Category: A

A pervasive developmental disorder consisting of gross and sustained impairment in social interaction and communication; restricted and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interest, and activities; and abnormal development prior to age 3 years manifested by delays or abnormal functioning in social development, language communication, or play. Specific symptoms may include impaired awareness of others, lack of…

Another name for pervasive developmental disorders, which include autistic disorder, asperger’s disorder, rett’s disorder, and childhood disintegrative disorder. Autism in all its different forms and degrees of severity. Autism spectrum disorders encompass a collection of developmental disorders characterized by obsessive behavior, impaired communication, and difficulties in social skills. Typically, these disorders are diagnosed during childhood.…

A person in a position of power (e.g., a parent or parent surrogate). A projected or real person in a position of power, e.g., a projected parent.  

A premonitory, subjective brief sensation (e.g., a flash of light) that warns of an impending headache or convulsion. The nature of the sensation depends on the brain area in which the attack begins. Seen in migraine and epilepsy. A sensation or phenomenon that signals the onset of an epileptic seizure or a migraine. A distinctive…

The addition of one or more medications to enhance or magnify the beneficial effects of a medication already being used, such as the addition of lithium carbonate, liothyronine, an anticonvulsant, or a stimulant to augment antidepressant response in a patient with refractory depression.  

The inability to recognize specific sounds in the context of intact hearing. There is a distinction in this syndrome between pure word deafness, which is considered an agnosia for auditory/verbal information, and auditory agnosia, which involves an agnosia for environmental, nonverbal sounds. Cortical deafness is also a term applied to patients who essentially do not…

Periodic and systematic review of patterns of patient care to assess the quality of treatment. In administration, a comprehensive analysis of all aspects of personnel work and accounting. Detailed retrospective review and evaluation of selected medical records by qualified professional staff. Medical audits are used in some hospitals, group practices, and occasionally in private, independent…

In DSM-lII-R, a psychotic disorder not otherwise specified; a residual category for psychotic symptoms that do not meet the criteria for a specific psychotic disorder. In DSM-lII-R, a residual category for persons who have psychotic symptoms that do not meet the criteria for specific mental disorders. A disorder in which the symptoms do not meet…

In dsm-iv-tr, depressive symptoms that do not meet the criteria for a specific depressive disorder. A form of depression in which overeating and oversleeping are commonly observed, often but not exclusively in association with leaden paralysis, extreme sensitivity to interpersonal rejection, and highly reactive moods. The condition typically has an earlier age of onset than…

The newer generation of antipsychotic medications (also called second-generation antipsychotics [SGAs]), known as serotonin-dopamine antagonists (SDAs) because they have an effect on serotonin receptors (in particular, 5-HT2a receptors) as well as dopamine receptors (in particular, D2 receptors). Currently available atypical antipsychotics include aripiprazole, asenapine, clozapine, iloperidone, olanzapine, paliperidone, quetiapine, risperidone, and ziprasidone. Class of prescription…