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Biomedical subjects

F Hume

Publications and source records attributed to F Hume.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Negative symptoms, cognitive dysfunction, tardive akathisia and tardive dyskinesia.

This study examined the relationship of neuropsychological deficits and negative symptoms with tardive akathisia in chronic schizophrenic patients. Consecutive volunteers (n = 100) were recruited from Community Health Centres with a DSM-III-R diagnosis of schizophrenic disorder, chronic and on stable medication. Subjects were subgrouped into tardive akathisia (TA), tardive dyskinesia (TD) and control groups using four sets of criteria. Detailed single examinations were performed using the following measures: sociodemographic, illness-related and treatment-related variables, Negative Symptom Rating Scale (NSRS), Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS), Rating Scale for Extrapyramidal Side-Effects (EPSE), Akathisia Rating Scale, Barnes Akathisia Rating Scale, and a brief neuropsychological test battery. Group comparisons and logistic regression analyses were performed in order to test the significance of findings. TA ratings showed a significant association with NSRS subscale scores, and with some neuropsychological test scores (Symbol Digits Modalities Test, and to a lesser extent Trail Making Test and Finger Tapping Test). TD scores showed a consistent association with age, and a less consistent association with gender, and their association with NSRS subscale scores and neuropsychological dysfunction was positive but less significant. Higher EPSE scores predicted TA and limb truncal (LT) dyskinesia. In conclusion, TA showed a more significant association with some clinical indices of organic brain dysfunction than the oral-lingual-buccal-facial dyskinetic syndrome. Prospective studies are necessary to determine whether organicity is a vulnerability factor for TA. Both our data and the published literature suggest that the movement disorder seen in TA and TD is but one feature of complex syndromes that include motor and cognitive features.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Career choice and experience of distress amongst interns: a survey of New South Wales internship 1987-1990.

Successive cohorts of interns assigned to a Sydney teaching hospital since 1987 were interviewed at the beginning and end of their intern year to document factors influencing career choice and psychological morbidity, with comparisons between the graduates of the three NSW medical faculties. Intellectual challenge and altruism were the two most reported motivating factors in choosing Medicine. Many interns expressed regret at their career choice. Apart from anger, self-reported psychological morbidity during internship was low. Interns' evaluation of the relevance of their undergraduate training declined during internship, except for Newcastle graduates. Increased "hands on" clinical experience during undergraduate years, career guidance, assertiveness training, and time management skills should be included in the undergraduate curriculum. More registrar teaching, frequent performance feedback, regular grievance sessions and decreased clerical activities contribute to more enriching intern experiences.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Sexual misconduct: is censure enough?

Although sexual relationships between medical practitioners and their patients have been forbidden by most professional and statutory bodies, the reported prevalence of sexual misconduct does not appear to have altered in the last 20 years. A recent Australian study has also suggested that psychiatrists are over-represented in comparison to others in the medical workforce. The reasons that may account for this finding are discussed, and issues which require further debate by the profession are outlined. These include the acceptability of post-termination relationships, the applicability of criminal statutes, the role of treatment in the management of offenders, and whether mandatory reporting of sexual misconduct should be considered.

Australia↗
PubMed1990

Autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity, personality characteristics and disruptive behaviour in girls.

Disruptive behaviour in school, as defined by teachers, was examined in 44 unselected girls, aged 12-13 years, attending two private schools. Except for the psychoticism (P) scale of the Junior Eysenck Personality Inventory (JEPI), such conduct did not appear to be related to the personality characteristics as measured by the JEPI. Autonomic nervous system activity, indexed here by heart rate measures, successfully discriminated between the three behaviourally defined groups. The findings, with data derived from girls, largely confirm earlier exploratory studies with adolescent boys, and have implications for further research and current approaches to management.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

After the war in Nicaragua: a psychosocial study of war wounded ex-combatants.

Despite 150 wars in the Third World since 1945, there have been virtually no psychosocial studies of war wounded ex-combatants. This community study of 72 such men, on average 4.9 years post-injury, had both quantitative (General Health Questionnaire [GHQ] and clinical interview) and qualitative (personal narrative) components. Most men were coping adaptively. However their overall GHQ scores were significantly higher than an ex-combatant control group, suggesting relative psychological vulnerability (P = 0.001). 13 (18 per cent) had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) though in only three was this clinically significant, two of whom were aggressive alcoholics. Social dysfunction was a better indicator of the minority who needed psychological help than a diagnosis of PTSD. The one in three with a severe physical disability were not at greater risk than the rest of the group. Personal narratives illuminated the ways subjects had registered and responded to their war experiences. Identification with the social ideals being defended by the war effort had been psychologically bolstering. Ten severely disabled ex-Contra guerrillas, who had fought on the other side, were also interviewed. The availability of appropriate training/work, and thus the economic fortunes of the whole society, are likely to be major determinants of long-term psychosocial outcomes. Six illustrative personal histories are appended.

Adolescent↗