Author Study Tips
A Chapter 22: Psychiatry
The combining form psych/o, meaning mind, is a useful word part. One finds this combining form in many interesting terms. In Greek mythology, Psyche was a young woman who loved and was loved by Eros (god of love and the son of Aphrodite). She was united with him after Aphrodite's jealousy was overcome. Psyche became the personification of the soul (the vital principle in humans related to thought, action, and emotion). The term psychedelic means characterized by hallucinations, altered perceptions, and awareness. A psychedelic is a drug, such as LSD or mescaline, which produces such effects (Greek deloun means to make visible).
Here are other terms using the combining form psych/o.
Psychic trauma is an emotional shock or injury that produces a lasting impression, especially on the subconscious mind. Causes of psychic trauma may be abuse or neglect in childhood. Psychotherapeutic sessions can help alleviate such psychic trauma.
Psychoactive substances are drugs or other agents that affect mood, behavior, or thinking processes. Cannabis, commonly known as marijuana, is a psychoactive substance. Examples of other psychoactive substances are stimulants, such as amphetamines or speed, and sedatives, such as phenobarbital and Valium.
Psychotropic medications are prescribed to treat a variety of mental illnesses (troph/o means to turn). Examples of psychotropic drugs are antianxiety and antipanic agents, antidepressants, mood stabilizers, hypnotics, and powerful antipsychotic or neuroleptic medications. Neuroleptic drugs such as phenothiazines treat symptoms of psychoses. The delusions and hallucinations of a patient with schizophrenia are treated with neuroleptic drugs such as Thorazine or Haldol.
Psychosomatic pain (somatic means pertaining to the body) is pain that is influenced by the mind or psychological factors. For example, in hypochondriasis, the hypochondriac patient is preoccupied with physical pain and discomfort, but examination does not show any real illness.
Step-by-step study tips:
1. Read and take notes on Introduction and Psychiatric Clinical Symptoms.
2. Complete Exercises A and B. Check your answers.
3. Read and take notes on Psychiatric Disorders.
This is a long and difficult section with many new terms. Table 22-1 reviews psychiatric disorders and gives examples of each. Study that table! In fact, you could take the information from the tables and make helpful flash cards!
4. Complete Exercises C to H. Check your answers. 5. Read and take notes on Therapeutic Modalities.
Figure 22-4 reviews psychiatric drugs and names of specific types. Concentrate on remembering the names of the different types of drugs and what they are used to treat. You can use the names of the specific drugs as reference. This is another opportunity to make flash cards, taking the content from this table to help you study.
6. Complete Exercises I and J. Check your answers.
7. Read, study, and test yourself on the terms in Vocabulary.
Make sure that when you look at a term you can write its meaning on a separate piece of paper. Test yourself by covering the terms and trying to write them as you read their meanings.
8. Complete meanings in Terminology.
Check your answers on the Answers to Terminology list. Notice the interesting list of phobias in Table 22-2.
9. Complete Exercises K and L. Check your answers.
10. Take notes on and study Abbreviations. Read Practical Applications to see medical terms used in the context of case reports.
11. Complete meanings in Pronunciation of Terms.
Check your understanding of the pronunciation of each term (Chapter 22 - Pronunciation of Terms).
12. Complete the EVOLVE activities for Chapter 22.
13. Fill in and study the Review Sheet. Carefully test yourself on the meaning of each word part.