P

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PURGING

The act of expelling food that has just been eaten. This is usually accomplished by vomiting or taking laxatives. Often

PURSUITMETER

A device used to test a subject's ability to follow a moving target. Also an archaic term for a pursuit

PYRAMIDOTOMY

The surgical procedure of cutting the motor tract of the brain.

PRESENILE DEMENTIA

When a patient begins suffering

PRESSURE SENSE

The physical sensation of pressure manifested in the body or on the skin.

PRETEST SENSITIZATION

A phenomena that could have an effect (and to what extent) on a subject when the actual treatment commences.

PRICK EXPERIENCE

A subject's reaction to the sensation when exposed to the application of a pin, needle or minor electrical stimulus is

PRIMARY APPRAISAL

As proposed by U.S. psychologist Richard S. Lazarus, primary appraisal evaluates the relevance of an incident to a person's goals,

PRIMARY DRIVE

An essential drive in living creatures created when a necessary item is missing. (e.g. water or shelter. Also the need

PRIMARY MENTAL DEFICIENCY

A term for intelligence that is below average; genetically based.

PRIMARY SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION

A sexual dysfunction that has always existed in an individual's life. Primary sexual dysfunction is present in all sexual context.

PRIMIPAROUS

A woman who has given birth only once. The birth may result in one or multiple children.

PRINCIPLE OF PROPORTIONALITY

A relatively simple judicial philosophy that states the punishment should fit the crime; Biblically, the "eye for an eye, tooth

PRIVILEGE

Particularly in the medical realm, the information relating to care, treatment and diagnoses directed by a professional in treatment of

PROBABILOGICAL MODEL

A theory that makes the contention that beliefs are interlinked groups of syllogisms. In their vertical structure they contain two

PROBLEM-ORIENTED RECORD (POR)

a problem-oriented record takes into account four components of patient-centered care. They are a database with history, physical exams and

PROCESS OBSERVER

Whether formally assigner or simply assumed by one of its members, a process observer becomes tasked with observing the working

PRODUCTIVE LOVE

Psychoanalytically, the ability of establishing close and interdependent relationships that respect individuality. Essential components include admirable qualities like respect, responsibility

PROFILE ANALYSIS

A profile analysis is a multivariate statistical technique designed to compare groups of individuals using both the shape of their

PROGRAM OUTCOME

Program Outcome is the total of all effects arising from the program's implementation.