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Biomedical subjects

J R Swenson

Publications and source records attributed to J R Swenson.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Microcomputer-based portable long-term spasticity recording system.

A device for long-term monitoring of muscle activity (EMG) with surface electrodes and method of its application are described in this paper. This device is called a microcomputer two-channel EMG monitor. The device can be used for up to 24 h monitoring of EMG activity, followed by data transfer to a host computer for signal analysis. This device records amplified, rectified, and integrated EMG activity. Shorter recording time allows shorter sampling periods suitable for different other EMG analysis. Recording of spontaneous EMG in complete spinal cord injured subjects was the original reason for the design of the long-term monitor. These recordings were used for estimation of spasticity in complete spinal cord patients.

Electromyography↗
PubMed1992

A Canadian medical-psychiatric inpatient service.

Patients with both psychiatric and medical illnesses present complex and, at times, difficult diagnostic and management problems. Medical-psychiatric units designed to provide integrated medical and psychiatric care have been established in the United States. This paper describes the development and structure of such a unit established at a Canadian general hospital, using psychiatric facilities and resources already in place. A one year review of the characteristics of patients discharged from the service found that their mean length of stay was similar to that of inpatients discharged from the general adult inpatient services, but shorter than that of patients discharged from the psychogeriatric service. Many of these patients had neurological conditions; coexisting affective disorders, substance abuse, organic mental syndromes and somatoform disorders were diagnosed frequently. We believe that a medical-psychiatric inpatient unit can provide integrated care to patients who might otherwise receive less than adequate care.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Drug and alcohol abuse in patients with acute burn injuries.

We reviewed records of adult patients admitted to our burn unit who were reported to abuse drugs or alcohol from 1985 to 1988. The proportion of patients reported as abusing drugs increased significantly from 1987 to 1988, compared to previous years. However, there was no increase in the proportion of patients reported to abuse alcohol. Patients identified as abusing drugs had longer hospital stays, compared to patients who were not reported to abuse substances. Methamphetamine and cocaine were the drugs most often abused by patients who abused drugs or both drugs and alcohol. Mechanisms of burn injury in these patients included "accidental" burn injury related to acute intoxication, and self-injury due to psychosis or depression.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

A psychiatric fellowship in the United States.

The development of subspecialty fields in psychiatry will likely motivate many new graduates of Canadian psychiatric residency programs to seek additional fellowship training. There is little information to guide psychiatric residents interested in arranging a fellowship year. This article discusses the experience of three Canadian psychiatrists who recently completed a fellowship year in a well known academic centre in the United States. The reasons for considering an additional year of training are discussed. The practical aspects of finding and funding a fellowship year are also addressed. The individual experiences of the authors as fellows in consultation-liaison psychiatry, psychopharmacology and psychobiology, and sleep disorders medicine are described. Finally, personal stresses which appeared to be commonly experienced by psychiatric fellows are explored.

Canada↗
PubMed1989

Extrapyramidal reactions. Neuropsychiatric mimics in patients with AIDS.

The use of neuroleptic medication as antiemetics, or in the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders in patients with AIDS, may be associated with extrapyramidal side effects and lead to difficulty with diagnosis and management. Two cases are presented that describe severe extrapyramidal syndromes occurring in two patients with AIDS, one treated with prochlorperazine and the other with prochlorperazine and metoclopropramide. It is possible that the neuropathologic lesions found in patients with the AIDS dementia complex may pre-dispose to extrapyramidal side effects of neuroleptic medication. The differential diagnosis and treatment of delirium, dementia, depression, and extrapyramidal reactions in patients with AIDS is discussed.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1989

Hidden grief reactions on a psychiatric consultation service.

Assessment of the family and social relationships of 123 medical and surgical patients consecutively referred to the psychiatric consultation-liaison service revealed that acute or unresolved grief was present in 15% of patients. Patients with unresolved grief often presented with depression and/or conflict with the medical or nursing staff. The referring physician in most cases recognized the presence of acute grief; however, all cases of unresolved grief presented as "hidden" grief reactions. Patients with acute grief rarely had associated psychiatric illness, whereas all patients with unresolved grief had concurrent psychiatric disorders. The management of acute and unresolved grief in hospitalized medical or surgical patients is discussed, and illustrative cases are presented.

Adaptation, Psychological↗