摘要:

Lack of awareness of specific symptoms among persons with schizophrenia has not been adequately studied in the context of neuropsychological function. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether poor insight as measured by the Scale to Assess Unawareness of Mental Disorder is empirically related to performance measures having a known association with executive functions in a group of individuals with chronic schizophrenia. The results showed that unawareness and misattribution of negative symptoms are significantly associated with deficits in some aspects of executive functioning even after a test of general intelligence had been partialed from the analyses. We conclude that unawareness of negative symptoms is associated with executive functioning in individuals with chronic schizophrenia. Unawareness of other symptoms (i.e.,positive symptoms) may reflect dysfunction in other types of neuropsychological processes, or it may reflect motivation to deceive oneself or others.

ISSN:0022-3018    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1999

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Studies concluding that St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) is an effective antidepressant can be challenged due to questionable methodology. We attempt to correct this by a meta-analysis utilizing only well-defined clinical trials. Controlled, double-blind studies using strictly defined depression criteria were analyzed by the rate of change of depression and by the number of "treatment responders." Rates of side effects and dropouts were also analyzed. Hypericum was 1.5 times more likely to result in an antidepressant response than placebo and was equivalent to tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs). The meta-analysis also showed that there was a higher dropout rate in the TCA group and that the TCAs were nearly twice as likely to cause side effects, including those more severe than hypericum.Hypericum perforatumwas more effective than placebo and similar in effectiveness to low-dose TCAs in the short-term treatment of mild to moderately severe depression. However, design problems in existing studies prevent definitively concluding that St. John's wort is an effective anti-depressant.

ISSN:0022-3018    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1999

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

A cross-sectional national telephone survey was used to determine whether Christian Scientists (N= 230), a religious group that uses mind/body (including spiritual) healing, self-report more or less illness than non-Christian Scientists (N= 589). The primary outcome measure was the proportion of Christian Scientists and non-Christian Scientists that, during the previous 12 months: a) experienced any of 13 common medical conditions or symptoms; and b) used conventional medicine, unconventional medicine, and mind/body (including spiritual) healing. Fewer Christian Scientists experienced an illness or symptom than non-Christian Scientists (73%vs.80%, respectively,p= .05). A multivariate analysis showed that Christian Scientists were less likely to have experienced illness than non-Christian Scientists (odds ratio [OR] .66, 95% confidence interval [CI] .44 to .99,p= .04). Similar proportions of Christian Scientists and non-Christian Scientists used some type of conventional medicine (74%vs.78%, respectively), although Christian Scientists were less likely to take prescription medications than non-Christian Scientists (p= .034). Although use of unconventional medicine was similar in both groups (52%vs.45%), more Christian Scientists than non-Christian Scientists used at least one type of mind/body medicine (67%vs.42%p< .00001), notably special religious services and spiritual healing. Additional studies are needed to determine whether there are health benefits associated with the use of conventional and unconventional medicine in combination with mind/body (including spiritual) healing.

ISSN:0022-3018    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1999

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Much attention has been paid to the study of panic disorder symptomatology among primarily European American populations. However, such research has not adequately generalized to include minority groups. The present study examined phenomenological differences between African American and European American patients with panic disorder with or without agoraphobia. African American (N= 48) and European American (N= 33) patients with panic disorder were assessed by structured interview and self-report questionnaires upon presentation to an anxiety disorders clinic for treatment. African Americans evidenced a higher rate of comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder (16%vs.0%). European Americans reported having their initial panic attack at an earlier age than African Americans (21vs.29). In terms of discrete panic attack symptoms, African Americans reported more intense levels of numbing/tingling in extremities (4.3vs.2.5) as well as greater fear of dying (6.3vs.4) or going crazy (4.6vs.3) than European Americans. African Americans evidenced less satisfaction with social support (2.7vs.3.2), especially financial support (2.3vs.3.2), than European Americans. African Americans employed coping strategies such as counting one's blessings (1.9vs.1.4) and religiosity (1.9vs.1.2) more often than European Americans but evidenced less self blame (1.7vs.2). This study extends previous findings by showing that African Americans have a later age of onset as well as different coping strategies than European American patients with panic disorder.

ISSN:0022-3018    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1999

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Personality disorders may affect comorbidity and health care utilization in subjects with panic attacks. The purpose of this study was to identify differences in illness attitudes and behaviors, and in coping strategies in community-based subjects with panic attacks compared with controls. A community-based sample of 97 subjects meeting DSM-III-R criteria and matched controls completed the Illness Behavior Questionnaire, the Illness Attitude Scale, and the Ways of Coping Checklist. The panic group reported less healthy attitudes and behaviors. Although there were no panic-control differences in use of positive coping strategies, the panic group reported more use of negative coping strategies. The differences in illness attitudes and behaviors, and in coping strategies, may explain comorbidity and care-seeking behavior in subjects with panic attacks.

ISSN:0022-3018    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1999

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

This study investigated possible associations between perfectionistic personality traits, mood, and fatigue in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Forty CFS sufferers referred to tertiary care and 31 control healthy subjects completed the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS), Chalder Fatigue Questionnaire, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale. Total perfectionism scores did not correlate with fatigue, anxiety, or depression in either group. Other-oriented MPS scores were significantly lower among CFS sufferers (p= .0019), especially women, and correlated negatively with physical fatigue levels overall (R= −0.27,p= .02). Total and socially prescribed MPS scores correlated with age for the CFS group alone (p= .05). Possible reasons why this study did not confirm a positive association between perfectionism and CFS are discussed. The finding that CFS sufferers set lower standards and have lower expectations for significant others may have implications for rehabilitation and recovery from this disorder.

ISSN:0022-3018    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1999

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Transference interpretations are one of the distinguishing features of dynamically oriented psychotherapy. Previous studies have suggested that too many transference interpretations may be detrimental, in particular for certain kinds of patients. Given the potential for negative effects, attempts to validate (replicate) the previous findings are worthwhile. The relationships between the frequency and proportion of transference interpretations and both the therapeutic alliance and treatment outcome were examined in a sample of 40 patients who received time-limited, 20-session, individual psychotherapy. Inverse relationships were found between the frequency of transference interpretations and both patient-rated therapeutic alliance and favorable outcome. The relationships differed as a function of the patient personality characteristic known as quality of object relations (QOR). These results extend previous findings regarding transference technique in short-term dynamic therapy with low-QOR and high-QOR patients.

ISSN:0022-3018    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1999

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

The therapeutic alliance as rated by therapists and patients was assessed every 5 weeks throughout the treatment period in an in-patient treatment program for schizophrenic and other long-term mentally ill patients. The patients (N= 26) also assessed perceived curative factors (Curative Factors Questionnaire) and made therapy session evaluations (Session Evaluation Questionnaire). The most important patient rated factors showing a relationship with therapist-rated alliance were in the initial phase of treatment depth in the therapy sessions, in the working phase the experience of involvement in the treatment, and in the discharge phase perceived helpfulness of encouragement and reassurance. The investigation of curative factors, session evaluations, and alliance as rated by patients showed a relationship in the initial phase between alliance and encouragement, reassurance and awareness, in the working phase between alliance and depth in sessions and "talking to someone who understands," and in the discharge phase between alliance and self-understanding and problem solution.

ISSN:0022-3018    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1999

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:0022-3018    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1999

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:0022-3018    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1999

数据来源: OVID