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.
H
Hallucination
A perceptual experience that occurs in the absence of a corresponding external stimulus; it may be auditory, visual, tactile, olfactory, or gustatory.
Hyperfocus
A term used to describe becoming intensely focused on an activity that is interesting or rewarding, with difficulty shifting attention elsewhere. It is often discussed in the context of ADHD but is not one of the formal diagnostic criteria.
Hypervigilance
A state of increased alertness characterized by excessive scanning of the environment for potential threats and persistent watchfulness.
Hypomania
A period marked by elevated, expansive, or irritable mood along with increased energy and activity. The change is clearly different from the person's usual state, but does not cause severe functional impairment at the level of mania, does not require hospitalization, and is not considered hypomania if psychotic features are present.