Author: Glossary

  • Social psychiatry

    The field of psychiatry concerned with the cultural, ecological, and sociological factors that engender, precipitate, intensify, prolong, or otherwise complicate maladaptive patterns of behavior and their treatment.  

  • Socialization

    Socialization

    The process by which society integrates the person and the way he or she learns to become a functioning member of that society. The process through which persons learn the values, beliefs, and behavior patterns of the social group. Introduction to the norms that a society has for its members. Process by which a person…

  • Social breakdown syndrome

    The concept that some psychiatric symptomatology is a result of treatment conditions and inadequate facilities and not a part of the primary illness. Factors bringing about the condition are social labeling, learning the role of the chronically sick, atrophy of work and social skills, and identification with the sick.  

  • Social anthropology

    The study of human society, with emphasis on the development of institutions, social roles, tribal organization, community structure, political systems, economic organization, and so forth.  

  • Social adaptation

    The ability to live and express oneself according to society’s restrictions and cultural demands.  

  • Smooth pursuit eye movements (SPEM)

    A tracking system that enables the viewer to keep a moving target in focus.  

  • Smith-Magenis syndrome

    Smith-Magenis syndrome

    A syndrome of abnormal physical, developmental, and behavioral features due to microdeletion of chromosome 17. Behavioral problems include affective lability, temper tantrums, impulsivity, anxiety, physical aggression, destruction, argumentativeness, and sleep difficulties. Smith-Magenis Syndrome is a multiple congenital anomaly chromosomal disorder associated with deletion in the proximal arm of Chromosome 17. Albeit underdiagnosed, SMS is considered…

  • Smith-lemli-optiz syndrome

    Smith-lemli-optiz syndrome

    A metabolic developmental disorder characterized by distinctive facial features, small head size (micro cephaly), intellectual disability or learning disability, behavioral problems such as self-stimulation and self-injury, and autism spectrum disorders.  

  • Sleepwalking disorder

    Sleepwalking disorder

    One of the parasomnias, characterized by recurrent episodes of rising from bed during sleep and walking about. The sleepwalking person has a blank, staring face and is relatively unresponsive to attempts by others to awaken him or her. On awakening, either from the sleepwalking episode or the next morning, the person has amnesia for the…

  • Sleep terror disorder

    Sleep terror disorder

    One of the parasomnias, characterized by panic and confusion when abruptly awakening from sleep. This usually begins with a scream and is accompanied by intense anxiety. The person is often confused and disoriented after awakening. No detailed dream is recalled, and there is amnesia for the episode. Sleep terrors typically occur during the first third…