Psychiatrists glossary

Short, plain-English definitions of the terms you'll meet when choosing a psychiatrist provider in Milan.

What is a benzodiazepine?: Benzodiazepines are a class of prescription sedative and anxiolytic medications that enhance inhibitory neurotransmitter activity in the central nervous system, commonly used to treat anxiety disorders and insomnia but with significant potential for physical dependence.
What is a CSM (Centro di Salute Mentale)?: A CSM is a publicly funded mental health outpatient clinic operated by Italy's National Health Service (SSN), offering psychiatric assessment, therapy, and pharmacological treatment to residents of its territory.
What is a mood stabilizer?: Mood stabilizers are psychiatric medications prescribed to reduce extreme mood swings and maintain emotional stability, primarily in bipolar disorder treatment.
What is a prima visita psichiatrica (first psychiatric visit)?: A first psychiatric visit is the initial diagnostic consultation where a psychiatrist conducts a thorough assessment of a patient's mental health history, symptoms, and medical background to establish a baseline and treatment plan.
What is a psichiatra convenzionato (SSN psychiatrist)?: A psichiatra convenzionato is a psychiatrist contracted with Italy's Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN) who provides treatment to patients with a valid impegnativa (medical referral) from their general practitioner, typically with no out-of-pocket cost beyond a small ticket fee.
What is a visita di controllo (follow-up visit)?: A visita di controllo is a scheduled follow-up appointment in psychiatric care used to monitor how a patient is responding to medication, assess for side effects, and track progress toward treatment goals after an initial evaluation.
What is adult ADHD?: Adult ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and/or impulsivity that continue from childhood into adulthood or emerge as symptoms become clinically apparent in adult years.
What is an antipsychotic medication?: Antipsychotic medications are psychiatric drugs that reduce hallucinations, delusions, and disordered thinking by regulating neurotransmitters, used to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and psychotic episodes.
What is an impegnativa: An impegnativa is the red prescription issued by an Italian general practitioner (medico di base) that grants access to subsidized specialist psychiatric care under the national healthcare system (Servizio Sanitario Nazionale).
What is an SNRI (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor)?: An SNRI is an antidepressant medication that works by preventing the reabsorption of both serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain, increasing their levels in neural synapses.
What is an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor)?: An SSRI is a class of antidepressant medication that prevents the reabsorption of serotonin in the brain, allowing more of this neurotransmitter to remain active between nerve cells. SSRIs are widely used to treat depression, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and other psychiatric conditions.
What is autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in psychiatry?: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by persistent differences in social communication and interaction, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviors, typically present from early childhood but often identified later in life.
What is bipolar disorder?: Bipolar disorder is a psychiatric condition characterized by recurrent episodes of abnormally elevated mood (mania or hypomania) alternating with periods of significant depression.
What is borderline personality disorder (BPD)?: Borderline personality disorder is a personality disorder characterized by pervasive instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and emotions, along with impulsive behaviors and intense fear of abandonment.
What is disturbo ossessivo-compulsivo (OCD)?: Disturbo ossessivo-compulsivo (OCD) is a psychiatric disorder characterized by unwanted intrusive thoughts (obsessions) that drive repetitive, ritualistic behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) performed to reduce anxiety.
What is electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)?: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a medical procedure in which electrical currents are applied to the brain of an anesthetized patient to induce a brief, controlled seizure for treating severe psychiatric conditions.
What is generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)?: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a mental health condition marked by persistent, uncontrollable worry about various aspects of daily life for at least six months, accompanied by physical and cognitive symptoms that interfere with functioning.
What is ICD-11?: ICD-11 is the World Health Organization's 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases, a diagnostic framework for mental and physical conditions used by Italian mental health professionals as an alternative or complement to DSM-5.
What is major depressive disorder?: Major depressive disorder (disturbo depressivo maggiore) is a psychiatric diagnosis characterized by persistent depressed mood or loss of interest lasting at least two weeks, accompanied by specific physical and cognitive symptoms that impair daily functioning.
What is panic disorder?: Panic disorder is a psychiatric condition characterized by recurrent, unpredictable panic attacks followed by persistent worry about future episodes and their consequences.
What is psychiatric pharmacotherapy?: Psychiatric pharmacotherapy is the treatment of mental health disorders using prescription medications, adjusted and monitored by a psychiatrist based on clinical response and side effects.
What is the difference between a psychiatrist and psychologist?: A psychiatrist is a medical doctor with specialized training in mental illness who can prescribe medication; a psychologist holds a non-medical degree focused on behavior and cognition and cannot prescribe drugs.
What is the DSM-5?: The DSM-5 is the standardized diagnostic classification manual used by mental health professionals to identify and classify psychiatric conditions based on observable symptoms and diagnostic criteria.
What is transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)?: Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive procedure that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate neural circuits in the brain, primarily to treat depression that has not responded to antidepressant medications.