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Biomedical subjects

M L Fernando

Publications and source records attributed to M L Fernando.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Color preferences of borderline patients and of normal controls.

20 female patients who met the DSM-III-R criteria for the diagnosis of borderline personality disorder and 23 normal female controls were asked to rank-order eight Lüscher color cards, at first with no specific use for the colors mentioned, then as a color for their own dress or jacket, then for their living room, and then as a color they would like their friend to wear. Very few statistically significant differences (p < .01, 2-tailed) between the groups were found. Borderline patients ranked more favourably than controls the use of black color for their living room (Pearson r = .51) and were less likely to favour grey color for this purpose (r = -.45). When no specific use for colors was mentioned, the borderline patients ranked red more favourably than the control group (r = .47). Within the normal control group, statistically significant differences between the ranks of the same color were noted depending on the particular use of the particular color.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome: a preventive program.

Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome is a very serious side effect of antipsychotic medications. The paper describes a preventative program which was instituted in an inpatient unit of a provincial psychiatric hospital. There have been no mortalities from Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS) during this program. A suspicion of NMS by clinical evaluation and laboratory tests resulted in prompt management. The recommended management plan is described.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Suicide among immigrant psychiatric patients in Canada.

Ninety-four Canadian-born psychiatric patients who committed suicide were compared with 23 foreign-born patients committing suicide in Canada. East Europeans were over-represented, and significant differences were found in the age distribution, stress, level of education, social isolation, and methods of suicide. Most foreign-born patients had come to Canada for family or economic reasons but were unemployed, with poor social integration. Employment, housing, education, social integration and a support network seem to be important in preventing these deaths. Cultural evaluation of the patient and early intervention is recommended.

Acculturation↗
PubMed1990

Some factors relating to satisfactory post-discharge community maintenance of chronic psychotic patients.

The length of time a group of 70 psychiatric patients could be maintained in the community following discharge from a provincial hospital was found to be significantly related to post-discharge compliance with medication and to the level of discharge planning (well planned versus unplanned, or patient prematurely self-discharged against medical advice). Various demographic and clinical variables were unrelated to the length of post-discharge survival in the community.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

The impact of the amended Ontario Mental Health Act (Bill 7) on patients discharging themselves from hospital against medical advice (AMA): a preliminary study.

Bill 7, the most recent amendment to the Ontario Mental Health Act was introduced in December 1986. It has resulted in some major changes to the practice of psychiatry, especially in provincial hospitals. We compared patients who had discharged themselves against medical advice (AMA) during the six months before the Bill was enacted, with those who discharged themselves AMA in the 12 months following. Significantly more patients discharged themselves AMA in the post- than the pre-Bill period. The majority of these were potentially treatable, acutely ill individuals with schizophrenia or affective disorder. We argue that Bill 7 has largely failed in its objective to improve the overall "quality of care" to psychiatric patients, at least in the short term.

Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders↗
PubMed1989

Consent to treat: clinical and legal implications.

Procedural requirements under the provisions of the Mental Health Act can delay the implementation of treatment for an involuntary psychiatric patient refusing treatment. The authors present such a case where treatment could not be given for nearly two months during which the patient's condition sharply deteriorated. With treatment, the patient improved within two weeks and was allowed to go home. Considerable time and money was spent in the Regional Review Board hearings. The implications of the case are discussed and it is recommended that steps be taken to prevent the interference of a bureaucratic legal system in the day to day practice of psychiatry.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Introducing problem-based learning into a traditional undergraduate medical curriculum.

Problem-based learning (PBL) has been introduced into the undergraduate curricula in most Canadian medical schools. In the University of Western Ontario model, we set aside 20% of time to PBL in the first two years of the programme and the rest for didactic methods. The objective of this article is to discuss 6 years of our experience with the model and the process and problems of introducing PBL into a traditional curriculum. The importance, and methods for developing good cases which are multidisciplinary and 'three-dimensional' (biological, behavioural/ psychosocial and population issues) are emphasized. The challenges have been to: integrate the underlying teaching/learning values of two different methods, develop a valid and reliable examination/evaluation procedure, and keep the faculty interested and continually improving their skills. Students have welcomed the break from lectures and the challenge to explore in-depth areas of special interest. The most positive outcomes of this curricular change have been an increased interest in medical education reform in general, and enhanced recognition of teaching in relation to appointments and promotions.

Education, Medical, Undergraduate↗