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PHANTOM REACTION

A psychological disturbance occurring in individuals who have lost a limb or other body part. The reaction consists of various

PHYSIOGNOMIC PERCEPTION

A term applied by Heinz Werner to the tendency to view the world in the light of emotional and motor

PHYSIOGNOMY

The attempt to “read” personality from outward appearance, especially from the facial features Physiognomy is at least as old as

PICA

A craving for unnatural foods such as clay, plaster, ashes, hair, starch, and dirt. The term derives from the word

PICK’S DISEASE

A rare degenerative disease of the brain, first described in 1892 by the Czech psychiatrist Arnold Pick (1867-1926).The disease occurs

PONS

A protruding part of the brain stem just above the medulla (plate 1).The pons is part of the hindbrain, the

PRECONSCIOUS

psychoanalytic term for thoughts which are not presently in awareness, but which can be recalled more or less readily.The preconscious

PRENATAL DEVELOPMENT

In recent years there has been a growing realization that the period between conception and birth is a crucial one

PRIMARY GAIN

The basic psychological benefit derived from neurotic symptoms.According to many theorists, and particularly Freud, neurotic symptoms serve the primary purpose

PSYCHIATRIC AIDE

A trained individual who attends to the nonmedical needs of psychiatric patientsThe attendant, or psychiatric aide, is generally in more

PSYCHOMOTOR EXCITEMENT

A general state of physical and psychological overactivity.The excited patient is constantly on the move but totally unproductive because he

PSYCHONEUROSIS

A functional personality disorder characterized by disturbing emotional symptoms such as morbid fears, obsessive thoughts, or depressive states, but without

PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGIC DISORDERS (GENERAL)

Disturbances in the function or structure of a bodily organ resulting from prolonged emotional stress. The symptoms are physical (somatic)

PUERPERAL PSYCHOSIS

Psychotic reactions occurring in the period following childbirth, which is technically known as the puerperium. This period extends from the

PERSONALITY PATTERN DISTURBANCE

A group of personality disorders comprising personality types that are deeply ingrained resistant to change, and predisposed to develop into

PERSONALITY TRAIT THEORY

An approach to personality description originated by Raymond B. Cattell, based on an analysis of characteristics into surface traits and

PAIN DRIVE

drive directed to the removal of noxious stimulation.This basic drive is activated by special sense organs in the form of

PAIRED ASSOCIATES LEARNING

A technique for studying learning. Words, syllables, digits, or other items are learned in pairs, and the subject is later

PARALOGICAL THINKING

False, illogical thinking found particularly in schizophrenic reactionsParalogical thinking may take many forms. A patient who is preoccupied with his

PARAMNESIA

A falsification or distortion of memory; a confusion of fact with fantasy in recalling events.We have all experienced some of