20.5: Key Terms

abstract thinking

the ability to think about objects, principles, or ideas not physically present

abuse

the act of causing physical, emotional, psychological, verbal, sexual, and financial harm to a person

affect

physical expression of one’s emotional state

akathisia

motor restlessness

at-risk drinking

alcohol consumption that threatens a person’s health, safety, and well-being

at-risk population

a group of individuals who are at higher risk of experiencing adverse health, social, or economic outcomes due to various factors

blunted affect

dull or emotionless response to emotional stimuli

broad affect

the expression of emotions in a healthy, appropriate manner

bullying

harassing behavior

catalepsy (also, waxy flexibility)

a state of continued unresponsiveness where the patient may be in a fixed body posture for long periods

circumstantial thinking

a cognitive style in which speaking and thought processes stray from the original topic before returning to the initial subject matter

coercive control

a form of ongoing psychological and emotional abuse based on control, manipulation, and oppression

concrete thinking

a cognitive style in which thinkers take the information they can see, hear, or touch at face value and have difficulty applying it beyond the present

congruence

consistency between verbal and nonverbal communication

controlled environment

an artificial setting that is carefully regulated and monitored to ensure maximum accuracy and precision

delusion

a false belief or judgment about reality despite evidence to the contrary

dependence

a condition that results in an individual developing a compulsive, chronic reliance on substances for physiological and psychological gratification

distractibility

one’s attention being quickly drawn to unimportant or irrelevant external stimuli

dyskinesia

a movement disorder characterized by uncontrolled, involuntary movements

dysphoric

unhappy, depressed, unwell

early remission

a period during which a patient who had previously met all criteria for alcohol use disorder has not met the criteria for more than three months and less than twelve months

emotional abuse

nonphysical behavior that means to control, isolate, or frighten another person

euphoric

feeling a pathologically elevated sense of well-being

euthymic

displaying a wide range of emotions that are appropriate for the situation

exploitation

the mistreatment of someone to benefit from their work or resources

financial abuse

the illegal, unauthorized, or improper use of money, benefits, belongings, property, or assets for the benefit of someone other than the property owner

flat affect

significantly decreased or lack of expression of emotion, which is inappropriate for the situation

hallucination

false perception involving seeing, hearing, smelling, feeling, or tasting something that is not there

harmful drinking

a destructive pattern of alcohol consumption that causes adverse physical, psychological, and social effects

hazardous drinking

the excessive or dangerous intake of alcohol, which leads to considerable impairment in physical and mental health

homicidal ideation

threats or acts of life-threatening harm toward another person

inappropriate affect

emotional expression that is not appropriate for the situation

interpersonal violence

the intentional use of physical, sexual, or emotional force against another person

intimate partner violence

violence or abuse by a current or former spouse or dating partner

intoxication

inebriation caused by the consumption of alcohol or other psychoactive substances, resulting in behavioral and physiological changes

judgment

an individual's ability to recognize relationships, draw conclusions from evidence, and evaluate people and situations

labile affect

the expression of varying and suddenly shifting emotions

mandatory reporter

a healthcare professional who witnesses abuse or knows of an abusive situation involving children, older adults, people with disabilities, or anyone experiencing sexual abuse; they must report the abuse or suspected abuse to the authorities

mental status examination

an assessment of a patient’s level of consciousness and orientation, appearance and general behavior, speech, motor activity, affect and mood, thought and perception, attitude and insight, and cognitive abilities

moderate alcohol use

the consumption of alcoholic beverages per recommended guidelines, typically no more than two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women

mood

short-lived emotional state

mood congruence

consistency between the patient’s emotional state and their affect

neglect

the failure to care for properly

pattern of abuse

recurrent and historical abuse

patterned injury

a form of physical abuse that leaves a patterned mark on someone

physical abuse

the cruel and violent treatment of another person, which can include any sort of physical harm

polypharmacy

the simultaneous use of multiple medications, which may increase the risk for interactions and side effects

psychological trauma

a person’s emotional response to a distressing experience

psychomotor agitation

a condition of purposeless, non-goal-directed activity

psychomotor retardation

the state of slow physical and mental activity, which may result in extended periods of slow speech, slowness in thinking, and slow physical movements

remote memory

distant past memories

restricted affect

the expression of reduced emotional expression and intensity

self-concept

a person’s evaluation of themselves, which encompasses physical and psychological attributes, abilities, and skills, contributing to their sense of identity

sexual violence

the act of forcing or manipulating someone into unwanted sexual activity without their consent

stalking

harassing someone with unwanted obsessive attention

subdued affect

the expression of minimal emotion, lack of spontaneity, withdrawal, and apathy

substance use disorder (SUD)

the misuse of drugs or alcohol, which can lead to severe physical and psychological consequences

suicidal ideation

thinking about suicide but not necessarily having the intention to act on that idea

sustained remission

a period during which a patient who had previously met all criteria for alcohol use disorder has not met the criteria for more than twelve months

tangential thinking

disorganized thought processes and a reduced ability to focus attention on the subject at hand

tearful affect

being quick to cry, vulnerable, easily overwhelmed

tolerance

a built-up resistance of the body to a medication