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Biomedical subjects

K Petrie

Publications and source records attributed to K Petrie.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

The impact of catastrophic beliefs on functioning in chronic fatigue syndrome.

This study investigated the association between catastrophic beliefs and disability in the context of Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). A sample of 282 CFS sufferers were asked about the consequences of pushing themselves beyond their present physical state. Responses were coded into catastrophic or non-catastrophic categories. While not differing on the length of illness or psychological adjustment, subjects demonstrating catastrophic responses evidenced significantly higher levels of fatigue and were more disabled in terms of their ability to work both in their normal occupation and around the house. Catastrophizers also showed greater disability in terms of their sleep and rest, social communication, and recreational activities. The role of catastrophic beliefs and personal perceptions of CFS in maintaining the illness is discussed.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1994

Clustering of attempted suicide: New Zealand national data.

BACKGROUND: The extent to which clusters of attempted suicides occur is a significant problem that is complementary to the current available research on the clustering of completed suicide. However, little systematic research on clusters of attempted suicides exists. The present study examines the extent and nature of clustering of suicide attempts. METHOD: The occurrence of clustering of attempted suicide was examined in nationwide data for all New Zealand hospitals, obtained from the New Zealand Health Statistics Services for the years 1988-1990. The Scan statistic and Knox procedure were employed for testing the significance of clusters in time and time-space, respectively. RESULTS: The analyses indicated that significant time clustering occurred in younger age groups, specifically among 15-19 and 20-24 year olds. The results could not be accounted for by seasonal variations in admissions. Age specificity of time-space clusters emerged, exhibiting a similar pattern to that reported for completed suicides in the US. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest a similar underlying mechanism for the clustering of parasuicide and completed suicides and provide support for the existence of contagion of suicidal behaviour. The implications for prevention are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

The psychological impact of hip arthroplasty.

The impact of total hip arthroplasty on psychological functioning was examined in 51 patients; 25 females and 26 males with a mean age of 65 years (range 42-81 years). Assessments of psychological well-being and distress were made with the Mental Health Inventory. Life satisfaction, self-rated health, and pain ratings were also obtained. Assessments were made prior to surgery, immediately after surgery, and at a 2 month follow-up. The operation produced significant improvements in psychological well-being (P < 0.001), psychological distress (P < 0.001), life satisfaction (P < 0.01), self-rated health (P < 0.001), and pain (P < 0.001). It is concluded that the changes in medical and functional status following hip arthroplasty documented in previous research are accompanied by substantial improvements in psychological state, and that the inclusion of psychological factors in hip arthroplasty research will provide a more comprehensive assessment of outcome.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1993

A double-blind trial of melatonin as a treatment for jet lag in international cabin crew.

This study investigated the efficacy of oral melatonin in alleviating jet lag in flight crew after a series of international flights. The optimal time for taking melatonin in this group was also investigated. In a double-blind placebo-controlled trial, 52 international cabin crew were randomly assigned to three groups; early melatonin (5 mg started 3 days prior to arrival until 5 days after return home); late melatonin (placebo for 3 days then 5 mg melatonin for 5 days); and placebo. Daily ratings showed a trend in jet lag, mood, and sleepiness measures toward an improved recovery in the late melatonin group and a worse recovery in the early melatonin group as compared to placebo. Retrospective ratings made 6 days after arrival showed the late melatonin group reported significantly less jet lag and sleep disturbance following the flight compared to placebo. The late melatonin group also showed a significantly faster recovery of energy and alertness than the early melatonin group, which reported a worse overall recovery than placebo. These findings show melatonin may have potential benefits for international aircrew.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Sense of coherence, self-esteem, depression and hopelessness as correlates of reattempting suicide.

Sense of coherence (SOC) has been proposed as a psychological factor that predicts good health and positive adjustment. The three components of SOC: manageability, comprehensibility and meaning were assessed together with depression, hopelessness and self-esteem as factors predicting future suicidal ideation and behaviour in parasuicides. One hundred and fifty hospitalized parasuicides were evaluated on these measures and followed up after six months to determine their current level of suicidal ideation and whether they had been readmitted for a further attempt or killed themselves in the intervening period. Suicidal ideation on admission was best predicted by a low score on the SOC meaning subscale and also significantly related to the other predictor variables. Suicidal ideation at the six-month follow-up was best predicted by the SOC subscales manageability and comprehensibility. These two SOC subscales also emerged as discriminators of suicidal behaviour over the six months following admission. Overall prediction of suicidal behaviour was enhanced by also including the background variables of age, a history of previous attempts, unemployment and whether the attempter was living alone. The study ends with a discussion of the importance of widening the focus when assessing and predicting suicidal risk to include not only predictions based on pathology but also psychological factors that promote adjustment.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1990

Women's attitudes to cervical smear testing.

This study examined women's attitudes and motivations towards cervical screening. The sample consisted of 680 women attending three general practices in two New Zealand towns. Subjects completed a questionnaire relating to their knowledge of the cervical smear test and their current cervical smear status. The questionnaire also assessed what influenced their decision to have an up to date smear test or what reasons subjects gave for not having a current test. Women's preference for the smear taker was also investigated. Most women in the sample (92%) indicated they knew what a cervical screening test was. Current smears were proportionately less common in the at risk groups. The most frequently reported motivation for women to have a current smear was that their doctor had recommended it (30.6%), followed by the response that it was an established part of their personal health routine (20.2%). Most women who didn't have current smear tests gave the reason that they had not got around to having a test (39.4%), with the next reported reason being that the test was embarrassing (17.8%) and their doctor didn't suggest it (14.7%). The majority of women in the sample (59.7%) preferred their own doctor to do the test. The findings of this study highlight the importance of the women's general practitioner in influencing women in high risk groups to have smear tests. They also suggest significant improvements in increasing the number of women screened could be made using existing services.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Health-promoting variables as predictors of response to a brief pain management program.

This study investigated the value of the sense of coherence (SOC), self-esteem, and the Mental Health Inventory subscales as predictors of response to a brief pain management program. One hundred and seven chronic pain patients who participated in a pain management program, which included education about pain, relaxation training, and stress management, were sent a follow-up questionnaire 6 months after the course. Reported pain intensity since the course was significantly associated with SOC subscale meaningfulness. The use of relaxation and other techniques taught in the course was correlated with positive affect and well-being. The results suggest that health-promoting variables may offer advantages over pathological measures as predictors of patient response to pain management programs, and SOC is worthy of further study.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Recent general practice contacts of hospitalised suicide attempters.

This study investigated the timing of recent medical contact in 150 patients hospitalised for a suicide attempt. The research also examined the proportion of attempters complaining of feeling depressed or suicidal to their doctor at that recent consultation. Seventy-three percent of attempters had seen their doctor in the past three months. Contact with general practitioners was most common in the week before their attempt with 32% of all attempters visiting their doctor during this time and 56% visiting in the previous month. Of those attempters who had consulted their general practitioner prior to their attempt, only 35% had complained about feeling depressed or suicidal to their doctor. Several factors that hinder the successful identification of suicidal risk in the general practitioner-patient relationship are identified. The implications of these findings for suicide prevention are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Effect of melatonin on jet lag after long haul flights.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether doses of the pineal hormone melatonin alleviate jet lag. DESIGN: Double blind, placebo controlled crossover trial. SETTING: Long haul return flights from Auckland, New Zealand, to London and back. SUBJECTS: Twenty volunteers with experience of transcontinental flights (eight women and 12 men aged 28 to 68). INTERVENTIONS: Melatonin (or placebo) 5 mg three days before flight, during flight, and once a day for three days after arrival. END POINT: Symptoms of jet lag. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Visual analogue scale for feelings of jet lag and tiredness; profile of moods states questionnaire for vigour-activity and fatigue-inertia; and retrospective ratings 10 days after arrival of sleep pattern, energy, and daytime tiredness. Feelings of jet lag were less for subjects taking melatonin (mean score 2.15 v 3.4); these subjects took fewer days than the placebo group to establish a normal sleep pattern (2.85 v 4.15), to not feel tired during the day (3.0 v 4.6), and to reach normal energy levels (3.25 v 4.7). Results for fatigue-inertia and vigour-activity were similar. For all subjects jet lag was more severe on the return (westward) than the outward (eastward) journey. CONCLUSIONS: Melatonin can alleviate jet lag and tiredness after long haul flights.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Psychological well-being and psychiatric disturbance in dialysis and renal transplant patients.

The rate of psychiatric morbidity and levels of psychological well-being and distress were assessed in groups of dialysis, renal transplant and general practice patients. Dialysis patients suffered from significantly higher rates of psychiatric morbidity, with 43 per cent falling into the probable psychiatric case range on the GHQ. Results from the Mental Health Inventory also showed dialysis patients to have a significantly poorer level of psychological adjustment than the other groups. While positive mental health states in dialysis patients were not significantly different from transplant and general practice controls, higher rates of psychological distress were found in patients on dialysis. Distress was characterized by a loss of emotional control and higher levels of depression.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1988

Glucocorticoids selectively inhibit the transcription of the interleukin 1 beta gene and decrease the stability of interleukin 1 beta mRNA.

Transcription of the interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) gene was studied by mRNA hybridization with a cDNA probe in the human promonocytic cell line U-937. Phorbol ester and lipopolysaccharide increased the steady-state level of IL-1 beta mRNA. Glucocorticoids markedly decreased IL-1 beta mRNA levels by two mechanisms. Transcription of the IL-1 gene was inhibited, as shown by in vitro transcription assays with nuclei isolated from glucocorticoid-treated cells. Moreover, kinetic analyses and pulse-labeling of mRNAs showed that glucocorticoids selectively decrease the stability of IL-1 beta mRNA, without affecting the stability of beta-actin and FOS mRNAs. Inhibition of the formation and effects IL-1 is a mechanism by which glucocorticoids can exert antiinflammatory and immunosuppressive effects.

Cycloheximide↗
PubMed1988

Psychological predictors of future suicidal behaviour in hospitalized suicide attempters.

Rates of attempted suicide have increased in most Western countries over the past 20 years. This level of deliberate self-harm is made more significant by the fact that a large proportion of attempted suicides will reattempt in the six months following their attempt and as a group they have a high risk of eventually killing themselves. While much of the research on prediction of suicidal behaviour has concentrated on demographic factors, little is known about the psychological variables that precede the suicidal act. This study examined 67 New Zealand suicide attempters on a range of psychological variables including self-esteem, hopelessness, depression, cognitive rigidity and social skills. Subjects were followed up after six months to determine their level of suicidal behaviour and ideation. Results suggest hopelessness and self-esteem are important indicators of future suicidal behaviour, with differential effects over short- and long-term periods. The implications for psychological assessment and suicidal risk assignment are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

The predictive validity of the Zung Index of Potential Suicide.

Examined the predictive validity of the Zung Index of Potential Suicide. Subjects hospitalized for a suicide attempt were followed up 6 months later. In agreement with earlier studies, the IPS clinical scale was related to suicidal ideation and prior attempting at the time of admission. However, it was not related to further suicidal behavior or ideation at the 6-month followup. It is concluded that the scale lacks predictive validity and its use for assigning suicidal risk is not justified.

Adult↗