Depression and Anxiety Special Report
Depression and Anxiety Glossary
Johns Hopkins Health Alerts Depression and Anxiety Depression and Anxiety Glossary
Johns Hopkins Depression and Anxiety Glossary
Derived from The Johns Hopkins White Paper 2007: Depression and Anxiety
agoraphobia
Fear of being in public places.Alzheimer’s disease
A progressive neurological disease marked by deficits in cognition, especially in memory.antidepressant
A drug used to treat depression.atypical depression
A type of depression in which a person does not experience sadness or some of the other symptoms normally associated with the disorder.
behavioral therapy
A form of psychotherapy that involves training in social skills, problem solving, scheduling of activities, and self-control. The emphasis is on day-to-day improvements in behavior.benzodiazepines
A class of drugs used to relieve anxiety.beta-blockers
A class of drugs used to treat angina, high blood pressure, irregular heart rhythms, and migraine. Chronic use of these drugs may cause depression; they are sometimes used in combination with antidepressants or to treat performance anxiety.bipolar disorder
A mood disorder with episodes of both depression and mania; it is also known as manic depression.breakthrough depression
A depressive episode that occurs in someone with bipolar disorder or major depression who has been doing reasonably well with long-term treatment.cognition
Mental abilities such as memory, attention, learning, awareness, and judgment.cognitive therapy
A form of psychotherapy designed to reverse a person’s belief that exaggerated weaknesses and inadequacies doom him or her to failure.compulsion
Ritualistic, repetitive, and purposeful behavior that is performed according to certain rules or stereotypical patterns.crisis intervention
See interpersonal therapy.Cushing’s disease
A medical condition caused by an overproduction of the steroid hormone cortisol by the adrenal gland.deep brain stimulation (DBS)
A procedure in which an electrical stimulator (a pacemaker-like device) is implanted in the chest and programmed to send electrical impulses to a specific region of the brain. DBS is currently being tested for treating severe depression.dementia
Deterioration of cognitive abilities resulting from a brain disorder or other disease.depression
A mood disorder characterized by persistent low or sad mood, decreased or absent interest in almost all activities, loss of self-confidence, and a sense of worthlessness.diuretics
Drugs that increase urine output by increasing sodium loss in the urine. They can increase the risk of toxicity when taken with lithium.dopamine
A neurotransmitter; low levels are linked to depression and Parkinson’s disease.dopamine reuptake inhibitors
Antidepressant drugs that decrease the reabsorption of the neurotransmitter dopamine by the cell that released the dopamine.double depression
Dysthymia with recurrent episodes of major depression.dysthymia
A chronic disorder lasting two years or more, characterized by the presence of depressed mood for most of the day for more days than not. It may be intermittent, with periods of feeling normal, but relief lasts no more than two months. Symptoms are not severe enough to meet the criteria for major depression.electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
A series of sessions in which a controlled seizure is produced by attaching electrodes to the head and then sending brief electrical impulses through the skull into the brain. Used to treat depression and other psychiatric conditions when other treatments have failed or when immediate relief of symptoms is needed.
gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
A neurotransmitter that suppresses the action of nerve cells. Decreased activity of GABA may contribute to anxiety disorders.generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
A condition characterized by persistent, excessive anxiety and worry.glutamate
A neurotransmitter that stimulates nerve cells. High glutamate levels in the brain may contribute to depression.group therapy
A form of psychotherapy in which people meet under the guidance of a therapist to share feelings, experiences, and solutions in a supportive environment.Huntington’s disease
A disease of the central nervous system characterized by jerky movements, personality changes, and dementia.hyperthyroidism
The condition of having an overactive thyroid gland. When untreated, it can trigger symptoms of a mood disorder.hypomania
Episodes of mild manic symptoms.hypothalamus
A part of the brain located within the limbic system that regulates the pituitary gland and may be involved in hormonal imbalances sometimes associated with depression.hypothyroidism
The condition of having an underactive thyroid gland. When untreated, it can trigger symptoms of a mood disorder.Posted in Depression and Anxiety on April 14, 2007
