Glossary

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AI Companion(also: Chatbot Companion, AI Companionship)

An AI companion is an artificial-intelligence system - typically a text, voice or avatar-based chatbot built on a large language model - explicitly designed to offer users a sense of social presence, intimacy or relational support, marketed as a friend, confidant, mentor or…

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy(also: ACT)

A form of cognitive behavioral therapy that encourages acceptance of unwanted thoughts and feelings rather than fighting or suppressing them, combined with commitment to actions aligned with personal values. For OCD, ACT teaches individuals to acknowledge obsessive thoughts…

Administrative Burden(also: Bureaucratic Burden, Process Burden)

The cumulative effort, time, stress, and negative impacts that result from navigating administrative processes such as applying for benefits, gaining medical evidence, completing forms, and interacting with multiple organisations to achieve a particular goal. For disabled…

Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale(also: ASRS, ASRS-v1.1, Adult ADHD Self-Rating Scale)

A short self-report screening instrument for adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder developed by the World Health Organization in collaboration with researchers from Harvard Medical School. The most widely used version, ASRS-v1.1, is an 18-item questionnaire whose first…

Affective Lability(also: Mood Lability, Emotional Lability)

A pattern of rapid, unpredictable shifts in emotional state, often involving intense fluctuations between positive and negative moods with minimal external provocation. Affective lability is commonly associated with ADHD, bipolar disorder, and borderline personality disorder,…

Alexithymia

A subclinical condition in which a person has marked difficulty identifying, describing, and distinguishing their own emotions, often accompanied by an externally oriented thinking style and limited imagination about inner states. Alexithymia commonly co-occurs with autism,…

Ambiguous Loss

Ambiguous loss, a concept articulated by Pauline Boss, is 'a situation of unclear loss that remains unverified and thus without resolution'. Boss distinguishes two types: physical loss where someone is 'gone, but not for sure' (for example, a missing person) and psychological…

Animal-Assisted Therapy(also: AAT, Pet Therapy)

A non-pharmacological therapeutic approach in which interaction with animals — typically dogs, cats, or horses — is used to support physical, cognitive, social, or emotional health goals. Evidence suggests AAT can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and improve mood and…

Anticipatory Grief(also: pre-death grief, anticipatory mourning)

Grief experienced before an expected loss, particularly common among caregivers of individuals with progressive neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. Anticipatory grief encompasses mourning not only of the anticipated death, but also of the ongoing losses…

Anxiety(also: Anxiety Disorder)

An emotional and physiological state characterised by apprehension about future threats, accompanied by heightened autonomic arousal (elevated heart rate, muscle tension, shallow breathing), attentional bias toward danger cues, and often avoidance behaviour. Clinical anxiety…

Attention Restoration(also: Attention Restoration Theory, ART)

A theoretical framework proposing that directed attention is a finite cognitive resource that becomes depleted through effortful focus and is restored through exposure to environments or activities that engage "soft fascination" — such as natural settings, visuals with fractal…

Augmented Reality Intervention(also: AR Intervention, AR-Based Intervention)

The use of augmented reality technology to deliver therapeutic or supportive interventions by overlaying digital content onto a person's real-world view. For OCD, proposed AR interventions include placing visual barriers on objects being compulsively examined (to interrupt…

Autistic Burnout(also: Autistic Fatigue, Neurodivergent Burnout)

A state of physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion experienced by autistic people, often resulting from the cumulative effect of masking (suppressing autistic traits to appear neurotypical), sensory overload, and the ongoing effort of navigating environments not designed for…

Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response(also: ASMR)

A sensory tingling experience, typically in the scalp and upper spine, triggered by specific audio–visual stimuli such as whispering, soft tapping, or gentle hand movements. ASMR is associated with reduced heart rate and is used by many people — including neurodivergent…

Bipolar Disorder(also: BD, Manic-Depressive Illness)

A group of brain disorders that cause extreme fluctuations in a person's mood, energy, and ability to function. Bipolar disorder involves episodes of mania (elevated mood, increased activity, reduced need for sleep) and depression (persistent sadness, low energy, loss of…

Borderline Personality Disorder(also: BPD)

A mental health condition characterized by extreme fluctuations in mood, energy, and ability to function, along with patterns of unstable relationships, distorted self-image, and intense emotional responses. People with BPD may experience impulsive behavior, chronic feelings of…

Camouflaging(also: Masking, Social Camouflage, Autistic Masking)

Camouflaging, also known as masking, is the conscious or unconscious suppression of autistic traits and adoption of neurotypical behaviors in order to fit into social situations. This can include forcing eye contact, suppressing stimming, rehearsing social scripts, and imitating…

Caregiver Burnout(also: carer burnout, caregiver exhaustion)

A state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that occurs when a caregiver does not get the support or respite they need, often resulting from the sustained demands of caring for a person with a chronic or progressive condition such as Alzheimer's disease. Symptoms…

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy(also: CBT)

A widely used, evidence-based form of psychotherapy that focuses on identifying and modifying dysfunctional thought patterns and behaviors. CBT is based on the premise that thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are interconnected, and that changing negative thinking patterns can…

Compassion Fatigue(also: secondary traumatic stress, empathy fatigue)

A state of emotional and physical exhaustion that results from the prolonged exposure to others' suffering, particularly in caregiving contexts. Unlike burnout, which develops gradually from chronic workplace stress, compassion fatigue can emerge rapidly and is characterized by…

Compulsion(also: Compulsive Behavior, Ritual)

Repetitive behaviors or mental acts that a person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession or according to rigid rules, aimed at reducing anxiety or preventing a feared outcome. Compulsions can be overt physical behaviors (hand washing, checking locks, ordering…

Contamination OCD(also: Contamination Obsessions)

A subtype of OCD characterized by obsessive fears of contamination from dirt, germs, bodily fluids, chemicals, or other perceived pollutants, accompanied by compulsive behaviors like excessive hand washing, cleaning, avoidance of "contaminated" surfaces, and seeking reassurance…

Continuing Bonds

Continuing bonds is a theory of grief, developed by Klass, Silverman and Nickman in the 1990s, which holds that healthy mourning often involves maintaining an ongoing relationship with a deceased or absent loved one rather than achieving closure and 'letting go'.…

Deep Pressure Therapy(also: DPT, Deep Pressure Stimulation, Deep Touch Pressure)

A therapeutic approach that uses firm, distributed tactile pressure — such as from weighted blankets, compression garments, or inflatable vests — to reduce anxiety, stress, and physiological arousal. Deep pressure stimulation activates the parasympathetic nervous system,…

Depression(also: Major Depressive Disorder, Clinical Depression)

A mental health condition characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest in activities. Depression can significantly impact cognitive function, including concentration, memory, and decision-making, which affects how individuals interact with…

Diagnostic Overshadowing

A clinical phenomenon in which the symptoms or behaviours of a person with a disability are incorrectly attributed to their existing disability rather than being recognised as signs of a separate condition. In the context of intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD),…

Digital Well-Being(also: Digital wellbeing, Digital wellness)

A field of research, design, and consumer technology focused on supporting healthy, intentional relationships between people and their devices. Digital well-being spans screen-time tracking, attention management, notification control, distraction blockers, intentional-use…

Digital mental health(also: E-mental health, Digital therapeutics)

The use of digital technologies including AI chatbots, mood tracking apps, and online therapeutic platforms to support mental health assessment, monitoring, and intervention. Designing accessible and explainable AI for digital mental health is particularly challenging because…

Disenfranchised Grief

Disenfranchised grief, a concept developed by Kenneth Doka, describes the experience of people who 'incur a loss that is not, or cannot be, openly acknowledged, publicly mourned or socially supported'. Because the relationship or loss lies outside what a society recognises as…

Distraction Blocker(also: Focus app, Website blocker, Digital self-control tool)

A category of digital well-being software designed to restrict access to distracting applications, websites, or notifications so that users can sustain focus on work or study. Distraction blockers range from operating-system features such as Apple Screen Time and Android Focus…

Dysregulation(also: Emotional Dysregulation, Sensory Dysregulation)

Dysregulation is a state in which a person's emotional, sensory, or physiological response exceeds what they can manage given the current context - typically manifesting as distress, overwhelm, shutdown, or outburst. It is common in autism, ADHD, noise sensitivity, PTSD, and a…

Ecological Momentary Assessment(also: EMA, Experience Sampling)

A research and clinical method that involves repeatedly sampling people's behaviors, experiences, and physiological states in real time within their natural environments. EMA typically uses smartphone prompts to ask users to report their current thoughts, feelings, activities,…

Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale(also: EPDS)

The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is a validated 10-item self-report screening questionnaire designed to identify symptoms of depression during pregnancy and in the postpartum period. Each item is scored 0–3, with a total score of 10 or above typically indicating…

Email Anxiety(also: Inbox Anxiety)

Intense anxiety, dread, or avoidance behavior around checking, opening, and responding to emails, commonly experienced by people with ADHD. Email anxiety can involve physical symptoms like racing heart and nausea, fear of receiving negative feedback or reminders of missed…

Emotion Regulation(also: Affect Regulation, Self-Regulation of Emotion)

The processes by which a person monitors, evaluates, and modifies emotional reactions to achieve goals or meet situational demands — including selecting or changing situations, directing attention, reframing meaning (cognitive reappraisal), and adjusting outward expression.…

Emotional Dysregulation(also: Emotion Dysregulation, Emotional Impulsivity, Affective Dysregulation)

Difficulty managing emotional responses, characterized by rapid, intense, and often disproportionate reactions to stimuli with limited reflection or regulation. Emotional dysregulation is a core yet frequently overlooked feature of adult ADHD, not included in DSM-5 diagnostic…

Emotional Regulation(also: Emotion Regulation, Affect Regulation)

The ability to manage, modify, and respond to emotional experiences in ways that are situationally appropriate and aligned with one's goals. Emotional regulation is a significant challenge for people with ADHD, who may experience heightened emotional reactivity, difficulty…

Empathetic technical support(also: Humanizing tech support)

Technical assistance that combines practical problem-solving with emotional attunement to the user's affective state, particularly important when supporting disabled users who may experience frustration, anxiety, or overwhelm from technology difficulties. In educational…

Existential OCD

A non-standardized but clinically recognized subtype of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) characterized by obsessions about the nature of reality, consciousness, free will, mortality, or the fate of humanity. In the GenAI era, existential OCD commonly presents as intrusive…

Exposure and Response Prevention(also: ERP, Exposure Therapy)

The gold-standard evidence-based treatment for OCD in which individuals gradually confront situations that trigger their obsessions (exposure) while refraining from performing their usual compulsive responses (response prevention). ERP follows a structured approach using a…

Expressive Writing(also: Pennebaker Paradigm)

A therapeutic writing practice, formalised by James Pennebaker in the 1980s, in which individuals write about emotionally significant or traumatic experiences for short, repeated sessions. Decades of empirical evidence link expressive writing to measurable benefits in physical…

Generalized Anxiety Disorder(also: GAD)

A mental-health condition characterized by persistent, excessive, and often uncontrollable worry about a range of everyday situations, accompanied by physical and cognitive symptoms such as restlessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, muscle tension, and sleep disturbance.…

Harm OCD(also: Harm Obsessions)

A subtype of OCD characterized by intrusive, unwanted thoughts about causing harm to oneself or others, despite having no desire or intention to act on these thoughts. People with harm OCD may experience distressing mental images of violence, fear that they might lose control…

Hypervigilance

A state of heightened alertness and sensitivity to potential threats in one's environment, commonly associated with PTSD, anxiety disorders, and trauma. Hypervigilant individuals may constantly scan for danger, feel uncomfortable with people behind them, need clear exit routes,…

Imposter syndrome(also: Impostor phenomenon)

A psychological pattern in which individuals doubt their accomplishments and fear being exposed as a fraud, despite evidence of competence. Imposter syndrome is particularly prevalent among neurodivergent individuals in professional settings, where internalized stigma about…

Impostor Syndrome(also: Impostor Phenomenon, Impostorism)

A psychological pattern in which individuals doubt their accomplishments and fear being exposed as fraudulent despite evidence of competence. For people with disabilities, impostor syndrome is often intensified by ableist institutional structures: accommodations may be…

Internalized stigma(also: Self-stigma, Internalized ableism)

The process by which individuals with disabilities or neurodivergent conditions absorb and internalize negative societal attitudes about their condition, leading to shame, reduced self-worth, and reluctance to seek support. Internalized stigma can manifest as viewing one's…

Intrusive Thoughts(also: Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts)

Unwanted, distressing thoughts, urges, or images that enter a person’s mind involuntarily and are typically experienced as ego-dystonic (contrary to the person’s values or intentions). Intrusive thoughts are the defining feature of the obsessions in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder…

Journaling(also: Diary Writing, Reflective Writing)

The regular practice of recording personal thoughts, feelings, and experiences in written, spoken, visual, or musical form. Journaling has documented benefits for mental health, emotion regulation, self-insight, and identity construction, and is widely used in therapy,…

Just-in-Time Intervention(also: JITI, Just-in-Time Adaptive Intervention, JITAI)

A technology-delivered intervention that provides the right type and amount of support at the right time, adapting to the user's current context, mental state, and needs. Unlike scheduled therapy sessions, just-in-time interventions use sensing technologies (smartphones,…