PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Westermeyer

Publications and source records attributed to J Westermeyer.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Folk medicine in Laos: a comparison between two ethnic groups.

Folk healing was studied in two ethnic groups of Laos during the period 1965-75. Hmong, mostly illiterate and animistic, lived in highly autonomous villages within an atomistic society, occupying remote and sparsely populated mountains. Lao, mostly literate and Buddhist, lived in lowland towns and villages within a hierarchical and integrated society, occupying the densely populated Mekong flood plain. Folk healing systems of both groups demonstrated similarities regarding folk syndromes and folk modalities. Differences included more complex theories about illness, greater number of folk practitioner types and greater differentiation of the shaman role (i.e. into separate priest and healer roles) in the more complex Lao society.

Cross-Cultural Comparison↗
PubMed1988

National differences in psychiatric morbidity: methodological issues, scientific interpretations and social implications.

If national differences in psychiatric morbidity could be established, this information could guide us towards greater understanding of psychopathology and perhaps aid in primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention of psychiatric disorders. Obstacles to determining national differences include application of epidemiological concepts in psychiatry, diagnostic criteria and reliability, sampling and data collection problems, and factors affecting rates which are not constant across nations (e.g., mortality associated with psychiatric disorder, migration). Despite these problems, four diagnostic entities are considered from the standpoint of national differences (i.e., schizophrenia, substance abuse, mental retardation, and pathoplastic or "culture bound" disorders). Three examples of social or "supra-diagnostic" problems relevant to national differences in psychiatric morbidity are also addressed: youth as a high risk group, homeless mentally ill, and adversive migration.

Cross-Cultural Comparison↗
PubMed1988

Social networks and psychopathology among substance abusers.

The authors studied the social networks and psychopathology of 168 patients with diagnoses of substance abuse. Small network size was correlated with higher scores on the Modified Michigan Alcohol-Drug Screening Test, higher symptom reports on the SCL-90 and the Beck Depression Inventory, and more observed psychopathology according to the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. Larger network size was correlated with better functioning according to the Global Assessment Scale and DSM-III axis V. The authors conclude that such symptom complexes as paranoia and phobia may undermine the social networks of substance abusers more than such symptom complexes as anxiety and depression.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1988

DSM-III psychiatric disorders among Hmong refugees in the United States: a point prevalence study.

The author reports on a survey of 97 Hmong adult refugees in the United States. Thirty of these refugees showed symptoms of chronic maladjustment, and 13 showed another DSM-III axis I disorder; two manifested a paranoid psychosis, and six had a major depression. There were few axis II diagnoses. Medical conditions were frequent and often psychophysiological in nature, but they were not associated with axis I disorders. Axis IV psychosocial stressors were not associated with axis I diagnoses, but subjects with an axis I disorder tended to show lower adaptive levels on axis V. The demographic condition most strongly associated with an axis I diagnosis was current status as a welfare recipient.

Acculturation↗
PubMed1988

Problems with surveillance methods for alcoholism: differences in coding systems among federal, state, and private agencies.

Social indicator systems can serve as a social accounting method to guide public policy on alcoholism, utilizing data which are routinely collected at public expense. An attempt to develop an alcoholism social indicator system for Minnesota demonstrated many differences in the coding schemes used by various state agencies and institutions. These findings have relevance to other social indicator systems being developed to assess public policies regarding the people's health.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1988

Substance use and abuse among mentally retarded persons: a comparison of patients and a survey population.

Substance abuse among mentally retarded persons, first described 55 years ago, has received little or no attention by specialists in mental retardation. With deinstitutionalization, this problem has reappeared, often followed by victimization (i.e., assault, rape, robbery). In this study the demographic characteristics, family and childhood history, substance use patterns, and substance-related problems of 40 mild mentally retarded persons are compared with those of 40 mild mentally retarded persons without substance abuse. Similarities with substance abusers who are not mentally retarded are noted. Recommendations for alleviating this serious problem among mentally retarded persons are made.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Substance abuse among medical trainees: current problems and evolving resources.

Substance abuse among medical students and residents, while not new, has increased in frequency, appears earlier, and is more apt to involve illicit drugs. In addition to these pathological changes, certain mental health resources for medical students have declined (although there is considerable variability from one location to another). These changes have stimulated certain innovative approaches to such problems. Both these recent problems as well as recent responses for dealing with them are presented.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Sex differences in drug and alcohol use among ethnic groups in Laos, 1965-1975.

Laos in the period 1965-1975 provided an opportunity to study sex differences in drug and alcohol use, as influenced by ethnicity. Several psychoactive substances were locally consumed, including opium, heroin, alcohol, tobacco, betel-areca, and cannabis. Much diversity occurred among the various ethnic groups with regard to male-female use of drugs and alcohol. Trends in these use patterns suggested the existence of certain principles which govern the male-female dimension of drug use. Social changes going on in the society were reflected in choice of substance forms by younger people as compared to their elders (e.g., cigarettes vs pipes or cigars, heroin vs opium, manufactured vs village-produced alcohol). Ecological factors, which contributed to drug availability, also were powerful in determining type of drugs and patterns of use.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Prevention of mental disorder among Hmong refugees in the U.S.: lessons from the period 1976-1986.

Scientifically valid, well controlled studies on the prevention of mental disorders are sparse. Nonetheless, much quasi-experimental and descriptive work does exist. Published findings permit an evaluation of the mental health effects of policies, procedures and programs designed for refugees. The federal government assigns legal status to refugees and is paramount in matters of refugee relocation and readjustment within its borders. In matters of social adjustment and prevention of mental disorder, agents of the federal government must consider the accumulation and distribution of knowledge, skill and expertise on refugee social and mental health issues; policies and procedures for relocation; premigration education, training, assessment, and orientation; postmigration support and acculturation; and the development of treatment resources to meet the mental health needs. Once refugees arrive in the United States of America, much of the actual implementation of policy and procedures has been left to state governments. At this level there have been neither the resources nor the expertise to develop programs for the mental health of refugees. Limited resources have been wasted and the mental health of refugees has been neglected or made worse by some state initiated programs.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

The psychiatrist and solvent-inhalant abuse: recognition, assessment, and treatment.

Solvent-inhalant abuse, existent for a century, has been gradually increasing in several sectors of our society over the last few decades. This form of substance abuse involves a variety of pharmacological agents as well as several target groups at risk. A key strategy for effective intervention is early recognition in clinical as well as other settings. Psychiatrists should appreciate the clinical manifestations of these substances because they often appear in psychiatric settings. Assessment and treatment of the solvent-inhalant abuser must take into account the special pharmacological, demographic, and ecological factors associated with this particular form of substance abuse.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Clinical considerations in cross-cultural diagnosis.

When psychiatrists and patients come from different cultural backgrounds, special knowledge, assistance, and awareness are needed for accurate diagnosis. Understanding the sociocultural milieu in which the patient lives and functions is crucial for distinguishing psychopathology from culture-bound beliefs or behavior. Clinical observation and physical examination may be the primary diagnostic tools in the cross-cultural setting if clinical history is scanty or the mental status examination is unsatisfactory. Interviewing techniques must be designed to encourage rapport and reduce fear. The author discusses issues to be considered in choosing the language to be spoken during the interview and using a translator. He emphasizes the need for clinicians to detect and transcend their own cultural biases and those of their patients, as well as the need for professional training in making cross-cultural diagnostic assessments.

Cross-Cultural Comparison↗
PubMed1987

Cultural patterns of drug and alcohol use: an analysis of host and agent in the cultural environment.

Applying the public health approach, the author of this article analyses the problems of drug abuse and alcoholism in the context of the interactions between the host (person), drugs and the environment in order to understand better the nature, extent, spread, patterns and associated aspects of these problems. Whenever the problems arising from drug or alcohol use reach a critical level in society there is a tendency to view them as an entirely new and unique phenomenon, although such problems relating to socially accepted substances have already occurred in numerous societies over the past few centuries. Patterns of drug use evolve from the meanings, values, attitudes, beliefs and norms that a society assigns to any particular drug. Cultures differ widely in the psychological and social functions that are assigned to drug use. A drug whose use has been woven into the fabric of a stable society runs less risk of being problematic for that society. Increased drug-related problems in societies around the globe often appear as a result of diffusion, or the spread of a given drug or its mode of administration, from one culture to another. Migration, affluence, urbanization and rapid cultural change also contribute to changes in drug use. Cross-cultural studies of drug problems show that certain social strategies concerning drug use hinder the development of such problems and help to reduce and prevent the abuse of drugs and alcohol, while certain other strategies are liable to add to drug problems.

Alcoholism↗