A dislocated joint should only be mani-
pulated by medical personnel. First- aid
treatment consists of applying a splint
or, in the case of a dislocated shoulder,
a sling. Sometimes, an operation is nec-
essary to reset the bones.
disodium etidronate See etidronate
disodium.
disopyramideAn antiarrhythmic drug
used to treat abnormally rapid heart-
beat, as may occur after a myocardial
infarction(heart attack). It reduces the
force of heart muscle contraction. As a
result, it may aggravate pre-existing
heart failure. Other possible side effects
include dry mouth and constipation.
disorderAny abnormality of physical or
mental function.
disorientationConfusion as to time,
place, or personal identity. Speech and
behaviour tend to be muddled, and the
person often cannot answer questions
about time, date, present location,
name, or address. It is usually due to a
head injury, intoxication, or a chronic
brain disorder, such as dementia. It may
occasionally be due to somatization dis-
order(a psychological illness). (See
also confusion; delirium.)
displacement activityThe transfer-
ence of feelings from one object or
person to another. This is usually per-
formed consciously to obtain emotional
relief in a manner that will not cause
harm to oneself or to another person.
Some psychotherapists believe that dis-
placement is an unconscious defence
mechanism, which prevents disturbing
feelings from entering consciousness.
dissectionCutting of body tissues dur-
ing surgery or for the purposes of
anatomical study.
disseminated intravascular coagula-
tion (DIC)A type of bleeding disorder
in which abnormal clotting leads to
depletion of coagulation factors in the
blood; the consequence may be severe
spontaneous bleeding.
dissociative disordersA group of psy-
chological illnesses in which a particular
mental function becomes cut off from
the mind. Types of dissociative disorder
include hysterical amnesia (see hysteria),
fugue, depersonalization, and multiple per-
sonality. (See also conversion disorder.)
distalA term describing a part of the
body that is further away from another
part with respect to a central point of
reference, such as the trunk. For exam-
ple, the fingers are distal to the arm.
The opposite of distal is proximal.
disulfiramA drug that acts as a deter-
rent to drinking alcohol. It is prescribed
for people who request help for alcohol
dependence. Treatment is usually com-
bined with a counselling programme.
Disulfiram slows down the clearance of
alcohol in the body, causing flushing,
headache, nausea, dizziness, and palpi-
tations. Symptoms may start within 10
minutes of drinking alcohol and can last
for hours. Occasionally, large amounts
of alcohol taken during treatment can
cause unconsciousness; a person taking
the drug should carry a warning card.
dithranolA drug that is used in the
treatment of psoriasis. Dithranol is pre-
scribed as an ointment, paste, or cream
and works by slowing the rate at which
skin cells multiply. This effect can be
boosted by ultraviolet light treatment
(see phototherapy). Dithranol can cause
skin inflammation.
diuretic drugsDrugs that help remove
excess water from the body by increas-
ing the amount lost as urine. They are
used in the treatment of various disor-
ders, which include severe premenstrual
syndrome, hypertension, heart failure,
the eye condition glaucoma, nephrotic
syndrome, and cirrhosisof the liver.
Types of diuretic drug differ markedly
in their speed and mode of action. Thi-
azide diuretics cause a moderate increase
in urine production. Loop diuretics
are fast-acting, powerful drugs. They are
often used as an emergency treatment
for heart failure. Potassium-sparing di-
uretics are used along with thiazide and
loop diuretics, both of which may cause
the body to lose too much potassium.
Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors block the
action of the enzyme carbonic anhy-
drase, which affects the amount of
bicarbonate ions in the blood; these
drugs increase urine output moderately
but are effective only for short periods
of time. Osmotic diuretics are used to
maintain urine output following serious
injury or major surgery.DISODIUM ETIDRONATE DIURETIC DRUGS
D