acute: Of sudden onset and short duration.

affective: Relating to mood and emotions.

aftercare: Care provided to mental patients who have left institutions.

Alzheimer's disease: A condition characterized by degeneration of parts of the brain, resulting in loss of mental functioning, and, eventually, death.

anxiety: A feeling of dread, worry, or nervousness.

asylum: Institution for the mentally ill.

autism: Condition characterized by withdrawal from the outside world and inability to interact with others.

central nervous system: Consisting of the brain and spinal cord.

cerebral: Relating to the brain.

chronic: Of long-standing duration.

delusion: Belief that has no basis in outside reality.

dementia: Deterioration of mental abilities resulting in irrational behavior and emotional disturbances.

depression: Condition characterized by feelings of despair, sadness, and hopelessness.

group home: Supervised living arrangements for small groups of people.

halfway house: A supervised setting where former mental patients can live before returning to the...