Biomedical subjects

Karen A Sullivan

Publications and source records attributed to Karen A Sullivan.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

Essential books and journals in clinical neuropsychology: an Australian perspective.

To assist in the identification of key professional resources for neuropsychologists, 214 Australian clinical neuropsychologists were asked to identify "essential" reference materials. Fifty members of the Australian College of Clinical Neuropsychologists returned useable surveys. Forty-three respondents provided information about which clinical neuropsychology books and journals they considered essential and why. Results showed 15 books, including 3 Australian books, and 31 journals were included in the essential reading list of at least 10% of this sample. Compared to similar previous surveys (predominantly conducted overseas and mostly over 10 years ago), the results of this survey suggest that, Australian neuropsychologists have similar views about the top ranking books and journals in clinical neuropsychology as their overseas counterparts. An exception to this general trend may be the status of reference books containing norms, which appear to be growing in perceived importance. Importantly, the results of this survey may be used to help practitioners identify key professional resources in the area of clinical neuropsychology.

Australia↗

PubMed2004

Preliminary investigation of thiamine and alcohol intake in clinical and healthy samples.

Insufficient thiamine intake during heavy alcohol dependence has been well established as a precursor to alcohol-related brain damage, including Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. This study compared the alcohol and thiamine intakes of 35 alcohol-dependent patients upon admission for detoxification with 49 healthy young undergraduates. Subjects were interviewed using a retrospective diary that recorded alcohol and food and vitamin consumption for the previous seven days. As predicted, the clinical group consumed significantly less thiamine than the healthy group, and well below the minimum safe daily intakes. Findings have implications for the prevention of alcohol-related brain damage and public health policy.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Why participate in an Alzheimer's disease clinical trial? Is it of benefit to carers and patients?

BACKGROUND: We explored carer motivation for seeking participation for a relative in an Alzheimer's disease (AD) clinical drug trial, to assess impressions of the value of trial participation. We also surveyed the carers of patients who did not meet study entry screening criteria to see if our conduct of the screening visit was acceptable and ethical. METHOD: A retrospective questionnaire was sent to the carers of 36 randomized participants and 22 carers of patients who did not meet study entry screening criteria for an AD clinical treatment trial. RESULTS: Twenty-nine (81%) of the trial participant carers and 15 (68%) of carers of the group who did not meet study entry criteria returned their questionnaires with sufficient information for analysis. The prime motivators in seeking trial participation were to help their relative feel better and live longer, to contribute to medical science, to improve the health of others, and the hope of a cure. Carers of both groups found research staff supportive and would recommend trial participation to others. CONCLUSIONS: Even though trial participation is onerous and patients were generally perceived by carers as not having improved, both the screening visit and participation in the trial itself were seen as positive experiences and the expectations of carers were met.

Aged↗

PubMed2002

Carer impressions of participation in Alzheimer's disease clinical trials: what are their hopes? And is it worth it?

BACKGROUND: We aimed to assess why carers seek participation for their relatives in clinical trials of Alzheimer's disease (AD) medications, and to assess carer impressions of the value of trial participation. METHOD: A retrospective questionnaire was sent to 31 carers of participants in clinical trials for AD conducted at the Mental Health Research Institute and the National Aging Research Institute between January 1997 and December 1999. RESULTS: Twenty-five questionnaires (81%) were returned, completed to an extent to permit analysis. Helping a relative feel better, contributing to medical science, and hoping for a cure were the main reasons for trial participation. In general, carers found the regular consultation with research staff supportive and would recommend trial participation to others. CONCLUSION: A greater understanding of the motivations of carers may aid the recruitment and retention of participants in clinical trials.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Detecting thiamine in beer.

AIMS: To ascertain whether thiamine HCl could be detected in beer using a double-blind triangular taste test. METHODS: Three 100 ml samples of beer to which 10 or 0 mg of thiamine were added were presented in counterbalanced order to 49 volunteers. Subjects consumed and rated each sample separately for taste and appearance and chose which beer was different. RESULTS: Thiamine-enriched beer could not be reliably distinguished from normal beer. However, a significant perceptual taste difference was found, with participants rating thiamine-fortified beer as more bitter than normal beer. CONCLUSIONS: Thiamine was found to alter the perception of bitterness of beer, but thiamine-fortified beer could not be reliably distinguished from normal beer.

Adolescent↗