Bipolar jargon explained

Confused by research terminology? Our jargon-busting guide breaks down complex bipolar research terms into clear, accessible language to help you stay informed and engaged.

Research jargon A-Z

Advance Choice Documents

Written plans where people state their mental health treatment preferences for future care, especially during crisis. Find more details here.

Antidepressants

Medications that aim to lift mood and ease symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Antipsychotics

Medicines used to help reduce symptoms like hallucinations, delusions, or severe agitation.

Benzodiazepines (Benzos)

Medicines that help reduce anxiety or help with sleep.

Biopsychosocial Model

A way of understanding health and illness by looking at how biological, psychological, and social factors all interact.

Coproduction

Also known as ‘lived-experience involvement’ this is about making sure people who have personal experience of mental health challenges are involved in designing and/or delivering services.

Demographics

Basic information about a group of people, such as age, gender, ethnicity, or income, often used in research or service planning.

Depot Injection

A long-acting injection of medicine that slowly releases into the body over time.

Dissemination

Sharing research findings or information with the public, professionals, or policy makers in clear and useful ways.

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

A medical treatment that uses small electric currents to the brain to treat severe depression or other conditions when other treatments haven’t worked.

Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM)

Making healthcare decisions based on the best available scientific evidence.

Genetics/Genomics

The study of how traits and risks for diseases, including mental illnesses, are passed down through genes.

Hypnotics

Medications used to help people fall or stay asleep.

LEAP

A Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP) is a group of people who share their personal experiences with a particular issue - like mental health or disability - to help guide and improve policies, services or research.

Medical Model / Biomedical

A way of looking at mental illness mainly as a biological or physical problem that can be treated medically.

Metabolic Psychiatry

A field exploring how changes in body metabolism (like blood sugar or weight) relate to mental health.

Mixed Episodes

Times when someone living with bipolar experiences both symptoms of depression and mania at the same time.

Mixed-Method Research

A way of doing research that combines both qualitative and quantitative research.

Mood Stabilisers

Medications that help keep mood swings, especially in bipolar disorder, more balanced.

Neuromodulation

Techniques that change brain activity using electrical or magnetic stimulation to improve symptoms.

Neuroscience/Neuropsychiatry

The study of how the brain works and how it relates to thoughts, emotions, and mental health conditions.

Oral

Medications taken by mouth, usually in tablet or liquid form.

Peer-Review

A process where other experts check research for quality before it's published.

Pharmacology/Psychopharmacology

The use of medications to treat mental health conditions.

PRN (Pro Re Nata)

Medication taken only when needed, rather than on a regular timetable.

Primary Care

The first point of contact in the health system, like GPs or family doctors.

Psychological Therapies

Talking therapies like counselling or CBT that help people manage mental health challenges.

Qualitative Research

A way of doing research using interviews and stories.

Quantitative Research

A way of doing research using numbers and statistics.

Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs)

A type of study where people are randomly assigned to different treatments to see what works best.

Reference

A source - like a book, article or study - researchers mention in their work to show where their facts, information and ideas came from.

Secondary Care

Specialist services a GP can refer you to, such as a psychiatrist or hospital.

Service User

Also know as a PwLE (person with lived experience), a patient or a consumer, these are different terms to describe someone who is getting or who has had experience of mental health care.

Social Determinants/Social Psychiatry Models

Approaches that focus on how things like housing, income and relationships affect mental health.

Systematic Reviews

Summaries of many studies that look at all the evidence on a topic to draw stronger conclusions.

Tertiary Care

Highly specialised care - for example, in-patient care in a psychiatric unit.

Tranquilisers

Medications that calm or reduce anxiety, including drugs like benzos and some antipsychotics.