cause brain injury, blindness, fractures, seizures, paralysis, and death. |
| syncope | The brief loss of consciousness caused by the decreased flow of blood to the brain; also known as fainting. |
| trigeminal neuralgia | A condition characterized by severe lightning-like pain due to an inflammation of the fifth cranial nerve; affects the cheek, lips, and gums on the side of the face innervated by the affected nerve. |
| central nervous system (CNS) | includes the brain and spinal cord. The functions of the central nervous system are to receive and process information and to regulate all bodily activity. |
| peripheral nervous system (PNS) | the 12 pairs of cranial nerves extending from the brain and the 31 pairs of peripheral spinal nerves extending outward from the spinal cord. The function of the peripheral nervous system is to transmit nerve signals to and from the central nervous system. |
| nerve | one or more bundles of neurons that connect the brain and spinal cord with other parts of the body |
| tract | a bundle or group of nerve fibers located within the brain or spinal cord. |
| ganglion | a nerve center made up of a cluster of nerve cell bodies outside the central nervous system |
| innervation | the supply of nerves to a specific body part. |
| plexus | a network of intersecting spinal nerves |
| Receptors | are sites in the sensory organs (eyes, ears, skin, nose, and taste buds) that receive external stimulation. The receptors send the stimulus through the sensory neurons to the brain for interpretation. |
| stimulus | anything that excites (activates) a nerve and causes an impulse (plural, stimuli). An impulse is a wave of excitation transmitted through nerve fibers and neurons. |
| reflex | an automatic, involuntary response to some change, either inside or outside the body. Examples of reflex actions include: |
| Neurons | the basic cells of the nervous system that allow different parts of the body to communicate with each other. |
| Afferent neurons | Also known as sensory neurons, these neurons emerge from sensory organs and the skin to carry the impulses from the sensory organs toward the brain and spinal cord. |
| Connecting neurons | Also known as associative neurons, these neurons link afferent and efferent neurons. |
| Efferent neurons | Also known as motor neurons, these neurons carry impulses away from the brain and spinal cord and toward the muscles and glands. |
| dendrites | the root-like processes that receive impulses and conduct them to the cell body. A process is a structure that extends out from the cell body. |
| axon | a process that conducts impulses away from the nerve cell. An axon can be more than 3 feet long. Many, but not all, axons are protected by a myelin sheath, which is a white fatty tissue covering. |
| Terminal end fibers | are the branching fibers at the end of the axon that lead the nerve impulse from the axon to the synapse. |
| synapse | the space between two neurons or between a neuron and a receptor organ. A single neuron can have a few or several hundred synapses. |
| Neurotransmitters | are chemical substances that make it possible for messages to cross from the synapse of a neuron to the target receptor. |
| Acetylcholine | released at some synapses in the spinal cord and at neuromuscular junctions; it influences muscle action. |
| Endorphins | naturally occurring substances that are produced by the brain to help relieve pain. |
| Norepinephrine | affects alertness and arousal, increasing blood pressure and heart rate, and releasing stores of glucose in response to stress. It is also a hormone released by the adrenal gland as part of the body’s fight-or-flight response |
| Serotonin | has roles in sleep, hunger, and pleasure recognition. It is also sometimes linked to mood disorders. |
| Glial cells | provide support and protection for neurons, and their four main functions are to surround neurons and hold them in place, supply nutrients and oxygen to neurons, insulate one neuron from another, and destroy and remove dead neurons |
| myelin sheath | the protective covering made up of glial cells. This white sheath forms the white matter of the brain and covers some parts of the spinal cord and the axon of most peripheral nerves |
| meninges | the system of membranes that enclose the brain and spinal cord (singular, meninx). The meninges consist of three layers of connective tissue. These are the dura mater, the arachnoid membrane, and the pia mater |
| dura mater | the thick, tough, outermost membrane of the meninges. Dura means hard, and mater means mother. |
| arachnoid membrane | which resembles a spider web, is the second layer of the meninges and is located between the dura mater and the pia mater. |
| pia mater | the third layer of the meninges, is located nearest to the brain and spinal cord. It consists of delicate connective tissue that contains a rich supply of blood vessels. |
| Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) | also known as spinal fluid, is produced by special capillaries within the four ventricles located in the middle region of the cerebrum Cerebrospinal fluid is a clear, colorless, watery fluid that flows throughout the brain and around the spinal cord. |
| Cerebrospinal fluid | Cool and cushion these organs from shock or injury. Nourish the brain and spinal cord by transporting nutrients and chemical messengers to these tissues. |
| cerebrum | Controls the highest level of thought, including judgment, memory, association, and critical thinking. It also processes sensations and controls all voluntary muscle activity. |
| thalamus | Relays sensory stimuli from the spinal cord and midbrain to the cerebral cortex. The thalamus suppresses some stimuli and magnifies others. located below the cerebrum |
| hypothalamus | Controls vital bodily functions (Table 10.3). below the thalamus. Regulates water balance, hunger sensations, body temperature, fear and pleasure, autonomic nervous system, sleep-wakefulness cycles, and pituitary gland and endocrine system activity. |
| cerebellum | Coordinates muscular activity and balance for smooth and steady movements. It is located at the back of the head below the posterior portion of the cerebrum |
| brainstem | Controls the functions necessary for survival (breathing, digestion, heart rate, and blood pressure) and for arousal (being awake and alert). |
| cerebrum | the largest and uppermost portion of the brain. It is responsible for all thought, judgment, memory, and emotion, as well as for controlling and integrating motor and sensory functions |
| cerebral | pertaining to the cerebrum or to the brain |
| cerebral cortex | made up of gray matter, is the outer layer of the cerebrum and is made up of elevated folds and deep fissures |
| cerebral lobes | Each lobe is named for the bone of the cranium that covers i |
| brainstem | the stalk-like portion of the brain that connects the cerebral hemispheres with the spinal cord. |
| midbrain and pons (PONZ) | provide conduction pathways to and from the higher and lower centers in the brain. They also control reflexes for movements of the eyes and head in response to visual and auditory stimuli. Pons is the Latin word for bridge. |
| medulla oblongata | which is located at the lowest part of the brainstem, is connected to the spinal cord. It controls basic survival functions, including the muscles that make possible respiration |
| spinal cord | a long, fragile, tube-like structure that begins at the end of the brainstem and continues down almost to the bottom of the spinal column |
| cranial nerves | originate from the under-surface of the brain. The two nerves of a pair are identical in function and structure, and each nerve of a pair serves half of the body. |
| peripheral spinal nerves | Within each region, the nerves are referred to by number. The cervical nerves are C1–C8, the thoracic nerves are T1–T12, the lumbar nerves are L1–L5, and the sacral nerves are S1–S5 |
| autonomic nervous system | rganized into two divisions, one comprising sympathetic nerves and the other parasympathetic nerves. The autonomic nervous system controls the involuntary actions of the body such as the functioning of internal organs |
| sympathetic nerves | prepare the body for emergencies and stress by increasing the respiratory rate, heart rate, and blood flow to muscles. These nerves become aroused as part of the fight-or-flight response, which is the body’s natural reaction to real or imaginary danger. |
| parasympathetic nerves | return the body to normal after a response to stress. They also maintain normal body functions during ordinary circumstances that are not emotionally or physically stressful. |
| anesthesiologist | a physician who specializes in administering anesthetic agents before and during surgery |
| anesthetist | a medical professional who specializes in administering anesthesia but is not a physician, for example, a nurse anesthetist |
| neurologist | a physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases and disorders of the nervous system |
| neurosurgeon | a physician who specializes in surgery of the nervous system. |
| psychiatrist | a physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating chemical dependencies, emotional problems, and mental illness |
| psychologist | has a doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) but is not a medical doctor. This specialist evaluates and treats emotional problems and mental illness |
| social worker | a trained therapist, usually with a master’s degree (MSW). |
| Cephalalgia | also known as a headache, is pain in the head |
| migraine headache | may be preceded by a warning aura, is characterized by throbbing pain on one side of the head. Migraine headaches primarily affect women and are sometimes accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light or sound |
| Cluster headaches | intensely painful headaches that affect one side of the head and may be associated with tearing of the eyes and nasal congestion. These headaches, which primarily affect men, are named for their repeated occurrence in groups or clusters. |
| encephalocele | also known as a craniocele, is a congenital herniation of brain tissue through a gap in the skull |
| Hydrocephalus | a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the ventricles of the brain |
| meningioma | a common, slow-growing, and usually benign tumor of the meninges |
| Vascular dementia | a form of dementia caused by a stroke or other restriction of the flow of blood to the brain. Although Alzheimer’s disease is the primary cause of dementia, vascular dementia accounts for about 10 to 20% of all cases. |
| Tetanus | also known as lockjaw, is an acute and potentially fatal infection of the central nervous system caused by a toxin produced by the tetanus bacteria. Tetanus can be prevented through immunization. |
| Tourette syndrome | (TS) is a complex neurological disorder characterized by involuntary tics, grunts, and compulsive utterances that sometimes include obscenities. |
| neurodegenerative disease | also called degenerative nerve disease, is an umbrella term for disorders in which there is a progressive loss of the structure or functions of the neurons. |
| Huntington’s disease | a genetic disorder that is classified as a neurodegenerative disease |
| Lewy body dementia | the second most common type of dementia, occurs when abnormal proteins interfere with cell function in the brain. It is named after neurologist Frederic Lewy. |
| Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis | also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a rapidly progressive neurological disease that attacks the nerve cells responsible for controlling voluntary muscles. Patients affected with this condition become progressively weaker |
| Amnesia | a memory disturbance characterized by a total or partial inability to recall past experiences. This condition can be caused by a brain injury, illness, or a psychological disturbance. |
| traumatic brain injury | a blow to the head or a penetrating head injury that damages the brain. Not all blows to the head result in damage to the brain. When an injury does occur, it can range from mild, with only a brief change in mental status, to severe, |
| conscious | the state of being awake, alert, aware, and responding appropriately. |
| unconscious | a state of being unaware and unable to respond to any stimuli, including pain. |
| Lethargy | a lowered level of consciousness marked by listlessness, drowsiness, and apathy. As used here, apathy means indifference and a reduced level of activity. The term lethargic refers to a person who is at this level of consciousness. |
| stupor | an unresponsive state from which a person can be aroused only briefly despite vigorous, repeated attempts. |
| Syncope | , also known as fainting, is the brief loss of consciousness caused by the decreased flow of blood to the brain. |
| coma | a profound (deep) state of unconsciousness marked by the absence of spontaneous eye movements, no response to painful stimuli, and the lack of speech. The term comatose refers to a person who is in a coma. |
| persistent vegetative state | a type of coma in which the patient exhibits alternating sleep and wake cycles; however, due to severe damage to certain areas of the brain, the person is unconscious even when appearing to be awake. |
| Delirium | an acute condition of confusion, disorientation, disordered thinking and memory, agitation, and hallucinations. |
| brain tumor | an abnormal growth located inside the skull |
| invasive malignant brain tumor | destroys brain tissue. When this cancer originates in the brain, it is considered to be the primary site. If this cancer metastasizes (spreads) to the brain from another body system, it is considered to be a secondary site. |
| benign brain tumor | does not invade the brain tissue; however, because this growth is surrounded by rigid bone, as the tumor enlarges, it can damage the brain tissue by placing pressure against the tissues and by increasing the intracranial pressure. |
| Intracranial pressure (ICP) | the amount of pressure inside the skull |
| cerebrovascular accident | A CVA is damage to the brain that occurs when the blood flow to the brain is disrupted because a blood vessel is either blocked or has ruptured. |
| ischemic stroke | the most common type of stroke in older people, occurs when the flow of blood to the brain is blocked by the narrowing or blockage of a carotid artery. Ischemic means pertaining to the disruption of the blood supply |
| transient ischemic attack (TIA) | sometimes referred to as a mini-stroke, is the temporary interruption in the blood supply to the brain. Transient means passing quickly. Symptoms of a TIA include numbness, blurred vision, dizziness, or loss of balance |
| Aphasia | which is often caused by brain damage associated with a stroke, is the loss of the ability to speak, write, and/or comprehend the written or spoken word |
| A hemorrhagic stroke | also known as a bleed, occurs when a blood vessel in the brain leaks. A bleed also occurs when an aneurysm within the brain ruptures. An aneurysm is a localized, weak, balloon-like enlargement of an artery wall. |
| Arteriovenous malformation (AMV) | (AVM) is one of the causes of hemorrhagic strokes. This abnormal connection between the arteries and veins in the brain is usually congenital and can rupture suddenly at any age |
| Insomnia | the prolonged or abnormal inability to sleep. This condition is usually a symptom of another problem such as depression, pain, or excessive caffeine |
| Narcolepsy | a sleep disorder consisting of sudden and uncontrollable brief episodes of falling asleep during the day |
| Sleep deprivation | a sufficient lack of restorative sleep over a cumulative period so as to cause physical or psychiatric symptoms and affect routine performance or tasks. |
| Somnambulism | also known as sleepwalking or noctambulism, is the condition of walking or performing some other activity without awakening |
| Myelitis | an inflammation of the spinal cord |
| myelosis | a tumor of the spinal cord |
| poliomylelitis | also known as polio, highly contagious viral infection of the brainstem and spinal cord that sometimes leads to paralysis. There is no known cure for polio. |
| Radiculitis | also known as a pinched nerve, is an inflammation of the root of a spinal nerve |
| Cervical radiculopathy | nerve pain caused by pressure on the spinal nerve roots in the neck region |
| Lumbar radiculopathy | nerve pain in the lower back caused by muscle spasms or nerve root irritation from the compression of vertebral disks such as a herniated disk. |
| tonic– clonic seizure | also called a grand mal seizure, involves the entire body. In the tonic phase of the seizure, the body becomes rigid, and in the clonic phase, there is uncontrolled jerking. |
| absence seizure | also called a petit mal seizure, is a brief disturbance in brain function in which there is a loss of awareness often described as a staring episode. |
| Restless legs syndrome (RLS) | a neurological disorder characterized by uncomfortable feelings in the legs, producing a strong urge to move them. The sensation is usually most noticeable at night or when trying to rest. |
| Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) | important neuroimaging tools because they facilitate the examination of the soft tissue structures of the brain and spinal cord |
| functional MRI (fMRI) | detects changes in blood flow in the brain when the patient is asked to perform a specific task. This gives a clearer picture of the brain tissue relevant to accomplishing this task. |
| Carotid ultrasonography | an ultrasound study of the carotid artery |
| Echoencephalography | the use of ultrasound imaging to create a detailed visual image of the brain for diagnostic purposes |
| Electroencephalography | the process of recording the electrical activity of the brain through the use of electrodes attached to the scalp |
| Myelography | a radiographic study of the spinal cord after the injection of a contrast medium through a lumbar puncture |
| Electromyography (EMG) | (EMG) utilizes electrodes taped to the skin to measure the transfer of electrical signals in peripheral nerves to the muscles. |
| lumbar puncture (LP) | also known as a spinal tap, is the process of obtaining a sample of cerebrospinal fluid by inserting a needle into the subarachnoid space of the lumbar region to withdraw fluid. |
| hypnotic | depresses the central nervous system and usually produces sleep. |
| anticonvulsant | administered to prevent seizures such as those associated with epilepsy. |
| Barbiturates | are a class of drugs whose major action is a calming or depressed effect on the central nervous system. |
| sedative | depresses the central nervous system to produce calm and diminished responsiveness without producing sleep. Sedation is the effect produced by a sedative. |
| Anesthesia | is the absence of normal sensation, especially sensitivity to pain, that is induced by the administration of an anesthetic agent |
| anesthetic | the medication used to induce anesthesia. The anesthetic may be topical, local, regional, or general |
| Epidural anesthesia | regional anesthesia produced by injecting medication into the epidural space of the lumbar or sacral region of the spine. When administered during childbirth, it numbs the nerves from the uterus and birth passage without stopping labor |
| Spinal anesthesia | regional anesthesia produced by injecting medication into the subarachnoid space. As with epidural anesthesia, the patient remains conscious. Spinal anesthesia provides numbness from the toes to the waist or lower chest. |
| Deep brain stimulation (DBS) | a neurosurgical procedure used in the treatment of dystonia, tremors, and Parkinson’s disease. A device to stimulate the brain with mild electrical signals is implanted in the brain and is connected to a stimulator implanted near the collar bone. |
| Gamma knife surgery | a type of radiation treatment for brain tumors performed without a knife or an incision. The surgeon uses gamma radiation to destroy diseased tissue while preserving the healthy tissue around the tumor. |
| Electroconvulsive therapy | also known as electroshock therapy, is a procedure in which small amounts of electric current are passed through the brain, deliberately triggering a brief seizure in order to reverse symptoms of certain mental illnesses. |
| lobectomy | surgical removal of a portion of the brain to treat brain cancer or seizure disorders that cannot be controlled with medication |
| thalamotomy | a surgical incision into the thalamus. This procedure, which destroys brain cells, is primarily performed to quiet the tremors of Parkinson’s disease. |
| Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) | uses brief, powerful electromagnetic pulses to alter electrical pathways in the brain. |
| Neuroplasty | the surgical repair of a nerve or nerves |
| Neurorrhaphy | surgically suturing together the ends of a severed nerve |
| Neurotomy | the surgical division or dissection (cutting) of a nerve |
| Anxiety disorders | are mental conditions characterized by excessive, irrational dread of everyday situations or fear that is out of proportion to the real danger in a situation. Without treatment, an anxiety disorder can become chronic. |
| generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) | characterized by chronic, excessive worrying. Physical symptoms associated with this condition can include muscle tension, sleep disturbance, irritability, trouble concentrating, and restlessness. |
| panic attack | an unexpected, sudden experience of fear in the absence of danger, accompanied by physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, shortness of breath, chest tightness, dizziness, sweating, nausea, feelings of unreality, choking |
| Panic disorder | is characterized by a fear of panic attacks. Panic disorder can cause people to develop agoraphobia or other phobias. |
| Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) | may develop after an event involving actual or threatened death or injury to the individual or someone else, during which the person felt intense fear, helplessness, or horror |
| Agoraphobia | an excessive fear of environments where the person fears a panic attack might occur. In order to avoid these situations, someone suffering from agoraphobia might not even be able to leave home |
| Social anxiety disorder | also called social phobia, is an excessive fear of social situations where the person fears negative evaluation by others and embarrassing him- or herself in front of others. |
| Hoarding disorder | characterized by the over accumulation of belongings in a way that interferes with daily living. Hoarding can create unsafe and unsanitary living conditions. |
| attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) | characterized by a short attention span and impulsive behavior that is inappropriate for the child’s developmental age. Hyperactivity is restlessness or a continuing excess of movement. |
| Learning disabilities | disorders found in children of normal intelligence who have difficulties in learning specific skills such as processing language or grasping mathematical concepts. |
| Intellectual disability | also called intellectual developmental disorder, is a diagnosis of significant below-average intellectual and adaptive functioning present from birth or early infancy. |
| Kleptomania | a disorder characterized by repeatedly stealing objects neither for personal use nor for their monetary value. |
| Pyromania | a disorder characterized by repeated, deliberate fire setting. |
| Oppositional defiant disorder | characterized by a child or adolescent’s persistent angry, uncooperative, and disruptive behavior directed toward authority figures, which disrupts daily activities. |
| Impulse control disorders | a group of psychiatric disorders characterized by a failure to resist an impulse despite potential negative consequences. In addition to the examples listed below, this disorder includes compulsive shopping and gambling. |
| bipolar disorder | a condition characterized by cycles of severe mood changes shifting between highs and severe lows that affect a person's attitude, energy, and ability to function. |
| Manic behavior | includes an abnormally elevated mood of euphoria, including inappropriate elation, increased irritability, severe insomnia, poor judgment, and inappropriate social behavior. |
| Depression | a common mood disorder characterized by lethargy and sadness, as well as the loss of interest or pleasure in normal activities. Severe depression may lead to feelings of worthlessness and thoughts of death, self-harm, or suicide. |
| Persistent depressive disorder | also known as dysthymia, is a low-grade, chronic depression with symptoms that are milder than those of severe depression but are present on a majority of days for two or more years. |
| Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD) | a newer diagnosis for children who have frequent, severe temper outbursts and are chronically irritable. |
| Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) | a seasonal bout of depression associated with the decrease in hours of daylight during winter months. |
| Bulimia nervosa | an eating disorder characterized by frequent episodes of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors such as self-induced vomiting, excessive exercising, or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or other medications. |
| personality disorder | a chronic pattern of inner experience and behavior that causes serious problems with relationships and work. This pattern is pervasive and inflexible |
| psychotic disorder | characterized by the loss of contact with reality and deterioration of normal social functioning. |
| Catatonic behavior | marked by a lack of responsiveness, stupor, and a tendency to remain in a fixed posture. |
| delusion | a false personal belief that is maintained despite obvious proof or evidence to the contrary. The belief is not one ordinarily accepted by other members of the individual’s culture or religious faith. |
| hallucination | a sensory perception (i.e., sight, touch, sound, smell, or taste) experienced in the absence of external stimulation. |
| Schizophrenia | a psychotic disorder usually characterized by withdrawal from reality, illogical patterns of thinking, delusions, and hallucinations and accompanied in varying degrees by other emotional, behavioral. or intellectual disturbances |
| somatic symptom disorder | characterized by physical complaints or concerns about one’s body that are out of proportion to any physical findings or disease. |
| factitious disorder | a condition in which an individual acts as if he or she has a physical or mental illness when he or she is not really sick. The term factitious means artificial, self-induced, or not naturally occurring. |
| conversion disorder | characterized by serious temporary or ongoing changes in function, such as paralysis or blindness, that are triggered by psychological factors rather than by any physical cause. |
| Malingering | characterized by the intentional creation of false or grossly exaggerated physical or psychological symptoms. In contrast to a factitious disorder, this condition is motivated by incentives such as avoiding work. |
| Substance abuse | the addictive use of tobacco, alcohol, medications, or illegal drugs. This abuse leads to significant impairment in functioning, danger to one’s self or others, and recurrent legal and/or interpersonal problems. |
| Alcoholism | chronic alcohol dependence with specific signs and symptoms upon withdrawal. Withdrawal is a psychological or physical syndrome (or both) caused by the abrupt cessation (stopping) of the use of alcohol or drugs in an addicted individual. |
| Delirium tremens | a disorder involving sudden and severe mental changes or seizures caused by abruptly stopping the use of alcohol. |
| Drug abuse | the excessive use of illegal or recreational drugs, or the misuse of prescription drugs. A recreational drug is one normally used for personal pleasure or satisfaction rather than medical purposes. |
| drug overdose | the potentially fatal, accidental or intentional use of an illegal drug or prescription medicine in an amount higher than what is safe or normal. |
| Gender dysphoria | a condition where a person’s gender at birth does not match the gender with which they currently identify, potentially causing significant amounts of stress. Dysphoria means dissatisfaction. These feelings can begin in early childhood. |
| transgender | refers to a person whose gender identity does not match their gender at birth. |
| psychotropic drug | acts primarily on the central nervous system, where it produces temporary changes affecting the mind, emotions, and behavior. These drugs are used as medications to control pain and to treat narcolepsy and attention disorders. |
| antidepressant | administered to prevent or relieve depression. Some of these medications are also used to treat obsessive-compulsive and generalized anxiety disorders and to help relieve chronic pain. |
| antipsychotic drug | neuroleptic is administered to treat symptoms of severe disorders of thinking and mood that are associated with neurological and psychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia, mania, and delusional disorders |
| anxiolytic drug | also known as an antianxiety drug or tranquilizer, is administered to temporarily relieve anxiety and to reduce tension |
| Mood-stabilizing drugs | such as lithium, are used to treat mood instability and bipolar disorders. |
| stimulant | works by increasing activity in certain areas of the brain to increase concentration and wakefulness. Drug therapies using stimulants have been effective in treating ADHD and narcolepsy. |
| Psychoanalysis | is based on the idea that mental disorders have underlying causes stemming from childhood and can only be overcome by gaining insight into one’s feelings and patterns of behavior. |
| Behavioral therapy | focuses on changing behavior by identifying problem behaviors, replacing them with appropriate behaviors, and using rewards or other consequences to make the changes. |
| Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) | focuses on changing thoughts that are affecting a person’s emotions and actions. These are identified and then are challenged through logic, gathering evidence, testing in action, or a combination of these. The goal is to change problematic beliefs |
| Hypnotherapy | the use of hypnosis to produce an altered state of focused attention in which the patient may be more willing to believe and act on suggestions. It is used for pain relief, anxiety reduction, and behavioral modification |
| barbiturates | A class of drugs whose major action is a calming or depressed effect on the central nervous system |
| LOC | levels of consciousness or loss of consciousness |
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