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Biomedical subjects

H Feifel

Publications and source records attributed to H Feifel.

35 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Psychology and death. Meaningful rediscovery.

The place of death in psychology is reviewed historically. Leading causes for its being slighted as an area of investigation during psychology's early years are presented. Reasons for its rediscovery in the mid-1950s as a legitimate sector for scientific inquiry are then discussed, along with some vicissitudes encountered in carrying out research in the field. This is followed by a description of principal empirical findings, clinical perceptions, and perspectives emerging from work in the thanatological realm. The probability that such urgent social issues as abortion, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and euthanasia, and such destructive behaviors as drug abuse, alcoholism, and certain acts of violence are associated with attitudes toward death offers a challenge to psychology to enhance the vitality of human response to maladaptive conduct and loss. Recognition of personal mortality is a major entryway to self-knowledge. Although death is manifestly too complex to be the special sphere of any one discipline, psychology's position as an arena in which humanist and physicist-engineer cultures intersect provides us with a meaningful opportunity to advance our comprehension of how death can serve life.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Coping with conflict situations: middle-aged and elderly men.

In this study we investigated the coping responses of fairly healthy, middle-aged (40-64 years, n = 76) and elderly (65-92 years, n = 106) men to five conflict situations (i.e., decision making, defeat in a competitive circumstance, frustration, authority conflict, and peer disagreement). Coping responses were measured by the Life Situations Inventory, developed to assess three forms of coping: problem-solving, avoidance, and resignation. Scales were based on a 28-item questionnaire and were derived rationally through item analysis. Alpha coefficients ranged from .75 to .82. Elderly subjects used avoidance significantly less often than did middle-aged subjects in handling decision-making and authority-conflict situations. No differences were noted between the age groups in use of problem solving or resignation. Both middle-aged and elderly persons favored use of problem solving in managing all conflicts. Results suggest that studies that do not address potential interactions between age and stress situation may be missing an important element in the age-coping relation.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Degree of life-threat and differential use of coping modes.

This investigation sought to determine whether medical patients facing life-threatening illnesses (i.e. cancer, myocardial infarction) differed in their coping responses from medical patients facing nonlife-threatening illnesses (e.g. arthritis, dermatitis). Subjects' coping responses were measured by a Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire which was developed to measure three forms of coping: confrontation, avoidance, and acceptance-resignation. The scales were based on a 32-item questionnaire and were derived by a combination of rational and factor analytic procedures. Construct validity data gathered from patients, physicians, and significant others verified the nature of the scales. Results indicated that life-threatened patients used confrontation significantly more than did nonlife-threatened patients in dealing with their illness. Acceptance-resignation was used least of all by each of the groups. Findings appear to support those theorists who conceptualize coping behavior in dealing with life-threat as being shaped more by situational context than by personal style.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Old is old is old?

We examined potential differences between two matched subgroups of elderly men: young-old (65-74 years of age; n = 53) and old-old (75 years of age and older; n = 56). Subjects were fairly healthy men from community agencies, who were interviewed and tested on a number of characteristics involving personality, mood, attitudes, and behaviors. Although t tests and correlations indicated some differences between the groups, the overall findings underlined their similarity on the vast majority of variables scrutinized. The crucial base for enhancing understanding in gerontology should not only focus on the age-advancing senescent person but on the whole individual.

Affect↗

Coping strategies and associated features of medically ill patients.

This study examined the psychological and behavioral correlates of three major coping strategies used by medically ill patients in dealing with their illness; namely, confrontation, avoidance, and acceptance-resignation. The subjects consisted of 223 male medical patients with a variety of life-threatening and chronic illnesses. Coping responses were measured by the Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire, while other variables were tapped by a variety of self-report and test measures, as well as by interview data. Significant correlates were found for each of the coping strategies accounting for 10 to 53% of the variance. These included demographic, illness, and psychological variables. Employment of acceptance-resignation as a coping strategy was particularly evident in patients with little expectation of recovery and a lack of hope. Effectiveness of coping appeared to be negatively linked to frequent use of avoidance and acceptance-resignation in life-threatened patients. Overall, it seems that a variety of variables across several domains accompany the use of a particular coping strategy; that choice of a specific strategy is most likely multidetermined; and that the configuration of variables associated with a particular strategy is likely to be different for each coping strategy. Coping behavior is a subtle, multifashioned expression the complete grasp of which demands an integrative approach.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

[High-resolution computerized tomography in the diagnosis of impacted third molars and its implications in terms of irradiation exposure].

Inferior alveolar nerve lesions are amongst the most frequent and most severe complications in the surgical removal of third molars. To avoid nerve lesions, careful preoperative radiographic assessment of the anatomical relationships is mandatory. Whenever there is a close topographical relationship between the third molar roots and the mandibular canal, we perform high-resolution CT scans. The additional information obtained as against conventional x-ray films is demonstrated in case descriptions. The results and possible implications in terms of irradiation exposure are discussed.

Adult↗

[Long-term results of primary osteoplasty in CLP patients. A cephalometric analysis].

In the present paper the long term results of 27 patients with clefts who had undergone primary osteoplasty at 3-10 months are presented in a cephalometric follow-up. A review of the literature shows that in comparison to cleft populations without primary osteoplasty there have been no differences in terms of maxillary development. Therefore primary osteoplasty cannot alone be made responsible for the disturbance of the growth of the maxilla as has been postulated in the early 70s. According to the Tübingen results consistent orthodontic therapy is necessary to prevent developmental anomalies.

Adolescent↗

[TMJ diagnosis in oral and maxillofacial surgery].

Recording pathologic mandibular movements is of crucial importance to the diagnosis and treatment of functional disorders of the masticatory system. The electronic computersupported recording system presented in this paper is a diagnostic instrument of extremely high precision. The clinical and scientific applications possible with this system in oral and maxillofacial surgery are discussed.

Adult↗