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Biomedical subjects

G D Jensen

Publications and source records attributed to G D Jensen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Psychiatrist, traditional healer and culture integrated in clinical practice in Bali.

This paper considers the psychiatrist-traditional healer relationship in clinical management of mental disorders in Bali. It also concerns the role of sociocultural factors in the etiology and management of mental disorder. The basic concepts and therapeutic strategies of Western psychiatry co-exist with the beliefs and methods of traditional healers. Often psychiatrists and traditional healers are involved with the same patients. A clinical case study of an episode of mass dissociative disorder (trance state) in which psychiatrists acted as consultants illustrates the integration of concepts of Western psychiatry and Balinese culture in the diagnostic evaluation and therapeutic strategies.

Child↗
PubMed1991

A microcomputerized task assessment of cognitive change in normal elderly and young adults.

There is need for efficient, acceptable quantitative measures of cognitive differences with senescence which, in addition, have potential to discriminate mild dementia from the performance of normal elderly. A microcomputerized method designed to assess attentional capacity was administered to two elderly age groups, 68-79 and 80-87 years of age. A comparison group of young adults, 25-35 and 35-45 years of age, was similarly studied. The two tasks in the procedure (the tracking task, consisting of following a randomly moving target on a video screen, and the probe task, consisting of visual monitoring of a randomly elongating dot in the video screen) are performed separately and then simultaneously (dual task). The tracking task discriminated between the younger groups. Both the tracking and the probe task discriminated between the two older age groups. On discriminant analysis, the best variables for distinguishing older age groups were the logarithms of the single task scores. The performance scores of both elderly age groups were lower on the dual tasks compared with single tasks, but with significant performance decreases only in the probe scores. Comparing all four age groups, the older groups performed less well on the tasks and particularly poorly on the dual tasks. There were no significant gender effects. These initial data will be useful in application of the method for purposes of discriminating mild dementia from normal senescence, and possibly the effects of drugs used to enhance cognitive function.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Palm wine drinking in a Balinese village: environmental influences.

The present study reports observations of drinking patterns and life-style of Bali-Hindu men in a Balinese village, Pemuteran, who have a relatively high prevalence (about 40%) of excessive consumption of locally produced palm wine. Patterns of drinking were defined. They are rooted in the customs of the inhabitants prior to mass displacement to a "new" land area following a volcanic catastrophe in their old village location in 1963. Excessive drinking appeared to be causally related to identified sociocultural factors and to a physically impoverished environment that greatly reduced work opportunities during much of this year. A similar village in the area which underwent important social and drinking pattern changes consequent to government provision of irrigation water and greater work opportunities suggests that alcohol drinking in Pemuteran may decline under similar social-environmental changes.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1988

The very old of Palau: health and mental state.

In this epidemiological study of physical and mental health of very old Palauans, all residents of Palau over 90 years of age were interviewed in their places of residence. All 31 subjects lived with relatives or a spouse in widely scattered small villages on three main islands, but the majority were in Koror, the largest population centre. The proportion of the total population over 90 years of age was approximately that in the US: 0.2% versus 0.3%. However, there was a large number of centenarians, 1/2000. The prevalence of dementia as determined by clinical assessment was high: 25% mild and 42% moderate or severe. This prevalence was lower (44%) as determined by the Global Deterioration Scale. Physical illness and functional mental illness were infrequent low but most subjects had at least one chronic illness, the most common being arthritis. Most chewed betel nut. Few used alcohol or smoked. An adaptation of the Wechsler logical memory test and the Global Deterioration Scale appeared to be useful in assessing cognitive function in this non-Western culture.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

The physical and mental health of nonagenarians.

This was a descriptive and comparative study of the physical and mental health and life-style of nonagenarians, a rapidly growing population who have been little studied. Thirty-three semi-independent-living nonagenarian men, 90 to 97 years of age, at the California Veterans home were compared with a similar group of 32 men 65 to 75 years of age. Nonagenarians were more physically active, had more family contacts, consumed less alcohol, smoked less, used fewer major medical medications but had more heart disease, visual and hearing problems, and lower scores of cognitive function, though within normal limits.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Alcohol and the elderly: relationships to illness and smoking.

A group of 33 semi-independent living nonagenarian men and a group of 32 65-75 year-old men of similar demographic characteristics, living at the California Veterans' Home, were compared in terms of alcohol use, past and present, and relationships to several somatic, mental and lifestyle aspects including smoking. The younger group had a higher prevalence of alcohol abuse and higher current alcohol intake (P less than 0.004). Higher alcohol intake related to greater smoking of cigarettes in the younger group. Alcohol tended to be related to an increased number of medical illnesses, and to increased use of major medications (P less than 0.005). There was an interactive effect between classes of alcohol use and scores on a mental status examination used to assess cognitive function (P less than 0.05).

Age Factors↗
PubMed1984

Health and life-style of longevous Palauans: implications for developmental theory.

The health, illness, and life styles of the oldest Palauans were investigated by interview and examination in their homes. Thirty-eight citizens ranged in age from 86 to 111. Ten were 100 years or older. They were in unusually good physical and mental health. The most common physical problem is arthritis. Life style is described in terms of diet, physical activity, smoking and drinking habits, use of medical services, and living conditions. It is theorized that the characteristic physical limitations bring on a crisis of usefulness; role intention and respect may be critical developmental issues as well at this oldest age period of the human life span.

Aged↗
PubMed1978

Quantitation of blood flow after anterior maxillary osteotomy: investigation of three surgical approaches.

The radioactive microsphere method was used to quantitate preoperative and postoperative blood flows in macaque monkeys when three different surgical approaches for anterior maxillary osteotomy were performed. Despite distinct variations in flap designs among the experimental groups, preoperative and postoperative determinations of blood flow were essentially unchanged. Results of the study suggest that a palatal, labial, or combined mucoperiosteal pedicle should be adequate to preserve the flow of blood to tissues in the osteotomized segment.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Effects of modification of the social environment on young monkey development.

Experiments and observations of the effects of modifications of the social environment on the young primate's relationship with its mother and its social-sexual development have begun to delineate the large number of variables that determine and affect the attachment relationship and that are contingent upon it. Attachment can occur to a number of mother substitutes, including a dog. Early experience has special importance but young monkeys are surprisingly responsive and adaptable to substitute maternal stimuli. The quality of developing social behavior is dependent on both the quantity and quality of an attachment. We have yet to learn what are the critical component stimuli which make up an adequate early social environment for young monkeys and apes.

Animals↗