Biomedical subjects

A Blankfield

Publications and source records attributed to A Blankfield.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1991

Women, alcohol dependence and crime.

This gender/age matched inpatient treatment sample of 518 alcohol dependent subjects, confirmed that major crime is infrequent in females. Significantly more arrests occurred in the younger age groups. Crimes of violence were also more common in alcoholics compared with other criminals and this often appeared to relate to premorbid aggressive traits. Trivial offenses were common, particularly in females, and the social definition of minor victimless offenses is questionable. There is no specific alcohol-related personality and the overlap between criminality and alcoholism in the same person might occur in accordance with the laws of probability or factors of inheritance.

Adult↗

PubMed1991

Genetic and marital status in alcohol dependent women.

In a gender/age-matched sample of 518 Australian-born alcoholics, the inheritance of alcohol dependence appeared to be mediated by a sex-limited gene in female subjects. These inherited factors sometimes coexisted with other potential risk factors for the development of alcoholism, but their relevance is uncertain. These factors and the influence of partner selection on the expression of alcoholism in females is tentatively suggested and require further exploration.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

Female alcoholics. IV. Admission problems and patterns.

In an age-matched sample of male and female inpatient alcoholics (n = 518) of the same ethnic background, subjects under 35 years of age described significantly more problem areas than older age groups. Elderly subjects over 55 were the least articulate group. The first-ever addiction treatment subjects reported the lowest mean number of years of problem drinking, the lowest mean Michigan Alcoholic Screening Test scores and the lowest mean daily alcohol intakes. They also displayed greater current social stability than the 2 readmission treatment categories. The general determinants of admission to this addiction unit centered around the experience of crises, social instability and psychological complaints. The most important specific determinants for the individual subject were the propensity to fight when drunk, followed by a positive parental history of excess alcohol intake. Criminal and occupational factors were infrequently encountered in female subjects, but widowhood was common in the older ones.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

Female alcoholics. II. The expression of alcoholism in relation to gender and age.

A sample of 233 consecutive alcohol-dependent female admissions were cross-matched for date of birth and admission with male subjects of similar ethnic background. Primary drug abusers were not included. A quarter of subjects of both sexes were married. There were no gender or age differences in the level of family history of alcoholism. Highly significant gender and age differences were found in alcohol-related behaviours, which were more prominent in the younger age groups and in male subjects. These crucial differences were highlighted by stratification of the results into age groups at decade intervals. Individual personality traits or a family history of alcoholism were found to determine the age of onset and pattern of alcoholism, whereas gender and maturational stage influenced the expression of alcohol-related behaviours that occur in treatment populations.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

Female alcoholics. III. Some clinical associations of the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test and diagnostic implications.

In an age-matched sample of male and female inpatient alcoholics of the same ethnic background, the mean Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST) score declined significantly with age group and was lowest in elderly people. Females and first-admission subjects recorded lower mean MAST scores. A correlation was noted in both sexes between reported alcohol consumption and MAST scores. Although screening tests such as MAST have been found of value in detecting alcoholism in high-risk populations, this study of some of the MAST parameters in a clinical population suggests that some of the "invisible" and older alcoholics might not be grossly disturbed persons and that other more subtle behavioural clues to diagnosis should be determined. Despite the limitations inherent in any diagnostic technique, the ultimate detection of invisible alcoholics lies at the interface of clinical judgement, the use of screening tests, community awareness and the development of personal responsibility.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

Grief, alcohol dependence and women.

A comparison was made between similar age-grouped widows (N = 37) and non-widows (N = 85) who were admitted to an alcohol dependence unit for treatment. The widows reported excess drinking to have occurred less frequently in close relatives and more frequently in their late spouses as compared to the non-widowed females. Widows also had significantly different referral patterns. The findings suggest that the widows of alcoholics who had unresolved marital conflicts, or who become socially isolated are more vulnerable to abnormal grief responses. Prospective studies are required to verify this pilot survey.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

Female alcoholics. I. Alcohol dependence and problems associated with prescribed psychotropic drug use.

A case note study of 518 alcohol-dependent (DSM-III) inpatients examined their reported past history of prescribed psychotropic drug use patterns between 1973-1985. The subjects were cross-matched for gender, age and admission date and stratified into 3 time periods. The characteristics of psychotropic medication recipients were compared with those patients who reported no use of licit medications. Statistical analysis by logistic regression indicated that there was a significant relationship between the past use of psychotropic drugs with a parental history of excessive alcohol intake, the higher levels of MAST scores and the occurrence of past parasuicide events. Patients in their middle years (35-54) tended to have received significantly less psychotropic drugs than the younger or older age groups. The female (70%) to male (48%) ratio of past psychotropic use was 1.4:1. Gender differences were also noted in the use of antidepressants and illicit substances.

Adult↗

PubMed1987

The position of psychiatry in alcohol dependence.

It is important to discriminate psychiatric syndromes from transient psychiatric symptoms in alcohol dependent persons in order to reduce their morbidity. This can be difficult because of ambiguous criteria used for assessment. Accurate diagnosis is important because of the inherent dangers in a population at high risk of abusing psychotropic medication if incorrectly prescribed. The converse problem is present when alcohol use is symptomatic of an untreated psychiatric condition. A technique for more incisive clinical evaluation is outlined. Contemporary treatment units are often overspecialized; potential demarcation disputes must be guarded against in treatment of patients with double pathology and provision must be made for their management. Explanations for the relationship of the two conditions are advanced. Psychiatric disorder can co-exist with alcoholism either by chance, or because a family history of alcoholism increases the risk of its occurrence in the psychiatrically ill as in this sample. In addition, a skewed sample of the more severely ill person presents for treatment and creates an illusion of frequency.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1987

The concept of dependence.

The concept of dependence is reviewed in Western and Asian contexts. Asians find it acceptable and necessary, whereas Westerners may adopt an ambivalent attitude or reject the issue. Homeostatic dependence or reliance upon social and physicochemical environment is vital for human development and adaptation. Dependence as a phenomenon can be an interactional state, a trait, a role, and an initiator of mental mechanisms. Imbalanced processes result in pathological dependencies or disorders. An understanding of aspects of dependence has therapeutic implications in the assessment of the patient and the regulation of the role of the therapist.

Cross-Cultural Comparison↗

PubMed1986

Psychiatric symptoms in alcohol dependence: diagnostic and treatment implications.

Fifty consecutive alcohol dependent inpatient admissions are reported on. They were found to have grief, agoraphobic, paranoid and depressive symptoms secondary to the withdrawal state. These symptoms remitted with detoxification. Absence of anxiety signalled other disorders. Longituding observations aided diagnostic assessment and patient management. The history of the course of symptoms aids diagnoses when obtainable, but detoxification remains essential to discriminate primary from symptomatic or secondary psychiatric symptoms in the alcohol dependent person. Transient psychiatric symptoms may merely be less common forms of withdrawal symptoms and must not be confused with syndromes which attract ongoing drug treatment. This is a highly undesirable situation for those who are at risk of psychotropic drug abuse and overdose behaviour.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1971