Psychiatric terms: plain English
Definitions for the terms you'll encounter in psychiatric care.
A
- Antidepressant
- Medication used to treat depression and often anxiety. Common classes include SSRIs and SNRIs.
- Antipsychotic
- Medication used to treat psychosis, bipolar disorder, and sometimes severe depression.
- Anxiolytic
- Medication that reduces anxiety, including SSRIs and benzodiazepines.
B
- Benzodiazepine
- A class of anti-anxiety medication including alprazolam (Xanax) and lorazepam (Ativan). Used short-term due to dependence risk.
- Bipolar disorder
- A mood disorder marked by alternating periods of depression and elevated/manic mood. Learn more →
C
- CBT
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: a structured, evidence-based talk therapy focused on the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Learn more →
D
- DBT
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy: a CBT variant developed for borderline personality disorder; emphasizes emotional regulation and mindfulness.
- Depression
- A clinical condition involving persistent sadness, loss of interest, and changes in sleep, appetite, or concentration. Learn more →
E
- ECT
- Electroconvulsive therapy: the most effective treatment for severe depression. Performed in our clinic under brief anesthesia with full medical monitoring on-site. Learn more →
- EMR
- Electronic Medical Record: the digital system used to manage patient charts, prescriptions, and appointment notes.
G
- GAD
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder: persistent, excessive worry that interferes with daily functioning.
I
- In-network
- A provider who has a contracted rate with your insurance plan. Visits typically cost only your copay/deductible. Learn more →
- Intake
- The initial evaluation visit where a psychiatrist gathers history, assesses symptoms, and proposes a treatment plan.
- IOP
- Intensive Outpatient Program: structured group treatment several hours per day, multiple days per week, while living at home.
K
- Ketamine
- A rapid-acting medication used for severe or treatment-resistant depression. BPA offers Spravato/esketamine, IM ketamine, and IV ketamine in comfortable private treatment rooms; their FDA status, protocols, cost, and insurance coverage differ. A small number of BPA clinicians also offer ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. Learn more →
- Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP)
- A psychotherapy format in which a clinician typically remains with the patient throughout the ketamine session, allowing thoughts, emotions, or insights to be explored as they arise. At BPA, KAP is available on a limited basis with Kaila Compton, Nick Baker, and Kari Barnes. Learn more →
M
- Mania
- A period of abnormally elevated mood, energy, and activity: a hallmark of bipolar I disorder.
- MDD
- Major Depressive Disorder: clinical depression meeting specific DSM-5 criteria. Learn more →
- Med management
- Short for medication management: ongoing psychiatric care focused on prescribing and adjusting medications.
O
- OCD
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: characterized by intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors performed to reduce distress.
- Out-of-network
- A provider without a contract with your insurance plan. Visits may cost more or require submitting for reimbursement.
P
- Partial hospitalization
- A day-treatment program providing structured care several days per week. More intensive than therapy, less than inpatient. Learn more →
- Prior authorization
- Insurance approval required before certain treatments (TMS, Spravato, ECT) can be billed.
- Psychotherapy
- Talk therapy delivered by a licensed clinician. Includes CBT, DBT, psychodynamic, and other approaches. Learn more →
- PTSD
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: a condition involving intrusive memories, hyperarousal, and avoidance following trauma.
S
- SNRI
- Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor: a class of antidepressants (venlafaxine, duloxetine) that work on two neurotransmitters.
- Spravato
- An FDA-approved esketamine nasal spray for treatment-resistant depression. At BPA, you take it under supervision and remain in a comfortable private treatment room for at least two hours of monitoring. Learn more →
- SSRI
- Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor: the most commonly prescribed antidepressant class (sertraline, escitalopram, fluoxetine).
- Superbill
- A receipt with diagnostic and procedure codes that an out-of-network patient submits to insurance for reimbursement.
T
- Telehealth
- Healthcare delivered remotely via secure video. Most BPA medication management and therapy visits are available by telehealth.
- TMS
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: non-invasive brain stimulation for treatment-resistant depression. No anesthesia required. Learn more →
- Treatment-resistant depression
- Major depression that has not responded to two or more adequate antidepressant trials. Learn more →