Category: S
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Selective mutism
A disorder of infancy, childhood, or adolescence characterized by persistent failure to speak in specific social situations by a child with demonstrated ability to speak. The mutism is not due to lack of fluency in the language being spoken or embarrassment about a speech problem. Also known as elective mutism. According to the fourth edition…
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Sedative-, hypnotic-, or anxiolytic-related (or -induced) disorders
In dsm-iv-tr, a group of mental disorders that includes sedative, hypnotic, or anxiolytic dependence; sedative, hypnotic, or anxiolytic abuse; sedative, hypnotic, or anxiolytic intoxication; sedative, hypnotic, or anxiolytic withdrawal; sedative, hypnotic, or anxiolytic delirium; sedative-, hypnotic-, or anxiolytic-induced withdrawal delirium; sedative-, hypnotic-, or anxiolytic-induced persisting dementia; sedative-, hypnotic-, or anxiolytic-induced persisting amnestic disorder; sedative-, hypnotic-,…
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Sedative-hypnotic
A term that denotes overlap in function of a drug with sedative and hypnotic effects. With sedation, a drug may also induce sleepiness, such as with the benzodiazepines. A drug that either induces sedation or sleep, depending upon dosage.
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Secondary process
In psychoanalytic theory, mental activity and thinking characteristic of the ego and influenced by the demands of the environment. Characterized by organization, systematization, intellectualization, and similar processes leading to logical thought and action in adult life. In Freudian theory, behavior that is reality oriented and under the control of the ego.
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Secondary gain
The external gain derived from any illness, such as personal attention and service, monetary gains, disability benefits, and release from unpleasant responsibilities. The advantage gained by the patient indirectly from illness, such as attention, care, and release from responsibility. Rewards associated with adopting a sick role and exhibiting illness behavior. The benefits that a patient…
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Secondary disorder
Symptomatic disorder; a mental disorder that is due to a general medical condition or induced by a substance.
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Seclusion and restraint statutes
Regulations governing seclusion and restraint interventions used in the treatment and management of disruptive, self-destructive, and violent behaviors in psychiatry. In the landmark 1982 case Youngberg v. Romeo, the Supreme Court recognized that the use of restraint is a drastic deprivation of personal liberty and that such use should reflect “the exercise of professional judgment.”…
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Seclusion
Involuntary confinement of a patient alone in a room or an area where the patient is physically prevented from leaving.
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Seasonal mood disorder
Also called seasonal affective disorder (SAD). A mood disorder (bipolar, bipolar ii, or recurrent major depressive disorder) in which there has been a regular temporal relationship between onset or disappearance of the episode and a particular season. For example, a patient may develop depression in the fall or winter, and remission from the depression may…
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Screen memory
A consciously tolerable memory that serves as a cover for an associated memory that would be emotionally painful if recalled.