Free downloads
Free printable mental health and psychiatry references.
Download a complete A-Z mental health glossary, printable cheat sheets by topic, cut-out flash cards, an abbreviations decoder, a "words people mix up" sheet, and a one-page poster. Every file pulls from the same plain-English definitions on Shrinktionary, medically reviewed by a board certified psychiatrist. Print them, save them, and share them. They're for education, not medical or legal advice.
Core downloads
The complete A-Z dictionary
Every term on Shrinktionary in one printable file, alphabetized and written in plain English.
Pocket quick-reference
The words people look up most, each in a single quick line.
Printable flash cards
Cut-out study cards for mental health terms. Print, cut, and learn.
Abbreviations and acronyms
What the short forms mean. SSRI, CBT, PTSD, DSM, and the rest, spelled out.
Words people mix up
The terms that get confused, each with one clear, plain-English distinction.
Cheat sheets by topic
One printable sheet per part of the language. Grab just the group you need, whether that's symptoms, conditions, medications, or therapy terms.
What's inside each download
The dictionary is the whole glossary, A to Z. The cheat sheets break it up by topic, one printable sheet each. The pocket reference is the short list, one line per term. The flash cards are cut-out study cards. The abbreviations sheet spells out the short forms like SSRI, CBT, and PTSD. The "words people mix up" sheet draws the line between terms that get confused, and the poster puts the most common terms on a single page.
Every file is drawn from the same medically reviewed definitions, written and reviewed by Shariq Refai, MD, MBA, FAPA, a board certified psychiatrist who founded shrinkMD, the network's clinical arm. Nothing here is a substitute for care. It's meant to help you understand the words so you can have a better conversation with a professional.
Questions about the downloads
Is there a free mental health dictionary PDF?
Yes. The A-Z dictionary here is a free mental health and psychiatry dictionary PDF with more than 250 plain-English definitions. Download it, print it, or share it, with no signup.
Are these mental health downloads really free?
Yes. Every file is free to download, print, and share, and you don't need to sign up or pay. We don't run ads or sell anything on them. This is part of how The Shrink Network tries to make clear mental health information easy to reach.
Can I print these and share them with other people?
Please do. These are built to be shared. Teachers use them in class, clinicians keep them in waiting rooms, students study from them, and families print a copy to keep. Each page shows that it came from shrinktionary.com so anyone can find the source.
Are these downloads medical advice?
No. They're general education, not medical or legal advice, and they can't tell you what's happening with your own health. They may not reflect the rules or standards where you live. If something matters to you, talk with your own doctor or a licensed professional before you rely on it.
Do these cover DSM-5 terms?
Many entries describe conditions and symptoms the way they're defined in the DSM-5-TR, in plain English. They explain the terms for general understanding, and they don't reproduce or replace the manual. For clinical criteria, use the DSM itself with a professional.
Can I use these in a classroom or clinic?
Yes. Teachers, students, and clinicians are welcome to print and share them. They're free and carry a small note showing they came from shrinktionary.com. They're general education, so pair them with your own materials and a professional's guidance.
Are these written for patients or for professionals?
Both can use them. Everything is in plain English so a patient or family member can follow it, and it's accurate enough that students and clinicians keep it as a quick reference. It's education, not a substitute for care.
What do the words on my after-visit summary mean?
That's exactly what these are for. The dictionary and the abbreviations sheet explain the terms and short forms that show up on visit summaries, charts, and prescriptions, so you can follow your own care and ask better questions.
Who writes and reviews the definitions?
They come from Shrinktionary, written and medically reviewed by Shariq Refai, MD, MBA, FAPA, a board certified psychiatrist. Dr. Refai founded shrinkMD, the clinical arm of The Shrink Network, and we mention that in the spirit of full disclosure.
What format are the files, and will they print well?
They're PDFs built to print cleanly, even in black and white. The dictionary and cheat sheets use a simple two-column layout, and the flash cards are made to cut out along the lines.
How current are these downloads?
They're generated straight from the live dictionary, so they refresh as we add and update terms. Each file shows the date it was last updated on the cover.
What is The Shrink Network?
It's a family of independent mental health sites founded and medically reviewed by Dr. Refai. Shrinktionary is the language layer that defines the words. When you need the next step, from a fuller explanation to actual care, the network points you to the right place.
A note on how to use these
These files are meant to be shared. Every page carries a small note that it came from shrinktionary.com and is part of The Shrink Network. Use them in a classroom, a waiting room, a study group, or your own notes. They're general education, not medical or legal advice, and they may not reflect the rules or standards where you live. Nothing here replaces your own doctor or a licensed professional, so please check anything important against a qualified source before you rely on it.
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