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Biomedical subjects

M L Weinman

Publications and source records attributed to M L Weinman.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

The effect of stressful life events on EMG biofeedback and relaxation training in the treatment of anxiety.

The present study evaluated the effect of frontal EMG biofeedback and relaxation training on a group of 20 anxious patients experiencing stressful life events. The patients were divided into two groups, high and low in stress, based on their life change score on the Recent Life Changes Questionnaire. Patients were evaluated at pre, post, and 6-week follow-up. Treatment consisted of 10 sessions of biofeedback-assisted relaxation. Results indicated that the high stress group showed pre to post changes on anxiety, depression, symptoms, and EMG, while low stress showed no change. Post to follow-up comparisons showed maintenance of improvement for the high stress group and no change for low stress. From pre to follow-up assessment, the high stress group showed significant changes. Both groups reported internal attributions following biofeedback and relaxation training. The high stress group attributed their improvement to the belief they were in control of their minds and bodies, while the low stress group most frequently reported the effort put into the task. The results indicate support for a cognitive explanation for some of biofeedback's effects.

Anxiety Disorders↗
PubMed1983

Caffeine and cerebral blood flow.

Two groups of normal volunteers had regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) measured, by the 133Xenon inhalation technique, before and 30 minutes after 250 mg or 500 mg caffeine given orally. rCBF was measured in a third group of subjects, twice, at a similar interval under identical laboratory conditions. Subjects who received caffeine showed significant decreases in rCBF while the others showed no rCBF change from the first to the second measurement. However, the two caffeine groups did not differ in degrees of rCBF reduction. There were no regional variations in the post-caffeine decrease in cerebral blood flow. The three groups did not show significant changes in end-tidal carbon dioxide, pulse rate, blood pressure, forehead skin temperature and respiratory rate.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Somatic symptoms in depression and antidepressants.

Somatic side effects of antidepressant medications and of depression and anxiety were quantified in depressed patients before and after 4 weeks of treatment with amitriptyline (N = 11), or desipramine (N = 12). The entire group showed significant posttreatment decreases in depression. Side-effect symptoms were significantly reduced after treatment in the amitriptyline group; less reduction was seen in the desipramine group. Significant correlations were demonstrated between levels of anxiety and side effect symptoms both before and after treatment. The reduction in side effect symptoms in the amitriptyline group can be explained by the drug's anxiolytic property. Our findings suggest that symptoms resembling antidepressant side effects seen in medicated depressed patients are influenced by the patient's clinical condition more than by the anticholinergic activity of moderate dosages of the antidepressant.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Regional cerebral blood flow in schizophrenia.

Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was measured via xenon133 inhalation technique in 23 patients with schizophrenia and 18 age- and sex-matched controls. The mean blood flow to both hemispheres was found to be lower for the patients. The patients and their controls did not differ on interhemispheric differences in blood flow. There were no differences in rCBF between medicated and unmedicated, subchronic and chronic, and paranoid and nonparanoid patients. Hallucinations were associated with reduced blood flow to several postcentral regions.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

A study of physician attitude on biofeedback.

A study of physician attitudes on biofeedback was conducted among members of the Harris County Medical Society, Harris County, Texas. The sample was drawn to match the proportionate representation in the society by speciality. Findings indicated that over 62% of the respondents had little knowledge of biofeedback, over 86% did not use biofeedback in their practice, 21.7% referred patients for biofeedback, and 47.1% were undecided whether insurance coverage should be provided. For specific disorders, adjunct treatment was the most recommended category for migraine and muscle contraction headaches, relaxation training for anxiety and tension, pain management, and essential hypertension. Responses were also analyzed by speciality category.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1982

Sexual dysfunctions in depression.

The incidence of sexual dysfunctions in a group of 51 drug-free depressed patients and in age- and sex-matched controls was studied. Three groups of sexual dysfunction were assessed: alterations of libido, genital symptoms, and menstrual irregularities. The Beck Rating Scale for Depression, the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI), and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were completed on each participant. Depressed patients obtained significantly higher scores on anxiety, depression, and alterations of libido than controls. Rating scale scores for anxiety and depression were strongly intercorrelated, making the separation of depression-related symptoms from anxiety difficult. In males, the genital symptoms correlated inversely with the L (lie) score of the Eysenck Personality Inventory. There were no interrelationships between the three groups of sexual dysfunction.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Catecholamines and anxiety.

Plasma catecholamines and heart rate were determined in drug-free groups of anxious patients and normal controls before and 20 min after intramuscular injection of 0.01 mg/kg of 1/1000 diluted epinephrine. Levels of anxiety after the injection were determined via the State Anxiety Scale of State Trait Anxiety Inventory. Both groups showed substantial increases in plasma levels of epinephrine and norepinephrine and heart rate after the injection. However, there were no significant differences between anxious patients and controls on plasma catecholamines and heart rate before or after the injection and post injection levels of State Anxiety. The anxious subjects showed a significant correlation between post injection heart rate and State Anxiety.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Social and affective factors associated with adolescent pregnancy.

Perceptions associated with pregnancy, including life-expectations, desire for pregnancy and knowledge of the menstrual cycle were assessed in a sample of urban adolescents 13 to 18 years old. Data was obtained from 104 primiparous teens in their second and third trimester of pregnancy. The majority of adolescents, although experiencing an unplanned pregnancy, perceived minimal negative social consequences associated with the pregnancy. Although more than 82% of all teens were aware of where to get birth control, they demonstrated no deep understanding of the menstrual cycle and its relationship to intercourse and only 11% used effective contraception. Of the birth control non-users 74% of the girls reported they did not want to get pregnant. In spite of unprotected coitus, most girls were surprised at conception.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Driving phobia in the city of Houston: a pilot study.

To study the fear of driving phenomenon the authors contacted 48 subjects who, in response to a newspaper article, had expressed an intense fear of driving in the city of Houston and compared them with an age- and sex-matched control group. The information elicited from the subjects suggested the existence of a driving phobia. No significant differences emerged between the phobic subjects and the controls on relevant driving history and background. Although the phobic subjects reported significantly higher levels of anxiety while driving in normal and difficult situations, most of them reported anxiety of phobic intensity only about difficult driving situations, such as driving on freeways and in congested traffic.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Vegetative symptoms in anxiety and depression.

The incidence of vegetative symptoms was found to be higher in 61 medication-free patients with anxiety compared to an equal number of age and sex-matched normal controls. Multiple regression analysis identified depression, as rated by Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), as the most highly predictive factor associated with these symptoms. Twenty-two anxious patients who obtained scores less than 5 on BDI (absent or minimal depression) were compared with an equal number of age and sex-matched patients with depression. The depressed patients reported a higher indicence of sleep disturbances, weight loss and appetite loss.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Daytime sleepiness in depression.

Daytime drowsiness and other sleep related symptoms such as attention and concentration difficulties, blurred vision and slurred speech were evaluated using seven point rating scales in 51 drug free depressed patients and an age and sex matched control group. Degrees of depression and anxiety were quantified using the Beck Depression Inventory and State Trait Anxiety Inventory respectively. Daytime drowsiness and sleep related symptoms were seen to be significantly higher in the index group. Both depression and anxiety scores significantly correlated with daytime drowsiness.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Physical symptoms of depression.

The incidence of physical symptoms in depression was studied in 51 drug-free patients and in an age and sex-matched control group. Mean symptom intensity and number of symptoms were significantly higher in the patient than in the control group. The subjects' personality structure and relationships between their symptoms and degrees of depression and anxiety were examined using the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI), the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, respectively. Of the variables studied, only the N score of the EPI was shown to influence the symptoms significantly. The effect of such non-specific factors as age, gender, use of alcohol, coffee, tea, and cigarettes was also evaluated and found to be minimal.

Adolescent↗