Glossary

Author: Glossary

  • Sukra prameha

    A culture-specific syndrome.  

  • Suicide

    Suicide

    Deliberate taking of one’s own life. A self-destructive act. The ninth leading cause of death for all ages. The second leading cause of death among those 18-24 years of age. Many attempts at are planned, deliberate acts of aggression or hostility toward oneself. Often the act is essentially a reaction to a crisis of despair…

  • Suicidal ideation

    The presence of suicidal thoughts or plans. Many people with major depression or panic disorder may have such symptoms, even if only transiently, or in a vague, nonspecific way. Suicidal ideation describes destructive thoughts and plans about dying. All people may occasionally experience such thoughts, but in a suicidal person they are uncontrollable and chronic.…

  • Suggestion

    The process of influencing a patient to accept an idea, a belief, or an attitude suggested by the therapist. An idea which has been mentioned. The process of making a person’s ideas change, by suggesting different ideas which the person can accept, such as that he or she is in fact cured. The process of…

  • Suggestibility

    Uncritical compliance or acceptance of an idea, a belief, or an attribute. A mental state in which somebody just accepts other people’s ideas, attitudes or instructions, without questioning them. It is usually increased under hypnosis.  

  • Succinylcholine

    A short-acting depolarizing-type skeletal muscle relaxant used intravenously in anesthesia. Also used in conjunction with electroconvulsive therapy (ETC) to minimize the possibility of complications. A muscle relaxant used to prevent bone fractures during electroconvulsive therapy. Striated muscle relaxant used as an adjunct to anesthesia during certain surgical procedures. Adverse effects include respiratory depression and cardiac…

  • Subthalamic nucleus

    A small lens-shaped nucleus in the brain where it is a part of the basal ganglia system, located ventral to the thalamus and dorsal to the substantia nigra. Chronic stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus, called deep brain stimulation (DBS), is used to treat patients with parkinson’s disease. A collection of gray matter, shaped like a…

  • Substitution

    A defense mechanism, operating unconsciously, by which an unattainable or unacceptable goal, emotion, or object is replaced by one that is more attainable or acceptable. The filling of a prescription by a pharmacist with a drug product therapeutically and chemically equivalent to, but not, the one prescribed. Many States have anti-substitution laws which prohibit the…

  • Substantia nigra

    A structure that is a part of the basal ganglia located in the midbrain that plays an important role in reward, addiction, movement, and mood. Nuclei of the midbrain that help regulate unconscious muscle activity. Region of the brain stem’s midbrain that transmits important information to the basal ganglia that is necessary for regulating voluntary…

  • Substance use disorders

    Dependence or abuse syndromes associated with regular or episodic use of chemical substances. Substance use disorders are recognized for alcohol; amphetamine; caffeine; cannabis; cocaine; hallucinogens; inhalants; nicotine; opioids; phencyclidine (PCP); sedative, hypnotic, or anxiolytic drugs; and combinations of drugs (polysubstance). Specific disorders include dependence (for all of the above-mentioned substances except caffeine) and abuse (for…