| depressive neurosis | See: depression, dysthymia. (05 Mar 2000) |
|---|---|
| depressive psychosis | A major disorder of mood in which biologic factors are believed to play a prominent role. See: depression. (05 Mar 2000) |
| depressive reaction | 1. A lowering or decrease of functional activity. 2. <psychiatry> A mental state of depressed mood characterised by feelings of sadness, despair and discouragement. Depression ranges from normal feelings of the blues through dysthymia to major depression. It in many ways resembles the grief and mourning that follow bereavement, there are often feelings of low self esteem, guilt and self reproach, withdrawal from interpersonal contact and somatic symptoms such as eating and sleep disturbances. Origin: L. Depremere = to press down (18 Nov 1997) |
| depressive stupor | A stuporous syndrome from which recovery is the rule, as opposed to malignant stupor. Synonym: depressive stupor. (05 Mar 2000) |
| depressive syndrome | 1. A lowering or decrease of functional activity. 2. <psychiatry> A mental state of depressed mood characterised by feelings of sadness, despair and discouragement. Depression ranges from normal feelings of the blues through dysthymia to major depression. It in many ways resembles the grief and mourning that follow bereavement, there are often feelings of low self esteem, guilt and self reproach, withdrawal from interpersonal contact and somatic symptoms such as eating and sleep disturbances. Origin: L. Depremere = to press down (18 Nov 1997) |
| disease, manic-depressive | See Manic-depression. (12 Dec 1998) |
| action current | An electrical current induced in muscle fibres when they are effectively stimulated; normally it is followed by contraction. (05 Mar 2000) |
| alternating current | Electrical current which alternates direction periodically. (For instance, household electric current is AC alternating at 60 oscillations/sec (60 Hertz) in the United States, and 50 Hertz in many other countries.) Acronym: AC (09 Oct 1997) |
| anodal current | A current produced in tissues under the anode when the circuit is closed. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ascending current | The direction of current flow in a nerve when the anode is placed peripheral to the cathode, in contrast to descending current; the convention used is that current flows from positive to negative. Synonym: centripetal current. (05 Mar 2000) |
| axial current | The central rapidly moving portion of the bloodstream in an artery. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bootstrap current | <radiobiology> Currents driven in toroidal devices by neo-classical diffusion. They may amount to a substantial fraction of the net current in a tokamak reactor, thus lengthening the pulse time or decreasing the power needed for current drive. (09 Oct 1997) |
| calcium current | Inflow of calcium ions through specific calcium channels. Critically important in release of transmitter substance from presynaptic terminals. (18 Nov 1997) |
| galvanic current | See: direct current, galvanism. (05 Mar 2000) |
| radio frequency current drive | <radiobiology> Plasma waves in the radio-frequency range can be used to push plasma particles in such a way that current forms in the plasma, this is a method of non-inductive current drive which would allow for steady-state fusion reactors to operate. (09 Oct 1997) |