Author: Glossary

Multiple suicides, usually among adolescents, in a circumscribed time and area. A situation in which several people in the same community attempt to kill themselves within a short period of time.  

An atypical antipsychotic agent used to treat refractory schizophrenia. The brand name for clozapine.  

An atypical antipsychotic medication used to treat refractory schizophrenia. Marketed under the brand names clozaril and fazaclo. An antipsychotic drug used to treat schizophrenic patients who have not responded to other treatments or who have suffered serious side-effects from them. Improvement is gradual and it may be several weeks before severe symptoms are relieved. The…

A benzodiazepine anxiolytic medication used to treat anxiety disorders, insomnia, and acute alcohol withdrawal. Marketed under the brand name tranxene.  

An alpha2-adrenergic receptor agonist originally developed to treat hypertension but also effective in treating various other conditions, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (for insomnia secondary to stimulant medications), tic disorders (including tourette’s disorder), alcohol withdrawal, opiate (narcotic) detoxification, and restless legs syndrome. Marketed under the brand name catapres. An antihypertensive drug known to reduce narcotic…

A benzodiazepine anxiolytic medication used to treatvarious anxiety disorders, such as panic disorder and adjustment disorder with anxiety, as well as insomnia. Clonazepam is also used to treat seizure disorders. Marketed under the brand name Klonopin. A drug used to treat epilepsy. A drug with anticonvulsant properties, used to treat epilepsy and other conditions involving…

A tricyclic antidepressant medication approved for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Marketed under the brand name Anafranil. A drug used to treat depression, phobias and obsessive-compulsive disorder. A drug used to treat various depressive states. It is administered by mouth or injection; common side-effects are dry mouth and blurred vision. Within the realm of mental…

A simple test that can be used as a part of a neurological examination or as a screening tool for Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. The person undergoing testing is asked to draw a clock, put in all the numbers, and set the hands at ten past eleven. The clock drawing test can…

A social worker who applies the theory and methods of social work to the treatment and prevention of psychosocial dysfunction, disability, or impairment with individuals, families, and small groups. Many states require a license to practice clinical social work. Usually, certification requires a master’s degree in social work, at least 2 years’ work experience, and…

Menopausal period in women. Sometimes used to refer to the corresponding age period in men. Also called involutional period. The physical and mental changes occurring at the termination of the reproductive years in the female. Time in a woman’s Life associated with changes in her endocrine system and other body systems often accompanied by emotional…