Author: Glossary
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Windigo
An idiom of distress often associated with the idea of the mystery and great concerns over a lost person. It is often cited in the literature as referring to the idea of cannibal compulsion among Algonkian Indians. A delusion of having been transformed into a windigo, a mythical monster that eats human flesh. It is…
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Wilson’s disease
A autosomal recessive genetic disorder that causes excessive copper accumulation in the liver or brain. Patients may develop a range of psychiatric symptoms, including homicidal or suicidal behavior, depression, and aggression. A hereditary disease where copper deposits accumulate in the liver and the brain, causing cirthosis. Abnormal accumulation of copper in tissues due to an…
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Williams syndrome
An autosomal dominant disorder associated with a deletion on chromosome 7. Individuals with this syndrome have an “elfin” facial appearance, mild to moderate intellectual disability, delayed acquisition of motor milestones, and persistent gross and fine motor clumsiness. In contrast, they often possess extraordinary talents in music and verbal fluency. Williams syndrome (WS) is characterized by…
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Wernicke’s encephalopathy
A disease due to a nutritional deficiency of vitamin B1 (thiamine), which provokes acute mental confusion, ataxia, and ophthalmoplegia (paralysis of some or all the muscles of the eye). A condition caused by lack of Vitamin B, which often affects alcoholics and in which the person is delirious, moves the eyes about rapidly, walks unsteadily…
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Wernicke’s aphasia
Loss of the ability to comprehend language coupled with production of inappropriate language. Also known as receptive aphasia. Wernicke aphasia is characterized by the inability to comprehend speech or to produce meaningful speech following lesions to the posterior cortex. Individuals with Wernicke aphasia rarely experience muscular weakness affecting one side of the body, or hemiparesis.…
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Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome
A disease of central nervous system (CNS) metabolism due to a lack of vitamin B1 (thiamine) seen in chronic alcoholism. wernicke’s encephalopathy is the acute phase of the disease; korsakoff’s syndrome is the chronic phase. Wernicke’s encephalopathy features irregularities of eye movements, incoordination, impaired thinking, and often sensorimotor deficits. Korsakoff’s syndrome is characterized by confabulation…
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Wellbutrin
Brand name for the atypical antidepressant drug bupropion.
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Waxy flexibility
A symptom often present in catatonic schizophrenia, in which the patient’s arm or leg remains in the position in which it is placed. Also known as cerea flexibilitas. A characteristic of a catatonic state in which a patient’s limbs can be moved into a variety of positions where they are maintained for unusually long periods…
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Vyvanse
Brand name for the central nervous system (CNS) stimulant drug lisdexamfetamine.
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Voyeurism
Peeping; one of the paraphilias, characterized by marked distress over, or acting on, urges to observe unsuspecting people, usually strangers, who are naked or in the process of disrobing or who are engaging in sexual activity. Sexually motivated and often compulsive interest in watching or looking at others, particularly at genitals. A “Peeping Tom” represents…