Activity

Undertake some research to find out the meaning of the terms below. Some will probably be quite familiar to you, but do you have a clear definition of their meaning? Other terms will possibly be less familiar. A useful source of knowledge would be a good introductory psychiatry text – Michael Levi’s (2005) Basic Notes in Psychiatry, 4th edition might be a useful starting point. You will also find factsheets useful on sites such as, Mind – for better mental health – http://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/

As a student of social work it is not necessary for you to have an in-depth knowledge of mental illness to work with people with mental health issues; however, grasp of the basic groups of conditions and some terminology can greatly assist your practice, particularly when working in interprofessional teams.

1. Psychoses
2. Neuroses
3. Premorbid personality
4. Affective disorders (and find some examples)
5. Organic disorders (and find some examples)
6. Neologisms
7. Pressure of speech
8. Insight
9. Perseveration
10. Echolalia
11. Echopraxia
12. Depersonalisation
13. Co-morbidity
14.  Capacity/incapacity
15. Personality disorder