Author: Glossary
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Stress reaction
An acute, maladaptive emotional response to industrial, domestic, civilian, or military disasters and other calamitous life situations. It also may be chronic, as seen in some combat veterans. Maladaptive areas of bone hyperactivity where the balance between resorption and deposition is pro¬ gressively lost such that resorption exceeds deposition. A response to an outside stimulus…
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Strephosymbolia
A tendency to reverse letters and words in reading and writing. Seen in learning disability. Literally twisted symbols. Usually involves reversals and mirror reading or writing. Difficulty in distinguishing between letters that are similar but face in opposite directions (e.g., p-q, b-d). A condition where objects appear as if they are mirrored or flipped. Some…
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Strattera
Brand name for the nonstimulant selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor drug atomoxetine.
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Stranger anxiety
The sense of distress that a child feels at seeing a stranger. This is part of normal development. It begins at 26 weeks and is usually well established between 8 and 10 months. The species-specific response of human infants to strangers, in the period from 8 to 10 months of age. Popular name for a…
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Stockholm syndrome
A form of bonding in which a kidnapping or terrorist hostage identifies with and has sympathy for his or her captors on whom he or she is dependent for survival. Not uncommonly seen in terrorist-hostage situations. The emotional involvement between a hostage and the person holding him or her captive. The hostage’s action may be…
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Stereotypy
A repetitive or ritualistic movement, posture, or utterance, that can be found in patients with autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disability, tardive dyskinesia, or stereotypic movement disorder. Stereotypies may be simple movements such as body rocking, or complex, such as self-caressing, crossing and uncrossing of legs, and marching in place. Persistent, mechanical repetition of speech or…
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Stereotypic movement disorder
A disorder of infancy, childhood, or adolescence characterized by repetitive, driven, nonfunctional, and potentially self-injurious motor behavior such as head banging, self-biting, or picking at the skin. The behavior may be associated with intellectual disability or a pervasive developmental disorder. Motor behavior, persisting for at least 4 weeks, that is repetitive, often seemingly driven and…
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Stelazine
Brand name (now discontinued) for the conventional antipsychotic drug trifluoperazine. A commercial preparation of the major tranquilizers.
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Stavzor
Brand name for the anticonvulsant drug valproic acid.
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Stadol NS
Brand name for a nasal spray formulation of the opioid agonist-antagonist analgesic drug butorphanol tartrate.