Category: F

Treatment of more than one member of a family in the same session. The treatment may be supportive, directive, or interpretive. The assumption is that a mental disorder in one member of a family may be a manifestation of disorders or problems in other members and may affect interrelationships and functioning. A form of group…

A syndrome (seen in southern united states or caribbean groups) characterized by a sudden collapse, sometimes preceded by dizziness. The individual’s eyes are open, but the person claims an inability to see. This syndrome may correspond to a diagnosis of conversion disorder or a dissociative disorder.  

A common problem in pediatrics in which infants or young children show delayed physical growth, often with impaired social and motor development. Nonorganic failure to thrive is thought to be associated with lack of adequate emotional nurturing. Term usually referring to infants and children who fail to grow and develop in the normal way but…

A rare degenerative neurological disorder characterized by abnormal calcium deposits and associated cell loss in certain areas of the brain, such as the basal ganglia. Symptoms include progressive deterioration of cognitive abilities leading to dementia and loss of acquired motor skills. Fahr’s disease is a rare and progressive neurological condition. It is identified by the…

A statistical technique that examines population clusters to extract patterns of commonality. A complex statistical method for studying the interrelationships among various tests to determine what the tests have in common and whether these can be ascribed to one or several factors that run through some or all of the tests. A multivariate statistic that…

A group of disorders characterized by intentional production or feigning of physical or psychological symptoms or signs related to a need to assume the sick role. No obvious secondary gain, such as economic support or obtaining better care, is usually noted. The symptoms produced may be predominantly psychological, predominantly physical, or a combination of both.…

As conceptualized by D.W. Winnicott (1896–1971), a milieu that promotes the child’s development of self-esteem and self-assertive ambitions.  

The ability of an individual to perform aerobic work as defined by the maximal oxygen uptake.  

Age as measured by the ability of the individual to maintain daily activities related to independent living. An assessment of age based on physical or mental performance rather than on the number of years since birth. Age defined in terms of physical or functional capacity; frequently applied to older adults.