Glossary of Key Terms
Glossary of Key Terms
| Term | Definition |
| Agitation (Ajitasyon) | A clinical state of internal restlessness and tension characterized by increased motor, verbal, and/or behavioral activity. It is a symptom of an underlying medical or psychiatric condition and can pose a safety risk to the individual and others. |
| Agitated Depression (Ajite Depresyon) | A subtype of major depressive disorder where the individual experiences both deep sadness and symptoms of agitation, such as restlessness, tension, and aimless motor movements. |
| Anxiety Agitation (Anksiyete Ajitasyon) | A condition where intense, uncontrollable anxiety manifests as a noticeable increase in restlessness and motor activity, such as pacing, hand-wringing, and rapid speech. |
| Antipsychotics | A class of medication used in the pharmacological treatment of agitation, particularly when the agitation is associated with psychotic symptoms like delusions or hallucinations. |
| Benzodiazepines | A class of medication used to treat agitation by rapidly reducing anxiety, restlessness, and muscle tension. They are often a first-choice treatment for agitation related to alcohol or substance withdrawal. |
| De-escalation (Sözel Yatıştırma) | A non-pharmacological intervention technique involving calm, respectful, and supportive verbal communication to soothe an agitated person without resorting to physical or chemical restraints. |
| Delirium | An acute confusional state with a sudden onset and fluctuating levels of consciousness, often caused by infections, metabolic disorders, or medication side effects. It is one of the most common and severe causes of agitation. |
| Dementia (Demans) | A progressive loss of brain function that can lead to restlessness and agitation, especially in the later stages of the illness. |
| Emotional Agitation (Duygusal Ajitasyon) | An internal state of intense emotional distress, such as anxiety, fear, anger, or tension, that may be a precursor to or a milder form of psychomotor agitation, not yet accompanied by significant physical activity. |
| Psychomotor Agitation (Psikomotor Ajitasyon) | The externalization of internal mental tension and anxiety through aimless, repetitive, and restless physical movements. Examples include pacing, wringing hands, and tapping fingers. |
| Verbal De-escalation | See De-escalation. |
| Withdrawal Syndromes (Yoksunluk Sendromları) | A set of symptoms, including restlessness, tremors, and agitation, that occur when a substance like alcohol is abruptly discontinued. |