Author: Glossary

One of the paraphilias, characterized by marked distress over, or acting on, sexual urges involving feces. Excessive or morbid interest in filth or feces or their symbolic representations. A sexual variance in which sexual gratification is associated with the act of defecation.  

Eating of filth or feces.  

The involuntary use of profane words seen in patients with tourette’s disorder. Sexual arousal through the use of lewd language or of hearing lewd language. Coprolalia, a symptom of Tourette syndrome (TS), is the uncontrollable use of obscenities and curse words. Although popularly associated with TS, only 8-15% of affected individuals manifest coprolalia. Apeak in…

Ways of adjusting to environmental stress without altering one’s goals or purposes. Includes both conscious and unconscious mechanisms. In psychology, a variety of complex, usually unconscious devices used to handle frustrations or ego threats. A method of dealing with situations which cause psychological stress.  

Include generalized seizures, such as grand mal and petit mal, and the focal seizures of jacksonian and psychomotor epilepsy. These brain disorders, with their characteristic electroencephalographic patterns, are to be differentiated from a variety of other pathophysiological conditions in which a convulsive seizure may occur. The latter may follow withdrawal from alcohol, barbiturates, and a…

One of the somatoform disorders (but in some classifications called a dissociative disorder), characterized by a symptom suggestive of a neurological disorder that affects sensation or voluntary motor function. The symptom is not consciously or intentionally produced, cannot be explained fully by any known general medical condition, and is severe enough to impair functioning or…

A defense mechanism, operating unconsciously, by which intrapsychic conflicts that would otherwise give rise to anxiety are instead given symbolic external expression. The repressed ideas or impulses, and the psychological defenses against them, are converted into a variety of somatic symptoms such as paralysis, pain, or loss of sensory function. The process of changing one…

A group of older antipsychotic drugs—also referred to as “traditional” or “first-generation” antipsychotics (FGAs) and sometimes called neuroleptics—that work principally by blocking dopamine receptors in the brain. Examples include chlorpromazine and haloperidol. These medications have the potential to cause adverse side effects such as parkinsonian symptoms (muscle stiffness, rigidity, slowed gait, and tremor) and tardive…

Explicit commitment between patient and therapist to a well-defined course of action to achieve the treatment goal. In law, an agreement, upon sufficient consideration, to do or not to do a particular thing; the writing which contains the agreement of the parties and the terms and conditions and which serves as proof of the obligation.…

Postgraduate educational activities aimed at maintaining, updating, and extending professional knowledge and skills. Many professional organizations and state licensing boards require participation in CME activities. Postgraduate education in the health professions; the enhancement or expansion of an individual’s knowledge or skills through coursework; home study; live, audio, or video conferences; electronic media; or clinical practice.…