Psychiatrist: Glossary of Terms

Addiction: a condition in which the a person physically requires a substance in order to function, for example, drugs, alcohol, gambling, etc.

Anorexia Nervosa: an eating disorder where an individual has a distortion of their body image and fearful of gaining weight.

Behavior analysis: the area of psychology that studies environmental determinants of behavior.

Bulimia nervosa: an eating disorder where an individual binge eats followed by purging.

Clinical psychologist: an individual who has doctorate in psychology and trained in the treatment of psychological problems.

Clinical social worker: A mental health professional who has training to consider the social context of people's problems.

Depression: severe emotional state where an individual can feel sad or helpless.

Eating Disorder: the negative affect on health from eating or not eating.

Psychiatrist: an individual who has a M.D. degree and has completed postdoctoral specialty training in mental and emotional disorders.

Psychoanalyst: an individual who has a Ph.D. or an M.D. degree and has completed postgraduate training in the Freudian approach to treating mental disorders.

Psychologist: an individual with a doctoral degree in psychology.

Psychology: academic study of behavior and mental processes.

Self-esteem: attitude toward oneself that influences both moods and behavior.

Social psychology: The area of psychology that studies the effect of social variables on an individuals attitude, behavior, and perceptions.