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.
S
Self-Esteem
Refers to a person's overall sense of self-worth and perceived adequacy.
Sleep Hygiene
The set of behavioral adjustments related to sleep schedule, environmental conditions, and daily habits aimed at supporting regular and good-quality sleep.
Social Anxiety Disorder
An anxiety disorder in which a person experiences marked fear and anxiety in social situations where they may be evaluated by others, and either endures these situations with significant distress or avoids them.
Somatization
A historical and clinical concept used to describe the relationship between psychological distress and physical symptoms. It does not mean physical symptoms are unreal or necessarily lack a medical explanation. In current diagnostic systems, a separate diagnosis named "somatization disorder" is not used.
Stress
A broad concept referring to the psychological and physical adaptation responses a person gives to environmental or internal demands.