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Biomedical subjects

G Bleijenberg

Publications and source records attributed to G Bleijenberg.

100 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

The spastic pelvic floor syndrome. Large bowel outlet obstruction caused by pelvic floor dysfunction: a radiological study.

To determine whether a persistent contraction of the pelvic floor muscle during straining, as observed in constipated patients during defaecography, was due to a conscious action of the patients or really represented a functional disorder, segmental colonic transit studies were performed in 24 patients in whom the diagnosis spastic pelvic floor syndrome was made. Abnormal segmental transit indicating outlet obstruction occurred in 92% of the patients. Four different types of segmental transit abnormalities were observed which suggested that the spastic pelvic floor syndrome involved a functional outlet obstruction leading to retrograde filling of the colon and severe straining. A causative relation with other anorectal abnormalities is suggested.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

The spastic pelvic floor syndrome. A cause of constipation.

In 12 patients with constipation, it was detected by defecography that, during straining, the anorectal angle did not increase, but remained at 90 degrees. These patients were unable to excrete barium. Since the anorectal angle is a measure of activity of the pelvic floor musculature, a dysfunction of this muscle was suspected. In order to determine whether this abnormality represented a true functional disorder or just a voluntary contraction of the pelvic floor muscles due to embarrassment, we performed electromyographic, manometric, and transit time studies in these patients. The electromyographic studies confirmed the persistent contraction during defecation straining. Both manometry and electromyography revealed normal muscle function at rest and during squeezing. Colonic transit time studies demonstrated rectal retention in nine of 12 patients, indicating outlet obstruction. Persistent contraction of the pelvic floor muscles, for which we propose the name "spastic pelvic floor syndrome," represents a functional disorder of normal pelvic floor muscles, causing a functional outlet obstruction.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Behavioral treatment of the speaking stomach syndrome.

The speaking stomach syndrome consists of persisting gurgling sounds in the gastric region, synchronous with breathing. A characteristic finding in patients suffering from this syndrome is an abnormal pattern of respiration, with extreme activity of the abdominal muscles and active involvement of the diaphragm. To teach the patient a different way of breathing using combined thoracic/abdominal respiration, with no, or hardly any, active contraction of the abdominal muscles, is an essential feature of treatment. This is accomplished in three steps. The treatment was successful in the three cases. Problems encountered in therapy are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Physical activity in chronic fatigue syndrome: assessment and its role in fatigue.

This paper describes the assessment of physical activity in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and investigated the following questions: Do patients with CFS have low levels of physical activity; is there a relationship between actual level of physical activity and fatigue; can self-report measures adequately assess actual level of physical activity; what is the role of cognitions with respect to physical activity; and are results with respect to physical activity specific to CFS? Three different types of activity measures were used: self-report questionnaires, a 12-day self-observation list, and a motion-sensing device (Actometer) which was used as a reference for actual activity level. Fifty-one patients with CFS, 50 fatigued patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), and 53 healthy subjects participated in this study. Although none of the self-report questionnaires showed high correlations with the Actometer, questionnaires that require simple ratings of specified activities were related to the Actometer and can be used as acceptable substitutes, in contrast to instruments that require general subjective interpretations of activity that had low or non-significant correlations with the Actometer. Actometer results showed that CFS patients and MS patients had similar activity levels and both groups were significantly less active than healthy subjects. Compared to MS patients, CFS patients were more likely to indicate that they had been less active than other persons they knew. Activities which patients expected to result in higher fatigue levels were less frequently performed. Patients with CFS had significantly higher scores on this measure than MS patients and healthy subjects. Low levels of physical activity were related to severe fatigue in CFS but not in MS. In conclusion, although CFS patients have similar low activity levels than MS patients, there are also important differences between both groups: in CFS cognitive factors are more prominently involved in producing the low activity levels than in MS and in CFS patients activity level is related to fatigue but not in MS.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cognitive-behavioral group therapy for irritable bowel syndrome: effects and long-term follow-up.

Little is known about the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral treatment for patients with irritable bowel syndrome on a group basis. Previous studies have used only small samples, and studies with long term follow-up are lacking. The arm of the present study was to investigate: a) the effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioral group treatment compared with a waiting list control condition in alleviating abdominal complaints and b) the long term effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral group treatment. In study 1, we performed a controlled study with 25 patients in the group treatment condition and 20 patients in the waiting list control condition. Treatment consisted of eight 2-hour group sessions over a period of 3 months. In study 2, all patients were treated and followed up for an average of 2.25 years (range 6 months-4 years) after the completion of the group treatment. The abdominal complaints of the patients who underwent treatment were found to improve significantly more than the complaints of the patients awaiting treatment. Moreover, in agreement with the purpose of the therapy, the number of successful coping strategies was found to increase more and patients' avoidance behavior was found to decrease more in the treatment group than in the waiting list control group. The positive changes appeared to persist during follow-up. Cognitive-behavioral group treatment is effective in alleviating irritable bowel syndrome, in stimulating coping strategies, and in reducing avoidance behavior. At long term follow-up, the abdominal complaints, the number of successful coping strategies, and the avoidance behavior were still improved compared with the pretreatment assessment.

Abdominal Pain↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Social support and the persistence of complaints in chronic fatigue syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Several studies suggested that the surroundings of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients are of importance in the persistence of complaints. Contrary to what was expected, participation in support groups has not led to clinical improvement. The purpose of the present study was to describe social support in CFS patients as compared with other fatigued and non-fatigued groups. Further, changes in social support and the influence of social support on the course of CFS over a period of more than 1 year were studied in patients with and without treatment. METHODS: Baseline data were assessed in 270 CFS patients, 150 disease-free breast cancer patients, 151 fatigued employees on sick-leave and 108 healthy subjects using the Social Support List and Significant Others Scale. CFS patients were followed in cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), guided support groups and natural course at 8 and 14 months. RESULTS: CFS patients and fatigued employees reported more negative interactions and insufficiency of supporting interactions than cancer patients and healthy controls. No differences in frequency of supporting interactions were found. Negative interactions decreased significantly after treatment with CBT, but did not change in support groups or natural course. In the natural course, higher fatigue severity at 8 months was predicted by more negative interactions at baseline. CONCLUSIONS: In CFS patients and fatigued employees, social support is worse than in disease-free cancer patients and healthy controls. Lack of social support was identified as a new factor in the model of perpetuating factors of fatigue severity and functional impairment in CFS.

Adolescent↗