Psychiatry

Glossary of Mental Health Terms

Glossary of Terms – C

To view this glossary simply click on the corresponding letter below.

Please note – this is not an exhaustive list, but includes some fo the terminology commonly used in the assessment and treatment of mental illness. The terms in this glossary were derived from the medical glossary of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and are used with the Centre's permission

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Catatonic symptoms – Patients who become catatonic have trouble with movement – they may experience extreme physical agitation or slowness and odd movements or postures.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) – a time–limited talk therapy where patients learn to recognize their own negative or disruptive thought patterns. Patients then try to change the behaviors that result from these thoughts.

Comorbid – When a depressive or anxiety disorder coexists with another mental and/or physical disorder, often.

Comorbid disorder – a condition where one or more mental disorders coexist, complicating both diagnosis and treatment . For example, drug or alcohol abuse can occur at the same time as major depression.

Complementary medicine – Treatments for medical disorders that may be administered by a physician or by a practitioner of homeopathy, herbology, etc. These include herbal treatments, relaxation therapies, acupuncture, etc.

Compliance – a patient’s full participation in the treatment prescribed by the physician; for example, taking medication as directed and attending therapy sessions.

Conditional discharge – Also known as "discharge subject to conditions." A person is still under the authority of the Ontario Review Board (ORB), but is allowed to live in the community. The person must, however, follow the conditions laid out in the disposition. Examples of conditions that are often enforced are abstaining from alcohol or drugs, submitting to random drug screens and having regular meetings with a psychiatrist or other mental health professional.

Consent and capacity board – An independent panel established by the Ontario government that conducts different types of hearings, including deciding on a person's capacity to consent to or refuse treatment.

Continuation treatment – Treatment intended to prevent the return of the most recent mood episode.

Court support program – A program that exists in some courts to help people become connected with psychiatric services and community resources.

Criminal responsibility – A court may decide that a person did commit a crime, but find that person Not Criminally Responsible (NCR). A court finds a person NCR when, because of a mental illness, that person could not appreciate the nature of his or her actions or did not know that the actions were wrong. However, simply having a mental disorder does not make a person NCR.

Cycle – the time from the start of one episode until the start of the next.

Cyclothymic disorder – a long–standing mood disturbance that involves recurrent periods of both depression and hypomania. Although similar in nature to bipolar disorder, the mood swings are not as severe or as prolonged.

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