D

n23

DEFENSE REFLEX

The sudden response from painful or unexpected stimuli. Also called defence response.

DEFORMITY

The distortion or malformation of a part of the body. See disfigurement.

DEIFICATION

The elevation of a person to the position of a God or the extreme adulation of a person with godlike

DELAYED EFFECT

An effect that is not seen until some time after the event. See causal latency- remote cause.

DELIRIANT

A substance that will bring about a state or delirium.

DELUSION OF POVERTY

The belief that a person has when they think they will soon be destitute.

DEMENTIA RATING SCALE

Used to measure the cognitive status of an adult. Comprises of 36 tasks if varying difficulty. Evaluates performance on subscales,

DEMYELINATING DISEASE

A pathological condition like MS that results from the nerve sheaths being destroyed.

DENSITY FUNCTION

Function of mathematics defining the probablity of distribution.

DEPENDENCY COURT

US court dealing with child abuse issues and neglect.

DEPRESSION AFTER DELIVERY

The less common name for postpartum depression.

DEPTH PERCEPTION

The awareness we have of 3 dimensionality, distance to an object and its solidity.

DERIVED PROPERTY

Psychology. A property taken by part of a whole by virtue of its context.

DESCRIPTIVE BEHAVIORISM

The study of behaviour that states psychology should limit itself to descriptions of behaviour of organisms. See behaviourism- radical behaviourism.

DESMOPRESSIN

Synthetic compound of the hormone made by the pituitary gland called vasopressin.

DETAILED INQUIRY

Part of a clinical interview where the therapist gains understanding by asking direct questions.

DETUMESCENCE

The lessening of swelling especially the genitals. Compare tumescence.

DEVELOPMENTAL NORM

The skills and level of achievement associated with a stage of development.

DEVELOPMENTAL THEORY

1. theory based on the continuity of human development. 2. The idea that mental retardation is due to slower than

DFFITS

Used in regression analysis to diagnose problems.