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cycloserine

cycloserine

1 9.9
A drug used with therapy where people face their fears to help reduce fear and improve learning
  • noun
  • /ˌsaɪkloʊˈsɪriːn/
  • Specialized
: cicloserina
  • In a recent study, patients took cycloserine before therapy to improve their response to treatment.
  • D-cycloserine

Examples

  • The doctor prescribed cycloserine to help with the therapy.

  • Researchers gave patients a low dose of cycloserine before exposure sessions to speed fear extinction.

  • Several trials tested whether cycloserine enhances cognitive behavioural therapy outcomes for social anxiety disorder.

  • Clinicians cautiously used cycloserine as an adjunct, noting timing and dose influence treatment effects.

  • Many studies have shown that cycloserine can improve outcomes.

  • The therapist found that using cycloserine enhanced learning outcomes during exposure therapy.

  • Researchers demonstrated that cycloserine aids in fear extinction by acting on specific brain receptors.

Surface Forms

cycloserine singular
cycloserines plural

Morphology

cycloserine = serine (opaque) = cyclo + serine

As a drug name formed from a chemical combining form and an amino-acid name, the composition is technical and not transparently meaningful to average learners.

Etymology

Cycloserine comes from the parts cyclo- meaning 'circle' or 'ring' and serine, an amino acid, so the name describes the drug's ring-shaped chemistry. A particular form called D-cycloserine acts on brain receptors involved in learning, which is why it is sometimes used with therapy to help people overcome fears.