Psychiatry

Glossary of Mental Health Terms

Glossary of Terms – O

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

Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) – A mood disorder characterized by i ntrusive thoughts (obsessions) or the urge to perform irresistible repetitive acts (rituals). The performance of these neutral acts/behaviors may reduce anxiety.

Ontario review board (ORB) – People who are found Unfit, or Not Criminally Responsible (NCR), are placed under the authority of the ORB. They will have a hearing within 45 days or 90 days of the initial finding and then once a year after that. The ORB panel decides what kind of privileges a person will have for the year, where that person will go and what level of security is needed.

Optimization – gradually increasing the dose of a medication to the level where it will have the greatest therapeutic effect with the fewest side effects

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