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.
M
Major Depressive Disorder
A mood disorder in which low mood and/or loss of interest or pleasure is accompanied by cognitive, physical, and behavioral symptoms that may lead to significant functional impairment.
Mania
A mood episode marked by elevated, expansive, or irritable mood together with a significant increase in energy and activity; it may cause marked functional impairment, require hospitalization, or include psychotic features.
Mentalization
The capacity to make sense of one's own behavior and others' behavior in terms of mental states such as thoughts, feelings, intentions, and needs.
Mood
A person's general and predominant emotional state that persists over a period of time.