Glossary For Depression
Delusion - (de-lu-sion )
An abnormal state in which a person has a persistent, false belief that is maintained despite indisputable evidence to the contrary. This belief may be with regards to his own self, other people or any object.
An inability to distinguish between what is real and what only seems to be real.
E.g. A person may falsely believe that a rope lying in front of him is a snake despite everybody trying to convince him that it is only a rope.
Dysthymia - (dis-thai-mia )
A disorder characterized by chronic mildly depressed or irritable mood often accompanied by other symptoms like appetite and sleeping disturbances, fatigue, etc.
Genetic - (ge-net-ic)
Occurring amongst members of a family - usually by heredity; related to genes
Hallucination - (hal-lu-ci-na-tion )
An abnormal state in which a person has false impressions that are caused by disordered senses resulting from mental illness. Here the person may actually see, hear or feel things that do not exist at all and this occurs due to a mental disorder.
Hypersomnia - (hi-per-som-nia)
Sleep disorder characterized by excessive sleepiness or an inability to stay awake.
Idiopathic - (id-i-o-path-ic )
Arising from an unknown cause
Libido - (li-bi-do)
A term for sexual urge or desire
Mania - (may-nia )
A phase characterized by excitement and elevation of mood; manifested by mental and physical hyperactivity and disorganization of behavior.
Postpartum - (post-par-tum )
Occurring immediately after birth.
Psychotherapy - (Si-cho-ther-a-pee)
The treatment of mental or emotional problems by psychological means.
Psychotic - (Si-cho-tic )
Suffering from Psychosis - a severe mental disorder in which contact with reality is lost or is highly distorted.