Author: Glossary

A folk diagnostic term used in India to refer to severe anxiety and hypochondriacal concerns associated with the discharge of semen, whitish discoloration of the urine, and feelings of weakness and exhaustion. Similar to jiryan (India), sukra prameha (Sri Lanka), and shen-k’uei (China). Dhat is a culture-bound syndrome that is considered a “hypochondriacal concern associated…

Brand name (now discontinued) for the psychostimulant drug dextroamphetamine.  

A form of amphetamine used to treat narcolepsy and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adults. In some cases, this drug has been used to treat depression or as an adjunctive therapy in the treatment of exogenous obesity. This medication is known as a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant. Marketed under the brand names dexedrine…

A mild stimulant of the central nervous system (CNS) used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Marketed under the brand name focalin.  

The different stages through which an organism passes during its life span, often described separately for different organ systems or functions. Each stage usually shows characteristic features and presents its own challenges that must be met if development is to proceed normally.  

A category of childhood disorders characterized by delay or abnormality in the development of functions such as speaking, reading, arithmetic ability, motor skills, and social and communication skills. A handicap or impairment originating before the age of 18 which may be expected to continue indefinitely and which constitutes a substantial impairment. The disability may be…

Delay in the development of functions such as speaking, reading, arithmetic ability, motor skills, and social and communication skills. A significantly longer-than-normal length of time before a child learns certain skills or begins to be able to do certain key kinds of activities, called developmental Milestones. The condition in which a child in his or…

A motor skills disorder consisting of a level of motor coordination in daily activities that is significantly lower than expected, given the subject’s age, intelligence, and age-appropriate education. Manifestations include delayed motor milestones (e.g., crawling, walking), clumsiness, and poor handwriting. The term is applied only to presentations that are not due to a general medical…

An interruption, as a result of trauma, constitution, or both, in the expectable unfolding of psychological development of an individual. A developmental arrest may profoundly affect the quality of the adult personality of the individual.