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Psychological Terms – Amnestic Disorder
An amnestic disorder is a clinically recognized mental disorder marked by serious difficulty learning new information and, often, recalling previously learned facts or experiences. This impairment disrupts normal social and occupational functioning.
The condition is not due exclusively to delirium or dementia and may be associated with head trauma, medical illness, drug effects, or toxin exposure. A well-known variant is substance-induced persisting amnestic disorder, commonly linked to prolonged alcohol abuse and resulting vitamin deficiency (especially thiamine).
Etymologically, the term stems from Greek roots meaning “not remembering.”
An amnestic disorder is a clinically recognized mental disorder marked by serious difficulty learning new information and, often, recalling previously learned facts or experiences. This impairment disrupts normal social and occupational functioning.
The condition is not due exclusively to delirium or dementia and may be associated with head trauma, medical illness, drug effects, or toxin exposure. A well-known variant is substance-induced persisting amnestic disorder, commonly linked to prolonged alcohol abuse and resulting vitamin deficiency (especially thiamine).
Etymologically, the term stems from Greek roots meaning “not remembering.”
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Psychological Terms – Amniocentesis
Amniocentesis is a prenatal diagnostic procedure in which a physician removes a small sample of amniotic fluid from the uterus using a hollow needle. The fluid is then examined for chromosomal or genetic abnormalities, including Down syndrome.
While primarily medical, its findings have important psychological implications for parental decision-making and counseling.
Amniocentesis is a prenatal diagnostic procedure in which a physician removes a small sample of amniotic fluid from the uterus using a hollow needle. The fluid is then examined for chromosomal or genetic abnormalities, including Down syndrome.
While primarily medical, its findings have important psychological implications for parental decision-making and counseling.
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Psychological Terms – Amobarbital
Amobarbital (also called amylobarbitone) is a short-acting barbiturate that functions as a central nervous system depressant. It is used as a sedative or hypnotic, though sometimes misused recreationally. Historically, it has been administered in interviews to reduce inhibition, popularly associated with so-called “truth serum” effects.
Its chemical formula is C₁₁H₁₈N₂O₃Na.
Amobarbital (also called amylobarbitone) is a short-acting barbiturate that functions as a central nervous system depressant. It is used as a sedative or hypnotic, though sometimes misused recreationally. Historically, it has been administered in interviews to reduce inhibition, popularly associated with so-called “truth serum” effects.
Its chemical formula is C₁₁H₁₈N₂O₃Na.
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Psychological Terms – Amodal Completion
Amodal completion is the perceptual process by which the mind fills in missing or hidden parts of an object or image, allowing us to see it as complete even when parts are obscured. For example, when we see a dog partly behind a fence, we still perceive a whole dog.
This illustrates how perception relies on inference and structural expectations rather than raw sensory input. It contrasts with modal completion, where visible cues create the perception of contours or edges.
Amodal completion is the perceptual process by which the mind fills in missing or hidden parts of an object or image, allowing us to see it as complete even when parts are obscured. For example, when we see a dog partly behind a fence, we still perceive a whole dog.
This illustrates how perception relies on inference and structural expectations rather than raw sensory input. It contrasts with modal completion, where visible cues create the perception of contours or edges.
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Psychological Terms – Amok
Amok (also spelled amuck) is a culture-bound syndrome first documented in Malaysia and subsequently found in several other regions. It involves a period of withdrawn, agitated brooding, often triggered by perceived insult or humiliation, followed by a sudden episode of uncontrolled violent assault directed at nearby people or objects.
During the episode, the person may display paranoid thinking or automatism, and afterward often experiences amnesia for the events. Western psychiatry frequently interprets amok as a manifestation of dissociative disorder.
Amok (also spelled amuck) is a culture-bound syndrome first documented in Malaysia and subsequently found in several other regions. It involves a period of withdrawn, agitated brooding, often triggered by perceived insult or humiliation, followed by a sudden episode of uncontrolled violent assault directed at nearby people or objects.
During the episode, the person may display paranoid thinking or automatism, and afterward often experiences amnesia for the events. Western psychiatry frequently interprets amok as a manifestation of dissociative disorder.
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Psychological Terms — Amorphognosia
Amorphognosia is a neurological deficit characterized by an impaired ability to recognize or distinguish the shape, form, or size of objects through tactile sensation alone. Individuals with this condition can feel an object in their hand but are unable to mentally represent its form.
This condition is categorized under the broader group of tactile agnosias, in which somatosensory information is not properly interpreted despite intact basic sensory functioning. Amorphognosia is typically contrasted with ahylognosia, a related disorder in which people can detect shapes but cannot identify material qualities such as weight or texture.
The deficit may arise from lesions within the parietal lobes, particularly brain regions processing somatosensory input and object integration. Depending on lesion location, patients may retain partial tactile recognition abilities while losing others. Clinically, amorphognosia is often evaluated through bedside tactile discrimination tasks, such as asking patients to identify common objects without vision. The inability to do so affects activities of daily living, including tool use and object manipulation.
Although rare, the disorder provides insight into how the brain constructs multisensory representations of objects. It also highlights dissociations between sensory reception and cognitive interpretation.
Amorphognosia is a neurological deficit characterized by an impaired ability to recognize or distinguish the shape, form, or size of objects through tactile sensation alone. Individuals with this condition can feel an object in their hand but are unable to mentally represent its form.
This condition is categorized under the broader group of tactile agnosias, in which somatosensory information is not properly interpreted despite intact basic sensory functioning. Amorphognosia is typically contrasted with ahylognosia, a related disorder in which people can detect shapes but cannot identify material qualities such as weight or texture.
The deficit may arise from lesions within the parietal lobes, particularly brain regions processing somatosensory input and object integration. Depending on lesion location, patients may retain partial tactile recognition abilities while losing others. Clinically, amorphognosia is often evaluated through bedside tactile discrimination tasks, such as asking patients to identify common objects without vision. The inability to do so affects activities of daily living, including tool use and object manipulation.
Although rare, the disorder provides insight into how the brain constructs multisensory representations of objects. It also highlights dissociations between sensory reception and cognitive interpretation.
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Psychological Terms — AMP (Adenosine Monophosphate)
AMP is a nucleotide composed of adenine, deoxyribose, and a phosphate group. It occurs naturally in both DNA and RNA, where it participates structurally within nucleic acid chains. Beyond its genomic role, AMP is also a crucial metabolic intermediate involved in cellular energy regulation. It is closely related to cyclic AMP (cAMP), a major second messenger governing hormonal and intracellular signaling pathways.
In metabolism, AMP participates in energy-transfer systems involving ATP and ADP. When ATP is broken down during cellular activity, AMP levels can rise, stimulating pathways that signal low energy availability. As such, AMP acts as an important chemical messenger coupling energy status to regulatory enzymes such as AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which modulate metabolic processes to restore cellular balance.
In psychological and neurobiological contexts, AMP gains relevance primarily through its relationship to cAMP, which plays a central role in learning, memory formation, and neurotransmitter regulation. Also known as adenylic acid, it forms one of the elemental building blocks of the genetic and metabolic machinery of living organisms.
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Psychological Term — Amphetamine
Amphetamine is a synthetic central nervous system stimulant that produces increased alertness, elevated mood, and reduced fatigue. Medically, it is prescribed to treat narcolepsy, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and some hyperkinetic disorders. It exerts its effects primarily by increasing the release of dopamine and norepinephrine from presynaptic neurons and by blocking dopamine reuptake transporters. This leads to heightened synaptic concentrations of these neurotransmitters, which enhances activation across relevant neural circuits.
Amphetamine’s effects typically last for several hours and are sometimes accompanied by unwanted psychological states, including anxiety, insomnia, panic, and paranoid ideation. Its stimulating action can also produce euphoria, which contributes to its recreational misuse under the street name “speed.” Chronic or excessive use may lead to dependence, cardiovascular stress, and cognitive impairment.
The drug’s activating profile resembles that of methamphetamine, though the latter is generally considered more potent.
Historically marketed as Benzedrine, amphetamine has played an important role in wartime fatigue reduction and in psychiatric treatment. Contemporary clinical guidelines stress controlled dosage to minimize risks. Pharmacologically, it is classified as a sympathomimetic amine and resembles related stimulants used for similar therapeutic purposes.
Amphetamine is a synthetic central nervous system stimulant that produces increased alertness, elevated mood, and reduced fatigue. Medically, it is prescribed to treat narcolepsy, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and some hyperkinetic disorders. It exerts its effects primarily by increasing the release of dopamine and norepinephrine from presynaptic neurons and by blocking dopamine reuptake transporters. This leads to heightened synaptic concentrations of these neurotransmitters, which enhances activation across relevant neural circuits.
Amphetamine’s effects typically last for several hours and are sometimes accompanied by unwanted psychological states, including anxiety, insomnia, panic, and paranoid ideation. Its stimulating action can also produce euphoria, which contributes to its recreational misuse under the street name “speed.” Chronic or excessive use may lead to dependence, cardiovascular stress, and cognitive impairment.
The drug’s activating profile resembles that of methamphetamine, though the latter is generally considered more potent.
Historically marketed as Benzedrine, amphetamine has played an important role in wartime fatigue reduction and in psychiatric treatment. Contemporary clinical guidelines stress controlled dosage to minimize risks. Pharmacologically, it is classified as a sympathomimetic amine and resembles related stimulants used for similar therapeutic purposes.
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Psychological Terms — Amphetamine Psychosis
Amphetamine psychosis describes a set of psychotic symptoms closely resembling schizophrenia that emerge following prolonged or excessive use of amphetamine or related stimulants.
Characteristic features include paranoid delusions, auditory hallucinations, agitation, and disorganized thinking. Because amphetamine increases dopamine availability in the brain, especially in mesolimbic pathways, the resulting overstimulation can precipitate symptoms similar to those observed in primary psychotic disorders.
The condition has historically been used to model psychosis in research settings due to its pharmacological similarity to schizophrenia. Symptom onset is typically dose-dependent and can occur after binge use or during withdrawal. Although symptoms often resolve with cessation and supportive treatment, severe or prolonged psychosis may require antipsychotic medication.
Amphetamine psychosis underscores the relationship between neurotransmitter dysregulation—especially dopamine hyperactivity—and psychotic symptomatology. Because of this overlap, clinicians must carefully distinguish between drug-induced and primary psychotic presentations, often through history taking, urine toxicology, and symptom course testing.
Amphetamine psychosis describes a set of psychotic symptoms closely resembling schizophrenia that emerge following prolonged or excessive use of amphetamine or related stimulants.
Characteristic features include paranoid delusions, auditory hallucinations, agitation, and disorganized thinking. Because amphetamine increases dopamine availability in the brain, especially in mesolimbic pathways, the resulting overstimulation can precipitate symptoms similar to those observed in primary psychotic disorders.
The condition has historically been used to model psychosis in research settings due to its pharmacological similarity to schizophrenia. Symptom onset is typically dose-dependent and can occur after binge use or during withdrawal. Although symptoms often resolve with cessation and supportive treatment, severe or prolonged psychosis may require antipsychotic medication.
Amphetamine psychosis underscores the relationship between neurotransmitter dysregulation—especially dopamine hyperactivity—and psychotic symptomatology. Because of this overlap, clinicians must carefully distinguish between drug-induced and primary psychotic presentations, often through history taking, urine toxicology, and symptom course testing.
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Psychological Terms — Amphetamine-Related Disorders
Amphetamine-related disorders comprise a class of substance-related and addictive disorders arising from excessive use or dependence on amphetamine and structurally similar stimulants, including dextroamphetamine and methamphetamine. These conditions include misuse, physiological dependence, tolerance, withdrawal, and a variety of behavioral and psychiatric disturbances induced by the drug.
Clinically, affected individuals may display persistent cravings, escalating dosage patterns, and impaired functioning across social, academic, and occupational domains. Psychiatric complications can include severe anxiety, agitation, paranoid ideation, and, in some cases, amphetamine-induced psychosis. Physiological complications may include cardiovascular strain, malnutrition, insomnia, and neurotoxicity.
Diagnostic systems classify amphetamine-related disorders under stimulant-type substance disorders and emphasize differential diagnosis from other forms of stimulant use, such as cocaine. Because amphetamine’s reinforcing properties and long duration of action increase its dependency potential, structured intervention—including behavioral therapies and medical support—is often required.
Amphetamine-related disorders comprise a class of substance-related and addictive disorders arising from excessive use or dependence on amphetamine and structurally similar stimulants, including dextroamphetamine and methamphetamine. These conditions include misuse, physiological dependence, tolerance, withdrawal, and a variety of behavioral and psychiatric disturbances induced by the drug.
Clinically, affected individuals may display persistent cravings, escalating dosage patterns, and impaired functioning across social, academic, and occupational domains. Psychiatric complications can include severe anxiety, agitation, paranoid ideation, and, in some cases, amphetamine-induced psychosis. Physiological complications may include cardiovascular strain, malnutrition, insomnia, and neurotoxicity.
Diagnostic systems classify amphetamine-related disorders under stimulant-type substance disorders and emphasize differential diagnosis from other forms of stimulant use, such as cocaine. Because amphetamine’s reinforcing properties and long duration of action increase its dependency potential, structured intervention—including behavioral therapies and medical support—is often required.
