Medical dictionary

What is it?   Psoriatic arthritis is a rheumatic disease that causes joint inflammation. This condition is associated with a skin condition called psoriasis, and it tends to appear after the psoriasis. This condition tends to affect finger and toe joints, causing them to become inflamed and lose functionality. As the condition progresses, it can deform and destroy the joints.  

What is psychoanalysis? Psychoanalysis, developed by Sigmund Freud, is the therapeutic treatment of mental conditions which focuses on increasing your awareness of unconscious thoughts and behaviours, developing new insights into your motivations, and resolving internal conflicts. Psychoanalysis is based on the theories of Sigmund Freud who developed this method for patients who di

What is psychodermatology? Psychodermatology is branch of dermatology that recognises the link between the mind and the largest organ, our skin. It focuses on the treatment of skin conditions such as acne, eczema, rosacea and herpes using psychological methods. Psychodermatology is a relatively new treatment, but there is increasing evidence showing its efficacy as a treatment for a wide ra

Child and adolescent psychology refers to mental health treatments offered to patients below the age of 18 years old. There is a particular focus on issues and influences that an adolescent may experience at different stages of their development into adulthood. Adolescence is generally regarded as being between the ages of 12 to 18, and can be particularly difficult time for children. They may exp

What is psycho-oncology? Psycho-oncology uses psychotherapy, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and counselling to address the psychological, social and behavioural aspects of living with cancer.  It looks at the patient and their families psychological response to having cancer during all stages of the disease. Talking therapy also addresses the behavioural an

What is psychopharmacology?Psychopharmacology is the scientific discipline concerned with studying the effect of drugs on behaviour and mental disorders.What is its purpose?Specialists can prescribe a psychotropic drug to treat abnormal mental states and behaviour, alleviating symptoms, allowing people with mental disorders to improve their quality of life.What does it involve?Psych

What is psychosexual therapy? The aim of psychosexual sex therapy is to help improve the physical intimacy between you and your partner and to overcome or manage any sexual difficulties you may be experiencing. Psychosexual therapy is designed to help support you to feel more comfortable when having sex.    Psychosexual therapy involves examining the mind to understa

What is psychosis? Psychosis is a mental health problem which impairs emotions and causes people to interpret or perceive things differently from what is actually happening. Psychosis is not a mental illness but rather a symptom, often of mental health conditions such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. What causes psychosis? While it is not known exactly what triggers psychosis, i

What are psychosomatic disorders? Psychosomatic disorders are diseases which involve both mind and body – where mental factors play a significant role in the development and severity of a disease. There are no specialists practising “psychosomatic medicine” per se – it is a field where our understanding is still relatively nascent. However, all medical professionals unde