Glossary extracted starting with manual seeds, with BOW for the domain psy and language EN

2 testA nonparametric test of statistical significance used to compare the distribution of categorical outcomes in two or more groups, the null hypothesis of which is that the underlying distributions are identical.
velocardiofacial syndromeA genetic disorder which can present with a wide range of phenotypic manifestations which has lead to a number of different names being assigned to the various presentations e.g
psychodramaA form of dramatherapy in which participants have an opportunity to explore, through enactment in a group, problems and issues in their lives
activity schedulingA cognitive behavioural technique in which clients are encouraged to plan and monitor their daily activities
discriminant analysisA statistical technique, similar to logistic regression analysis, that identifies variables that are associated with the presence or absence of a particular categorical (nominal) outcome.
frailtyA diminished capacity to withstand stress that places individuals at risk for adverse health outcomes
analgesiaA state in which painful stimuli are moderated such that, although still perceived, they are no longer painful; insensibility to pain.
cultural destructivenesspractices or actions through which an individual shows that he or she regards other cultures as inferior to the dominant culture, through cultural incapacity and blindness to more positive attitudes and greater levels of skill.
marijuanathe Indian hemp plant cannabis sativa; also called “pot” and “weed.” The dried leaves and flowering tops can be smoked or prepared in a tea or food
do-not-resuscitate–do-not-intubate orderA legal document that states that resuscitation should not be attempted if a person experiences a cardiac or respiratory arrest and includes the specific clarification that the person should not be intubated, although in some hospitals a DNR order alone implies no intubation.
cancer-related fatigueA distressing persistent, subjective sense of tiredness or exhaustion related to cancer or cancer treatment that is not proportional to recent activity and that interferes with usual functioning.
contingency managementan approach to treatment that maintains that the form or frequency of behavior can be altered through a planned and organized system of positive and negative consequences
comorbidityThe presence of more than one form of severe psychological distress in an individual at the same time
intensive care unitMedical facility with the services and devices to meet the needs of the critically ill.
researchA systematic process of inquiry that leads to the development of new knowledge
lateral ventriclesNaturally occurring cavities in the brain filled with cerebrospinal fluid
amphetaminesA group of chemicals that stimulate dopamine release in the central nervous system; often misused by adults and adolescents to control normal fatigue and to induce euphoria
cultural meaning systemcultural constructionist - Philosophical view that adult human experiences depend upon cultural schemas that mediate between sensory stimuli and experience
anxietyrestlessness, inability to concentrate, and worry occurring more days than not for period of at least six months.
anchorAn independent standard that is itself interpretable and at least moderately correlated with the instrument being explored
psychosocialinvolving a person's psychological well-being, as well as housing, employment, family, and other social aspects of life circumstances.
nremnon-REM or non-rapid-eye-movement sleep is a primary part of the sleep cycle
surrogate outcomes or endpointsOutcomes that are not in themselves important to patients but are associated with outcomes that are important to patients (eg, bone density for fracture, cholesterol for myocardial infarction, and blood pressure for stroke)
dichotomous outcomeA categorical variable that can take one of two discrete values rather than an incremental value on a continuum (eg, pregnant or not pregnant, dead or alive).
member checkingIn qualitative research, this involves sharing draft study findings with the participants to inquire whether their viewpoints were faithfully interpreted and to ascertain whether the account makes sense to participants with different perspectives.
law of multiplicative probabilitiesThe law of multiplicative probabilities for independent events (in which one event in no way influences the other) tells us that the probability of 10 consecutive heads in 10 coin flips can be found by multiplying the probability of a single head (1/2) 10 times over; that is, 1/2 × 1/2 × 1/2, and so on.
pineal glanda small almond-shaped gland in the brain responsible for hormone production; melatonin is produced in the pineal gland.
transference interpretationsInterpretations that help the patient to understand the link between their interactions with the therapist and the interactions they experience with others
cultural schemascognitive schemas - Learned structures of cognition used by an individual to make sense of and construct to some extent his or her subjective experience of the world.
phi statisticA measure of chance-independent agreement calculated by the following formula: [square root of (OR – 1)]/[square root of (OR + 1)].
exclusion criteriaThe characteristics that render potential subjects ineligible to participate in a particular study or that render studies ineligible for inclusion in a systematic review.
dominantDescribes any trait that is expressed in a heterozygote, ie, one copy of that allele is sufficient to manifest its effect.
tai chiAn exercise consisting of slow, rhythmic movements that emphasize trunk rotation, weight shifting, coordination, and gradual narrowing of lower extremity stance.
provider adherenceExtent that health care providers carry out the host of diagnostic tests, monitoring equipment, interventional requirements, and other technical specifications that define optimal patient management.
auditory hallucinationsPsychotic disturbance in perception in which a person hears sounds or voices although these are not real or actually present
five wishesAn advance care directive created by the nonprofit organization Aging with Dignity, Five Wishes is written in patient-friendly language
family therapyA set of therapeutic practices which focus on 'treating' the family rather than any one specific individual
hypoxemiaDeficient oxygenation of the blood.
brudzinski signMeningeal inflammation and irritation that elicits a protective reflex to prevent stretching of the inflamed and hypersensitive nerve roots, which is detectable clinically as neck stiffness or Kernig or Brudzinski signs
anniversary reactionAn emotional response to a previous event occurring at the same time of year
alzheimer diseaseA degenerative brain disease of unknown cause that results in progressive memory loss, impaired thinking, disorientation, and changes in personality and mood and that leads to a profound decline in cognitive and physical functioning
recursive partitioning analysisA technique for determining the optimal way of using a set of predictor variables to estimate the likelihood of an individual experiencing a particular outcome
absolute riskThe risk of an event (eg, if 10 of 100 patients have an event, the absolute risk is 10% expressed as a percentage, or 0.10 expressed as a proportion).
apneaa breathing “event” typically associated with a lapse in breathing, in sleep disorders an apnea is commonly associated with obstructive airway problems.
dose-response gradientExists when the risk of an outcome changes in the anticipated direction as the quantity or the duration of exposure to the putative harmful or beneficial agent increases.
up-front costsCosts incurred to "produce" the treatment such as the physician's time, nurse's time, and materials.
mortalityMeasure of rate of death.
base caseIn an economic evaluation, the base case is the best estimates of each of the key variables that bear on the costs and effects of the alternative management strategies.
meta-analysisA statistical technique for quantitatively combining the results of multiple studies that measure the same outcome into a single pooled or summary estimate.
randomizationAllocation of individuals to groups by chance, usually done with the aid of a table of random numbers
peak expiratory flow rateAlso known as peak flow value; A measurement of the maximum speed with which a person can blow air out of their lungs
trigger ordersOrders in response to which the computer decision support system (CDSS) would initiate action.
stigmaAn object, idea, or label associated with disgrace or reproach.
tourette syndromeA neurological disorder involving vocal and movement tics where where uncontrollable movements or verbal utterances are made.
catatonic immobilityDisturbance of motor behavior in which the person remains motionless, sometimes in an awkward posture, for extended periods.
clinical prediction rulesA guide for practice that is generated by initially examining, and ultimately combining, a number of variables to predict the likelihood of a current diagnosis or a future event
cost-to-charge ratioWhere there is a systematic deviation between costs and charges, an economic analysis may adjust charges using a cost-to-charge ratio to approximate real costs.
dissociative identity disorderA neurotic mental disorder where a person's field of consciousness is limited in order to fulfill an unconscious goal
hepatitisan inflammation of the liver, with accompanying liver cell damage and risk of death
cognitive-behavioural therapyA range of techniques and therapies that try to produce change by directly influencing thinking, behaviour or both
brachytherapyA type of radiotherapy in which the source of radiation is placed (or implanted) in or close to the area being treated.
outcome variableThe target variable of interest
eating disorderMarked disturbance in eating behavior
pneumoniaAn inflammation of the lungs from an infection
gastrostomyA surgical opening into the stomach, usually created to enable liquid artificial nutrition via a percutaneous tube, frequently referred to as tube feedings
parasomniaDisorder of arousal, partial arousal, or sleep stage transition such as sleepwalking
codependencyA popular term referring to all the effects that people who are dependent on alcohol or other substances have on those around them, including the attempts of those people to affect the dependent person
oddsThe ratio of events to non-events; the ratio of the number of study participants experiencing the outcome of interest to the number of study participants not experiencing the outcome of interest.
personal bestThe highest peak flow measurement you can reach consistently when your asthma is under control
neuropathic painA type of pain that is caused by damage to or dysfunction of the nervous system
hoyne signIn patients with severe meningeal irritation, the patient may spontaneously assume the tripod position (also called Amoss sign or Hoyne sign), sitting on the edge of the bed with the knees and hips flexed, the back arched lordotically, the neck extended, and the arms brought back to support the thorax.
neural networkThe application of nonlinear statistics to pattern-recognition problems
fatigueWeariness or exhaustion leading to reduced ability to perform physical or psychological tasks.
critical reflectionReflection itself is a natural human process by which one thinks about and judges some object or event
major depressive episodemodels - General theories which explain a large part of the field of inquiry within a scientific discipline.
median survivalLength of time that one-half of the study population survives.
interrater reliabilityThe extent to which a rater is able to consistently differentiate participants with higher and lower values of an underlying trait on repeated ratings over time (typically measured with an intraclass correlation).
kartagener syndromeA rare genetic disorder characterized by enlarged bronchial tubes, sinusitis and cross-positioning of body organs.
problem-solving therapyA behavioural therapeutic programme in which clients are taught a set of skills that can be used to effectively address problems and difficulties
uppersslang term used to describe drugs that have a stimulating effect on the central nervous system
symptomAny phenomenon or departure from the normal in function, appearance, or sensation reported by the patient and suggestive or indicative of disease
conscious sedationAdministering sedatives with or without analgesics to induce a mildly sedated state (“twilight sleep”) that allows the patient to tolerate unpleasant procedures while avoiding the need for intubation and mechanical ventilation.
screeninga formal process of testing to determine whether a client warrants further attention at the current time for a particular disorder and, in this context, the possibility of a co-occurring substance or mental disorder
theoretical saturationThe point at which iterations among data collection, analysis, and theory development yield a well-developed concept, and further observations yield minimal or no new information to further challenge or elaborate the concept
reliabilityReliability is used as a technical statistical term that refers to a measurement instrument's ability to differentiate between subjects, patients, or participants in some underlying trait
assertive community treatmenta form of treatment that typically employs intensive outreach activities, continuous 24-hour responsibility for client's welfare, active and continued engagement with clients, a high intensity of services, as well as the provision of services by multidisciplinary teams
-maniaFormerly used as a nonspecific term for any type of “madness.” Currently used as a suffix to indicate a morbid preoccupation with some kind of idea or activity, and/or a compulsive need to behave in some deviant way
phase delayA shift of sleep or wake to a later time of the 24-hour sleep-wake cycle
adaptationFitting one’s behavior to meet the needs of one’s environment, which often involves a modification of impulses, emotions, or attitudes.
abcd frameworkDignity-conserving care has been described within an ABCD framework: A for attitude, underscoring the importance of care provider perception and the extent to which this can provide the patient a sense of affirmation and continued worth; B for behavior, denotes the various mannerisms and approaches that convey respect and acknowledgment of the patient’s personhood; C for compassion, predicated on an awareness of the patient as a person; and D for dialogue, underscores the importance of conversations that are able to acknowledge issues of personhood
cardiopulmonary resuscitationAn emergency procedure that attempts to to restore normal breathing and/or circulation after respiratory and/or cardiac arrest
mindfulness meditationA process of developing careful attention to minute shifts in body, mind, emotions, and environs while holding a kind, nonjudgmental attitude toward self and others.
explodeWhen searching MEDLINE, the "explode" command identifies all articles that have been indexed using a given MeSH term as well as articles indexed using more specific terms.
ribosomeThe protein synthesis machinery of a cell where messenger RNA translation occurs.
index dateThe date of an important event that marks the beginning of monitoring patients for the occurrence of the outcome of interest.
relative benefit increaseThe proportional increase in rates of good outcomes between experimental and control participants
arthralgiaJoint pain.
differential verification biasWhen test results influence the choice of the reference standard (eg, test-positive patients undergo an invasive test to establish the diagnosis, whereas test-negative patients undergo long-term follow-up without application of the invasive test), the assessment of test properties may be biased
internal validityWhether a study provides valid results depends on whether it was designed and conducted well enough that the study findings accurately represent the direction and magnitude of the underlying true effect (ie, studies that have higher internal validity have a lower likelihood of bias/systematic error).
desire, the suitability of the screen as the projection-site for the inner workings of the psyche, had been discussed by earlier theorists in the 1920s and 1930s—as had the similitude between the mechanisms of dreams and the unconscious to those of film
intermittent claudicationReproducible leg pain of vascular etiology that occurs with exercise, does not occur at rest, and is relieved within 10 minutes of rest.
quantitative researchThe investigation of phenomena that lend themselves to test well-specified hypotheses through precise measurement and quantification of predetermined variables that yield numbers suitable for statistical analysis.
determinants of outcomeThe causal factors that most strongly determine whether or not a target event will occur.
abstinenceForegoing some kind of gratification; in the area of alcohol or drug dependence, being without the substance on which the subject had been dependent.
art therapyA form of psychotherapeutic practice that use such media as paintings, drawing, crayons and clay for therapeutic purposes
schamroth signNormal fingers create a diamond-shaped window when the dorsal surfaces of the terminal phalanges of similar fingers are opposed
protease inhibitorprotease is an enzyme used by the HIV to process new copies of the virus after it has reproduced
background questionsThese clinical questions are about physiology, pathology, epidemiology, and general management and are often asked by clinicians in training
probabilityQuantitative estimate of the likelihood of a condition existing (as in diagnosis) or of subsequent events (such as in an intervention study)
standard deviationA measure of the spread of a set of data, larger standard deviations meaning that the scores are more dispersed
body imageA person’s perception of his/her physical body.
debriefingA single session early intervention in which traumatised individuals are encouraged to emotionally process their experience through recollection or reworking of the traumatic event
percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomyA procedure in which a tube is placed through the skin and subcutaneous tissue into a patient’s stomach as a means of providing liquid artificial nutrition to the patient when he/she is unable to eat.
dynamic modelAn illustrative structure to help one understand a complex reality; for example, a plastic model illustrating the molecular structure of a unit of matter
cardiac cachexiaNonintentional, nonedema weight loss of 7.5% of previous normal weight over a period of 6 months in patients with congestive heart failure or other heart disease.
evidence-based practiceThe conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients
attention deficit/hyperactivity disordera persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that is more frequently displayed and more serious than is typically observed in individuals at a comparable level of development.
cohortA group of persons with a common characteristic or set of characteristics
health profileA type of data collection tool, intended for use in the entire population (including the healthy, the very sick, and patients with any sort of health problem) that attempts to measure all important aspects of health-related quality of life (HRQL)
predictive valueTwo categories: Positive predictive value—the proportion of people with a positive test result who have the disease; negative predictive value—the proportion of people with a negative test result and who are free of disease.
relapse preventionTherapeutic programmes incorporating a range of behavioural and cognitive strategies to try and help clients refrain from relapsing into problematic patterns of behaving, thinking or feeling
cultural diversityVariety of human cultures in a specific setting or region or in the world as a whole.
identity crisisA loss of the sense of the sameness and historical continuity of one’s self and an inability to accept or adopt the role one perceives as being expected by society
squeeze techniqueA technique commonly employed for premature ejaculation, in which pressure is applied to the penis to retard ejaculation
remrapid-eye-movement is that stage of sleep characterized by brain activity and dreaming; light sleep level.
pressure triggerInitiation of inspiration when the patient's inspiratory effort exceeds the pressure sensitivity (threshold)
pulmonary edemaAbnormal accumulation of fluid in the lungs.
anxiety disordersA group of psychological difficulties characterised by persistent feelings of apprehension, tension or uneasiness, which disrupt daily functioning
efficacyThe potential to bring about a desired effect
psychological mindednessA person's ability to understand people and their problems in psychological terms
screening toolsInstruments and techniques (questionnaires, check lists, self-assessment forms) used to evaluate individuals for increased risk of certain health problems.
peak inspiratory pressureThe greatest airway pressure during an inspiratory cycle no matter what the breath type; The pressure is measured at the exhalation valve and the new data displayed at the beginning of exhalation
p-valueThe probability that a particular difference between groups has come about by chance
homans signThe development of pain in the calf or popliteal region on forceful and abrupt dorsiflexion of the ankle while the knee is flexed.
risk aversionPeople are said to be risk averse if they would accept a fixed outcome with certainty rather than a lottery with a higher expected value
infectiousable to spread by an agent such as a virus or bacterium.
associative splittingSeparation among basic functions of human personality (for example, cognition, emotion, and perception) seen by some as the defining characteristic of schizophrenia.
likert scalesScales, typically with three to nine possible values, that include extremes of attitudes or feelings (eg, from totally disagree to totally agree) that respondents mark to indicate their rating
sign testA nonparametric test for comparing two paired groups based on the relative ranking of values between the pairs.
empathyInsightful awareness, including the meaning and significance of the feelings, emotions, and behavior of another person
algorithmAn explicit description of an ordered sequence of steps with branching logic that can be applied under specific clinical circumstances
paraphernaliaa broad term that describes objects used during the chemical preparation or use of drugs
predilectionClients' beliefs about the origins of their distress and what they expect will be helpful to them
convenience sampleIndividuals or groups selected at the convenience of the investigator or primarily because they were available at a convenient time or place.
tracheoesophageal speechAn alternate method for speech production without oscillation of the vocal folds in patients who have had total laryngectomy for cancer
component studyStudies which look at the efficacy of particular aspects of therapeutic practice: 'additive' designs look at the effect of adding a particular practice, while 'dismantling' designs look at the effect of taking away a particular practice
peak flow meterA simple, hand-held device that measures maximum expiratory breathing effort, or peak flow value
acculturation difficultyA problem in adapting to or finding an appropriate way to adapt to a different culture or environment
comorbidityDisease(s) or conditions that coexist(s) in study participants in addition to the index condition that is the subject of the study.
uicc-tnmThe UICC-TNM (UICC referring to Union Internationale Contre le Cancer and TNM referring to tumor, node, metastases) system describes the extent of cancer in a patient’s body by the size of the tumor, lymph nodes involved, and presence of any metastasis.
pain crisisAn event in which the patient reports severe, uncontrolled pain that causes the patient, family, or both severe distress
hemodialysisA method for filtering blood to remove waste products such as creatinine and urea, as well as free water, when the kidneys have failed.
electrical alternansChanges in the amplitude or morphology of the P, QRS, and ST-T waves from one beat to the next, resulting from cardiac oscillation within the pericardial fluid.
follow-upThe investigators are aware of the outcome in every patient who participated in a study.
kappa statisticA measure of the extent to which observers achieve agreement beyond the level expected to occur by chance alone
reviewA general term for all attempts to obtain and synthesize the results and conclusions of two or more publications on a given topic.
erythema migransA red rash that expands over time and that occurs at the site of a tick bite
integrated competenciesthe possession of specific attitudes, values, knowledge, and skills required to provide appropriate services to individuals with COD in the context of their actual job and program setting.
parenchymaThe essential tissue of an organ or an abnormal growth as distinguished from its supportive framework.
specific phobias(Aka 'simple phobias') A group of anxiety disorders characterised by an excessive fear of specific objects or situations, such as chickens
pressure control ventilationEquivalent to time-triggered, pressure-limited, and time cycled ventilation
resistanceClient behaviour that exhibits a reluctance to participate in the tasks of therapy
chi-square testA nonparametric test of statistical significance used to compare the distribution of categorical outcomes in two or more groups, the null hypothesis of which is that the underlying distributions are identical.
adjusted analysisAn adjusted analysis takes into account differences in prognostic factors (or baseline characteristics) between groups that may influence the outcome
meanThe mathematic average of a set of scores, calculated by summing the scores and dividing by the number of scores
pervasive developmental disordersGroup of developmental disorders often recognized before 3 years of age.
plasmodium knowlesiA species of Plasmodium and an emerging human pathogen only documented in Southeast Asia.
correlation coefficientA numerical expression of the magnitude and direction of the relationship between two variables, which can take values from –1.0 (perfect negative relationship) to 0 (no relationship) to 1.0 (perfect positive relationship).
likelihood functionsFunctions constructed from a statistical model and a set of observed data that give the probability of that data for various values of the unknown model parameters
schizotypal personality disorderCluster A (odd or eccentric) personality disorder involving a pervasive pattern of interpersonal deficits featuring acute discomfort with, and reduced capacity for, close relationships, as well as cognitive or perceptual distortions and eccentricities of behavior.
stigmaa negative association attached to some activity or condition
interpretationsTherapist statements which go beyond what the client has overtly recognized to suggest new understandings of experiences
alliance ruptureA tension or breakdown in the collaborative relationship between client and therapist
gender identity disorderOne of the major groups of sexual and gender identity disorders, characterized by a strong and persistent identification with the opposite sex (cross-gender identification) and discomfort with one’s assigned sex or a sense of inappropriateness in that gender role
plasmodium ovaleA species of Plasmodium with widespread but focal geographic distribution
spinal cord compressionA condition that develops when the spinal cord is compressed and constricted by bone fragments from a vertebral fracture, a tumor, abscess, ruptured intervertebral disk, or other lesion.
substance abusea maladaptive pattern of substance use manifested by recurrent and significant adverse consequences related to the repeated use of substances
pyelonephritisBacterial or fungal invasion of the kidney causing tubular cell necrosis and inflammation of both the parenchyma and the lining of its renal pelvis
confrontationa form of interpersonal exchange in which individuals present to each other their observations of, and reactions to, behaviors and attitudes that are matters of concern and should be changed
melatonina chemical manufactured in the brain's pineal gland and stimulated by cues in changes in the natural light
crackcocaine (cocaine hydrochloride) that has been chemically modified so that it will become a gas vapor when heated at relatively low temperatures
baseline riskThe proportion or percentage of study participants in the control group in whom an adverse outcome is observed
chemoreceptor trigger zoneFunctionally outside the blood-brain barrier, the chemoreceptor trigger zone is exposed to toxins in the bloodstream and cerebrospinal fluid that can stimulate vomiting.
asperger’s disorderA disorder of development characterized by gross and sustained impairment in social interaction and restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities occurring in the context of preserved cognitive and language development.
investigator triangulationInvestigator triangulation requires more than one investigator to collect and analyze the raw data, such that the findings emerge through consensus among a team of investigators
feedbackInformation provided to a person, from an external source, about the person's behaviour or the effects of that behaviour
feministfilm theory, the 'natural' assumption, implicit in those first writings, that the masculine was the place from which the spectator looks and the 'natural' acceptance that each viewing was an unproblematic re-enactment of the
null resultA nonsignificant result; no statistically significant difference between groups.
efficiencyTechnical efficiency is the relationship between inputs (costs) and outputs (in health, quality-adjusted life-years [QALYs])
groundingthe use of strategies that soothe and distract the client who is experiencing intense pain or other strong emotions, helping the client anchor in the present and in reality
hallucinationA sensory perception in the absence of an actual external stimulus; to be distinguished from an illusion, which is a misperception or misinterpretation of an external stimulus
antisocial behaviorConduct indicating indifference to another’s person or property; criminal behavior, dishonesty, or abuse are examples
tension-type headacheA headache marked by mild to moderate pain of variable duration that affects both sides of the head
blockingA sudden obstruction or interruption in spontaneous flow of thinking or speaking, perceived as an absence or deprivation of thought.
affectBehavior that expresses a subjectively experienced feeling state (emotion); affect is responsive to changing emotional states, whereas mood refers to a pervasive and sustained emotion
osler signWhile feeling the radial pulse, occlude the brachial artery by cuff inflation or by direct pressure using the other thumb
heterozygousAn individual is heterozygous at a gene location if he or she has 2 different alleles (one on the maternal chromosome and one on the paternal) at that location.
follow-upThe extent to which investigators are aware of the outcome in every patient who participated in a study.
burnoutA stress reaction developing in persons working in an area of unrelenting occupational demands
liver transplantationThe surgical replacement of a patient’s diseased liver with a donor’s healthy liver, followed by systemic immunosuppression to prevent rejection of the allograft
palliative sedation to unconsciousnessThe goal of this form of sedation is to cause unconsciousness without the intent of shortening the patient’s life
comfort care suiteHospital room with a more homelike environment and hospice-type protocol orders
standard errorThe standard deviation of an estimate of a population parameter
bondingThe unity of two people whose identities are significantly affected by their mutual interactions
psychodynamic therapyA family of psychological therapies which aim to help clients develop a greater awareness and understanding of the unconscious forces determining their thoughts, feelings and behaviours
quality assuranceAny procedure, method, or philosophy for collecting, processing, or analyzing data that is aimed at maintaining or improving the appropriateness of health care services.
mediating variableA factor that accounts for the relationship between two variables
informed refusalWhen a patient refuses to be included in the discussions or decision making for his/her end-of-life care and designates someone else to be given this responsibility.
significant differencesA meaningful and important difference between two or more groups that is unlikely to be due to chance variations
linear regressionThe term used for a regression analysis when the dependent or target variable is a continuous variable, and the relationship between the dependent and independent variables is thought to be linear.
ethnic groupsGroups of people classified according to common racial, national, tribal, religious, linguistic, or cultural origin or background.
noninvasive positive pressure ventilationA type of ventilatory support that does not require mechanical intubation and can improve exercise tolerance and quality of life when combined with physical training in selected patients with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and neuromuscular disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
abnormalityIn psychological terms, any mental, emotional, or behavioral activity that deviates from culturally or scientifically accepted norms.
comprehensive suicide prevention plansPlans that use a multi-faceted approach to addressing the problem.  For example, including interventions targeting biopsychosocial, social and environmental factors.
cirrhosisWidespread disruption of normal liver structure by fibrosis and the formation of regenerative nodules that is caused by various chronic progressive conditions affecting the liver (such as long-term alcohol abuse or hepatitis).
anorexia nervosaa disorder in which the individual refuses to maintain a minimal normal body weight, is intensely afraid of gaining weight, and exhibits a significant disturbance in the perception of the shape or size of his or her body.
serotonina neurotransmitter responsible for stimulating a wide range of body functions, including mood.
polysomnograma diagnostic test used in sleep labs; measures a variety of physical and neuro activities, including heart rate, blood pressure, brain activity, breathing, eye movement and more.
cognitive therapyA range of therapeutic practices that try to produce change by directly influencing thinking
standardsAuthoritative statements of minimal levels of acceptable performance or results, excellent levels of performance or results, or the range of acceptable performance or results.
panic attacksparadigm - The highest, most general level in a hierarchy of scientific intellectual structures
solution focused brief therapyA contemporary therapeutic approach that uses a range of strategies to help clients focus on strengths and solutions rather than problems
brain deathThe irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain, including the brainstem.
trichotillomaniaPathological hair pulling that results in noticeable hair loss
cognitive analytic therapyA brief psychotherapy developed by Anthony Ryle, which integrates a range of cognitive and analytical concepts and practices to help clients understand maladaptive patterns and their origins, and develop alternative strategies for living
substance dependencea maladaptive pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, as manifested by a need for increasing amounts of the substance to achieve intoxication, markedly diminished effect of the substance with continued use, the need to continue to take the substance in order to avoid withdrawal symptoms, and other serious behavioral effects, occurring at any time in the same 12-month period.
residual confoundingUnknown, unmeasured, or suboptimally measured prognostic factors that remain unbalanced between groups after full covariable adjustment by statistical techniques
independent associationWhen a variable is associated with an outcome after adjusting for multiple other potential prognostic factors (often after regression analysis), the association is an independent association.
vaginismusA psychological problem in which the muscles around the vagina tighten involuntarily
cognitiveRefers to the mental process of comprehension, judgment, memory, and reasoning, in contrast to emotional and volitional processes
correlationThe degree of association between two variables, ranging from 1 (total positive association) to -1 (total negative association), with 0 indicating no relationship between the two variables
imminent riskA situation in which there is believed to be a close temporal connection between an individual's current risk status and actions that could lead to his or her suicide.
data-dredgingSearching a data set for differences between groups on particular outcomes, or in subgroups of patients, without explicit a priori hypotheses.
dance movement therapyA form of psychotherapeutic practice based around the use of movement and dance
normal scienceparadigm shift - At least a partial reconstruction of a scientific discipline that can include alterations in basic theoretical generalizations and methods of research.
effect sizeA measure of the strength of relationship between two variables (for the purposes of this book, used synonymously with Cohen's d)
sleep hygienea therapy devoted to remodeling the sleep and bedtime behaviors and habits in order to appeal to more restful sleep; examples include routine bedtime, elimination of dietary stimulants, improvement in exercise and diet, improvement in sleep environment, etc.
utilization reviewAn organized procedure carried out through committees to review admissions, duration of stay, and professional services provided, and to evaluate the necessity of those services and promote their most efficient use.
headachePain in the head; also called cephalalgia.
pulmonary edemaThe leakage of fluid from the capillaries into the alveoli as a result of increased pressure inside the capillaries or a leaky capillary wall
cue exposureA form of behavioural therapy for substance use problems, in which clients are exposed to stimuli associated with the problematic behaviour (for instance, a syringe or a wine glass) until the desire to use subsides
token economySocial learning behavior modification system in which individuals earn items they can exchange for desired rewards by displaying appropriate behaviors.
control groupA group of individuals with characteristics similar to those in the 'experimental group', but who do not participate in the procedure being tested
proportional assist ventilationA mode of ventilatory support in which the level of mechanical assistance varies with patient demand
expressed emotionHostility, criticism, and overinvolvement demonstrated by some families toward a family member with a psychological disorder
sequential testsTests conducted in sequence, rather than simultaneously.
therapeutic techniqueA well-defined procedure implemented to accomplish a particular task or goal
countertransferenceThe therapist’s emotional reactions to the patient that are based on the therapist’s unconscious needs and conflicts, as distinguished from his or her conscious responses to the patient’s behavior
tachycardiaA heart rate that is faster than the normal range of a resting heart rate (typically 60-100 beats per minute)
double effectThe traditional justification for proportionate palliative sedation is the doctrine of double effect, which draws a moral distinction between what a person intends in taking an action (eg, in administering an opioid) and what is accepted as a possibly foreseen but unintended adverse effect related to that action (eg, dose-related slowing of respirations).
neutrophilsThe most abundant type of white blood cells
quality of careThe extent to which health care meets technical and humanistic standards of optimal care.
pooled estimateEstimate based on combining data from 2 or more samples.
empiricalBased on concrete experiences or observations, as opposed to purely theoretical conjecture: not to be confused with 'empiricism', a branch of philosophy that considers experiences or observations as the only true source of knowledge
tinel signParesthesias in the distribution of the median nerve when the clinician taps on the distal wrist crease over the median nerve.
meta-synthesisA procedure for combining qualitative research on a specific topic in which researchers compare and analyze the texts of individual studies and develop new interpretations.
surveyObservational study that focuses on obtaining information about activities, beliefs, preferences, knowledge, or attitudes from respondents through interviewer-administered or self-administered methods.
clinical competenceA clinician's knowledge of a procedure, disease, or condition.
mood swingFluctuation of a person’s emotional tone between periods of elation and periods of depression.
alcohol dependenceDependence on alcohol characterized by either tolerance to the agent or development of withdrawal phenomena on cessation of, or reduction in, intake
point estimateThe single value that best represents the value of the population parameter.
survival analysisA statistical procedure used to compare the proportion of patients in each group who experience an outcome or endpoint at various time intervals over the duration of the study (eg, death).
self-awarenessA combination of self-knowledge and self-empathy and the development of dual-awareness, a stance that permits the clinician to simultaneously attend to and monitor the needs of the patient, the work environment, and his/her own subjective experience.
palliative chemotherapyChemotherapy administered without curative intent, with the goal of decreasing tumor load and possibly increasing life expectancy.
beck triadThe classic findings of tamponade as described in 1935 by thoracic surgeon Claude Schaeffer Beck are characterized by decreasing arterial blood pressure, increasing jugular venous pressure, and a small, quiet heart.
locus/lociThe site(s) on a chromosome at which the gene for a particular trait is located or on a gene at which a particular SNP is located.
calman gapThe gap between the patient’s hopes and expectations and what the patient actually experiences.
malariaA clinical syndrome that results from a parasitic infection of the blood caused by any of 5 Plasmodium species: falciparum, vivax, ovale, malariae, and knowlesi.
romberg testA proprioception test used as part of a neurologic examination
inverse rule of 3sA rough rule of thumb, called the inverse rule of 3s, tells us the following: If an event occurs, on average, once every x days, we need to observe 3x days to be 95% confident of observing at least one event.
bipolar disorderA category of mood disorders characterised by the presence of extremely elevated moods, often alternating with depressive episodes
programcurrently, substance abuse treatment programs use the Service Delivery Unit (SDU) as their program definition for the National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services
motivational interviewingA client-centred but semi-directive therapeutic style that works to enhance clients' intrinsic motivations to change
competencyan ability, capacity, skill, or set of skills.
informational redundancyIn qualitative research, the point in the analysis at which new data fail to generate new themes and new information
osteomyelitisInflammation of the bone that is almost always due to infection (bacterial or mycobacterial) and frequently associated with overlying soft tissue infections such as diabetic foot ulcers.
reflexivityIn qualitative research using field observation, whichever of the three approaches used, the observer will always have some effect on what is being observed, small or large
last actsA 10-year national communications and education campaign funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and aimed at improving how US patients, families, health care professionals, and institutions experience the death and dying process.
character disorderA personality disorder manifested by a chronic, habitual, maladaptive pattern of reaction that is relatively inflexible, limits the optimal use of potentialities, and often provokes the responses from the environment that the person wants to avoid
messenger rnaA ribonucleic acid-containing single-strand copy of a gene that migrates out of the cell nucleus to the ribosome, where it is translated into a protein.
substance withdrawalsubstance withdrawal - Condition characterized by negative cognitive, physiological, and behavioral changes that occur when bodily concentrations of a substance decline after cessation of prolonged use.
ventricular tachycardiaA serious rapid heart rate arrhythmia that originates in the ventricles.
habilitationinitial learning and the acquisition of skills necessary for everyday life.
mood disordersPsychological disorders in which there is a primary disturbance in mood (prolonged emotion that colors the individuals entire emotional state)
periodic breathingThree or more apneic pauses of 3 or more seconds (but less than 20 seconds) in duration within periods of normal respiration of 20 seconds or less
strokeA stroke occurs when the blood supply is unable to reach a part of the brain.
disabled personsPeople with impairments in body function or structure.
somatization disorderupregulation (of neurotransmitter systems) - The brain increasing the number of neurotransmitter receptors as well as increasing the avidity with which receptors seek the neurotransmitter
sensitivity analysisAny test of the stability of the conclusions of a health care evaluation over a range of probability estimates, value judgments, and assumptions about the structure of the decisions to be made
hospice careA facility or program designed to provide a caring environment for meeting the physical, psychological, spiritual, and social needs of the terminally ill and their loved ones.
dissociative disordersPsychological disorders that involve a sudden loss of memory or change in identity
randomGoverned by a formal chance process in which the occurrence of previous events is of no value in predicting future events
negative studiesStudies in which the authors have concluded that the comparison groups do not differ statistically in the variables of interest
orthotopic liver transplantationA type of transplantation in which the native liver is removed and the new liver is placed in the same anatomical location
psychoeducationA range of educational strategies used to inform people about their problems and how to overcome them
snowball samplingStudy participants nominate or refer other potential study participants who meet the study inclusion criteria.
aids-related opportunistic infectionsInfections due to pathogenic microbial agents that have the “opportunity” to develop in patients with compromised immune systems
survival curveA curve that starts at 100% of the study population and shows the percentage of the population still surviving (or free of disease or some other outcome) at successive times for as long as information is available.
practice improvement collaborativescommunity-based initiatives that link treatment providers, researchers, and policymakers in order to build a strong foundation to effect action.
polymorphismThe existence of 2 or more variants of a gene, occurring in a population, with at least 1% frequency of the less common variant
hardy-weinberg equilibriumA situation in which a defined population displays constant genotype frequencies from generation to generation, and those genotype frequencies can be calculated from the allele frequencies based on the HWE formula.
restless legs syndromeA neurological disorder where legs develop and crawling, aching skin sensation which is relived by moving the legs.
isoformVariant in the amino acid sequence of a protein.
post-traumatic stress disorderAn anxiety disorder that follows from the experiencing of a traumatic or highly stressful event, characterised by intrusive and distressing memories of the event, jumpiness, numbness, and attempts to avoid anything associated with memories of the event
intensity-modulated radiotherapyThe ability to vary the radiation dose administered during a treatment session so that higher radiation doses can be administered to the target, sparing normal spinal and paraspinal tissues.
psychologyThe science concerned with the individual behavior of humans, including mental and physiological processes related to behavior.
relapseA term drawn from the medical field, indicating a return to psychological ill-health following a period of improvement
stopping rulesThese are methodological and statistical guides that inform decisions to stop trials early
diseasepedophilia - Syndrome characterized by a person 16 years or older having recurrent sexual activity with a prepubescent child (legally this is generally 13 years or younger).
weighted kappaA measure of the extent to which observers achieve agreement beyond the level expected to occur by chance alone
cultural sensitivitythe capacity and willingness of a clinician or other service provider to be open to working with issues of culture and diversity.
focus groupA small group of individuals (typically gatherings of four to eight people with similar background or experience) who meet together and are asked questions by a moderator about a given topic.
pressure support ventilationPressure limited assist ventilation designed to augment a spontaneously generated breath; The patient has primary control over the frequency of the breathing, the inspiratory time, and the inspiratory flow
christian perfectionSee Evangelical Perfection, Life of the Counsels.
tarasoff decisionA California court decision that essentially imposes a duty on the therapist to warn the appropriate person or persons when the therapist becomes aware that the patient may present a risk of harm to a specific person or persons.
korotkoff soundsNoise heard over an artery when pressure over it is reduced below systolic arterial pressure, as when blood pressure is determined by the auscultatory method.
genetic markerA specific genetic variant known to be associated with a recognizable trait.
empathyUnderstanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another without having the feelings or thoughts.
dsm-ivDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition; the APA's major classification of psychological disorders
cheyne-stokes respirationsA rhythmic waxing and waning of both respiratory pattern rate and tidal volumes that includes regular periods of apnea
dignity-conserving repertoireThe dignity-conserving repertoire incorporates those aspects of patients’ psychological and spiritual landscape that influence their sense of dignity
open-ended questionsQuestions that offer no specific structure for the respondent's answers and allow the respondents to answer in their own words.
amoss signIn patients with severe meningeal irritation, the patient may spontaneously assume the tripod position (also called Amoss sign or Hoyne sign), sitting on the edge of the bed with the knees and hips flexed, the back arched lordotically, the neck extended, and the arms brought back to support the thorax.
screeningAdministration of an assessment tool to identify persons in need of more in-depth evaluation or treatment.
traube spaceTraube space is an anatomic region defined by the sixth rib superiorly, the anterior border of the spleen, and the costal margin inferiorly
bisexualityOriginally a concept of Freud, indicating a belief that components of both sexes could be found in each person
confidence intervalRange between two values within which it is probable that the true value lies for the whole population of patients from which the study patients were selected.
chromosomeSelf-replicating structures in the nucleus of a cell that carry the genetic information.
psychotropic medicationa drug that has an effect on the mind and sometimes affects behavior as well.
presbycusisSensorineural hearing loss related to aging caused by the degeneration of the hair cells in the organ of Corti.
akinesiaExtrapyramidal symptom involving slow motor activity, an expressionless face, and emotionless speech.
drug class effectsSimilar effects produced by most or all members of a class of drugs (eg, beta blockers, calcium antagonists, or angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors).
target conditionIn diagnostic test studies, the condition the investigators or clinicians are particularly interested in identifying (eg, tuberculosis, lung cancer, or iron-deficiency anemia).
aptitude-treatment interactionA phenomenon in which clients with particular qualities and characteristics do better in a particular form of therapy than others
dignity therapyIn dignity therapy, patients dying of any cause and thought to be within the last 6 months of life are asked to speak on tape about various aspects of life they would most want permanently recorded and ultimately remembered
process-experiential therapy(Aka emotion-focused therapy) A relatively new form of humanistic therapy, which incorporates a range of gestalt and related techniques into a person centred, relational foundation
audiometryA hearing test using individual tones of different frequencies (ranging from 250 to 8000 Hz) that are presented in a soundproof room at various intensities (ranging from 5 to 120 dB) to each ear.
hyperventilationOverbreathing sometimes associated with anxietyand marked by a reduction of blood carbon dioxide, producing complaints of light-headedness, faintness, tingling of the extremities, palpitations, and respiratory distress.
prognostic studyA study that enrolls patients at a point in time and follows them forward to determine the frequency and timing of subsequent events.
secular trendsChanges in the probability of events with time, independent of known predictors of outcome.
mental healthThe capacity of individuals to interact with one another and the environment in ways that promote subjective well-being, optimal development and use of mental abilities (cognitive, affective and relational).
treatment retentionkeeping clients involved in treatment activities and receiving required services.
transferenceThe process of transferring to and repeating early patterns of behaviour with present day partners
ankle-brachial indexThe ratio of the highest ankle systolic pressure divided by the highest brachial systolic pressure
cohen's dA commonly used effect size measure, indicating the amount of difference between two groups relative to 'background' variation: a d of .2 can be considered 'small', a d of .5 'medium,' and a d of .8 'large'
varianceThe technical term for the statistical estimate of the variability in results.
peak end expiratory pressureThe application of positive pressure to the airways and alveoli during expiration when the patient is breathing with a mechanical ventilator; Maintains a small amount of air in the lungs, preventing complete emptying on exhalation to avoid airway collapse
advance care planningThe process by which patients, together with their families and health care practitioners, consider their values and goals and articulate preferences for future care.
homozygousAn individual is homozygous at a gene location if he or she has 2 identical alleles at that location.
random sampleA sample derived by selecting sampling units (eg, individual patients) such that each unit has an independent and fixed (generally equal) chance of selection
enteral nutritionFeeding via the gastrointestinal tract for delivery of nutrients, using oral nutritional supplements, nasogastric or nasoduodenal feeding tubes, or tube enterostomies (via percutaneous gastrostomy or jejunostomy tubes)
catatonic schizophreniaA type of schizophrenia that is characterized by bizarre motor behavior, which sometimes takes the form of a completely immobile stupor
genotypeThe genetic constitution of an individual, either overall or at a specific gene.
radicular painUnilateral or bilateral radiating pain in the distribution of 1 or more dermatomes that is present irrespective of activity.
phenomenologykindling effect - Theoretical effect in the brain related to traumatic emotional stress in which an original traumatic life event such as an important loss or personal assault could have a longterm effect on neural pathways in the brain making the individual hypersensitive to subsequent stressful events.
absolute risk increaseThe absolute arithmetic difference in risk of harmful outcomes between experimental groups (experimental group risk, or EGR) and control groups (control group risk, or CGR), calculated as risk of harmful outcome in experimental group minus rate of harmful outcome in control group (EGR – CGR)
brief psychotherapyAny form of psycbotberapy whose end point is defined either in terms of the number of sessions (generally not more than 15) or in terms of specified objectives; usually goal-oriented, circumscribed, active, focused, and directed toward a specific problem or symptom.
music therapyA form of psychotherapy in which practitioners interact with their clients through a variety of musical media, such as music-making, singing and listening to music
whispered voice testA hearing test in which the examiner stands behind the patient and whispers 3 letters/numbers while gently using the end of his or her finger to occlude and rub the external auditory canal of the patient's nontested ear
sensate focus exercisesA series of exercises aimed to address sexual difficulties, which encourage partners to take turns paying attention to their own sensations
health literacyThe degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions.
overviewA type of review in which primary research relevant to a question is examined and summarized, and an effort is made to identify all available literature (published or unpublished) that pertains to that question.
chance-independent agreementThe proportion of possible agreement achieved that is independent of chance and unaffected by the distribution of ratings, as measured by the φ statistic.
utilitarianA consequentialist or utilitarian view of distributive justice would contend that even in individual decision making, the clinician should take a broad social view in which the action that would provide the greatest good to the greatest number is favored
plasmodium vivaxA species of Plasmodium endemic in tropical areas outside of sub-Saharan Africa and accounts for a large fraction of infections in Latin America and South and Southeast Asia
therapeutic allianceThe quality and the strength of the collaborative relationship between therapist and client
alleleOne of several variants of a gene, usually referring to a specific site within the gene.
phase iv studiesStudies conducted after the effectiveness of a drug has been established and the drug marketed, typically to establish the frequency of uncommon or unanticipated toxic effects.
generalizabilityThe degree to which the results of a study can be generalized to settings or samples other than the ones studied.
odds ratioA ratio of the odds of an event in an exposed group to the odds of the same event in a group that is not exposed.
chadwick signWhen the mucous membranes of the vulva, vagina, and cervix become congested and take on a bluish-violet hue.
confidentialityThe principle in medical ethics that the information a patient or client reveals to a health care provider is private and has limits on how and when it can be disclosed to a third party.
cage questionnairea brief alcoholism screening tool asking subjects about attempts to Cut down on drinking, Annoyance over others' criticism of the subject's drinking, Guilt related to drinking, and use of an alcoholic drink as an Eye opener.
ethnographyIn qualitative research, an approach to inquiry that focuses on the culture or subculture of a group of people to try to understand the world view of those under study.
clinically significant improvementMovement from within the range of scores for a clinical population to the range of scores for a non-clinical population
cerebral hemorrhageBleeding into the brain tissue from a ruptured blood vessel
burnoutA form of mental distress manifested in normal individuals by decreased work performance, resulting from negative attitudes and behaviors
type ii errorAn error created by accepting the null hypothesis when it is false (ie, investigators conclude that no relationship exists between variables when, in fact, a relationship does exist).
medical paroleThe procedure for securing a terminally ill inmate’s release from prison, also known as compassionate release.
vitreous detachmentPosterior vitreous detachment (PVD) involves separation of the posterior vitreous from the retina as a result of vitreous degeneration and shrinkage.
gaba receptora neurotransmitter in the brain (gamma-aminobutyric acid) that acts as gatekeeper for melatonin, as it relates to the natural sleep-wake cycle.
disruptive behavior disorderA disturbance of conduct severe enough to produce significant impairment in social, occupational, or academic functioning because of symptoms that range from oppositional defiant to moderate and severe conduct disturbances.
dialysisA medical procedure used in a patient with renal failure to remove wastes or toxins from the blood and to adjust fluid and electrolyte imbalances by using a semipermeable membrane.
therapeutic alliancea type of relationship between client and clinician in which both are working cooperatively toward the same goals, with mutual respect and understanding; also called “helping alliance.” The bond of trust formed between client and clinician during therapeutic work that makes healing possible.
transactional analysisA therapeutic orientation based around a number of specific psychological concepts developed by Eric Berne and colleagues in the mid-twentieth century, incorporating psychodynamic, humanistic and cognitive-behavioural elements
adjustmentOften transitory functional alteration or accommodation by which one can better adapt oneself to the immediate environment and to one’s inner self
plasmodium falciparumThe most virulent species of Plasmodium and is found worldwide
candidate gene studyA study that evaluates association of specific genetic variants with outcomes or traits of interest, selecting the variants to be tested according to explicit considerations (known or postulated biology or function, previous studies, etc).
narcoticsDrugs that in moderate doses dull the senses, relieve pain, and induce sleep but in excessive doses cause stupor, coma, or convulsions.
twelve step facilitationA brief, structured approach to facilitating recovery from substance use problems based on the principles of twelve step programs
countertransferenceTherapists' reactions to clients that are based on therapists' unresolved conflicts
intussusceptionThe enfolding of one segment of the intestine within another.
psychoanalysisA form of psychodynamic psychotherapy that adheres closely to Freud's original formulations, with two or more sessions per week and treatment duration of a year or more.
stomach neoplasmsAn abnormal mass of stomach tissue, including both benign gastric tumors (eg, MALTomas) and cancers.
transition programsVolunteer-driven services provided for both community-dwelling patients and residents of long-term care facilities
dramatherapyA psychotherapeutic practice that incorporates such media as performance, drama games and improvisational exercises
periodic limb movement disorderPLMS are characterized by leg movements or jerks which typically occur every 20 to 40 seconds during sleep, causing sleep to be disrupted and leaving the person with excessive daytime sleepiness; In most cases, the bed partner typically reports these movements; Related to Restless Leg Syndrome
cross-product ratioA ratio of the odds of an event in an exposed group to the odds of the same event in a group that is not exposed.
downersslang term for drugs that exert a depressant effect on the central nervous system
waxy flexibilityCharacteristic of catatonia in which the person remains in bodily postures positioned by another person.
posttraumatic growthPositive changes in interpersonal relationships, sense of self, and philosophy of life subsequent to direct experience of a traumatic event that shakes the foundation of an individual’s worldview.
affective disorderA disorder in which mood change or disturbance is the primary manifestation
health stateThe health condition of an individual or group over a specified interval of time (commonly assessed at a particular point in time).
pedigreeA diagram depicting heritable traits across 2 or more generations of a family.
suicideTaking one's own life or attempting to do so.
dementiaA progressive condition marked by development of multiple cognitive deficits that include memory impairment and at least 1 of the following cognitive disturbances: agnosia, aphasia, apraxia, or a disturbance in executive functioning.
matchingA deliberate process to make the study group and comparison group comparable with respect to factors (or confounders) that are extraneous to the purpose of the investigation but that might interfere with the interpretation of the study's findings
linkageThe tendency of genes or other DNA sequences at specific loci to be inherited together as a consequence of their physical proximity on a single chromosome.
null hypothesisIn the hypothesis-testing framework, this is the starting hypothesis that the statistical test is designed to consider and possibly reject, which contends that there is no relationship between the variables under study.
recessiveDescribes any trait that is expressed in a homozygote but not a heterozygote, ie, 2 copies of that allele are necessary to manifest its effect.
substance abuseA maladaptive pattern of substance use manifested by recurrent and significant adverse consequences related to repeated use.  This includes maladaptive use of legal substances and illicit drugs.
mucositisInflammation of the mucosal membranes lining the gastrointestinal tract
exposureA condition to which patients are exposed (either a potentially harmful agent or a potentially beneficial one) that may have an impact on their health.
acting outExpressions of unconscious emotional conflicts or feelings in actions rather than words
sleep apneaa common sleep disorder characterized by a pause in breathing, or an event; 3 types of sleep apnea include obstructive, central, and combination.
inception cohortA designated group of persons assembled at a common time early in the development of a specific clinical disorder (for example, at the time of first exposure to the putative cause or the time of initial diagnosis) and who are followed thereafter
gestalt therapyA humanistic, relationally-orientated psychotherapy which invites clients to participate in a range of creative 'experiments' (such as two-chair dialogue) to help them develop their here-and-now awareness and live more fully in the moment
baseline characteristicsFactors that describe study participants at the beginning of the study (eg, age, sex, disease severity); in comparison studies, it is important that these characteristics be initially similar between groups; if not balanced or if the imbalance is not statistically adjusted, these characteristics can cause confounding and can bias study results.
modelOften used to describe statistical regression analyses involving more than one independent variable and one dependent variable
aversion therapyA behavior therapy procedure in which associated with undesirable behavior are paired with a painful or unpleasant stimulus, resulting in the suppression of the undesirable behavior.
dominateIn economic evaluation, if the intervention of interest is both more effective and less costly than the control strategy, it is said to dominate the alternative.
intentionalInjuries resulting from purposeful human action whether directed at oneself (self-directed) or others (assaultive), sometimes referred to as violent injuries.
teach-back methodA technique to assess understanding in which the patients or family members are asked to restate what was just discussed.
dominance hierarchycooperative female dominance - Social organization in which females cooperate to control the lives of males
plasmodium malariaeA species of Plasmodium resulting in a chronic, indolent infection
reconstitutionRegarding adolescent grief, the term reconstitution, rather than recovery, has been used to describe the postdeath period, in part because successful coping at this phase challenges adolescents to change their view of themselves and their relationships to the parent who died and to the surviving parent.
stereotactic radiosurgeryA treatment that focuses radiation to the shape of the tumor and results in minimal damage to surrounding tissue.
memory impairment screenA quick test of recall ability where a patient is asked to recall items representing 4 different categories
dyspneaDifficulty breathing or labored breathing.
researcher allegiance effectsThe tendency for researchers to 'find' results that support their own beliefs, expectations or preferences
advance directivesA synonym for advance care directives (ACDs), instructions that are meant to ensure that patients’ wishes concerning end-of-life care are respected and carried out, even when the patients are no longer able to speak for themselves.
phenotypeThe observable characteristics of a cell or organism, usually being the result of the product coded by a gene (genotype).
biological clockpart of your body's circadian rhythm that runs according to a 24-hour cycle; normally your biological clock is synchronized with the natural world and keenly stimulated to sleepiness or wakefulness by visual light/dark cues.
moderating variableFactors that affect the relationship between two variables
motivational interviewinga client-centered, directive method for enhancing intrinsic motivation to change by exploring and resolving ambivalence.
random errorWe can never know with certainty the true value of an intervention effect because of random error
decisional conflict scaleAn instrument for measuring difficulties in end-of-life decision making related to interpersonal conflict
hallucinogensa broad group of drugs that cause distortions of sensory perception
castration. She demonstrated how, as a first unconscious response to this fear, the camera (and the spectator after it) fetishizes the female form by drawing attention to its beauty, its completeness and perfection. But, in making the female body a fetish object, the camera disavows the possibility of castration and renders it phallus-like (since it no longer represents lack) and therefore reassuring. Mulvey demarcated the
borderline personality disorderan illness whose essential feature is a pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, and affects, along with marked impulsivity that begins by early adulthood and is present in a variety of contexts.
cystic fibrosisA hereditary disease (also known as mucoviscidosis) that involves difficulty breathing from frequent lung infections
dipstick urinalysisA chemical analysis of urine performed by using urine dipsticks, in which the test results can be read as color changes.
supraventricular tachycardiaA rapid heart rate arrhythmia that originates in the atria.
genomeThe entire collection of genetic information (or genes) that an organism possesses.
ecstasyslang term for methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), a member of the amphetamine family (for example, speed)
correlationThe magnitude of the relationship between two different variables or phenomena.
validityIn health status measurement terms, validity is the extent to which an instrument measures what it is intended to measure
dichotomous variableA variable that can take one of two discrete values rather than values incrementally placed along a continuum (eg, male or female, pregnant or not pregnant, dead or alive).
circadian rhythmis the animal world's 24-hour cycle that synchs with light and dark, or wake and sleep; this elementary explanation also goes on to include a carefully timed cycle for a wide range of biological processes, including energy levels, peak coordination, deep sleep, and body temperature peaks and valleys.
health care proxyAlso known formally as a durable power of attorney for health care, a type of advance directive that names a proxy to make health care decisions should the patient be incapacitated, based on the patient’s best interests, preferably based on the patient’s previously expressed wishes.
biopsychosocial paradigmnoetic pole - A metaphorical conceptualization of a conscious experience as a physical pole with two ends--the noesis (cognizer) and the noema (cognized)
evidence-based expertsClinicians who can, in a sophisticated manner, independently find, appraise, and judiciously apply the best evidence to patient care.
downstream costsCosts due to resources consumed in the future and associated with clinical events in the future that are attributable to the intervention.
tourette’s disorderA tic disorder consisting of multiple motor and vocal tics that occur in bouts, either concurrently or separately, almost every day or intermittently over a period of more than 12 months.
capitationThe per-person rate an insurance company pays to a clinician (or group of clinicians) for care of patients enrolled in a managed care health insurance plan.
genome-wide association studyA study that evaluates association of genetic variation with outcomes or traits of interest by using 100 000 to 1 000 000 or more markers across the genome.
sampling errorError introduced by chance differences between the estimate obtained from the sample and the true value in the population from which the sample was drawn
indirect costs and benefitsThe impact of alternative patient management strategies on the productivity of the patient and others involved in the patient's care.
mutual self-helpan approach to recovery from substance use disorders that emphasizes personal responsibility, self-management, and clients' helping one another
partial verification biasOccurs when only a selected sample of patients who underwent the index test is verified by the reference standard, and that sample is dependent on the results of the test
terminal cancer prognostic scoreAn index for predicting length of survival in terminally ill cancer patients.
minimal important differenceThe smallest difference in a patient-important outcome that patients perceive as beneficial and that would mandate, in the absence of troublesome adverse effects and excessive cost, a change in the patient's health care management.
assessmenta basic assessment consists of gathering key information and engaging in a process with the client that enables the counselor to understand the client's readiness for change, problem areas, COD diagnosis, disabilities, and strengths
lupusAutoimmune disease with numerous effects on various organs and linings.
major depressive episodesmale dominance - A social condition in which the lives of females are by and large controlled by males.
abstinentnot using substances of abuse at any time.
continuous variableA variable that can theoretically take any value and in practice can take a large number of values with small differences between them (eg, height)
classicist worldviewIn theological circles, this is a term that often connotes an amalgam of a late medieval worldview and an early modern worldview
murphy signPain and arrested inspiration occurring when the patient inspires deeply while the examiner's fingers are hooked underneath the right costal margin.
adherenceExtent to which patients carry out health care recommendations, or the extent to which health care providers carry out the diagnostic tests, monitoring equipment, interventional requirements, and other technical specifications that define optimal patient management.
snpAbbreviation for single-nucleotide polymorphism, a single base pair change in the DNA sequence at a particular point compared with the "common" or "wild-type" sequence.
gm-csfGranulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, available as the recombinant drug sargramostim, used to stimulate the bone marrow to produce white blood cells in cases of severe neutropenia.
cardiac tamponadeCardiac tamponade occurs when fluid trapped in the pericardial space compresses the heart and compromises cardiac output
social servicesOrganized efforts to advance human welfare, such as home-delivered meal programs, support groups, and community recreation projects.
virtual reality exposureConfrontation with a simulated version of a feared object or situation: for instance, simulated flying
bulimia nervosaAn eating disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eatingfollowed by compensatory behavior such as purging (i.e., self-induced vomiting or the use of diuretics and laxatives) or other methods to control weight (e.g., strict dieting, fasting, or vigorous exercise).
surrogate decision makersFamily members or others appointed to make decisions for the patient when he/she is unable to do so.
adjuvantAgent used to enhance the action of the main treatment
evidence-based practitionersClinicians who can differentiate evidence-based summaries and recommendations from those that are not evidence-based and understand results sufficiently well to apply them judiciously in clinical care, ensuring decisions are consistent with patients' values and preferences.
boas signOriginally, this sign referred to point tenderness in the region to the right of the 10th to 12th thoracic vertebrae, but contemporary sources describe hyperesthesia to light touch in the right upper quadrant or infrascapular area.
population stratificationDescribes the situation in which a population may be composed of multiple sub-groups of different ethnicity; case and control group differences in the mix can confound the comparison and lead to spurious genetic associations.
visual analogue scaleA scaling procedure consisting of a straight line anchored on each end with words or phrases that represent the extremes of some phenomenon (eg, "worst pain I have ever had" to "absolutely no pain")