Antimaniacal

/ænˌtɪmeɪˈnaɪəkəl/ adjective

Definition

Acting against or serving to prevent and treat manic behavior, excessive excitement, or frenzied states in medical and psychiatric contexts.

Etymology

From 'anti-' + 'maniacal' (the adjectival form of maniac). A formal medical term, more common in older psychiatric literature.

Kelly Says

Early antimaniacal treatments ranged from bloodletting to cold water immersion to restraints—the history of psychiatric care shows how the word stayed the same while 'antimaniacal' methods went from brutal to genuinely healing.

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