Author: Glossary
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Hyperacusis
Inordinate sensitivity to sounds. Abnormally acute hearing. A condition in which someone is very sensitive to sounds. A rare hearing disorder producing extreme sensitivity to noise, including normal environmental sounds, affecting people of all ages and usually accompanied by ringing in the ears. The disorder may affect one or both ears. People who have hyperacusis…
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Hyperactivity
Excessive motor activity that may be purposeful or aimless; movements and utterances usually are more rapid than normal. Hyperactivity is a prominent feature of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In DSM-III-R, called an attention deficit disorder (ADD); excessive motor activity, generally purposeful. It is frequently, but not necessarily, associated with internal tension or a neurological disorder. Usually, the…
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Hydroxyzine
An antihistamine medication primarily used in general medicine to treat dermatological conditions (e.g., itching) and cold or allergy symptoms. It may also be used in psychiatry to treat mild anxiety or to promote sleep, especially in children. Marketed under the brand name vistaril; may also be known by the discontinued brand name atarax. Minor tranquilizer…
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Hydrocephalus
An abnormal increase in the amount of cerebrospinal fluid in the cranium, which causes enlargement of the fluidfilled structures of the brain and deterioration of surrounding brain tissue. An abnormal increase in the amount of cerebral fluid resulting in an enlargement of the head and other symptoms. Fluid accumulates in brain case. An excessive quantity…
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Hwa-byung
A Korean culture-specific syndrome with both somatic and psychological symptoms, hwa-byung, or “anger syndrome,” is characterized by sensations of constriction in the chest, palpitations, insomnia, sensations of heat, flushing, headache, dysphoria, anxiety, irritability, problems with concentration, and fear of impending death. It is attributed to the suppression of anger.
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Huntington’s disease (chorea)
A rare hereditary and progressive degenerative disease of the central nervous system (CNS) transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait. Onset is typically in middle adult life with involuntary movements of the face, hands, and shoulders. These movements become more pronounced and often result in a massive jerkiness of the limbs, facial muscles, and diaphragm. Progressive…
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Humiliation
Sense of disgrace and shame often experienced in depression.
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Hotline
Telephone assistance service for crisis intervention, usually focused on topics such as alcoholic binges, suicide, drugs, and runaways. A telephone number that can be called in times of emergency, often staffed 24 hours a day by trained counselors. Classic hotlines are special-purpose numbers, as for runaways, drug addicts, people considering suicide, or people reporting child…
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Hostility
Actual or threatened aggressive contact, destructive in intent. In psychology, anger. The manifestation of anger, animosity, or antagonism in a situation in which such a reaction is unwarranted. Hostility may be directed toward oneself, others, or inanimate objects. It is almost always a symptom of depression. An attitudinal disposition of cynicism, suspicion, and resentment toward…
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Hormonal therapies
The administration of hormones to combat a variety of disorders. In psychiatry, these therapies may be used to treat early signs and symptoms of alzheimer’s disease, paraphilias, hypoactive sexual desire disorder, and pedophilia.