Biomedical subjects

M A Christ

Publications and source records attributed to M A Christ.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1992

Familial risk factors to oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder: parental psychopathology and maternal parenting.

In a sample of 177 clinic-referred children aged 7-13, an association was found between a diagnosis of conduct disorder (CD) and several aspects of family functioning: maternal parenting (supervision and persistence in discipline) and parental adjustment (paternal antisocial personality disorder and paternal substance abuse). Children with oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) were intermediate to families of children with CD and clinic control children on all variables, but differed from control children only in having a higher rate of paternal substance abuse and paternal antisocial personality disorder (APD). When both parental APD and deviant maternal parenting were entered into 2 x 2 logit-model analyses predicting CD, only parental APD was significantly associated with CD, and no interactions between parental adjustment and maternal parenting were found. The importance of these findings for understanding the etiology of CD and for disentangling correlated risk factors in future studies is discussed.

Antisocial Personality Disorder↗

PubMed1992

Emergence of obsessive compulsive symptoms during treatment with clozapine.

BACKGROUND: Clozapine differs from other currently available antipsychotics in its prominent serotonin blockade. We explore the relationship between clozapine and obsessive compulsive symptoms, which have been linked to deficient serotonin. METHOD: We reviewed our experience in treating 49 chronic schizophrenic patients with clozapine. RESULTS: Five patients were identified who experienced either de novo obsessive compulsive symptoms or exacerbation of preexistent symptoms. Clinical details are provided for each case. CONCLUSION: Clozapine may produce or unmask obsessive compulsive symptoms. This may reflect a variation on the normal course of clinical improvement, or may more specifically result from clozapine's atypical pattern of CNS receptor antagonism. Further attention to this issue is warranted.

Adult↗

PubMed1979

The development and evaluation of a behavioral weight-reduction program.

The development of a comprehensive weight-reduction program and its implementation in the clinic are described. The program consisted of explicit instructions on food monitoring, stimulus control, chaining, exercise, and self-reinforcement. The results of pilot research indicated that the program produced reliable weight loss and that its implementation in a group format was more positive. A formal experiment evaluated the effectiveness of program components in a 2 x 2 factorial design after ten weeks of treatment and at three-month and one-year follow-ups. There was significant weight loss with no main or interaction effects. At follow-up, those exposed to exercise and/or contingency management better maintained their weight loss or continued to lose. Data on the implementation of the program in a clinical setting are presented and these results compare favorably with reports from other clinics using behavior modification. It is suggested that our more positive results may be related to an emphasis on activity and life-style change in addition to changing eating behavior.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1978

Progress in professional service: nurse leaders queried.

Nursing service directors were asked to comment on the progress of key recommendations made by the National Commission for the Study of Nursing in the seven years since the Commission study was published. Their observations and responses are described here, along with conclusions and commentary by the author on the state of affairs in nursing.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

PubMed1978

Aspiration cytology of head and neck masses.

Fine needle aspiration biopsy and cytologic examination of the aspirate were performed on 203 masses involving glandular and nodal structures of the head and neck: thyroid gland (85); salivary glands (31); and lymph nodes (87). Overall cytologic-histologic correlation was 91 per cent, with a 10 per cent false-negative rate. The ease of the procedure coupled with the rapidity of obtaining a pathologic diagnosis allows a more intelligent therapeutic approach.

Adenolymphoma↗

PubMed1978

Cytologic findings of aspiration of tumors of the breast.

Fine needle aspiration biopsy for cytologic diagnosis has been shown to be an effective adjunct to the clinical evaluation of masses of the breast by physical examination and mammography. In addition to adequately decompressing cystic masses, the procedure has been beneficial in obtaining a pathologic interpretation of any mass that is to be observed. Preoperative knowledge of the malignant nature of a mass of the breast allows the physician to investigate more selectively the possibility of metastatic disease and to consider more intelligently treatment options. Furthermore, the psychologic agony of the unknown for the patient and her family is avoided. Although histologic confirmation is always recommended before proceeding with mastectomy, a positive cytologic diagnosis can suffice when clinically advanced carcinoma is present or when there are medical contraindications to surgical treatment. Because of the false-negative rate of aspiration cytologic diagnosis, all clinically malignant or suspicious masses should have a biopsy in the face of benign cytology. This point cannot be over emphasized and is particularly pertinent to those patients in whom high risk factors of carcinoma of the breast are present. Inconclusive aspirates should be repeated or a biopsy of the mass should be done.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Faculty work load formulas in nursing education: a critical theory perspective.

The purpose of this article is to increase faculty awareness and understanding of the constraints and contradictions that are embedded within faculty work load formulas. An overview of critical social theory is presented and serves as a framework for the analysis of work load formulas within the context of their historical development and current usage. The ideologies, constraints, and interests of such formulas are identified and explored. Challenges exist to beliefs that faculty work load formulas are a just and equitable way to determine faculty responsibilities; that faculty worth can be objectified, categorized, quantified, and measured; and that the institutional norms and values of higher education are right for nursing. The feminist PEACE (praxis, empowerment, awareness, consensus, and evolvement) process, as developed by Wheeler and Chinn, is discussed and serves as a framework for the development of alternative methods to create autonomy, responsibility, and greater communication in establishing faculty work loads. The authors believe that only through awareness, reflection, understanding, and action can the tensions that create conflict and perpetuate dominance and authority be changed.

Education, Nursing↗