Biomedical subjects

K Weissman

Publications and source records attributed to K Weissman.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1999

Frightening dreams and spells: a case of ventricular asystole from Lyme disease.

We present a case of a 20-year-old woman who presented with a febrile illness, frightening dreams and repeated short episodes of apparent seizure activity. Third degree heart block and ventricular asystole were noted on the monitor when the patient experienced a spell during conscious sedation for a lumbar puncture. The combination of heart block and a predominantly lymphocytic cerebrospinal fluid led to the diagnosis of Lyme disease. Lyme titres were strongly positive and subsequently confirmed by Western Blot analysis. Cardiac aetiologies and specifically heart block associated with Lyme disease should be considered in patients from endemic areas presenting with fever and unexplained spells or seizure-like activity.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Brief motivational interviewing in a hospital setting for adolescent smoking: a preliminary study.

This study tested the feasibility and efficacy of a brief smoking intervention for adolescents in a hospital setting. Forty adolescent patients were randomized to receive either brief advice or a motivational interview, a nonconfrontational therapeutic intervention. Feasibility of brief smoking interventions with teen patients was supported by high rates of recruitment, retention, and quit attempts, and long periods of continuous abstinence. Although between-groups differences on smoking measures were not significant at 3-month follow-up, an effect size of h = .28 was noted. The sample showed significant decreases in smoking dependence and number of days smoked. Baseline stage of change, smoking rate, and depression were significant prospective predictors of smoking outcome. Implications for smoking intervention research with adolescents are discussed.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Hospitalizing the suicidal adolescent: decision-making criteria of psychiatric residents.

OBJECTIVE: The primary purpose of this research is to investigate the criteria used by general psychiatric residents in determining the appropriateness of hospitalization. METHOD: A questionnaire containing 64 vignettes describing adolescent suicide attempts was completed by a sample of 33 residents from a general psychiatry training program. Six variables known to relate to lethality of attempt were systematically varied within the vignettes: gender, depression, conduct disorder/substance abuse, previous attempts, suicidal relative, and family supports. Respondents were asked to judge the appropriateness of hospitalization for each vignette. RESULTS: Hospitalization preference was significantly predicted by all risk factors except for gender, with the presence of depression emerging as the most important predictor of hospitalization. Residents recommended hospitalization more frequently than did experienced child and adolescent clinicians. In comparison with experienced clinicians, residents placed more importance on depression, and less importance on conduct disorder/substance abuse, in making decisions to hospitalize. CONCLUSIONS: Although psychiatric residents use known risk factors for adolescent suicide in assessing need for hospitalization, there was clear support for further training initiatives for psychiatric residents concerning the assessment of suicidal adolescents.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997