What Is a Colonoscopy?

A colonoscopy lets doctors see inside your large intestine, which includes your rectum and colon. The camera allows doctors to view those important parts of your digestive system. Sometimes the purpose of the procedure is to treat a condition. For instance, doctors may perform a colonoscopy to remove polyps or an object from the colon. A doctor who specializes in the digestive system, called a gastroenterologist, usually does the procedure....

April 26, 2025 · 4 min · 731 words · Tamara Riley

What Is a Control Group?

When conducting an experiment, these people are randomly assigned to this group. They also closely resemble the participants who are in the experimental group or the individuals who receive the treatment. Experimenters utilize variables to make comparisons between an experimental group and a control group. Doug Corrance/The Image Bank/Getty Images Avariableis something that researchers can manipulate, measure, and control in an experiment. The independent variable is the aspect of the experiment that the researchers manipulate (or the treatment)....

April 26, 2025 · 2 min · 247 words · Jay Hurst

What Is a Correlation?

A correlation means that there is a relationship between two or more variables. This does not imply, however, that there is necessarily a cause or effect relationship between them. A correlation coefficient is a number that expresses the strength of the relationship between the two variables. Correlations indicate relationships between variables.Kiatdd / Wikimedia Commons It is important to remember that while correlations can help show a relationship, correlation does not indicate causation....

April 26, 2025 · 3 min · 455 words · Michelle Porter

What Is a Crack Addiction?

At a Glance Crack addiction is a substance use disorder that involves the use of crack cocaine. Crack cocaine has serious health risks, which is why treatment is so important. Detoxing the body of the substance and attending psychotherapy can help people with their long-term recovery from crack addiction. Bymuratdeniz / Getty Images What Is Crack Cocaine? Cocaineis a stimulant drug that is extracted from the leaves of the coca plant....

April 26, 2025 · 2 min · 374 words · Scott Williams

What Is a Crisis?

A crisis in mental health refers to a persons reaction to a traumatic situation or event. People respond to crises in different ways, but there is no right way to react. What Is a Crisis? Justin Case / Getty Images There are different ways to define a crisis, depending on who you ask. These are common kinds of crises, but theyre not the only key in. Losing your job, getting divorced, or being involved in an accident are more obvious kinds of crises....

April 26, 2025 · 2 min · 246 words · John Johnson

What Is a Cult of Personality?

Emmanuel Lavigne / EyeEm / Getty Images What Is a Cult of Personality? Khrushchev wasn’t even the first person to use the term in the Soviet Union. Meanwhile, charismatic authority depends on individual followers devotion to and trust in an individual leader. Emmanuel Lavigne / EyeEm / Getty Images The same basic principles apply to the figure around which a cult of personality forms. However, followers ongoing belief and devotion to a personality cult isnt sustained by its leader and mission alone....

April 26, 2025 · 1 min · 213 words · Nicole Stephenson

What Is a Cult? 10 Warning Signs

Some individuals who join cults remain lifelong members. Others break free and share how it felt to be brainwashed by a charismatic leader. But there are also some individuals who leave a cult and report that their experience was positive. south_agency / E+ / Getty Images Studying cults is difficult for a few different reasons. Its nearly impossible to study active cult members due to their unwillingness to let others into their closed societies....

April 26, 2025 · 3 min · 464 words · Sean Malone

What Is a Dependent Variable?

Learn how to tell the difference betweendependent and independent variables. Independent vs. Here are a couple of questions to ask to help you learn which is which. skynesher / Getty Images Which Variable Is the Experimenter Measuring? Keep in mind that the dependent variable is the one being measured. One way to help identify the dependent variable is to remember that itdependson the independent variable. When researchers make changes to the independent variable, they then measure any changes to the dependent variable....

April 26, 2025 · 2 min · 400 words · Ashley Jennings

What Is a Dopamine Agonist?

Dopamine is an importantneurotransmitterthat plays a role in a variety of mental functions. Dopamine levels can have an impact on mood, memory, and behavior. Dopamine agonists are sometimes used to treat disorders linked to problems with dopamine, includingschizophreniaandbipolar disorder. This article will explain how dopamine agonists are used to treat psychotic conditions. This effect is best illustrated byAbilify (aripiprazole)and Rexulti (brexipiprazole). These second-generation antipsychotic/atypical neuroleptics are different from all the otheratypical antipsychoticsbecause of how they work....

April 26, 2025 · 3 min · 443 words · Katie Howard

What Is a Dual Diagnosis?

If you or a loved one have a dual diagnosis,youre not alone. Having a dual diagnosis oftenisnt a coincidence. Mental illness is about twice as prevalent in people diagnosed with an addiction, says Dr. Cavallo. SDI Productions / Getty Images This can make them more likely to continue using the substance and develop anaddictionto it. Dana Cavallo, PhD A person with mental health issues may use alcohol or substances toself-medicatetheir symptoms....

April 26, 2025 · 1 min · 175 words · Elizabeth Rodriguez

What Is a Dyssomnia?

The treatment options may include: A Word From Verywell Dyssomnias are a group of sleeping conditions. Your primary care doctor can provide a referral to a sleep specialist, if you need one. National Library of Medicine.Sleep disorders. PRImageFactory / Getty Images Johns Hopkins Medicine.Primary sleep disorders: Dyssomnias. Jacksonville Sleep Center.What is dyssomnia? National Library of Medicine.Insomnia. National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Narcolepsy fact sheet. National Library of Medicine.Obstructive sleep apnea....

April 26, 2025 · 1 min · 127 words · Jesus Maldonado

What Is a Fetish?

The term fetish has become fairly mainstream. For example, foot fetishes are the most common and openly talked about. However, people’s understanding of what constitutes a fetish and when it becomes a problem has lagged behind. Verywell / Jiaqi Zhou What is a Kink? A kink refers to a non-standard or unconventional sexual practice or fantasy. However, some theories have been suggested. Biological, cultural, emotional, and social factors may all play a role....

April 26, 2025 · 1 min · 199 words · Carly French

What Is a Fixed-Ratio Schedule?

Learn more about what a fixed-ratio schedule is and how it works for reinforcement. Fixed-Ratio Schedule in Operant Conditioning Operant conditioninginvolves strengthening or weakening behaviors via rewards and punishments. This throw in of associative learning changes behavior based on that behavior’s consequences. Schedivy Pictures Inc. / Getty Images The fixed-ratio (FR) schedule is just one of the schedules that Skinner identified. “Fixed” refers to the delivery of rewards on a consistent schedule....

April 26, 2025 · 2 min · 327 words · Michael Miller