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Biomedical subjects

G S Saayman

Publications and source records attributed to G S Saayman.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Adolescent adjustment to parental divorce: an investigation from the perspective of basic dimensions of structural family therapy theory.

This study, conducted within the framework of concepts of structural family therapy, examined the relationship of four family-based, clinical dimensions to the adjustment of 45 adolescents during the first 18 months of parental separation. There were two samples of mother-custody families: an Aided group that applied for treatment, and an Unaided group of paid volunteers. The inclusion of this variable addressed a major methodological deficit of previous studies. There was a significant association between perceived postseparation family structure and adolescent adjustment, demonstrating that individual adolescent adjustment is contingent on structural features of the contemporary postseparation family. Further, Aided families were perceived as more chaotic, disengaged, and enmeshed than Unaided families, while Aided adolescents were characterized by more behavior problems than Unaided adolescents. This suggests that divorce, as an unscheduled transition, might be within the realm of adaptation for many families and adolescents and is not necessarily "disastrous."

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1978

A psychophysiological investigation of the long-term effects of clozapine upon sleep patterns of normal young adults.

A 25-night single-blind cross over design was employed to determine the long-term effects of clozapine on the sleep patterns of six normal young adults. Subjects received 12.50 mg placebo on the first and last five nights, whereas on the intermediate 15 nights 12.5 mg clozapine was administered. The subjects slept in the laboratory on the third and fourth nights to obtain baseline recordings, and on the eight, twelfth, sixteenth, and twentieth nights to determine the effects of clozapine on sleep variables. Recordings on nights 21 and 25 were used to assess withdrawal effects. Percentage stage 1 sleep and indices of body movements during sleep were significantly reduced, suggesting that clozapine may have sleep-inducing properties. There were no significant rebound of stage REM sleep during drug withdrawal despite a small but significant reduction in stage REM during drug administration. Numerous side effects, indicative of sleepiness, were reported on the mornings following drug administration, and there was evidence of a rapid tolerance to clozapine. These findings may limit the efficacy of clozapine as an hypnotic agent over an extended period of time. Further research on insomniac subjects is therefore indicated.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

The effects of Cannabis sativa on the behavior of adult female chacma baboons (Papio ursinus) in captivity.

Indices of locomotory and social activity were quantified during 102 h of daily tests with two pairs of baboons under three conditions: baseline, cannabis administration, and postdrug withdrawal. Six percent of whole dried plants of cannabis (33 g) was incorporated into the daily feed. In one pair, social activity increased during cannabis administration, with no clear effect on locomotory behavior. In the second pair locomotory activity decreased, but there was no consistent change in social interaction. Thus individuals responded differently to the drug, and the social environment of each pair appeared to be implicated as a determining factor.

Aggression↗
PubMed1977

A psychophysiological investigation of the short-term effects of clozapine upon sleep parameters of normal young adults.

A nine consecutive night, double-blind design was used to assess the effects of a psychotropic agent (clozapine) upon sleep parameters as well as measures of mood and performance in a group of seven normal, young adults. Placebo was administered to a control group of seven subjects. EEGs and EOGs were monitored throughout the night in a laboratory environment and were scored according to standardized criteria. The administration of 25 mg clozapine/night for three consecutive nights significantly reduced stage 4 sleep on the second and third nights. Whereas stage REM sleep was not affected, a variety of REM indices were significantly increased on the third night of clozapine administration and/or on the first night of clozapine withdrawal. The number of body movements and the number of body movements/minute of sleep were significantly reduced on the three nights of clozapine administration. Numerous psychophysiological side effects were reported. These results indicate that clozapine may be a useful medication in the treatment of sleep disorders. However, the incidence of adverse side effects of represents a major limitation in the use of clozapine as an hypnotic agent at the dose-rate employed.

Adolescent↗