PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C M Nezu

Publications and source records attributed to C M Nezu.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

A prospective study of the effects of high-dose chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation on sexual function in the first year after transplant.

Patients undergoing high-dose chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation (BMT) may experience a variety of abnormalities of psychological and physical function including sexual dysfunction. However, no study has prospectively evaluated whether there is an association between sexual dysfunction and BMT. In a previous study in which we analyzed the sexual function of 30 patients immediately before transplant, we found that nearly half of all patients had sexual dysfunction using the Derogatis Interview for Sexual Functioning for males and females. The findings of the pilot study led us to hypothesize that the incidence of sexual dysfunction would not be significantly altered by BMT; we performed a prospective study designed to test this hypothesis. In this study a further 20 patients about to undergo BMT were surveyed, making a total of 50. Thirty-one of 38 survivors were reanalyzed 3-6 months after transplant. The major finding of the study is that the incidence of sexual dysfunction is unchanged 3 months after transplant (48 vs 36%, P = NS). The mean total score on the DISF was decreased by 7.5 points but this was also not significant. A preliminary analysis of 16 patients surveyed at 12 months post-BMT suggests little change in sexual function between 3 and 12 months post-BMT. We conclude that in the first 12 months after high-dose chemotherapy and BMT the pretreatment difficulties remain.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Patterns of comorbidity associated with subtypes of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder among 6- to 12-year-old children.

OBJECTIVE: To study externalizing and internalizing comorbidity patterns in 6- to 12-year-old children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) combined subtype (n = 27), ADHD inattentive subtype (n = 26), and a normal control group (n = 33). METHOD: Children were assigned to groups on the basis of results of a parent structured interview, which reflected DSM-IV diagnostic criteria, and teacher ratings of ADHD symptoms. Comorbid problems were assessed via parent and child structured interviews and parent and teacher behavior ratings. RESULTS: Logistic regression analyses and multivariate analyses of covariance revealed that (1) children in the ADHD combined group were significantly more likely to have a diagnosis of oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder and had significantly higher scores on parent and teacher ratings of externalizing problems than children in the ADHD inattentive and control groups, (2) children in the ADHD combined and ADHD inattentive groups had significantly higher scores on parent and teacher ratings of internalizing problems than children in the control group, and (3) children in the clinical groups did not differ with regard to internalizing disorders. CONCLUSIONS: The results from this study indicate that a significant comorbidity exists between ADHD combined and oppositional defiant disorder/conduct disorder. Contrary to previous studies that were conducted using DSM-III diagnostic criteria for ADHD, no differences were found between ADHD combined and ADHD inattentive subtypes regarding internalizing disorders.

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity↗
PubMed1996

The prepared family caregiver: a problem-solving approach to family caregiver education.

Early hospital discharges, greater reliance on outpatient care, and the growing prevalence of chronic diseases has increased the demands on family members who care for patients at home. Family caregivers need information and training to insure that patients' needs are met and that home care is coordinated with that of health professionals. We propose a prescriptive problem-solving model for how care should be managed at home and for the kinds of information and training family caregivers should receive. The Prepared Family Caregiver model, which is summarized in the acronym COPE (Creativity, Optimism, Planning, and Expert information), teaches family caregivers how to develop and carry out orderly plans which address both medical and psychosocial problems and are coordinated with care plans of health professionals. The model is based on extensive research on problem-solving training and therapy. It empowers family members and patients for coping with illness and can help to moderate caregiver stress.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1996

Sexual dysfunction prior to high-dose chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation.

A number of studies have suggested that high-dose chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation may be associated with a variety of abnormalities of psychological function including sexual dysfunction. However, few studies have prospectively evaluated the association between sexual dysfunction and BMT. In particular, there are very little baseline data about sexual function immediately before transplant. The sexual function of 30 patients was assessed immediately prior to high-dose chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation using the Derogatis Interview for Sexual Functioning (DISF) for males and females. More than 80% of patients had hematological malignancies; more than half were allograft recipients. Forty-seven percent of patients were found to have global sexual dysfunction and 60% had abnormalities of at least one parameter of sexual function. Forty-seven percent were dissatisfied with their sex life. Sexual dysfunction was associated with ejaculatory problems (P < 0.02) and erectile problems (P = 0.06) but not with amenorrhea. There was an association between cancer-related psychological problems and sexual dysfunction. A control group of inpatients with cancer had a similar incidence of sexual dysfunction (53% vs 47%, P = NS) suggesting that the tumor and its therapy were the major reasons for the sexual problems and not the prospect of transplant per se. This study emphasizes the need for baseline (pre-BMT) studies of quality of life and psychological function in BMT patients. We conclude that sexual dysfunction is a common finding prior to BMT; whether intervention can reduce this problem requires further study.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Outpatient psychotherapy for adults with mental retardation and concomitant psychopathology: research and clinical imperatives.

As the number of adults with mental retardation and concomitant psychological difficulties living in the community increases, so does the need for effective outpatient psychotherapy services. Despite this need, the relevant literature base is sorely lacking. This article is a brief review of this literature with regard to psychodynamic, behavioral, and group psychotherapy approaches. On the basis of this review, a research agenda is offered concerning future directions. Last, because of the lack of a rich database regarding effective treatment approaches for such individuals, this article includes a description of a model of clinical decision making that is geared to aid the practicing clinician in designing clinical interventions for adults with mental retardation.

Ambulatory Care↗
PubMed1991

Assertiveness and problem-solving training for mildly mentally retarded persons with dual diagnoses.

This study investigated the differential effectiveness of assertiveness and problem-solving training on dually diagnosed patients' adaptive social behavior, distress and psychiatric symptoms, anger control, and problem-solving coping skills using a counterbalanced design. Assessments were conducted at pretreatment, midphase, posttreatment, and a 3-month follow-up examination. A combined assertiveness and problem-solving training package was effective for treatment of individuals with mild mental retardation with dual psychiatric diagnoses. Specifically, improvements occurred regarding both self-report measures of distress and caregiver ratings of adaptive functioning; however, no essential differences were found between these two treatment protocols. The importance of using self-regulatory models of therapy with this population is highlighted, and recommendations were made for future research.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1988

Sense of humor as a moderator of the relation between stressful events and psychological distress: a prospective analysis.

Previous research has indicated that one's sense of humor serves as a moderator of the deleterious effects of negative stressful life events. However, because this research has been only cross-sectional in nature, such conclusions remain tentative. The purpose of this study was to provide for a more rigorous test of the humor as a stress-buffer hypothesis by using a prospective design that also attempted to control for the variance attributable to prior level of distress. Additionally, two measures of humor were included to increase the construct validity of the findings. Results from a series of regression analyses indicated that humor served as a moderator of stress for depressive, but not anxiety, symptomatology, regardless of the measure of humor that was used in the analyses. Implications of these findings for future research are noted.

Adaptation, Psychological↗