The sharp increase in cases of mental distress in Israel over the past year places the field of psychiatry at the center of public attention. Stress, anxiety and depression have become an integral part of the daily life of many of the country’s citizens. In an era where psychiatric terms enter the public discourse, it is important to understand the meanings behind the terms.
memory loss (amnesia)
This condition may be caused by physical or mental trauma, brain damage or neurological diseases. The amnesia may appear as retrograde amnesia (loss of memory for events preceding the trauma) or as anterograde amnesia (inability to remember new events after the trauma).
Intake
A medical interview of a psychiatric patient, usually at the first meeting with the doctor, which includes gathering comprehensive information about the patient’s medical history, current mental state, and social factors. The purpose of the meeting is to lay the foundation for the diagnosis and to understand the patient’s therapeutic needs.
Surface effect
Flattened affect is a condition in which a person’s emotions appear depressed or weak. The person does not react emotionally in a way adapted to the situations around him, which often indicates a mental disorder such as schizophrenia or severe depression.
anamnesis
Gathering medical and psychological information about the patient’s condition, including a description of current symptoms, family history, underlying diseases and previous treatments. The anamnesis is an important part of determining the initial diagnosis and planning the treatment.
Dissociation
A psychological condition in which the person disconnects from reality, his body or his feelings. This is a defensive process that is often created as a result of trauma, and can include feelings of self-dissociation, feelings of dissociation from the body, or suppressed memories.
personality disorder
Personality disorders are usually characterized by difficulties in relationships and the ability to adapt behavior to social situations. The treatment of personality disorders includes long-term psychotherapy and sometimes also a combination of drug therapy.
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
PTSD may appear long after the traumatic event itself, and symptoms do not always appear immediately. Her treatment includes cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and medications to treat anxiety and associated depression.
emotional regulation
Emotional dysregulation can lead to extreme reactions to everyday situations, such as outbursts of anger or sudden depression. Treatment for this disorder often includes psychotherapy that helps patients learn how to recognize and manage their emotions in a healthy way.
Dominant right or left hand and its importance
The dominance of one side of the body (hand, leg or eye) is an expression of brain control. In a psychiatric and neurological study, the effect of this dominance on cognitive and behavioral function is examined, when it was found that there are links between left dominance and the development of certain disorders such as dyslexia or schizophrenia.
judgment
A person’s ability to distinguish between good and bad and consider the consequences of his actions. Impaired judgment can appear in states of psychosis, mania or following drug use, and requires appropriate attention and treatment.
Department is closed
Patients hospitalized in closed wards often need close medical supervision and the implementation of urgent treatments under control. Strict safety procedures are enforced in these departments to ensure the safety of patients and staff.
mania
In a manic state, the person may show excessive self-confidence and take actions that are not adapted to reality. The treatment of mania includes a combination of mood-stabilizing drugs, such as lithium, and psychotherapy.
Antidepressants (antidepressants)
The antidepressants act on neurotransmitters in the brain, mainly serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine, to improve mood and reduce the feeling of depression. These drugs are often given long-term and you have to wait several weeks for their full effect.
electroconvulsive (ECT)
A type of treatment intended mainly for severe cases of resistant depression, and is carried out under close medical supervision with minimal risk. The treatment causes a controlled spasm in the brain, which leads to an improvement in mood in some patients.
schizophrenia
This is the most serious psychiatric illness of all. In addition to hallucinations and delusions, schizophrenia includes negative symptoms such as inability to feel pleasure, decreased energy and difficulty communicating with the environment. The treatment combines antipsychotic drugs and psychotherapeutic treatments designed to help the patient function on a day-to-day basis.
psychosis
A psychotic attack includes losing touch with reality and the appearance of symptoms such as hallucinations (hearing voices or seeing things that do not exist) and false thoughts. Psychotic attacks may be caused by schizophrenia, drug abuse, or other mental illnesses.
Freud
Sigmund Freud was the founder of psychoanalysis and his theories greatly influenced the modern understanding of the human psyche. Theories such as the personality model consisting of the id, ego and superego opened the door to psychoanalytic treatments.
catatonia
Catatonia is manifested by complete detachment from the environment and lack of response to external stimuli, and is often accompanied by paralysis or other movement problems. The treatment of catatonic states may include antidepressants and antipsychotics combined with physical treatments to improve movement.
Kubler-Ross
Elisabeth Kübler-Ross is a Swiss-American psychiatrist who developed the model of the five stages of grief (denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance). The model deals with the process that people go through who are faced with death or loss, and it changed the approach to the treatment of terminally ill patients.
Compulsion
A strong urge to perform certain actions repeatedly, often with the goal of reducing anxiety. This is a central part of OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), in which actions such as repeated hand washing are seen as necessary.
Ketamine
A drug that is also used as an anesthetic in medical treatments, but in recent years also as a therapeutic tool for resistant depression, thanks to its rapid effect compared to traditional antidepressants. Treatment is usually given by injection or intravenous infusion.
Rumination
A thought process in which the person repeatedly repeats troubling thoughts, often without reaching a solution. Rumination is considered a risk factor for the development of depression and anxiety and is treated using coping methods such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).
cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
The treatment focuses on changing patterns of thinking and behavior that lead to mental difficulties such as depression or anxiety. The goal is to identify and replace negative and unrealistic thoughts with more positive and realistic thoughts, and to help patients acquire tools to better deal with everyday challenges.
insight
The concept of insight in psychiatry refers to the patient’s ability to understand his mental state and identify the problems he is experiencing. Lack of insight may make it difficult for the patient to cooperate in treatment, since he is not always aware of his condition or the problematic nature of his behavior.