Glossary

Acute Treatment
the first phase in a program during which many symptoms of an illness begin to be reduced or eliminated.

Acute
lasting a short period of time.

Agoraphobia
the abnormal fear of being helpless in a situation from which escape is difficult or embarrassing, often characterized at first by panic or anxiety and finally by avoidance of open or public places.

Antidepressant
a medication used to relieve or prevent the symptoms of mood or anxiety disorders.

Anxiety
an overwhelming sense of apprehension or fear.

Benzodiazepines
a class of drugs used to treat some anxiety disorders; they have been associated with dependence and addiction in some patients.

Chronic
of a long duration or frequent recurrence over a long period of time.

Combination Therapy
a course of treatment employing both medications and psychotherapy to treat a mood or anxiety disorder.

Continuation Treatment
the second phase in a program during which the goal is to eliminate any remaining symptoms and prevent a relapse.

Depression
a medical condition leading to intense feelings of sadness or despair.

Epinephrine
the principal blood pressure-raising hormone. Also known as adrenaline.

Herbal Remedy
substances derived from plants used for their possible medicinal qualities.

Insomnia
an abnormal inability to achieve adequate sleep.

Maintenance Treatment
an ongoing part of a program designed to prevent the re-occurrence of an illness.

mg. 
milligram (as in the dosage of a medication).

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI)
a class of antidepressant drug designed to turn off the enzymes metabolizing the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and serotonin.

Neurological Exam
tests given by your doctor to check for physiological problems with your nervous system.

Neuron
one of the cells constituting nerve tissue with the property of transmitting and receiving nervous impulses.

Neurotransmitter
a substance sending nerve impulses across a synapse.

Norepinephrine
a chemical transmitting across synapses between neurons.

Orthostatic Hypotension
the perceptible blood pressure drop occurring when a person stands up.

Over-the-Counter Medications
drugs available for sale without needing a prescription.

Panic Disorder
a medical condition in which a person experiences frequent and repeated episodes of intense fear known as panic attacks.

Postsynaptic
the part of a nerve cell which receives an impulse from a synapse.

Presynaptic
the part of a nerve cell which sends an impulse across a synapse.

Primary Care Physician
the doctor or healthcare professional you see most often for health concerns.

Psychotherapy
a process in which a patient talks with a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker or licensed counselor about a mental health condition.

Sedation
a relaxed, easy state.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI)
a class of antidepressant drugs effective in blocking the reabsorption of serotonin following the transmission of a nerve impulse across a synapse.

Serotonin
a neurotransmitter also known as 5-HT.

Side Effect
an unwanted reaction to a medication.

Stress
a physical, chemical or emotional factor causing mental tension; possible factor in causing disease.

Synapse
the small gap between neurons where nervous impulses are passed.

Tachycardia
abnormally rapid heart rate.

Thioridazine
a medication used in the treatment of schizophrenia.

Urinary Retention
difficulty passing urine; can be particularly troublesome in older men with an enlarged prostate.

Vitamin
any of several necessary organic substances present in natural foodstuff essential to normal metabolism.