Biomedical subjects

G H Mumma

Publications and source records attributed to G H Mumma.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1992

Long-term psychosexual adjustment of acute leukemia survivors: impact of marrow transplantation versus conventional chemotherapy.

Psychosexual sequelae associated with surviving acute leukemia treated with conventional chemotherapy or with chemotherapy followed by bone marrow transplantation (BMT) were investigated in 70 patients who were off treatment for at least 1 year. Assessment of psychosexual function included frequency of sexual activity, satisfaction, body image, gender role identity, and adjustment in sexual relations. No differences between BMT and conventional chemotherapy survivors were found on any of these measures, despite the high probability of gonadal impairment with BMT. Compared with physically healthy norms, women survivors generally reported decreased sexual frequency and satisfaction, whereas both men and women survivors reported poorer body image. Longer time since completing cancer treatment predicted greater frequency of sexual activity in women but poorer body image for both men and women. Those survivors who reported decreased sexual frequency, satisfaction, and poorer body image reported greater psychological distress and decreased energy. Results indicate that psychosexual sequelae in survivors of leukemia occur frequently and warrant intensive investigation, particularly to address the need for an intervention in those most distressed.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1992

Voluntary immunomodulation: a preliminary study.

This study explored the effects of relaxation and imagery procedures on the voluntary self-regulation of immune responses. Immune studies of 19 adults were made before and after a 45 minute intervention consisting of relaxation with imagery aimed at enhancing immune activity. A self-report measure of psychological distress was completed before each blood sample. Results indicate that the seven blood measures of immune functioning were measured with adequate reliability and consisted of two sets of immune parameters. A statistically significant increase in one of the mitogen measures and a marginally significant increase in one of the blood count measures was found following the relaxation/imagery procedure. Age, hypnotizability, and their interaction significantly predicted change on the set of blood count measures but not on the set of mitogen measures. As expected, level of subjective psychological distress generally decreased following the intervention. The methodological limitations of this study included limited sample size and absence of a control group.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

Relations between hyperactive and aggressive behavior and peer relations at three elementary grade levels.

Sociometrics and teacher ratings of hyperactivity and aggression were obtained on 390 boys in grades 1-6 to explore the relative contributions of hyperactivity and aggression to children's social adjustment. Both hyperactivity and aggression were correlated with negative sociometric nominations at all grade levels; however, only hyperactivity showed consistent inverse correlations with positive sociometric nominations. In multiple regression analyses, hyperactivity contributed incremental variance to the prediction of problematic sociometric status at all grade levels, while aggression did so only at grades 3-4. An examination of the core symptoms of hyperactivity revealed that motor hyperactivity, in the absence of impulsivity and inattention, did not predict negative sociometric status at any grade level. Subgroups of boys categorized as hyperactive only, aggressive only, hyperactive/aggressive, and nonhyperactive/nonaggressive controls were compared on teacher ratings and sociometrics. Hyperactive/aggressive boys had higher hyperactivity and aggression ratings than boys in either of the single-problem groups; all three behavior problem groups had more negative social status than controls. Developmental changes in children's normative expectations for social behavior were discussed as possible mechanisms mediating the age-related differences in relations among aggression, hyperactivity, and peer relations.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Long-term psychological adjustment of acute leukemia survivors: impact of bone marrow transplantation versus conventional chemotherapy.

As increasing numbers of patients survive acute leukemia, it has become important to study the long-term psychological and social adjustment of patients who have successfully completed their leukemia treatment. An important aspect of this inquiry is comparing the long-term psychosocial impact of two treatments for acute leukemia: chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation. This study examines the psychosocial adjustment of 70 acute leukemia survivors who received either conventional chemotherapy alone (N = 49) or chemotherapy and an allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (N = 21). At the time of assessment, patients were an average of 31 years old, had completed treatment 5 years ago and were physically healthy (mean Karnofsky score of 97). Psychometrically sound, self-report questionnaires assessed global and illness-specific psychological distress and social adjustment. Despite the additional strain and longer hospitalization associated with bone marrow transplantation, there was no difference found between BMT survivors and those treated with conventional chemotherapy alone in current psychological and social functioning. Both groups, however, had significantly greater levels of distress than that observed in normal physically healthy samples. The distress neither reached a psychiatric threshold nor significantly interfered with social adjustment. These data suggest that, irrespective of treatment, acute leukemia survivors experience overall psychological well-being and social adjustment even though they still carry a psychological burden that should be recognized in their continuing follow-up and care.

Acute Disease↗