arthritis

n. inflammation of a joint or joints, causing pain, swelling, and stiffness. A potentially severe and disabling form is rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disorder (see autoimmunity). Arthritis can be chronic, painful, recurrent, and debilitating; psychosocial effects can include lifestyle changes, stress on personal relationships, and depression. —arthritic adj.

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Psychology term of the day

December 26th 2024

anticholinergic effects

side effects that are characteristic of anticholinergic drugs and are also associated with other agents (e.g., tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors) that exert antagonist effects at muscarinic receptors. They include dry mouth, blurred vision, urinary hesitancy or retention, and constipation. Similar antagonistic effects may occur at nicotinic receptors as well. Depending on the specific receptors involved, these effects may also be called antimuscarinic effects or antinicotinic effects.