Adjustment disorder A group of symptoms, such as sadness and hopelessness, that happen after someone experiences a stressful life event. Anhedonia The inability to feel pleasure. Antidepressants Medication that is used to treat depression. There are different types of antidepressants, including: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), and atypical antidepressants. Antidepressant withdrawal syndrome A condition that happens when someone stops taking antidepressants. It can cause symptoms such as trouble sleeping, nausea, poor balance, flu-like symptoms, or anxiety. Antipsychotics Medicines used to treat psychosis. Atypical depression A subtype of depression marked by excessive sleepiness, increased appetite, and a mood that can improve in response to positive events. Avolition A lack of initiative or motivation to accomplish tasks. Anxiety disorder A mental health condition that causes intense and excessive worry or fear about everyday situations. People with anxiety disorders often have panic attacks. Behavior activation therapy A type of therapy that encourages people to learn to cope with negativity while increasing positive awareness. Bipolar disorder A disorder that causes episodes of extreme mood swings that vary from depressive lows to manic highs. It was formerly known as manic depression. Black box warning The strictest warning the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) places on a prescription drug label, when a medicine is thought to pose a serious risk. Borderline personality disorder A mental health condition that’s characterized by a difficulty with regulating emotions. Borderline personality disorder can lead to unstable behaviors, moods, and relationships. Catatonic Being immobile or unable to move. Chronic depression A type of depression that causes symptoms that last at least two years. Clinical trial A study that uses participants to identify new treatments or procedures to help a particular medical condition. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) A type of talk therapy that encourages patients to identify unhelpful patterns and change their behaviors. Deep brain stimulation A procedure that involves implanting electrodes in the brain to produce electric impulses that stimulate specific areas. It may be used to treat some forms of depression. Delusion Something that a person believes but isn’t true. Depersonalization A disorder that causes someone to feel disconnected or detached from their own body and thoughts. Depression A mental health condition that causes sadness, feelings of worthlessness, excessive guilt, or a lack of interest in daily activities. It can affect a person’s work, sleep, and social life. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) A handbook used by doctors and psychiatrists to diagnose mental health disorders. The latest version is called the DSM-5. Differential diagnosis An explanation of how a person’s diagnosis is different from other conditions that cause similar symptoms. Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder A childhood condition that’s characterized by extreme anger, irritability, and temper outbursts. Dopamine A brain chemical that helps regulate how a person feels pleasure. Double depression A condition that occurs when major depression episodes develop before or along with dysthymia. Dual diagnosis Having a mental health condition and also a drug or alcohol issue at the same time. Dysthymia A type of chronic, low-grade depression that’s less severe than major depression but still prevents normal functioning. Dysthymia is also sometimes called persistent depressive disorder. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) A treatment for depression that involves delivering an electric current to the brain to induce a controlled seizure. It’s often used when a person doesn’t respond to drugs or other therapies. Emotional freedom technique (EFT) An alternative treatment plan that may involve methods such as tapping or psychological acupressure. Endorphins Chemicals in your body that help you cope with stress or pain. Euthymic state A normal, tranquil mental state or mood. Flat affect A condition where people don’t express their emotions the same way others might. For example, someone with a flat affect may not show facial expressions. Hallucination Seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, or tasting something that’s not really there. Hypersomnia Excessive daytime sleeping or sleepiness. Light therapy A treatment, which is also known as phototherapy, that involves exposing someone to artificial light. It’s thought to ease symptoms of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) by targeting brain chemicals linked to mood and sleep. Major depressive disorder A depressive disorder that’s persistent (lasts more than two weeks) and significantly interferes with someone’s daily life. Symptoms might include feelings of hopelessness, fatigue, and low energy. Mania An unusually elevated or irritable mood. Microdosing Taking very small amounts of a certain drug. Mood stabilizer Medication used to treat some types of depression, such as bipolar disorder. They include anticonvulsants and lithium. Narrative therapy A type of counseling that separates a person from their problems. Negative affect A negative thought process or emotional state. Neurofeedback A type of therapy used for depression that teaches a person to alter their brain activity through intensive brain training exercises. Neuropsychologist A type of psychologist who specializes in understanding the connection between the brain and certain behaviors. Neurotransmitter The body’s chemical messengers. They’re used by the nervous system to transmit messages between neurons, or from neurons to muscles. Norepinephrine A chemical in the body that affects a person’s mood and how their brain responds to stressful events. Panic attack An episode where a person feels intense fear or anxiety accompanied by physical symptoms. Panic attacks are common in certain anxiety disorders. Phobia An extreme or irrational fear of something. Peripartum (postpartum) depression A type of depression that affects women who have recently had a baby. It is not the same as “baby blues,” which is mild and much more common. Postvention An intervention with the family or friends of someone who commits suicide. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) A condition that causes irritability, depression, or anxiety about a week or two before a woman starts her period. Symptoms typically go away two or three days after menstruation begins. Psychiatrist A medical doctor who specializes in treating mental or behavioral disorders. A psychiatrist can prescribe medicines. Psychologist A professional who has an advanced degree and specializes in helping people with mental health disorders with techniques such as psychotherapy. Psychologists aren’t medical doctors and can’t prescribe medicines to patients. Psychosis A term used to describe a condition in which someone loses contact with reality. They may experience delusions, hallucinations, or depression. Psychotherapy A type of therapy that involves talking to a mental health professional. It’s sometimes used along with medications. Psychotic depression A type of depression that’s accompanied by delusions, hallucinations, or another form of psychosis. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) A mental health condition, PTSD is triggered by experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) A type of treatment that uses a magnet to target and stimulate certain areas of the brain. It’s used to help depression and anxiety. Schizoaffective disorder A chronic mental health disorder that’s characterized by symptoms of schizophrenia (such as hallucinations) and a mood disorder (such as bipolar disorder). Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) A type of depression that happens at about the same time each year. SAD usually occurs in the fall or winter and ends in the spring or summer. Serotonin A chemical in the brain that affects mood and feelings of happiness. Situational depression A type of depression that develops after a traumatic or stressful event. It’s also known as an adjustment disorder or reactive depression and usually goes away after a short amount of time. Social anxiety disorder A type of mental health condition that causes anxiety in social situations. Specifiers Additions that are used in the DSM-5 to further describe a condition and give more specifics about a diagnosis. Substance/medication-induced depressive disorder A condition characterized by depressive symptoms that occur during or soon after a person takes a certain medication or substance or experiences withdrawal from a certain medication or substance. Subsyndromal A term used to describe when someone exhibits symptoms that aren’t severe enough to warrant a diagnosis of a particular disorder. Suicidal ideation Thinking about suicide or planning suicide. Rating scale for depression A measuring scale that helps to identify the severity of a person’s depression. Thought insertion When a person with psychotic depression believes their thoughts are not their own and have been “inserted” into their mind. Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) A type of depression that doesn’t respond to typical treatments. Trigger A situation or event that provokes symptoms of depression. Vagus nerve stimulation A procedure for treatment-resistant depression that involves using a device to stimulate the vagus nerve in the body. The vagus nerve travels up to the brain and is thought to be involved in regulating mood.
