Facts on File Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine

C cognitive therapy A therapy approach that helps a person recognize negative or unhelpful thought patterns and replace them wit ...

culture and generation financial or economic status personal experiences with crisis or disaster seriousness of the situation ...

D delusion A false perception or belief that persists even in confrontation with a reality that demon- strates its falseness. Th ...

depressants are the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which became available in the 1990s. Psychotherapy alone is ...

hood at a time of vulnerability in personal devel- opment of sense of self. The various personalities may know of each other or ...

E–I eating disorders Psychologic conditions in which the person restricts food intake because of the belief that he or she is ov ...

esteem issues. Though eating disorders are not preventable, early intervention and treatment can prevent further health conditio ...

spouse who creates symptoms in the other spouse. In Munchausen’s syndrome by proxy, which may have legal consequences, protectio ...

M–O mania A psychotic disorder of extremely ele- vated mood. A person who has mania, also called manic disorder, may appear euph ...

obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) A psy- chiatric disorder in which the person engages in ritualistic, often repetitive behavi ...

P panic disorder A psychologic condition in which a person feels extreme fear or panic without provocation (unlike PHOBIA, which ...

COMMON PHOBIAS acrophobia fear of heights agoraphobia fear of open spaces or crowded public places altophobia fear of heights av ...

who have PTSD understand the source of their symptoms and accept the circumstances of what happened to them, though for others t ...

S–T seasonal affective disorder (SAD) DEPRESSION that develops during the winter months when the hours of darkness exceed the ho ...

lack of emotional response or demeanor (flat affect) The diagnostic path often includes COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY(CT) SCANor MAGNETI ...

irresistible urge to nap drowsiness when driving or engaged in repeti- tious activity excessive snoring (OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNE ...

common health-care response is to subject the person to comprehensive diagnostic testing. How- ever, test results persistently p ...

the reverse is more true. Many people are relieved to be able to discuss their fears and worries and are receptive to less drast ...

387 MEDICAL ADVISORY REVIEW PANEL Kyra J. Becker, M.D., is codirector of the Uni- versity of Washington Stroke Center in Seattle ...

388 Medical Advisory Review Panel University of Michigan. Dr. McClain has coau- thored or edited 14 books and frequently conduct ...