Lyphe Clinic Conditions Glossary.
Welcome to Lyphe Clinic’s Medical Cannabis Conditions Glossary – your trusted UK guide to conditions potentially treatable with medical cannabis.
As the UK’s leading medical cannabis clinic, Lyphe connects patients with specialist clinicians who are qualified to prescribe cannabis-based products for medicinal use (CBPMs).
This clinically reviewed A–Z glossary helps patients and caregivers understand conditions like chronic pain, anxiety, PTSD, insomnia, and neurological disorders.
Explore how medical cannabis treatment could support patients in the UK and Channel Islands.
Glossary of Conditions
A
| Acute Post Traumatic Symptoms | Short-term post-traumatic stress symptomsthat occur within the first month after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. (Note: if symptoms persist beyond one month, the diagnosis may shift to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.) |
| Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) | A mental health condition with PTSD-like symptoms such as intrusive memories, heightened arousal, or avoidance—that develops shortly after trauma and lasts less than one month. |
| Adjustment Disorder | Emotional or behavioural symptoms in response to an identifiable stressor (e.g., divorce, job loss). Symptoms typically arise within 3 months of the event and resolve within 6 months once the stressor or its consequences end. |
| Agoraphobia | An anxiety disorder involving intense fear and avoidance of situations where escape might be difficult or help unavailable, such as public spaces or crowded areas. |
| Alzheimer’s Disease | A progressive neurodegenerative disordercharacterised by memory loss, cognitive decline, behavioural changes, and impaired daily functioning. |
| Ankylosing Spondylitis | A chronic inflammatory arthritis that primarily affects the spine and sacroiliac joints, leading to pain, stiffness, and potential spinal fusion. |
| Anorexia Nervosa | An eating disorder marked by extreme food restriction, intense fear of gaining weight, and a distorted body image. |
| Anxiety Disorders | A group of conditions characterised by excessive fear, worry, and physiological arousal that interfere with daily functioning (e.g., Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder). |
| Arthritis | Inflammation of the joints, causing pain, swelling, stiffness and reduced mobility. |
| Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) | A neurodevelopmental disorderinvolving persistent patterns of inattention, impulsivity, and/or hyperactivity that impair functioning or development. |
B
| Back and Neck Pain | Discomfort in the spinal or cervical regions due to muscle strain, injury, or degenerative conditions such as osteoarthritis. |
| Behavioural Insomnia of Childhood (BIC) | A paediatric sleep disorder where a child relies on specific routines, conditions, or caregiver behaviours to initiate or maintain sleep. |
| Binge Eating Disorder (BED) | An eating disorder characterised by recurrent episodes of consuming large quantities of food rapidly, accompanied by feelings of loss of control and distress, but without regular compensatory behaviours. |
| Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depression) | A mental health condition marked by extreme mood swings including emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression). |
| Bladder Pain Syndrome | Chronic bladder pain and urinary symptoms, such as urgency and frequency, without evidence of infection. |
| Bulimia Nervosa | An eating disorder involving cycles of binge eating followed by purging through vomiting, fasting, or excessive exercise, often driven by body image concerns. |
| Burnout Syndrome | A state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress, particularly in the workplace. |
C
| Cancer-Associated Cachexia | Progressive weight loss, muscle wasting, and appetite loss in cancer patients, often resistant to nutritional support. |
| Cancer-Related Appetite Loss | A common symptom in cancer patients involving a reduced desire to eat due to the illness or treatment side effects. |
| Cancer-Related Pain | Pain associated with cancer itself or its treatment, which can be acute or chronic and may require specialised management. |
| Checking Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder | A subtype of OCD involving compulsive checking behaviours (e.g., doors, appliances) often driven by fear of harm or making a mistake. |
| Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting | Digestive side effects caused by cancer treatment drugs, managed with anti-nausea medications. |
| Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS/ME) | A long-term illness characterised by extreme fatigue not improved by rest and worsened by activity. |
| Chronic Insomnia | Long-term difficulty falling or staying asleep, occurring at least three times a week for three months or more. |
| Chronic PTSD | Post-traumatic stress disorder that persists for more than three months, often becoming more complex and harder to treat over time. |
| Chronic Pain | Pain that lasts for more than three months, often without a clear cause. |
| Chronic Stress | Prolonged and constant feelings of stress that can negatively affect health, leading to issues like anxiety, depression, and cardiovascular problems. |
| Cluster Headache | A rare primary headache disorder causing excruciating unilateral pain, often centred around the eye, occurring in cyclical patterns. |
| Colitis | Inflammation of the colon causing abdominal pain, diarrhoea and in some cases, bleeding. |
| Comorbid Insomnia | Insomnia that occurs alongside another medical or psychiatric condition. |
| Comorbid PTSD | Post Traumatic Stress Disorder that coexists with another mental health condition, such as depression, anxiety or substance use disorders. |
| Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) | A trauma disorder resulting from prolonged or repeated trauma, marked by emotional dysregulation, negative self-perception, and interpersonal difficulties |
| Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) | A chronic pain condition typically affecting a limb after an injury, with prolonged pain and changes in skin colour or temperature. |
| Congestive Heart Failure | A chronic cardiac condition where the heart cannot pump blood effectively, leading to fatigue, breathlessness, and fluid accumulation. |
| Contamination & Cleaning Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder | A subtype of OCD involving obsessive fears of germs or contamination, leading to compulsive cleaning or avoidance behaviours. |
| Crohn’s Disease | A chronic inflammatory bowel disease affecting any part of the digestive tract, causing pain, diarrhoea and weight loss |
D
| Delayed-Onset PTSD | A form of PTSD where symptoms appear at least six months after the traumatic event. |
| Depression | A mood disorder characterised by persistent sadness, loss of interest or pleasure, changes in sleep and appetite, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. |
| Dysmenorrhea (severe menstrual pain) | Severe cramping and pelvic pain that occurs during menstruation, often disrupting daily activities. |
E
| Eating Disorders | A group of mental health conditions characterised by abnormal eating behaviours and preoccupation with body weight or shape (e.g., Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder). |
| Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes | A group of inherited connective tissue disorders causing joint hypermobility, skin elasticity, and fragility. |
| Endometriosis | A condition where endometrial-like tissue grows outside the uterus, leading to pelvic pain, menstrual irregularities, and possible infertility. |
| Epilepsy (Adult) |
A neurological disorder characterised by recurrent unprovoked seizures caused by abnormal brain activity. |
F
| Fibromyalgia |
A chronic disorder marked by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and cognitive difficulties (“fibro fog”). |
G
| Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) |
A long-term condition involving excessive, uncontrollable worry about multiple aspects of daily life, persisting for at least six months. |
| Glaucoma (Historical/Not Recommended) | An optic neuropathy associated with increased intraocular pressure. Cannabis can lower eye pressure for a few hours but is not recommended for long-term treatment due to limited efficacy and risks. |
H
| Hoarding Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder | A subtype of OCD marked by persistent difficulty discarding possessions, leading to clutter and distress. |
| HIV-Associated Peripheral Neuropathy | Nerve damage linked to HIV infection or its treatments, causing burning pain, tingling, and numbness in the extremities. |
| HIV/AIDS-Related Wasting Syndrome (see W also) | Unintentional weight loss and fatigue despite adequate nutrition, often accompanied by loss of muscle mass. |
I
| Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) | A group of conditions, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, causing chronic inflammation of thegastrointestinal tract. |
| Insomnia | A sleep disorder involving difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, resulting in daytime fatigue or impairment. |
| Intrusive Thoughts Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (Pure O) | A form of OCD involving distressing, unwanted intrusive thoughts without obvious outward compulsions, though mental rituals may occur. |
| Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) | A functional GI disorder with symptoms like bloating, abdominal pain, and altered bowel habits (diarrhoea, constipation, or both). |
J
| Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) |
A childhood autoimmune arthritis causing persistent joint inflammation, swelling, and stiffness. |
K
| Kidney Failure | A condition in which the kidneys lose the ability to adequately filter waste from the blood. |
L
| Leukemia | A cancer of the bone marrow and blood, marked by abnormal production of white blood cells that impairs normal blood function. |
| Lower Back Pain and Sciatica | Pain in the lumbar region, sometimes radiating down one or both legs due to irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve. |
| Lymphoma | A cancer originating in the lymphatic system, involving abnormal growth of lymphocytes (immune cells), affecting lymph nodes and immune cells. |
M
| Maintenance Insomnia | Difficulty staying asleep through the night, leading to frequent or prolonged awakenings. |
| Menopause | The permanent cessation of menstruation, typically diagnosed after 12 consecutive months without a period, accompanied by hormonal changes and physical/psychological symptoms.. |
| Migraines | Severe headaches often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light or sound, sometimes preceded by aura. |
| Motor Neurone Disease (MND) | A group of progressive neurological disorders that destroy motor neurons, leading to muscle weakness, atrophyand impaired movement. |
| Movement Disorders | Neurological conditions that affect the quality, speed, or control of movement, including tremors, dystonia, and Parkinsonian syndromes. |
| Multiple Sclerosis (MS) | A chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the central nervous system, leading to demyelination, nerve damage, and varied neurological symptoms. |
| Musculoskeletal Pain | Pain that affects muscles, ligaments, tendons, and bones, often resulting from injury or chronic strain. |
N
| Narcolepsy | A chronic sleep disorder characterised by overwhelming daytime sleepiness, sudden sleep attacks, and sometimes cataplexy (sudden loss of muscle tone). |
| Neuropathic Pain | Pain caused by damage or dysfunction in the nervous system, often described as burning, tingling, or shooting sensations. |
O
| Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) | A mental health disorder involving unwanted, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviours (compulsions). |
| Onset Insomnia | Difficulty initially falling asleep. |
| Orthorexia | An unhealthy obsession with eating foods one considers healthy, often leading to nutritional deficiencies and social isolation. |
P
| Palliative Care | Specialised medical care aimed at improving quality of life by relieving symptoms, pain, and emotional stress in people with serious or life-limiting illnesses. |
| Panic Disorder | An anxiety disorder characterised by recurrent unexpected panic attacks and fear of future attacks. |
| Parkinson’s Disease | A progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting movement, causing tremors, stiffness, slowness, and balance difficulties. |
| Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) | An infection of the female reproductive organs, often caused by sexually transmitted pathogens, leading to pelvic pain and infertility if untreated. |
| Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD) / Dysthymia | A chronic form of depression with symptoms lasting for at least two years, typically less severe but longer-lasting than major depression. |
| Peripheral Neuropathy (incl. Diabetic & HIV-Associated) | Nerve damage leading to burning, tingling, stabbing pain, or numbness in the hands and feet. |
| Pica | An eating disorder involving consumption of non-nutritive substances like dirt, paper, or chalk, often linked to nutritional deficiencies. |
| Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) | A hormonal disorder in women involving irregular menstrual cycles, excess androgen levels, and polycystic ovaries. |
| Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) | A condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, with symptoms like flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance, hyperarousal, and negative mood changes. |
| Postherpetic Neuralgia (Zoster-Associated Neuralgia) | Persistent neuropathic pain following shingles, often severe and localised to the affected dermatome. |
| Postnatal / Postpartum Depression | A depressive disorder occurring after childbirth, marked by sadness, fatigue, irritability, and difficulty bonding with the baby. |
| Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) | A group of emotional, physical, and behavioural symptoms occurring in the days before menstruation. |
| Psychotic Depression | A severe form of depression accompanied by psychosis, including hallucinations or delusions. |
Q
| Quadriplegia-Related Spasticity | Muscle stiffness, spasms, and impaired motor control following cervical spinal cord injury, often accompanied by neuropathic pain and sleep disturbance. |
R
| Relationship Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (ROCD) | A subtype of OCD involving intrusive doubts and compulsions about the quality, stability, or “rightness” of a romantic relationship. |
| Religious or Scrupulosity Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder | A subtype of OCD marked by obsessive fears of sin, immorality, or offending religious rules, leading to compulsive prayer, confession, or reassurance-seeking. |
| Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) | A neurological disorder causing uncomfortable leg sensations and an uncontrollable urge to move them, typically worse at night. |
S
| Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) | A type of depression occurring at predictable times of year, most often in winter, linked to reduced sunlight exposure. |
| Seizures | Sudden, uncontrolled electrical disturbances in the brain that may cause convulsions, sensory disturbances, or loss of consciousness. |
| Situational Depression | A short-term depressive episode triggered by a specific stressful event or life change, typically resolving as circumstances improve. |
| Sleep Disorders | Conditions that affect sleep quality, timing, or duration(e.g., insomnia, sleep apnoea, narcolepsy). |
| Sleep Disorders (Insomnia and its subtypes) | Sleep disturbances involving difficulty initiating sleep (onset insomnia), maintaining sleep (maintenance insomnia), or achieving restorative sleep. |
| Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia) | An intense fear of social situations and being judged by others, often leading to avoidance behaviour. |
| Spasticity | Continuous involuntary muscle contractions causing stiffness and difficulty with movement, commonly seen in neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy. |
| Specific Phobias | Intense, irrational fear of a particular object, situation, or activity that provokes avoidance or distress (e.g., fear of flying, spiders). |
| Spinal Cord Injury–Related Neuropathic Pain | Chronic neuropathic pain that develops below the level of a spinal cord injury, often refractory to conventional pain medications. |
| Stress Disorders | Mental health conditions resulting from prolonged or intense stress, such as PTSD, adjustment disorder, or burnout. |
| Stroke | A medical emergency where blood flow to part of the brain is interrupted or reduced, causing brain tissue damage and neurological deficits. |
| Symmetry & Ordering Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder | A subtype of OCD involving compulsions to arrange objects symmetrically or perform actions in precise order. |
T
| Terminal Cancer Pain | Severe, persistent pain experienced in the advanced stages of cancer, requiring palliative and specialised pain management. |
| Tourette’s Syndrome | A neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by multiple motor tics and at least one vocal tic, typically beginning in childhood. |
| Trigeminal Neuralgia | A neurological condition causing sudden, severe, stabbing pain in the face due to trigeminal nerve dysfunction. |
U
| Ulcerative Colitis | A chronic inflammatory bowel disease causing inflammation and ulceration in the lining of the colon and rectum, leading to diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and rectal bleeding. |
V
| Vestibular Migraine | A migraine subtype marked by recurrent vertigo, imbalance, and motion sensitivity with or without headache. |
| Vomiting, Refractory (Non-Chemotherapy) | Persistent vomiting not caused by chemotherapy that does not respond to standard antiemetics. |
W
| Wasting Syndrome (HIV/AIDS-Related Cachexia) | Unintentional weight loss with reduced appetite and fatigue occurring in advanced HIV infection despite adequate nutrition. |
X
| No entries under this letter. |
Y
| No entries under this letter. |
Z
| Zoster-Associated Neuralgia (Postherpetic Neuralgia) | Persistent neuropathic pain following shingles, typically localised to a dermatomal distribution. |
If you would like to understand more about medical cannabis terms, simply visit our Lyphe Clinic Medical Cannabis Glossary.