PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

John Read

Publications and source records attributed to John Read.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Long-term clinical and ultrasound evaluation after arthroscopic acromioplasty in patients with partial rotator cuff tears.

PURPOSE: Clinical and ultrasound evaluation of patients who had undergone debridement of a partial rotator cuff tear in conjunction with an arthroscopic acromioplasty. TYPE OF STUDY: Retrospective follow-up study. METHODS: Thirty-three consecutive patients were included in the study; 26 of the 33 (79%) patients underwent ultrasound evaluation of both shoulders and were examined by independent observers after a follow-up period of 101 months (range, 60 to 128 months; minimum, 5 years). RESULTS: The median time between onset of symptoms and surgery was 24 months (range, 6 to 360 months). At follow-up, the Constant score was 65 points (range, 15-98). The Constant score on the contralateral side was 84 points (range, 15-96; P < .0001). The strength in abduction was 4.7 kg (range, 1.2 to 11.1 kg) on the operated side and 5.1 kg (range, 1.8 to 10.4 kg) on the contralateral side (not significant). Twelve of the 26 patients reported discomfort or pain in the contralateral shoulder and during the follow-up period, and 3 of 26 had undergone an arthroscopic acromioplasty of the contralateral shoulder. Two of 26 patients underwent further surgery of the index shoulder during the follow-up period. The visual analogue score for pain for the index shoulder was 20 mm (range, 0 to 85). The ultrasound evaluation revealed that 9 of 26 patients had a full-thickness rotator cuff tear in the index shoulder and, of these, 3 of 9 were bilateral. CONCLUSIONS: It appears that an arthroscopic acromioplasty and rotator cuff debridement in patients with partial tears does not protect the rotator cuff from undergoing further degeneration. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

Acromion↗
PubMed2006

Childhood trauma and dissociation in female patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders: an exploratory study.

The few studies that have investigated the relationship between trauma and dissociative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia have not assessed the role of the severity of psychotic symptoms. The current study examined correlations among five domains of childhood trauma and dissociative symptoms in 30 female patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, using the Dissociative Experiences Scale and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Psychotic symptoms were measured by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. Consistent with previous studies, high levels of childhood traumatic experiences were found (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire total score M = 48.5, SD = 18.3). Physical neglect and emotional abuse showed significant correlations with dissociative symptoms at admission. When patients were stabilized, about a month after admission, emotional abuse still showed a significant correlation with dissociative symptoms. However, in contrast to previous findings, Dissociative Experiences Scale findings were not stable over time. Our results confirm the relevance of childhood trauma in schizophrenic patients but also demonstrate the need to develop appropriate methodologies for measuring dissociation in this population.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Therapy for child sexual abuse:women talk about helpful and unhelpful therapy experiences.

Women with histories of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) were asked to describe what was helpful and unhelpful to them in therapy. From 191 completed postal questionnaires, a subsample of 20 participants was interviewed. This paper focuses on three specific areas of therapy raised by interviewees: (1) Establishing a therapeutic relationship; (2) talking about experiences and effects of CSA; and (3) dealing with errors in therapy. Findings suggest that to avoid making serious therapy errors, therapists (1) need special skills to be aware of the dynamics and effects of CSA and of abuse-focused therapy and to deal with abuse-related material, and (2) need to develop an equal and open therapy relationship that includes ongoing consultation with clients about their experiences of therapy. doi:10.1300/J070v15n04_03.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Mental health services and sexual abuse: the need for staff training.

Identification of child abuse by mental health services is important for formulation of the causes of presenting problems and for development of comprehensive treatment plans. A small but growing number of studies suggest, however, that the majority of child sexual abuse cases are not identified by mental health services. A similarly small literature also suggests that abuse survivors are extremely reluctant to spontaneously tell anyone about the abuse, indicating that professionals have a responsibility to ask rather than wait for spontaneous disclosures. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to add to these two bodies of literature with a New Zealand sample. A postal questionnaire was completed by 191 women who had received counselling for childhood sexual abuse. The average amount of time taken to tell anyone about the abuse was 16 years. Only 22% of those who had been in contact with public mental health services had ever been asked about abuse by those services. It was concluded that New Zealand women are reluctant to disclose abuse and that mental health services are, as is the case elsewhere, failing to assist them with this process. The need for staff training is discussed, and an example described.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Into the unknown: the experiences of individuals living with multiple sclerosis.

This article examines the narratives of 16 individuals diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). Before diagnosis, the participants had experienced disparate and transient symptoms. Diagnosis itself involved numerous tests and health practitioners, varied responses to the diagnosis, an inability to assimilate information about the disease, and a view of MS as being the lesser of two evils. Immediately after diagnosis, participants revealed concerns about the unpredictable progression of the disease. Patient narratives reflected both negative and positive aspects of living with a chronic illness, such as shifting roles, discrimination, reevaluation of priorities, reinvestment in the family, and positive lifestyle changes. All aspects of the narratives revealed fear and anxiety in relation to the unknown.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2005

The natural history of a bioabsorbable interference screw used for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with a 4-strand hamstring technique.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess radiologically the rate of absorption of the Arthrex poly L-lactide bioabsorbable interference screw (Arthrex, Naples, FL) used in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with a 4-strand hamstring technique. TYPE OF STUDY: Case series. METHODS: Eight sequential patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with a 4-strand hamstring technique were assessed with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans at 1, 2, and 4 years postoperatively. RESULTS: There was no radiologic evidence of absorption of the screw on any of the scans. The MRI appearance remained essentially unchanged from 1 to 4 years with the exception of the presence of a small cyst in the tibial tunnel of one of the patients. No edema was seen associated with the tibial tunnel in any of our patients. CONCLUSIONS: There are several quoted theoretical advantages to using bioabsorbable screws. The rate of absorption is dependent on material, weight, and degree of crystallization. In our series using an amorphous low crystallization poly L-lactide screw, there was no evidence of any progression to absorption 4 years after implantation. This may be because all series quoted to date look at absorption using a bone-patellar tendon-bone graft. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

Absorbable Implants↗
PubMed2005

Young peoples' opinions about the causes of, and solutions to, New Zealand's high youth suicide rate.

In response to an open-ended question about the causes of New Zealand's high youth suicide rate, 384 young adults most commonly cited pressure to conform and perform, followed by financial worries, abuse and neglect, problems with alcohol or drugs, and boredom. Depression was cited by 5 percent and mental illness by only 1 percent. Recommended solutions included crisis support services located in schools and youth centers, youth activities, educational programs to assist young people to discuss feelings and to bolster self-esteem, and financial aid. Neither increasing mental health services, nor reducing media coverage of suicides, was considered to be a solution.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Models of response to childhood sexual abuse: their implications for treatment.

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) has been linked to adult mental health problems and indicators of severity of psychiatric illness. There exist large, unexplained individual differences in the presentation of mental health problems following CSA. Complex statistical methodologies allow researchers to examine models of response to CSA and its impact on mental health. Two early models are presented and critiqued. Two more recent models are then presented. It is concluded that whereas no single variable can, on its own, account for individual variation in symptom development, empirically tested models point toward a complex interaction between abuse-related factors, interactions with others (e.g., responses to disclosure, attachment), and individual factors (e.g., attributions, emotion-focused coping) as mediators and moderators of outcome. The implications of increased understanding of the complex interaction of these factors in understanding clinical presentations and in the formulation of treatment plans are explored.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2003

Routine questioning about non-consenting sex: a survey of practice in Australasian sexual health clinics.

The objectives of the study were, 1. To ascertain if sexual health physicians and practitioners believe a question concerning a past history of non-consensual sex should be asked routinely and are asking it. 2. To identify whether sexual health services have established protocols to integrate this question into practice. 3. To identify the barriers to this becoming part of a routine sexual health history. A questionnaire covering demographics, protocols and practice around asking the question and reasons for not asking was sent to all (20) sexual health clinics in New Zealand and 7 sexual health clinics in Australia, inviting participation from all staff who took routine sexual health histories. Twenty-seven sexual health clinics participated with a total of 122 (69% response rate) questionnaires completed and returned. One hundred and thirteen (93%) participants believed it was a relevant question to ask. Seventy-eight (63%) said asking the question was encouraged, and routinely or mostly asked the question. Only 40 (33%) identified their workplace had a written policy and 52 (43%) had not received specific training in asking the question. The majority who asked routinely said their client never or rarely objected and that it did not often add significantly to the time. The main reasons for not asking were the belief it was nothing to do with the person's presenting complaint, concern the client would find it too disturbing, inadequate training, and lack of time. Sexual health clinics should develop protocols and guidelines and provide appropriate training to ensure that routine questioning about non-consenting sex is integrated into safe practice.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Sexual and physical abuse during childhood and adulthood as predictors of hallucinations, delusions and thought disorder.

In light of recent studies indicating a relationship between child abuse and the positive symptoms of schizophrenia, this study investigated the hypotheses that childhood sexual and physical abuse are related to hallucinations, delusions, and thought disorder in adults, and that those relationships are greater in those who have suffered abuse during adulthood as well as childhood. In 200 community mental-health-centre clients, the clinically evaluated symptomatology of the 92 clients whose files documented sexual or physical abuse at some point in their lives was compared with that of the 108 for whom no abuse was documented. In the 60 patients for whom child abuse was documented, hallucinations (including all six subtypes), but not delusions, thought disorder or negative symptoms, were significantly more common than in the non-abused group. Adult sexual assault was related to hallucinations, delusions, and thought disorder. In linear regression analysis, a combination of child abuse and adult abuse predicted hallucinations, delusions, and thought disorder. However, child abuse was a significant predictor of auditory and tactile hallucinations, even in the absence of adult abuse. Possible psychological and neurobiological pathways from abuse to symptoms are discussed, along with research and clinical implications.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Psychological trauma and psychosis: another reason why people diagnosed schizophrenic must be offered psychological therapies.

This article summarizes the research literature documenting the high prevalence of psychological trauma, including childhood sexual and physical abuse, among people diagnosed psychotic in general and schizophrenic in particular. A review of the relevant literature indicates that childhood trauma may in some cases be causally related to the development of psychotic symptomatology later in life, perhaps by contributing to the diathesis in the stress-diathesis equation. However it is argued that regardless of whether clinicians view the relationship as causal, contributory, co-morbid, or coincidental is irrelevant to the fact that this high prevalence dictates that all people diagnosed schizophrenic receive a proper trauma assessment and, where appropriate, be offered psychological treatments to address the sequelae of the trauma or abuse. Taken in conjunction with the proven effectiveness of various psychological and psychosocial treatments in ameliorating the symptomatology and improving the quality of life of people diagnosed schizophrenic, the need to address the trauma found in such high rates in this population requires a broadening, and not as some suggest a limitation, of the range of treatments offered. The authors identify and challenge ideologically, rather than empirically, driven assumptions about the etiology of schizophrenia, particularly the distorted but dominant version of the diathesis-stress model, which claims that the diathesis is predominantly or exclusively biogenetic in origin and therefore inaccurately places all psychosocial stressors and traumas exclusively on the stress side of the equation. It is this bias that inhibits many clinicians from taking trauma histories with people diagnosed schizophrenic and from offering appropriate treatment when trauma is disclosed. It is the same bias that leads some to argue for a reduction in the availability of psychological therapies for such people.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

What happens when people disclose sexual or physical abuse to staff at a community mental health centre?

The files of 200 users of a community mental health centre revealed that 46% of the files contained documentation of sexual or physical abuse as children or adults. Only 36% of summary formulations and 33% of treatment plans for the abused clients mentioned the abuse. Only 22% of the abused clients received abuse-focused therapy. Response rates were lower for clients who were male or had a schizophrenia spectrum diagnosis, and if the clinician was male or a psychiatrist. None of the alleged crimes, past, recent or ongoing, was reported to legal authorities. Development of unit policies and training programmes to ensure appropriate response to abuse histories is recommended.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

The differential effectiveness of psychosocial and biogenetic causal explanations in reducing negative attitudes toward "mental illness".

Given the apparent failure of the "mental illness is an illness like any other" approach to reducing negative stereotypes of people with mental health problems, the differential effects of biogenetic and psychosocial explanations of psychiatric symptoms were evaluated. Attitude measures were administered to young New Zealand adults before and after a video portraying a young man with psychotic symptoms followed by either biogenetic or psychosocial explanations. Consistent with previous studies, the "medical model" approach significantly increased perceptions of dangerousness and unpredictability. Following the psychosocial explanation there was a slight but statistically insignificant improvement in attitudes. Participants who knew users of psychiatric services, or who had used services themselves, had more positive attitudes than other participants. It is recommended that destigmatization programs minimize efforts to persuade the public that mental health problems are biogenetic illnesses, and focus instead on increasing exposure to users of mental health services. Further research is required to determine whether such exposure should include life histories, so as to highlight the psychosocial causes of mental health problems.

Adult↗