Psychiatry & Psychology

Bipolar is an adjective referring to having two polarities or poles, or, in medicine, relating to bipolar disorder. It denotes a dual-structure or dual-state condition, and is often used in medical, psychological, and metaphorical contexts. The term implies contrasting or alternating states, typically 'two' and 'opposing' aspects within a system or person.

Cingulate is a biomedical term referring to a region or structure that forms a girdle or belt-like surrounding feature, typically used to describe the cingulate gyrus in the brain. In anatomy and neuroscience contexts, it denotes belt-shaped or encircling elements, often used in describing brain anatomy, vascular patterns, or fascia. The term is specialized but encountered in advanced medical literature and lectures.

Circadian (adj.) describing biological processes that follow roughly a 24-hour cycle, such as sleep-wake patterns. The term encompasses rhythms governed by internal clocks, responding to environmental cues like light and darkness. In scientific contexts it often modifies processes, genes, and systems that exhibit this daily periodicity.

Compulsion is a strong, often irresistible impulse to act, especially one driven by an urge that overrides voluntary control. It denotes internal pressure to perform a repetitive behavior or mental act, typically linked to anxiety reduction. The term is used in psychology and everyday speech to describe persistent, uncontrollable tendencies that influence behavior.

Cyclothymia is a chronic mood disorder characterized by numerous periods of hypomanic symptoms and depressive symptoms that are less severe than in bipolar I or II. It presents with fluctuating mood states over years, but without meeting full criteria for major depressive or manic episodes. It’s used when mood shifts are persistent but not profoundly disabling.

Dementia is a medical term for a broad decline in cognitive function severe enough to interfere with daily life, including memory loss and impaired thinking. It describes a syndrome, not a single disease, with various underlying causes such as Alzheimer’s disease or vascular conditions. The term is used in clinical, caregiving, and educational contexts to discuss prognosis, care planning, and research implications.

Depression is a state of low mood and diminished interest or pleasure in activities, lasting for an extended period and impairing daily functioning. It can also refer to a downward mental or economic trend. In medicine, it denotes a mood disorder characterized by persistent sadness, fatigue, and changes in sleep or appetite. The term encompasses both emotional and clinical dimensions.

Dialectical is an adjective describing reasoning or arguments that relate to formal debate or the logical structure of reasoning, often in the context of analyzing opposing viewpoints. It can also pertain to dialectics—the art of forging truth through dialogue, synthesis, and contradiction. In use, it signals a methodical, argumentative approach rather than everyday casual speech.

Dyskinesia is a medical term describing abnormal, involuntary movements, often result­ing from neurological disorders or long-term medication use. It refers to uncoordinated, repetitive motions that can affect limbs, facial muscles, or the trunk. The word is used in clinical contexts and research to distinguish from normal movement and other motor symptoms.

Dysphoria is a medical term for a profound sense of unease or dissatisfaction that can accompany mood disorders, discomfort with one’s body, or gender dysphoria. It denotes a persistent emotional distress rather than a momentary feeling, and is used in clinical, psychological, and autobiographical contexts to describe how someone experiences internal conflict or incongruity with their experiences or identity.

Dysthymia is a persistent mild-to-moderate depressive disorder characterized by chronic low mood, lasting most of the day for years, with symptoms less severe than major depression but enduring and impairing. It is also known as dysthymic disorder. The term reflects a longstanding, pervasive mood disturbance that affects daily functioning.

Echolalia is a language phenomenon in which a person involuntarily imitates or repeats another's words or sounds. It is often observed in developmental or neurological contexts, and can occur as immediate or delayed repetition. The term covers both automatic echoing and purposeless phoneme reproduction, reflecting atypical speech patterns rather than expressive language.”

Eidetic is an adjective describing a vivid, almost photographic, mental image or memory; occasionally used as a noun to refer to such memory ability. It connotes exceptional recall with clear, detailed sensory imagery, often associated with photographic memory. The term is common in psychology and cognitive literature, and in general discourse it implies highly precise recall without deliberate memorization.

Extraversion is a personality trait characterized by outward energy, sociability, and talkativeness, as opposed to introversion. It reflects how much you seek stimulation and interaction with others. In psychology, extraversion is one axis of the Big Five model, influencing behavior, communication, and social engagement across contexts.