There are many specialised words and phrases used within mental health. Many of these can be bewildering to anyone new to these issues. This list is an attempt to shed light on some of the words commonly used. It is not comprehensive. Many terms used are controversial, and this list should not be taken as including definitive meanings, but as a guide. The definitions do not represent the views of Information for Mental Health, or Leeds Mind.
absconsion - leaving without permission, usually relating to people detained under the Mental Health Act 1983.
acute - a severe short term episode of mental illness.
advocacy - giving information, advice or support to encourage or enable a person to express themselves. Help to represent a person’s views.
agoraphobia - a form of anxiety people feel when they have an intense fear of being caught or trapped in situations when they can't get help. Can be brought on by repeated panic attacks. Can also lead to depression.
alternative therapies - see complementary therapies.
alzheimer's disease - see dementia.
anorexia nervosa - characterised by not eating. In some cases, a person becomes malnourished to the point of starvation. See also eating disorders.
anti-depressants - aim to treat the symptoms of depression; can help people feel more motivated and energetic. Side effects can include drowsiness, a dry mouth, blurred vision and weight gain.
anti-psychotic medication - normally given to treat the symptoms of schizophrenia and manic depression. Can produce side effects, including drowsiness, excessive salivation, unsteadiness, less control over body movements, restless legs and weight gain.
anxiety - term used to describe experiences such as chronic fear, tension and panic attacks. Some people have an overwhelming feeling of dread that prevents them getting on with everyday life. Sleepless nights and recurring thoughts are common, as well as nausea, palpitations, dizziness and difficulty in breathing. Anxiety is the most common mental health problem we experience.
aromatherapy - involves inhaling therapeutic oils to stimulate the body's nerves to help a person feel more relaxed or energised. Also commonly practiced in massage or used in the bath.
art therapy - aims to support people's recovery using art as a creative process and a therapy to help people resolve emotional conflicts, be more aware about themselves, develop social skills, reduce anxiety and increase self-esteem.
assessment - a way of working out with a patient and / or a carer what their needs are and what services are required to support and assist that person.
auditory hallucination - an experience a person may have in hearing something which others do not. This could be an imagined sound or voice, which is real to the person experiencing it.
benzodiazepine - medication traditionally used to treat anxiety. Can be addictive if used over prolonged periods. bipolar disorder - see manic depression.
bipolar disorder - see manic depression.
care plan - a written plan that describes the care and support staff will aim to give you. Service users should be fully involved in developing and agreeing the plan, and can ask for a copy of it to keep, if they aren't automatically given one.
carer - a relative, neighbour, friend or anyone else who looks after a person who needs support on an unpaid, regular basis.
care programme approach (CPA) - see separate Keynotes section for details.
chronic - an enduring, long term mental illness.
cognitive behavioural therapy - relatively short term psychotherapy used for a wide range of psychological problems. Involves working with people to help them change their emotions, thoughts and behaviours.
complementary therapies - therapeutic practices or techniques which are not currently considered an integral part of conventional medical practice. Used in addition, or as alternatives, to conventional treatments.
counselling - a talking therapy that usually deals with a recent distressing event. It can last several weeks or longer, depending on the individual's needs and response to the therapy.
delusion - a belief genuinely held, in spite of evidence to the contrary.
dementia - the gradual loss of memory, which results from changes in the structure of the brain. It is quite common for people with dementia to remember things from a long time ago, but find it more difficult to recall recent events. People may also have difficulty concentrating, be confused, anxious or agitated. Some experience hallucinations. Most likely to occur as people get older and can be very distressing for the person and their family. The most common form is Alzheimer's Disease.
depot - long acting medication in the form of an injection, usually used to treat psychosis.
depression - one of the most common mental health problems. People diagnosed with clinical depression have a constant feeling of despair and of being weighed down. The person may find it difficult getting out of bed and feelings of worthlessness are common. Difficulty sleeping is also common.
diagnosis - a label, or name, of an illness, given by a doctor.
dual diagnosis - a label of two or more types of condition or illness. Initially used to describe drug and / or alcohol use along with a mental health condition it is now more likely to refer to any two separate issues to ensure the complexity of diagnosis is made clear.
eating disorders - include anorexia, bulimia and compulsive eating. Usually an expression of deep emotional difficulties and low self-esteem. Effects can include depression, disturbed sleep patterns, restlessness and disturbance of bodily functions.
electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) - a commonly used and highly controversial treatment for severe mental illness in which a small amount of electricity is introduced into the brain.
extrapyramidal side effects (EPSE) - a type of unwanted effect from antipsychotic medication. Includes tremors, rigidity of muscles and restlessness.
formal patient - a person who is detained in hospital under The Mental Health Act 1983.
hallucinations - common symptoms of the diagnosis of schizophrenia. May be auditory (hearing things), olfactory (smelling), visual (seeing things), tactile (feeling things on the skin) or gustatory (tasting). Probably the most common hallucinations are hearing voices.
informal patient - a person in hospital of their own free will. Most people admitted to hospital are there on a voluntary basis.
informed consent to treatment - when a patient agrees to have a form of treatment, based on information they have been given by the treatment provider. This information should allow the person to weigh up benefits of treatment against risk.
mania - a symptom of bipolar disorder or manic depression. People often feel over-excited, are overactive physically and can rapidly change their ideas (also known as scattered or tangential thoughts).
manic depression - also known as bipolar disorder, is characterised by mood swings - periods of deep depression and of overactive or excited behaviour, known as 'mania'.
neurosis - used to describe anxiety disorders, stress and phobias.
obsessions or obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) - a pre-occupation with orderliness, perfectionism and control at the expense of flexibility, openness and efficiency. Usually accompanied by ritual behaviour; for example, someone obsessed with cleanliness may believe their hands are contaminated and wash their hands incessantly.
personality disorder - defined in the Mental Health Act 1983 as '...a persistent disorder or disability of mind...which results in abnormally aggressive or seriously irresponsible conduct...'.
phobia - an irrational and uncontrollable fear of an object or situation that most people can face without anxiety. A person with a phobia has feelings of intense panic when confronted with whatever it is that frightens them and will go to great lengths to avoid the causes of the distress.
post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) - can occur after an experience or witnessing of life threatening events, like serious accidents, violent personal assaults or terrorist incidents. People with PTSD often relive the experience through nightmares and flashbacks, have problems sleeping and feel detached from reality.
psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU) - a locked ward in a hospital where some people detained under the Mental Health Act may stay. They are assessed as being at risk to themselves or others on an open acute inpatient care ward.
psychotherapy - aims to help a person overcome a period of distress by helping analyse past experiences to understand what may be the cause of their current feelings.
psychosis - term used to describe when a person isn't able to distinguish between what is real and what isn't. Mental health professionals will assess someone as being psychotic when they are experiencing hallucinations or delusions. It is common for people with schizophrenia or manic depression to experience psychosis.
psychotic episode - a relatively short period of psychosis.
schizophrenia - label for a complex diagnosis, which affects a person's ability to separate real and unreal experiences. Some people have just one experience (or episode) of schizophrenia, while for others it is longer lasting. People with a diagnosis of schizophrenia usually experience delusions (false beliefs), hallucinations (hearing voices or seeing things) and / or thought disorder (thoughts become jumbled up and do not make sense to the outside listener). Feelings of paranoia, the belief that others are plotting against you, are common. People who hear voices often report that the voices are hostile and very distressing. Hallucinations can also be visual or involve smells.
sectioning - parts of the Mental Health Act which allow for an individual to be detained in a psychiatric hospital.
section 17 leave - leave from the place a person has been detained under the Mental Health Act. Usually negotiated with the consultant.
section 136 accommodation - under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983, if a person is found in a public place apparently suffering from a mental disorder and in immediate need of ‘care and control’, a Police Officer may take them to a place of safety. The primary purpose of this is to undertake a psychiatric assessment as soon as possible. The meaning of “place of safety” is defined in Section 135 of the Act.
self-harm - term used to describe deliberate acts of harming oneself. Often how people deal with very strong emotions and feelings of distress.
self-help - seeks to draw from a person’s own strength and solutions to encourage them to take control of their own lives.
talking treatments - describes a number of therapies available including counselling, cognitive behaviour therapy and psychotherapy.