Medical terms - Letter P (page 27) | MedicalVocabulary.org

Pseudoobstruction, neuropathic

Intestinal pseudoobstruction caused by damage to nerve cells in the walls of the bowel
Pseudoparalysis, spastic

Better known as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). A dementing disease of the brain. CJD is believed to be due to a highly unconventional transmissible agent named a prion. It is not a bacteria, not a virus, in fact not…
Pseudorubella

Synonymous with Roseola infantum, a viral disease of infants sudden onset of high fever which lasts several and young children with days and then suddenly subsides leaving in its wake a fine red rash. The causative…
Pseudotumor cerebri

Pseudotumor cerebri: Increased pressure within the brain in the absence of a tumor. Symptoms may include headache, nausea, vomiting, pulsating intracranial noises, singing in the ears, double vision, loss of visual…
Pseudoxanthoma elasticum

Pseudoxanthoma elasticum: (Abbreviated PXE). A genetic disorder characterized by degeneration of elastic fibers and tiny areas of calcification in the skin, back of the eyes (retinae), and blood vessels. PXE can be…
Psittacosis (parrot fever)

Fever: An infectious disease due to a bacteria (Chlamydia psittaci) contracted from psittacine birds, especially caged birds like parrots, parakeets, and lovebirds and also in turkey processing plants. The bacteria…
Psoas

Muscles of the lower back (the loin). There are two psoas muscles on each side of the back. The larger of the two is called the psoas major and the smaller the psoas minor. The psoas major originates at the spine around…
Psoralen

Any of a number of drugs and other substances containing chemicals that react with ultraviolet (UV) light to cause darkening of the skin
Psoralen photochemotherapy

See: PUVA
Psoriasis

Psoriasis: A reddish, scaly rash often located over the surfaces of the elbows, knees, scalp, and around or in the ears, navel, genitals or buttocks. Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that is mediated by T lymphocytes…
Psoriasis vulgaris

The medical name for the most common form of psoriasis ('vulgaris' means common). About 80% of people with psoriasis have this type. It is also called plaque psoriasis because of the characteristic plaques on the skin…
Psoriasis, erythrodermic

A particularly inflammatory form of psoriasis that often affects most of the body surface. It is the least common form of psoriasis and most commonly appears on people who have unstable plaque psoriasis, where lesions…
Psoriasis, flexural

A form of psoriasis found in the armpits, groin, under the breasts and in other flexion creases (skin folds) such as those around the genitals and buttocks. This form of psoriasis appears as smooth, dry areas of skin…
Psoriasis, guttate

A type of psoriasis characterized by red, scaly patches of inflamed skin on all parts of the body. It is associated with a lung infection in many cases
Psoriasis, inverse

Also called flexural psoriasis, a form of psoriasis found in the armpits, groin, under the breasts and in other flexion creases (skin folds) such as those around the genitals and buttocks. This form of psoriasis appears…
Psoriasis, plaque

The most common form of psoriasis -- about 80% of people with psoriasis have this type. Plaque psoriasis can appear on any skin surface, although the knees, elbows, scalp, trunk and nails are the most common locations…
Psoriasis, pustular

A type of recurring psoriasis characterized by the appearance of pus-filed pimples and sores in clusters. It can be intensely painful, and hospitalization may be required
Psoriatic arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis: Joint inflammation associated with psoriasis. Psoriatic arthritis is a potentially destructive and deforming form of arthritis that affects approximately 10% of persons with psoriasis.
PSP

Progressive supranuclear palsy, a neurologic disorder of unknown origin that gradually destroys cells in many areas of the brain, leading to serious and permanent problems with the control of gait and balance. The most…
Psyche

1. The mind.2. The spirit or soul.3. In psychiatry, the mind as the center of thought, emotion, and behavior. In Greek mythology, Psyche was a young woman who loved Eros and was loved by him and was united with him…
Psychedelic

1. Hallucinogenic, distorting perception and awareness. 2. A drug such as LSD or mescaline that has hallucinogenic properties.The word psychedelic was coined by the British psychiatrist Humphry Osmond (1917-2004) who…
Psychiatric

Pertaining to or within the purview of psychiatry, the medical specialty concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental illness. Psychiatric may refer to mental illness. For example, the 42-year-old…
Psychiatric trauma

An experience that is emotionally painful, distressful, or shocking and which may result in lasting mental and physical effects. Psychiatric trauma is essentially a normal response to an extreme event. It involves the…
Psychiatrist

A physician (an M.D.) who specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental illness. Psychiatrists must receive additional training and serve a supervised residency in their specialty. They may also have…
Psychiatry

The medical specialty concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental illness. Psychiatrists are MDs who receive additional training and serve a supervised residency in their specialty. They may also…
Psycho-oncology

The psychological, social, behavioral, and ethical aspects of cancer. Psycho-oncology addresses the two major psychological dimensions of cancer: (1) the psychological responses of patients to cancer at all stages of…
Psychodynamic drug

See: Psychotropic drug
Psychodynamic medication

See: Psychotropic medication
Psychodynamic therapy

A type of psychotherapy that draws on psychoanalytic theory to help people understand the roots of emotional distress, often by exploring unconscious motives, needs, and defenses.
Psychogenic

Caused by the mind or emotions.
Psychoimmunology

The study of the connections between the mind and the immune system. The basic concept of psychoimmunology is the concept that the mind and body are inseparable. It follows that stress affects the body's ability to…
Psychological child abuse

Child abuse: Also known as emotional child abuse, this is the third most frequently reported form of child abuse (after child neglect and physical child abuse), accounting 17% of all cases of child abuse. It is likely…
Psychological imprinting

A remarkable genetic phenomenon that occurs in animals, and theoretically humans, in the first hours of life. The newborn creature bonds to the type of animals it meets at birth, and begins to pattern its behavior after…
Psychologist, clinical

A professional specializing in diagnosing and treating diseases of the brain, emotional disturbance, and behavior problems. Psychologists can only use talk therapy as treatment; you must see a psychiatrist or other…
Psychology

The study of the mind and mental processes, especially in relation to behavior. There are a number of fields of psychology. Clinical psychology is concerned with diagnosing and treating disorders of the brain, emotional…
Psychology, clinical

A professional specialty concerned with diagnosing and treating diseases of the brain, emotional disturbance, and behavior problems. Psychologists can only use talk therapy as treatment; you must see a psychiatrist or…
Psychology, social

The study of the mind and mental processes, particularly as regards social interactions, focusing on the ways our actions influence others, and vice versa. Social psychology is a hybrid discipline, a fusion product of…
Psychoneuroimmunology

The study of the connections between the mind and the neural, immune and endocrine (hormonal) systems. The basic concept of psychoneuroimmunology is the concept that the mind and body are inseparable. It follows that…
Psychooncology

See: Psycho-oncology.
Psychopathic personality

Ee: Antisocial personality disorder
Psychopathic personality disorder

See: Antisocial personality disorder
Psychosis

In the general sense, a mental illness that markedly interferes with a person's capacity to meet life's everyday demands. In a specific sense, it refers to a thought disorder in which reality testing is grossly…
Psychosis, ICU

A disorder in which patients in an intensive care unit (ICU) or a similar hospital setting may experience anxiety, become paranoid, hear voices, see things that are not there, become severely disoriented in time and…
Psychosis, intensive care unit

A disorder in which patients in an intensive care unit (ICU) or a similar hospital setting may experience anxiety, become paranoid, hear voices, see things that are not there, become severely disoriented in time and…
Psychosis, Othello

See: Othello syndrome
Psychosis, schizophrenia

The most chronic and disabling of the major mental illnesses. Schizophrenia may be one disorder, or it may be many disorders, with different causes. Because of the disorder's complexity, few generalizations hold true…
Psychosomatic

Relating to both the mind and the body or to the mind-body interrelationships. From the Greek words psych(emacr) meaning the organ of thought and judgment + somatikos meaning the body
Psychosomatic illness

The mind influences the body to create or exacerbate illness.
Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy: The treatment of a behavior disorder, mental illness, or any other condition by psychological means. Psychotherapy may utilize insight, persuasion, suggestion, reassurance, and instruction so that…
Psychotropic drug

Any drug capable of affecting the mind, emotions, and behavior. Some legal drugs such as lithium for depression are psychotropic. Many illicit drugs such as cocaine are also psychotropic. Also called a psychodynamic…