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Biomedical subjects

M A Wolfson

Publications and source records attributed to M A Wolfson.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Neuromotor functioning and behavior problems in children at risk for psychopathology.

Previous studies have found that early neuromotor deficits may be a precursor of later psychopathology. The present study examined the relationship between neuromotor dysfunction and behavioral deviance in children characterized by a variety of risk factors (parental schizophrenia, parental psychiatric disorder other than schizophrenia, and parental maltreatment). The sample consisted of 108 children (average age 9.75 years) who were assessed twice, approximately 1 year apart. It was was found that maltreated children had poorer neuromotor functioning and more behavior problems than children who were not maltreated, regardless of parental psychiatric status. The results also indicated that the relationship between neuromotor functioning and problem behaviors varied as a function of parental psychiatric status. These findings suggest that, although the effects of maltreatment are generalized and pervasive, there are distinctive relationships between neuromotor functioning and behavioral deviance depending on the nature of the risk factors a child has been exposed to.

Adolescent↗

Depression and dissociation as features of borderline personality disorder in hospitalized adolescents.

26 adolescents showing Borderline Personality Disorder were compared with 12 carrying other diagnoses to clarify associated features of these conditions. In line with recent literature, the borderline adolescents evidenced significant depression and dissociation, suggesting the importance of evaluating instability of mood (versus thinking) and weak continuity in self-experience when identifying and treating this disorder.

Adolescent↗

Dissociation and somatization in adolescent inpatients with and without history of abuse.

33 adolescents were tested for signs of dissociation and somatization as these processes relate to histories of physical and sexual abuse, a characteristic of over half of patients admitted for acute psychiatric disorder. Analysis suggested that the 19 adolescents having histories of abuse were more likely to score higher on dissociation and somatization.

Adolescent↗

Comparison of primary care residents' confidence and clinical behavior in treating hypertension versus treating alcoholism.

PURPOSE: To compare the self-reported confidence and clinical behaviors of primary care residents in treating alcoholism versus hypertension. METHOD: Eighty-five residents, 36 in family medicine and 49 in primary care internal medicine, representing all years of the three-year training programs at two hospitals affiliated with the Brown University School of Medicine, were surveyed in 1988. Self-report questionnaires elicited demographic data and several responses (ranged on scales of 1, not confident or frequent, to 10, very confident or frequent) about the residents' confidence and frequency of use of clinical behaviors with both alcoholic and hypertensive patients. Paired t-tests were used to compare the responses about hypertension with those about alcoholism. RESULTS: Questionnaires were completed by 54 (63.5%) of the residents. No significant difference was found between the residents' responses by sex or program, but there was a significant difference (p < .0001) between the responses with regard to the two disorders. The residents had more confidence about their management of hypertension (a mean score of 8.81 versus 7.95 for alcoholism). They also reported greater use of appropriate clinical behaviors with hypertensive patients (mean scores in the very confident range of 7.5 to 8.2 compared with means in the moderate range of 4.9 to 7.1 for alcoholism). CONCLUSION: Both the family medicine and the internal medicine residents were significantly more confident in managing all aspects of hypertension than in managing alcoholism, and they reported significantly greater frequency in utilizing appropriate clinical behaviors for hypertension than for alcoholism.

Alcoholism↗