Psychiatry Dictionary
Some concepts used in psychiatry and psychotherapy are also frequently encountered in everyday language. However, the same word can have different meanings in everyday language and in clinical usage. For this reason, I have compiled this glossary with the aim of explaining concepts frequently used in the fields of psychiatry and psychotherapy in clear and scientific language.
Understanding a concept does not mean that a person is diagnosing themselves or someone else. Psychiatric symptoms are assessed in conjunction with the person’s history, the difficulties they are experiencing, the duration, severity and impact on daily life.
C
Cognitive Distortion
A term used to describe systematic and biased thinking patterns that can emerge when evaluating events.
Compulsion
Repetitive behaviors or mental acts that a person feels compelled to perform to reduce anxiety or prevent a feared outcome.
Concentration Difficulty
Refers to difficulty sustaining, gathering, or redirecting attention on a topic; it can be seen in many different psychiatric and medical conditions.