Glossary / Lexicon

Patient is a term in the medical model which refers to a person who receives treatment.

In the psychology context, a patient refers to a person who is seeking treatment or therapy for a mental health condition or problem. Patients may be seen by psychologists, psychiatrists, or other mental health professionals, and may receive treatment in a variety of settings, including private practices, hospitals, clinics, or community centers.

Patients may be referred to mental health treatment for a variety of reasons, including depression, anxiety, trauma, substance abuse, eating disorders, or other mental health conditions. Treatment may include a variety of approaches, such as talk therapy, medication, or other interventions.

In the psychology context, patients are often referred to as "clients" or "service users," to reflect the idea that they are receiving a service from the mental health professional. The term "patient" is more commonly used in medical settings, where it refers to someone who is receiving treatment for a physical health condition.

Application Areas

• Therapeutic settings
• Hospitals and clinics
• Counseling centers
• Psychiatric facilities

Treatment and Risks

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy
• Medication management
• Exposure therapy
• Risks include potential dependence on therapy or medication

Examples

• A patient undergoing psychotherapy for anxiety disorders
• A patient receiving treatment for depression in a psychiatric hospital
• A patient seeking counseling for relationship issues
• A patient seeing a psychiatrist for medication management of schizophrenia

Similar Concepts and Synonyms

• Client
• Individual receiving treatment
• Participant in therapy

Articles with 'Patient' in the title

• Patient empowerment: Patient empowerment is a concept that has recently emerged in the health scene. It embraces the idea that patients have the right to make their own choices about their health care
• Patient uniformity myth: Patient uniformity myth is the tendency to consider all members of a category as more similar than they are, ignoring their individual differences. Other /More definition: patient uniformity myth refers to the tendency to consider all . . .
• Split-brain patients: Split-brain patients refer to people who have undergone operations severing the Corpus callosum or split-brain operation- these are individuals in whom the corpus collosum connecting- the two (2) hemispheres of the brain has been destroyed

Weblinks

• top500.de: 'Patient' in the glossary of the top500.de
• quality-database.eu: 'Patient' in the glossary of the quality-database.eu
• medizin-und-kosmetik.de: 'Patient' im Lexikon von medizin-und-kosmetik.de (German)

Summary

A patient in the psychology context refers to an individual seeking or receiving treatment for mental health issues. They may be seen in therapeutic settings such as hospitals, clinics, or counseling centers. Treatment options can include therapy and medication management, with potential risks such as dependence on therapy or medication.

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