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Biomedical subjects

B Pfefferbaum

Publications and source records attributed to B Pfefferbaum.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1990

The influence of culture on pain in Anglo and Hispanic children with cancer.

This study sought to determine if cultural heritage and acculturation influence the perception and expression of pain and anxiety. The study was based on self-report and observation of Anglo and Hispanic children with cancer undergoing invasive procedures. Seventy-eight children between the ages of 3 and 15 participated. Thirty-five were Anglo and 43 were Hispanic. A significant inverse relationship between age and observed and reported distress was noted in both ethnic groups. The Anglo and Hispanic children had remarkably similar behavioral responses. Hispanic parents, however, reported significantly higher levels of anxiety than Anglo parents.

Acculturation↗
PubMed1990

The use of methylphenidate in a depressed adolescent with AIDS.

Stimulants once used to treat depression have been overshadowed by tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Recently, their use has been reported in the treatment of depression in medically ill adults in whom tricyclics are contraindicated, or for whom a rapid response is critical. This report documents the successful use of methylphenidate in a depressed adolescent with AIDS.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1989

Monoamine oxidase inhibitor toxicity.

Monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) drugs are used in the treatment of depressive and anxiety disorders in adults. MAOIs are also used in high doses for the treatment of lymphomas and of central nervous system (CNS) tumors in children. Toxic effects resulted when procarbazine, a drug of this class, was used in treating a child with a CNS tumor. Psychotic reaction in the child may have been triggered by any of several factors, but arguments are for an organic cause. The implication of the MAOI procarbazine must be seriously considered. The case highlights potential serious problems associated with MAOIs and the interaction of this agent with other drugs.

Brain Neoplasms↗
PubMed1988

A comparison of depressed and nondepressed disturbed children on measures of attributional style, hopelessness, life stress, and temperament.

Upon admission to a hospital treatment program, clinically depressed and nondepressed children (aged 9-17 years) were assessed on measures of attributional style, hopelessness, depression, life stress, and child temperament. The depressed group tended to attribute positive events to specific and unstable factors when compared with the nondepressed sample. Group differences also were found on child temperament measures. However, no differences were reported between the diagnostic groups on self-reported depression, hopelessness, or life stress. The findings suggested that there may not be a unique constellation of cognitive characteristics in depressed children when compared with a nondepressed clinical sample. For both depressed and nondepressed groups, treatment did appear to affect self-reported depression and overall ratings of depressogenic attributional style.

Adjustment Disorders↗
PubMed1987

Rorschach assessment of borderline children.

Projective testing may provide the clinician with a valuable context in which childhood borderline conditions may be investigated. The purpose of this study was to determine if Rorschach scores could be useful in diagnosing borderline disorders. Rorschach scores from a group of 13 borderline children and 10 conduct disorder children were compared using a step-down discriminate analysis. The results indicated that children in these two groups could be correctly classified beyond chance levels using Rorschach scores. Three variable, content analysis, human movement, and animal movement were the strongest contributors in separating the two groups. The Rorschach measure of form quality (i.e., adequacy of perception) was notable in that it failed to produce any independent discriminatory power in this analysis. As in the case of adult borderline testing using the Rorschach, novel scoring procedures, used in conjunction with standard scoring procedures may lead to further clarification of childhood borderline disorders.

Borderline Personality Disorder↗
PubMed1987

Two cases of benzodiazepine toxicity in children.

While benzodiazepines have been widely used in adult populations, their role in the treatment of anxiety disorders in children and adolescents has not been well established. The authors report on two cases in which benzodiazepine use resulted in psychotic symptoms. The importance of eliciting a careful history as well as being familiar with drugs' side effects and withdrawal effects is stressed.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1979

Management of acute psychologic problems in pediatric oncology.

Several psychologic issues in pediatric oncology are addressed and case illustrations of psychologic intervention for selected problems are offered. Psychologic intervention must take into account the patient's perception of his illness, the patient's developmental level, the parents' coping mechanisms, the dynamics of the child's emotional and behavioral responses, the staff's perception of the problems, and the community's capacity for reintegration of the patient. Each of these issues is addressed by use of case examples to demonstrate important aspects of psychosocial intervention.

Acting Out↗
PubMed1979

Lithium therapy and toxicity.

Lithium is a potent agent for the control of psychiatric disease. It is safe and effective when properly administered; however, its use requires a maximally informed physician and careful clinical monitoring of patients. The drug's side effects are usually dose related, and certain patients are at greater risk of experiencing toxicity than others. Management of acute intoxication involves gastric lavage, sodium replacement and the administration of other agents or dialysis to facilitate clearance.

Bipolar Disorder↗
PubMed1978

Stages in pediatric bone marrow transplantation.

Bone marrow transplantation is a relatively new and aggressive procedure that is being used in the treatment of leukemia and aplastic anemia. We observed approximately 30 children and their families at the UCLA Medical Center throughout the procedure. Various psychological responses during the treatment are outlined. Eleven stages are identified, including the patient's and family's first awareness of this procedure, the preadmission evaluation and psychosocial assessment, the introduction into isolation, the donor's hospitalization, the transplantation itself, and the various reactions and interactions of the patient, family, and staff throughout these stages.

Anemia, Aplastic↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A comprehensive program of psychosocial care for mastectomy patients.

The traumatic experience of the discovery of a lump in the breast, the diagnosis of cancer and eventual mastectomy have focused medical attention on the importance of providing adequate psychosocial care for mastectomy patients. This paper outlines a comprehensive program now underway. This program includes the premastectomy (preventive), postoperative (interventive) and recovery (postventive) periods. To secure more information for this program, an initial project examining the psychological effects of mastectomy on women and their spouses has been undertaken. It is anticipated that these findings will be helpful in identifying some of the problems encountered and aid in the success of the program in attaining the desired results.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pediatric oncology: a review of the changing psychological aspects.

This paper outlines the psychological concerns in pediatric oncology. Taking an historical perspective, early concerns pertained to issues of death and dying and what to tell the child about his diagnosis. With the marked improvement in the early diagnosis and treatment of childhood cancer, the psychological issues have changed considerably. There is ample evidence to indicate that psychological problems in the child and his family result from the turmoil from these diseases. However, current concerns may focus on problems of living rather than problems of dying. The child and his family being encouraged to live as normal a life as possible, may need assistance from the professional community in the attempt to achieve this status. This presents an ever increasing need for the health care professional to interface with not only the child and his family, but also with the school and community at large so that the child and his family alone do not shoulder the burden of the normalization process and so that the school and community may be in a better position to assist in the reintegration process.

Attitude to Death↗