Glossary

A

Abstinence: The act of refraining from using substances or engaging in certain behaviors.
Addiction: A chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking, continued use despite harmful consequences, and long-lasting changes in the brain.
Advance Care: Health care planning that outlines a patient's preferences for treatment in anticipation of a time when they may no longer be able to express their wishes.
Afterglow: The residual positive psychological effects experienced after the effects of a substance have worn off.
Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD): A medical condition characterized by an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse social, occupational, or health consequences.
Analgesic: A class of drugs designed to relieve pain without causing loss of consciousness.
Anesthetic: Substances that induce insensitivity to pain by blocking nerve sensation.
Anxiety: A mental health disorder characterized by feelings of worry, anxiety, or fear that are strong enough to interfere with one's daily activities.

B

Bioavailability: The proportion of a drug or other substance that enters the circulation when introduced into the body and so is able to have an active effect.
Bipolar Disorder: A mental disorder marked by alternating periods of elation (mania) and depression.
BTC: BTC stands for Be the Change in our non profit organization's full name, Be the Change in Mental Health. The organization embodies a pioneering initiative aimed at reshaping the field of mental healthcare through avant-garde, evidence-based methods. It is rooted in a profound mission to democratize the availability of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy alongside other transformative treatments, ensuring they are accessible to a broad audience within a safe, medically-supervised, and legally compliant framework. At its core, BTC is motivated by a dedication to innovate the realm of mental wellness, advocating for the integration of cutting-edge therapeutic approaches that promise to revolutionize the way mental health issues are understood and treated. Through this commitment, BTC seeks to foster a healthcare landscape where advanced, effective mental health solutions are not just a privilege for the few but a right for everyone, paving the way for a more inclusive, compassionate, and holistic approach to mental well-being.

C

Chronic Pain: Pain that lasts for 12 weeks or longer, often despite medication or treatment.
Clinical Depression: A more severe form of depression, also known as major depression or major depressive disorder, characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and worthlessness.

D

Depression: A mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest.
Dendrites: Branch-like extensions of neurons that receive messages from other neurons.
Dissociative: Drugs that create a sense of detachment from reality.
Dopamine: A neurotransmitter involved in controlling the brain's reward and pleasure centers.
Durability: In medical or therapeutic contexts, it refers to the long-term effectiveness of a treatment.

E

Efficacy: The ability to produce a desired or intended result.
Ego Dissolution: A state of losing the self-referential sense of identity, often experienced under the influence of psychedelics.
Esketamine: A derivative of ketamine used specifically in the treatment of depression and certain other psychiatric disorders.

F

FDA: The Food and Drug Administration, responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the control and supervision of food safety, tobacco products, dietary supplements, prescription and over-the-counter medications, vaccines, biopharmaceuticals, medical devices, and veterinary products.
FEMA: The Federal Emergency Management Agency, which is not directly related to mental health or substance use disorders, but focuses on responding to and recovering from disasters.

G

Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA): A neurotransmitter in the brain that inhibits or reduces the activity of neurons.
Glutamate: The most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter in the vertebrate nervous system.

H

Holotropic Breathwork: A practice that aims to achieve altered states of consciousness for therapeutic purposes through controlled breathing.

I

Intramuscular Injection (IM): A method of injecting medication deep into the muscles, allowing the drug to be absorbed into the bloodstream quickly.
Inpatient: Medical treatment that requires hospitalization or stay in a facility.
Integration: The process of incorporating the insights and experiences from a psychedelic experience into one's daily life.
Intention: A purpose or attitude toward the experience of healing or personal growth.
IV: Intravenous, a method of administering medication or fluids directly into a vein.

K

KAP: Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy, a therapeutic approach combining the use of ketamine with psychotherapy. See Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy below.
KARE Program: Ketamine for the Reduction of Alcohol Relapse - A specific program related to ketamine therapy, details would depend on the organization using the acronym.
KAT: Ketamine-Assisted Therapy, similar to KAP. See Ketamine-Assisted Therapy below.
Ketamine: A medication mainly used for starting and maintaining anesthesia; it is also used for pain control and in treating depression.
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy: Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is an innovative treatment that combines traditional psychotherapy with low doses of ketamine to promote psychological healing and insight. In this approach, ketamine's unique ability to induce altered states of consciousness is used to help patients break through emotional barriers and access deeper psychological insights, particularly beneficial for those with treatment-resistant mental health conditions. The treatment involves a preparatory phase, the ketamine experience guided by medical professionals, and integration sessions where insights gained are woven into the patient's psychological framework. KAP has shown promise in treating depression, anxiety, PTSD, and certain chronic pain conditions, offering rapid improvements in mood and emotional well-being. However, it's not universally suitable and requires thorough screening and a comprehensive treatment plan for optimal safety and efficacy.
Ketamine-Assisted Therapy: Ketamine-Assisted Therapy (KAT) is a therapeutic approach that combines the use of ketamine, a dissociative anesthetic with psychoactive properties, with psychological support and counseling. Administered under the guidance of healthcare professionals, ketamine is used to enhance the therapeutic process by promoting deeper insight, emotional release, and cognitive flexibility. KAT has been explored as a treatment for various mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD, offering potential benefits such as rapid symptom relief and increased receptivity to therapy. The therapy sessions may involve preparation, the ketamine experience itself, and integration sessions, where patients process their experiences with the support of their therapist.

M

Major Depressive Disorder: A mental disorder characterized by at least two weeks of low mood that is present across most situations.
MDMA: 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine, a psychoactive drug primarily used for recreational purposes but also being studied for potential therapeutic use in treating PTSD and other disorders.
Medical Evaluation: An assessment carried out by a healthcare professional to determine the presence of a medical condition.
Medical Intake: The initial process of assessing a patient's health and medical history upon entering a healthcare facility.
Microdose: The act of consuming a sub-therapeutic dose of a substance, aiming to achieve physiological benefits without significant psychoactive effects.
Mood Disorder: A psychological disorder characterized by the elevation or lowering of a person's mood, such as depression or bipolar disorder.

N

Neuromodulators: Chemicals in the nervous system that enhance or diminish the effects of neurotransmitters.
Neuroplasticity: The brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life.
Neurotransmitters: Chemicals that transmit signals across a synapse from one neuron to another in the brain.

O

OCD: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, a mental disorder where people feel the need to check things repeatedly, perform certain routines repeatedly, or have certain thoughts repeatedly.
Outpatient: A patient who receives medical treatment without being admitted to a hospital or treatment facility.

P

Preparation: The process of getting ready for a therapy session or psychedelic experience, often involving setting intentions and creating a supportive environment.
Psilocybin: A naturally occurring psychedelic compound produced by more than 200 species of mushrooms.
Psychotherapy: The treatment of mental disorder by psychological rather than medical means.
Psych Assessment: Short for Psychological Assessment.
Psychiatric Assessment: An evaluation of a person's mental health by a psychiatrist, including history, symptomatology, and often a mental status examination.
PTSD: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, a disorder in which a person has difficulty recovering after experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event.
PTSI: Post-Traumatic Stress Injury, an alternative term to PTSD emphasizing the nature of the condition as an injury rather than a disorder.

R

Relapse: A return to substance use or symptom severity after a period of improvement or recovery.

S

Serotonin: A neurotransmitter that has a wide array of functions in the human body, often referred to as the feel-good neurotransmitter.
Set and Setting: Terms used to describe the context for psychedelic drug experiences, including one's mindset (set) and the physical and social environment (setting).
Sobriety: The state of not being under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Somatic Therapy: A form of psychotherapy that focuses on somatic experiences, or the perceived body sensations associated with emotions and psychological states.
SSRI: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, a class of drugs typically used as antidepressants in the treatment of major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders.
SUD (Substance Use Disorder): A condition in which the use of one or more substances leads to a clinically significant impairment or distress.

T

Talk Therapy: A general term for psychotherapy based on talking about your problems rather than using medication.
Therapy: Treatment intended to relieve or heal a disorder.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: A noninvasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to improve symptoms of depression.
Trauma: A deeply distressing or disturbing experience.
Treatment-Resistant Depression: Depression that does not respond to traditional treatments like medication and therapy.

W

Wellness: An active process of becoming aware of and making choices toward a healthy and fulfilling life.
Withdrawal: Symptoms that occur after chronic use of a substance is reduced or stopped abruptly.