Glossary of terms used on this site

:  an act of depressing or a state of being depressed: as

a (1):  a state of feeling sad

(2):  a mood disorder marked especially by sadness, inactivity, difficulty with thinking and concentration, a significant increase or decrease in appetite and time spent sleeping, feelings of dejection and hopelessness, and sometimes suicidal thoughts or an attempt to commit suicide

The modern disease theory of alcoholism states that problem drinking is sometimes caused by a disease of the brain, characterized by altered brain structure and function.

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that helps control the brain's reward and pleasure centers. Dopamine also helps regulate movement and emotional responses, and it enables us not only to see rewards, but to take action to move toward them.

DSM -- Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders <This patient arguably meets 6 of the 11 DSM-5 diagnostic criteria, on the basis of the details of the case presentation alone …—Sarah E. Wakeman et al., The New England Journal of Medicine, 13 Nov. 2014>

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) is the 2013 update to the American Psychiatric Association's (APA) classification and diagnostic tool. In the United States the DSM serves as a universal authority for psychiatric diagnosis. Treatment recommendations, as well as payment by health care providers, are often determined by DSM classifications, so the appearance of a new version has significant practical importance