Author: Glossary
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Addiction psychiatry
An American board of psychiatry and neurology (ABPN) subspecialty that focuses on evaluation and treatment of individuals with alcohol, drug, or other substance-related disorders, and of individuals with dual diagnosis of substance-related and other psychiatric disorders. Addiction psychiatrists often use a combination of medicine and psychotherapy to help patients fight their specific addiction. This can…
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Addiction
Dependence on a chemical substance to the extent that a physiological and/or psychological need is established. This may be manifested by any combination of the following symptoms: tolerance, preoccupation with obtaining and using the substance, use of the substance despite anticipation of probable adverse consequences, repeated efforts to cut down or control substance use, and…
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Adderall
Brand name for amphetamine mixed salts. 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 adjunct in the treatment of exogenous obesity. This medication is known as a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant.…
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ADC
AIDS dementia complex.
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Adapin
Brand name (now discontinued) for the tricyclic antidepressant drug doxepin. A tricyclic medication used in the treatment of depression. A brand name for doxepin.
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Adam
A street name for 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA).
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Acute stress disorder
A type of anxiety disorder characterized by the development of severe dissociative, intrusive, avoidant, and hyperarousal symptoms in response to actual or threatened injury or death or after someone witnesses the serious injury or killing of another person. These symptoms usually develop within 1 month of the event and are associated with an elevated risk of…
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Acute dystonic reaction (ADR)
An idiosyncratic drug reaction that involves acute involuntary muscle movements and spasms. Although any muscle group in the body can be involved, the most common symptoms are torticollis, facial grimacing, and body arching. Approxi mately 3%–10% of patients exposed to conventional antipsychotics, especially high-potency agents such as haloperidol (HALDOL), will experience an acute dystonic reaction. The…
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Acute confusional state
A form of delirium in which the most prominent symptoms are disorders of memory and orientation, usually with short-term memory deficit and both retrograde and anterograde amnesia, and clouding of consciousness (i.e., reduced clarity of awareness of environment with reduced capacity to shift, focus, and sustain attention to environmental stimuli). Also known as acute confusional…
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Acupuncture
An ancient Chinese practice of piercing the body with needles with the intent of relieving pain or treating disease. An adjunctive therapy used in the treatment of chronic pain and other disorders, as well as in opioid detoxification. Needles are inserted in the acupuncture points along the meridians running through the body to balance the…