Psychiatry

Glossary of Mental Health Terms

Glossary of Terms – M

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

Maintenance treatment – Treatment intended to prevent a new depressive episode (including depression, mania, hypomania).

Major depressive disorder – (also known as unipolar depression) involves one or more major depressive episodes. These episodes include symptoms of depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure, significant changes in weight or sleep, loss of energy, diminished capacity to think or concentrate, feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt, and recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.

Major depressive episode – A period of depression whereby the individual is unable to go about his/her daily life. Approximately half of those who have one major depressive episode will develop another. See major depressive disorder.

Mania – A mood disorder characterized by an unusually high mood, irritability, overactivity, excessive talking, racing thoughts, inflated ideas of self, lack of insight, poor judgment, impulsiveness and financial extravagance.

Manic–depressive illness – see bipolar disorder

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI) – A class of antidepressants that works by reducing the levels of the enzyme monoamine oxidase. This causes levels of the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline to rise, often providing powerful relief to depression. However, these drugs have many side–effects including drowsiness , dizziness, headache, rapid or irregular heart rate, skin rash, fever, yellowing of the eyes or skin and require a special diet often avoiding certain wines and aged cheeses

Megavitamin therapy – A complementary therapy for depression and other illnesses where certain vitamins are taken in extremely large daily doses. A physician should be consulted before embarking on this type of therapy

Melancholy, melancholic features – Symptoms usually found in severe major depressive episodes, including notable loss of pleasure, psychomotor retardation or agitation, weight loss and insomnia.

Menopause – a period of biological changes in women as they cease to menstruate and have reduced levels of the hormone estrogen.

Mental health system – The system that assesses and cares for people with mental health problems.

Mixed episode – an episode in which patients show both manic and depressive symptoms. The symptoms either occur at the same time or alternate quickly.

Mood disorder – A pattern of illness defined by a disturbance of mood (such as profound sadness, apathy, euphoria or irritability), including major depression, dysthymia, bipolar affective disorder, mania, hypomania and other disorders.

Mood stabilizers – medicines, such as lithium, that alter the chemical balance in the brain and help reduce swings in mood. They are used to treat symptoms of depression, mostly bipolar disorder and may also help prevent the recurrence of future episodes.

Multidisciplinary team – A group of people who are involved in the forensic assessment, or in the plan for care once the individual is in the forensic mental health system. This group might include people from some or all of the following professions: nursing, medicine, social work, psychology, recreation therapy or occupational therapy.

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