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Glossary

»Agitated depression: an episode of depression characterized by restlessness, insomnia, and loss of appetite.

»Agoraphobia : fear of open spaces or going out in public; literally, fear of the market place. Often preceded by panic attacks, fear of which can keep the sufferer effectively housebound.

»Alprazolam : the generic name for Xanax.

»Alzheimer'sdisease: a degenerative, age-related disease of the brain affecting memory and other mental processes.

»Amantadine : the generic name of Symmetrel.

»Amineptine : the generic name for Survector.

»Amitriptyline : the generic name of Elavil, Endep, and other tricyclic antidepressants.

»Amoxapine : the generic name for Asendin.

»Anafranil: a tricyclic antidepressant also prescribed as an antiobsessional drug. Its generic name is clomipramine.

»Analgesic : a medication used to reduce pain.

»Antibiotic : a medication such as penicillin or streptomycin used to prevent and treat disease by inhibiting the growth of various microorganisms.

»Antidepressant : a medication prescribed for the treatment of depression.

»Anxiety : an uneasy feeling of worry, apprehension, or distress, often about the future. Its physical components include faster heartbeat, disturbed breathing, trembling, and sweating.

»Anxiety disorders : a category of conditions that includes panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and various phobias.

»Artane : an antispasmodic medication used in the treatment of Parkinsonism. Its generic name is trihexyphenidyl.

»Asendin a tricyclic antidepressan t: Its generic name is Amoxapine.

»Ativan : an antianxiety medication also prescribed for anxiety accompanied by depression. Its generic name is lorazepam.

»Atypical : bipolar II depression, a clinical condition in which patients experience periods of major depression and periods of mild or hypomanic elation.

»Atypical depression : an episode of depression in which the patient is reactive to the environment, sensitive to rejection, and tends to gain weight and sleep more than usual. Typical depression, on the other hand, is frequently characterized by loss of weight and difficulty sleeping.

»Aventyl: a tricyclic antidepressant its generic name is nortriptyline.

»Barbiturate : a habit-forming drug used to induce sleep.

»Behavioral therapy : a form of psychotherapy that attempts to change or eliminate certain habitual patterns of behavior.

»Benadryl : an over-the-counter antihistamine medication often taken for allergies. It is also useful for motion sickness and Parkinsonism.

»Beta-adrenergic blockers : a medication often used to lower blood pressure.

»Bipolar depression : a disorder characterized by episodes of both depression and mania or elation.

»Bipolar I disorder : disorder a clinical condition characterized by episodes of major depression and episodes of mania or elation that are usually severe enough to necessitate hospitalization. Also known as manic depression.

»Bipolar II disorder: a clinical condition in which episodes of major depression alternate with mildly manic periods. Typically the patient needs to be hospitalized during the depressed periods but not during the manic upswings.

»Bipolar III disorder : a term used to describe a unipolar depressed person who develops mania or hypomania only with a psychopharmacologic challenge (i.e., after taking an antidepressant drug).

»Borderline personality disorder: a disorder characterized by a pattern of unstable and intense relationships, distorted self-image, difficulties with impulse control, and shifting extremes of emotion.

»Bulimia : an eating disorder characterized by eating binges followed by depression and self-criticism. In bulimia nervosa, eating binges are followed by vomiting and purging.

»Bupropion : the generic name for Wellbutrin.

»Buspar : a nonhabit-forming antianxiety medication. Its generic name is Buspirone.

»Buspirone : the generic name for Buspar.

»Butyrophenone : a family of antipsychotic medications such as Haldol.

»Carbamazepine : the generic name for Tegretol. Carbidopa: a substance that reduces the amount of levodopa (or I-dopa) required by patients suffering from Parkinsonism. Levodopa is converted into the neurotransmitter dopamine.

»Character: those components of personality that are acquired.

»Chloral hydrate: the generic name for a sleeping medication. Its trade name is Noctec.

»Chlorothiazide : the generic name for Diuril.

»Citalopram : an SSRI antidepressant currently under development.

»Clinicaldepression: a frequently used term for major depression.

»Clomipramine : the generic name for Anafranil.

»Clonazepam: the generic name for Klonopin.

»Clonidine: an antihypertensive also used for narcotic withdrawal.

»Cogentin: an anti-Parkinsonism medication. Its generic name is benztropine.

»Cognitivetherapy: a time-limited structured form of psychotherapy in which the goal is to change the negative, inaccurate ways the patient perceives the world, the self, and the future.

»Coumadin : an anticoagulant medication. Its generic name is warfarin.

»Cycloserine: the generic name for the antibiotic Seromycin.

»Cyclothymia: a form of manic depression characterized by relatively mild highs and lows.

»Cytomel: a thyroid hormone sometimes used to augment the effects of an antidepressant.

»Dalmane: a hypnotic agent or sleeping pill. It is a member of the benzodiazepine family of drugs. Its generic name is flurazepam.

»Depakote: an anticonvulsive medication and an alternative to lithium. Its generic name is valproic acid.

»Deprenyl: a European antidepressant. It is a monoamine oxidase inhibitor that lacks the cheese effect.

»Depression: a bleak mood characterized by sadness, discouragement, hopelessness, despair. See Major depression.

»Desipramine: the generic name for Norpramin.

»Desyrel: an antidepressant structurally unlike the tricyclics, the monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and the selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors. Its generic name is trazodone.

»Dexamethasonetest: a test in which a patient is given Dexamethasone, after which the cortisol level is measured. Normally, Dexamethasone suppresses the body's production of cortisol, but in some patients with major depression, the production of cortisol is unsuppressed and the serum cortisol rises.

»Diazepam: the generic name for Valium.

»Digitoxin: a cardiac medication extracted from Digitalis purpurea .Its chemical formula is C 4I H64 013'

»Digoxin: a cardiac medication extracted from the leaves of Digitalis lanata. Its chemical formula is C 4I H64O14.

»Diuril: a diuretic and antihypertensive medication. Its generic name is chlorothiazide.

»Dopamine: one of three major neurotransmitters found in the synapses of the brain. The other two are norepinephrine and serotonin.

»Dorproma : the generic name for Thorazine.

»Double depression: an episode of major depression that occurs on top of chronic, long-term mild depression.

»DSM-IV: an abbreviation for the fourth edition of the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The book lists symptoms for all psychiatric illnesses.

»Dysmorphic somatoform disorder: obsessive concern with imaginary or exaggerated flaws in physical appearance.

»Dysphoria: unpleasant mood associated with a shifting set of symptoms including sadness, anxiety, and irritability.

»Dysthymia: a mild but persistent form of depression, less severe in its symptoms than major depression but lasting at least two years (one year in children).

»ECT: the abbreviation for electroconvulsive therapy.

»Effexor: the trade name of venlafaxin.

»EKG: the abbreviation for electrocardiogram.

»Elation: a strong, self-satisfied feeling of exhilaration, euphoria, and optimism.

»Elavil : a tricyclic antidepressant. Its generic name is amitriptyline.

»FDA : Food and Drug Administration.

»Fluoxetine: the generic name or Prozac. The full generic name, Fluoxetine hydrochloride, is also used.

»Fluvoxamine: an SSRI antidepressant. Its trade name is Luvox.

»Formes frustes: subclinical forms of a disorder characterized by one or a few symptoms rather than by the entire spectrum of symptoms.

»Generic drugs: a drug not controlled by a manufacturer's trademark.

»Genetic equivalent: a condition such as alcoholism, drug abuse, gambling, suicide, or sociopathy genetically linked to depression or manic depression. grandiosity a delusional sense of superiority.

»Guanethidine: an antihypertensive medication.

»H2 blockers: medications that block histamine-2 receptors.

»Halcion: a short-acting hypnotic or sleeping pill of the benzodiazepine family. Its generic name is triazelam.

»Haldol: a Butyrophenone antipsychotic medication also used to treat Tourette's Syndrome and hyperactivity in children. Its generic name is haloperidol.

»Half-life : the time it takes for the amount of a drug in the blood to decrease by half.

»Hydralazine: the generic name for Apresoline, an antihypertensive medication.

»Hyperthymia: a mood characterized by high energy, confidence, and activity. Hyperthymia is a state that is more energetic than a normal good mood but less energetic or revved up than hypomania.

»Hypomania: a mildly elevated, expansive mood lasting a few days. Hypomania is less intense than mania but more intense than hyperthymia.

»Hypothalamus: a part of the brain responsible for regulation of autonomic activities including body temperature, sexual activity, hunger, and thirst.

»Hypothymia: a mood in which the emotions and energy are slightly diminished.

»Imipramine: the generic name for Tofranil.

»Interpersonal Psychotherapy: a time-limited structured form of psychotherapy designed to alleviate major depression.

»IPT: abbreviation for interpersonal Psychotherapy.

»Isocarboxazid: the generic name for Marplan.

»Kemadrine: an anti-Parkinsonism medication.

»Klonopin: an antiseizure and antianxiety medication. It is a member of the benzodiazepine family of antianxiety medications. Its generic name is Clonazepam.

»L-trytophine: an amino acid used to make serotonin.

»Levodopa: the metabolic precursor of dopamine. Used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Levothyroxin: thyroid hormone.

»Librium: an antianxiety agent and a member of the benzodiazepine family. Its generic name is chlordiazepoxide.

»Lithium: an element which stabilizes the ups and downs of mood disorders by shifting the levels of water and electrolytes.

»Lorazepam: the generic name for Ativan.

»Loxapine: the generic name for Loxitane.

»Loxitane: a tricyclic tranquilizer and antipsychotic drug.

»Ludiomil: a tetracycIic antidepressant. Its generic name is maprotiline.

»Luvox: an SSRI antidepressant. Its generic name is fluvoxamine.

»Major depression: an episode, at least two weeks in duration, characterized by many (not necessarily all) of the following symptoms: low feelings, loss of interest in life, inability to experience pleasure, difficulty concentrating, loss of energy, anxiety, changes in appetite and sleep patterns, and frequent thoughts about death and suicide. Also known as clinical depression or unipolar depression.

»Mania: a period of abnormal, persistent elation characterized by extreme talkativeness, rapid shifting from one idea to another, excitement, agitation, and hyperactivity.

»Manic depression: a disorder in which periods of moderate to severe depression alternate with unstable periods of elation. Also known as bipolar I disorder.

»MAOI: abbreviation for monoamine oxidase inhibitors, a category of antidepressants.

»Maprotiline: the generic name for Ludiomil.

»Marplan: a monoamine oxidase inhibitor antidepressant. Its generic name is isocarboxazid.

»Masked depression: a form of depression that is hidden behind physical symptoms for which no organic cause can be found.

»Mellaril: an antipsychotic medication also used for the short-term treatment of depression with anxiety. Its generic name is thioridazine.

»Metabolite: the chemical compound produced by the breakdown of a drug in the body. The metabolite of Prozac is norfluoxetine.

»Methyldopa: the generic name for Aldomet, an antihypertensive drug.

»Mianserin: a tetracycIic antidepressant available in Europe.

»Miltown: a minor tranquilizer and antianxiety medication. It is no longer commonly used.

»Monoamine oxidase inhibitor: a class of antidepressants that prevents the enzyme monoamine oxidase from degrading at the nerve endings in the brain. This in turn produces higher levels of norepinephrine and serotonin at the nerve synapses. Not to be taken with tyramine-containing foods such as cheese and Chianti wine.

»Mood: the internal emotional outlook.

»Mood disorders: a category of clinical conditions in which the patient feels a distressing lack of control over mood or emotions. Mood disorders affect the level of activity, cognitive abilities, patterns of sleep, appetite, sexuality, and, frequently, the patient's social and professional functioning.

»Moodswing: an emotional state that fluctuates between the lows of depression and the highs of mania or hypomania.

»Nardil: a monoamine oxidase inhibitor antidepressant also used for panic disorders. Its generic name is phenelzine.

»Nefazadone: the generic name for Serzone.

»Neurotransmitter: a chemical substance that relays messages between nerves.

»Norepinephrine: one of three major neurotransmitters found in the synapses of the brain. The other two are serotonin and dopamine.

»Norfluoxetine: the metabolite of Prozac.

»Normal reactive depression: relatively short-term depression connected to grief or bereavement.

»Norpramin: a tricyclic antidepressant. Its generic name is Desipramine.

»Nortriptyline: the generic name for the tricyclic antidepressants Pamelor and Aventyl.

»Obsessive compulsive disorder: a clinical condition characterized by a distressing set of time-consuming repetitive thoughts and actions.

»OCD: abbreviation of obsessive compulsive disorder.

»Overdose: an excessive or lethal amount of a drug.

»Pamelor: a tricyclic antidepressant. Its generic name is nortriptyline.

»Panic: a severe attack of overwhelming anxiety.

»Parnate: a monoamine oxidase inhibitor antidepressant. Its generic name is tranylcypromine.

»Paroxetine: the generic name for Paxil.

»Paxil: an SSRI antidepressant. Its generic name is paroxetine.

»Personality disorder: a condition characterized by long-term inflexible and maladaptive patterns of distorted thought, perceptions, or behavior.

»Phenelzine: the generic name for Nardil, an MAO inhibitor.

»Phenothiazine: the generic name for a family of antipsychotic medications including Thorazine, Stelazine, and Mellaril.

»Phobia: an anxiety disorder characterized by an irrational, persistent, exaggerated fear of a specific situation or object, combined with a compelling requirement to avoid the dreaded stimulus.

»Placebo: a medication that is either completely or largely inert.

»Placebo effect: the reactions of a patient to a medication that is inert. The physical and psychological consequences are thus created not by the drug itself but by the patient's expectations.

»PMS: abbreviation for premenstrual syndrome.

»Post-traumatic stress disorder: a condition resulting from major trauma such as rape, childhood abuse, or wartime experiences, and including the reexperiencing of the trauma, emotional numbing, and other symptoms.

»Prolixin: a high-potency antipsychotic medication of the phenothiazine family. Its generic name is fluphenazine.

»Propranolol: the generic name for Inderol, a betablocker antihypertensive also used for the treatment of heart tremors.

»Protriptyline: the generic name for Vivactil.

»Prozac: an SSRI antidepressant. Its generic name is fluoxetine.

»Psychopharmacology: the study of drugs that affect mental activity and emotional processes.

»Psychotropic drugs: medications that affect the mood or mental processes.

»PTSD: abbreviation for post-traumatic stress disorder.

»Rapid cyclers: manic depressives who experience four or more moodswings a year.

»Raynaud's syndrome: a medical syndrome in which the fingers turn color and become numb when exposed to cold.

»REM: abbreviation for rapid eye movement. Dreaming takes place during REM sleep.

»Reserpine: an antihypertensive medication with antianxiety or tranquilizing properties.

»Restoril: a hypnotic or sleeping pill of the benzodiazepine family of antianxiety medications. Its generic name is temazepam.

»Ritalin: a psychostimulant often used for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Its generic name is methylphenidate.

»Schizoaffectivedisorder: a combination of major depression or mania with delusions or hallucinations.

»Secondary depression: depression that occurs after or in response to a pre-existing medical or psychiatric disorder.

»Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors : a class of antidepressants that operate by increasing the amount of serotonin in the synapses of the brain. Examples include Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft.

»Seromycin: an antibiotic medication. Its generic name is cycloserine.

»Serzone: an SSRI antidepressant. Its generic name is nefazadone.

»Serotonin: one of three major neurotransmitters found in the synapses of the brain. The other two are norepinephrine and dopamine.

»Serotonin syndrome: an infrequent, potentially serious, systemic neurologic reaction to the combination of an SSRI antidepressant with another psychotropic drug.

»Sertraline: the generic name for Zoloft.

»Social phobia: fear of being scrutinized by others or of embarrassing oneself in public.

»Soft bipolar: a partial form of mania or hypomania with fewer symptoms than are required for the formal DSM diagnosis.

»SSRI: abbreviation for selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors.

»Stelazine: a major anti-psychotic or tranquilizer of the phenothiazine family. Its generic name is trifluoperazine.

»Subclinical depression: a depressed condition in which the symptoms are not severe enough or numerous enough to merit a diagnosis of major depression or dysthymia.

»Surmontil: a tricyclic antidepressant. Its generic name is trimipramine.

»Survector: an antidepressant available in Europe. Its generic name is Amineptine.

»Symmetrel: an anti-Parkinsonism medication also used for the prevention of influenza-A virus illness. Its generic name is amantadine.

»Synapse: the point where an impulse travels from one nerve to another: the gap between nerves.

»T3: triiodothyronine, a hormone produced by the thyroid gland. Sometimes given to augment an antidepressant.

»TCA: abbreviation for tricyclic antidepressants. Tegretol an anticonvulsant drug. Its generic name is carbamazepine.

»Temazepam: the generic name for Restoril.

»Temperament: those aspects of personality that are innate or inherited.

»Thorazine: an antipsychotic of the phenothiazine family. Its generic name is clorpromazine.

»Tofranil: a tricyclic antidepressant. Its generic name is imipramine.

»Tolbutamide: the generic name for Orinase, a medication used to lower blood glucose.

»Tranylcypromine: the generic name for Parnate. trazodone the generic name for Desyrel.

»Treatment-resistant depression: depression that is unaffected by all major classes of antidepressants.

»Tricyclic antidepressants: a class of antidepressants, so-called because the nucleus has a three-ring structure, that increases the level of norepinephrine and serotonin in the synapses of the brain.

»Triiodothyronine: T 3, a thyroid hormone.

»Trilafon: an antipsychotic medication. Its generic name is perphenazine.

»Trimipramine: the generic name for Surmontil.

»Unipolar depression: a term for major depression. In contrast to bipolar disorder, unipolar depression is characterized by episodes of depression but not by periods of mania.

»Valium: an antianxiety medication and minor tranquilizer. Its generic name is diazepam.

»Valproic: acid the generic name for Depicted, an anticonvulsive medication.

»Venlafaxin: a recently developed SSRI antidepressant. Its trade name is Effexor.

»Vivactil: a tricyclic antidepressant. Its generic name is protriptyline.

»Warfarin: the generic name for Coumadin.

»Wellbutrin: an antidepressant with a structure like that of the tricyclics, MAOls, or SSRls. Its generic name is bupropion.

»Withdrawal: the process of abstaining from a drug to which one has become habituated.

»Xanax: all antianxiety medication and minor tranquilizer. Its generic name is alprazolam.

»Zoloft: an SSRI antidepressant. Its generic name is sertraline.