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Biomedical subjects

A D Clift

Publications and source records attributed to A D Clift.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1983

Sleep without drugs.

Disturbed sleep is a common problem, particularly among elderly people, and is usually treated with hypnotics. The side effects of longterm administration of hypnotic drugs are well known, but despite this there remains a substantial population of chronic users. These people can be helped to reduce their dependence on hypnotics through psychological techniques. A group of longterm users treated in this manner were shown to reduce their intake of hypnotics significantly more than a group of users who did not receive any psychological treatment. Furthermore, the treated patients did not experience any deterioration in their sleep patterns, and their subjective refreshment from sleep improved significantly.For the patient with sleep problems, psychological techniques are preferable to the longterm use of hypnotics both as a weaning-off agent and as an alternative to drugs.

Aged↗
PubMed1982

Hypnotics and hangovers: a pilot study of chlormezanone in general practice.

Ten patients were included in this pilot study of chlormezanone, assessing its effects on duration and quantity of sleep and daytime performance using a pursuit rotor and a digit symbol test. Comparisons of the sleep assessments favoured chlormezanone, although the differences were not statistically significant. There was no evidence of any reduction in daytime performance after chlormezanone. The comparison of chlormezanone and placebo on the pursuit rotor test and the visual analogue assessment of hangover both slightly favoured the drug, but there were no significant differences. The study has demonstrated that it is feasible to evaluate hypnotic drugs more exactly in general practice.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Long-term therapy with sodium cromoglycate (intal, lomudal or aarane): effects and side effects.

Review of 72 atopic asthmatic children from the age of three years demonstrated that the long-term use of sodium cromoglycate (Intal, Lomudal or Aarane) produced no serious side effects clinically or on pathological testing. Almost all the children improved, especially in their heights and weights. There is some evidence that girls showed a better response than boys. A possible explanation of growth improvement is discussed and it is concluded that SCG not only prevents asthmatic symptoms but it gives asthmatic children the best chance of maturing normally.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1972

Factors leading to dependence on hypnotic drugs.

Patients in general practice complaining of insomnia of recent origin have been studied in order to ascertain which factors may be of value in the detection of those more susceptible to drug dependence. The type of sleep disturbance was found to be of importance and a personal disturbance scale was found useful as a screening test in two-thirds of the patients. No difference was found in the development of dependence on amylobarbitone and nitrazepam. One of the most important factors in the prevention of drug dependence seems to be frequent review by the doctor after the first prescription and his cautionary advice to the patient.

Amobarbital↗
PubMed1968

Dependence on hypnotic drugs in general practice.

Of the patients in an industrial general practice 1.3% required hypnotic drugs regularly. They were predominantly in the older age groups (mean 62.7 years), with an excess of widows. Only 0.02% were severely dependent; the remainder were mildly so, though they had been taking hypnotics for long periods (mean 5.6 years). There were three main original indications for hypnotics-namely, medical (pain), psychiatric, and onset insomnia in anxious personality disorder. One-fifth of the patients first took hypnotics while in hospital. The group as a whole manifested a high degree of abnormal psychological disposition.It is suggested that many patients who take hypnotics regularly may be placebo reactors, and a more critical attitude to hypnotic prescribing is required both in hospital and in general practice.

Adult↗