Skip to ContentGo to accessibility pageKeyboard shortcuts menu
OpenStax Logo

abstract thinking
the ability to think about objects, principles, or ideas not physically present
abuse
the act of causing physical, emotional, psychological, verbal, sexual, and financial harm to a person
affect
physical expression of one’s emotional state
akathisia
motor restlessness
at-risk drinking
alcohol consumption that threatens a person’s health, safety, and well-being
at-risk population
a group of individuals who are at higher risk of experiencing adverse health, social, or economic outcomes due to various factors
blunted affect
dull or emotionless response to emotional stimuli
broad affect
the expression of emotions in a healthy, appropriate manner
bullying
harassing behavior
catalepsy (also, waxy flexibility)
a state of continued unresponsiveness where the patient may be in a fixed body posture for long periods
circumstantial thinking
a cognitive style in which speaking and thought processes stray from the original topic before returning to the initial subject matter
coercive control
a form of ongoing psychological and emotional abuse based on control, manipulation, and oppression
concrete thinking
a cognitive style in which thinkers take the information they can see, hear, or touch at face value and have difficulty applying it beyond the present
congruence
consistency between verbal and nonverbal communication
controlled environment
an artificial setting that is carefully regulated and monitored to ensure maximum accuracy and precision
delusion
a false belief or judgment about reality despite evidence to the contrary
dependence
a condition that results in an individual developing a compulsive, chronic reliance on substances for physiological and psychological gratification
distractibility
one’s attention being quickly drawn to unimportant or irrelevant external stimuli
dyskinesia
a movement disorder characterized by uncontrolled, involuntary movements
dysphoric
unhappy, depressed, unwell
early remission
a period during which a patient who had previously met all criteria for alcohol use disorder has not met the criteria for more than three months and less than twelve months
emotional abuse
nonphysical behavior that means to control, isolate, or frighten another person
euphoric
feeling a pathologically elevated sense of well-being
euthymic
displaying a wide range of emotions that are appropriate for the situation
exploitation
the mistreatment of someone to benefit from their work or resources
financial abuse
the illegal, unauthorized, or improper use of money, benefits, belongings, property, or assets for the benefit of someone other than the property owner
flat affect
significantly decreased or lack of expression of emotion, which is inappropriate for the situation
hallucination
false perception involving seeing, hearing, smelling, feeling, or tasting something that is not there
harmful drinking
a destructive pattern of alcohol consumption that causes adverse physical, psychological, and social effects
hazardous drinking
the excessive or dangerous intake of alcohol, which leads to considerable impairment in physical and mental health
homicidal ideation
threats or acts of life-threatening harm toward another person
inappropriate affect
emotional expression that is not appropriate for the situation
interpersonal violence
the intentional use of physical, sexual, or emotional force against another person
intimate partner violence
violence or abuse by a current or former spouse or dating partner
intoxication
inebriation caused by the consumption of alcohol or other psychoactive substances, resulting in behavioral and physiological changes
judgment
an individual's ability to recognize relationships, draw conclusions from evidence, and evaluate people and situations
labile affect
the expression of varying and suddenly shifting emotions
mandatory reporter
a healthcare professional who witnesses abuse or knows of an abusive situation involving children, older adults, people with disabilities, or anyone experiencing sexual abuse; they must report the abuse or suspected abuse to the authorities
mental status examination
an assessment of a patient’s level of consciousness and orientation, appearance and general behavior, speech, motor activity, affect and mood, thought and perception, attitude and insight, and cognitive abilities
moderate alcohol use
the consumption of alcoholic beverages per recommended guidelines, typically no more than two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women
mood
short-lived emotional state
mood congruence
consistency between the patient’s emotional state and their affect
neglect
the failure to care for properly
pattern of abuse
recurrent and historical abuse
patterned injury
a form of physical abuse that leaves a patterned mark on someone
physical abuse
the cruel and violent treatment of another person, which can include any sort of physical harm
polypharmacy
the simultaneous use of multiple medications, which may increase the risk for interactions and side effects
psychological trauma
a person’s emotional response to a distressing experience
psychomotor agitation
a condition of purposeless, non-goal-directed activity
psychomotor retardation
the state of slow physical and mental activity, which may result in extended periods of slow speech, slowness in thinking, and slow physical movements
remote memory
distant past memories
restricted affect
the expression of reduced emotional expression and intensity
self-concept
a person’s evaluation of themselves, which encompasses physical and psychological attributes, abilities, and skills, contributing to their sense of identity
sexual violence
the act of forcing or manipulating someone into unwanted sexual activity without their consent
stalking
harassing someone with unwanted obsessive attention
subdued affect
the expression of minimal emotion, lack of spontaneity, withdrawal, and apathy
substance use disorder (SUD)
the misuse of drugs or alcohol, which can lead to severe physical and psychological consequences
suicidal ideation
thinking about suicide but not necessarily having the intention to act on that idea
sustained remission
a period during which a patient who had previously met all criteria for alcohol use disorder has not met the criteria for more than twelve months
tangential thinking
disorganized thought processes and a reduced ability to focus attention on the subject at hand
tearful affect
being quick to cry, vulnerable, easily overwhelmed
tolerance
a built-up resistance of the body to a medication
Citation/Attribution

This book may not be used in the training of large language models or otherwise be ingested into large language models or generative AI offerings without OpenStax's permission.

Want to cite, share, or modify this book? This book uses the Creative Commons Attribution License and you must attribute OpenStax.

Attribution information
  • If you are redistributing all or part of this book in a print format, then you must include on every physical page the following attribution:
    Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/clinical-nursing-skills/pages/1-introduction
  • If you are redistributing all or part of this book in a digital format, then you must include on every digital page view the following attribution:
    Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/clinical-nursing-skills/pages/1-introduction
Citation information

© Jun 25, 2024 OpenStax. Textbook content produced by OpenStax is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License . The OpenStax name, OpenStax logo, OpenStax book covers, OpenStax CNX name, and OpenStax CNX logo are not subject to the Creative Commons license and may not be reproduced without the prior and express written consent of Rice University.