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Biomedical subjects

M C Mitcheson

Publications and source records attributed to M C Mitcheson.

3 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1986

Assessment of drinking patterns in general practice.

A study was undertaken in a north London general practice to see which questions and investigations were useful in assessing the drinking patterns of patients. In a 10-month period in 1984, 855 patients were interviewed by means of a questionnaire about quantity and frequency of drinking and the CAGE questionnaire to determine their drinking habits. They were also asked to blow into an alcolmeter. A blood sample was taken from 119 patients who said they drank more than 20 units of alcohol weekly or who scored more than two on the CAGE questionnaire or who had a positive alcolmeter reading, and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase levels and mean corpuscular volume were determined.The study showed that questions about quantity and frequency of drinking, taking under two minutes to administer in the consultation, are sufficient to raise suspicions about drinking problems. Detailed investigation can then be undertaken in patients who say they drink more than 20 units of alcohol weekly.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Evaluation of heroin maintenance in controlled trial.

Ninety-six confirmed heroin addicts requesting a heroin maintenance prescription were randomly allocated to treatment with injectable heroin or oral methadone. Progress was monitored throughout the next 12 months by research workers operating independently of the clinic. Heroin can be seen as maintaining the status quo, with the majority continuing to inject heroin regularly and to supplement their maintenance prescription from other sources; it was associated with a continuing intermediate level of involvement with the drug subculture and criminal activity. Refusal to prescribe heroin while offering oral methadone constituted a more confrontational response and resulted in a higher abstinence rate, but also a greater dependence on illegal sources of drugs for these who continued to inject. Those offered oral methadone tended to polarize toward high or low categories of illegal drug use and involvement with the drug subculture, and were more likely to be arrested during the 12-month follow-up. There was no difference between the two groups in terms of employment, health, or consumption of nonopiate drugs. Refusal to prescribe heroin resulted in a significantly greater drop out from regular treatment.

Adolescent↗