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Biomedical subjects

N B Edwards

Publications and source records attributed to N B Edwards.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

A psycho-behavioral model of genital herpes recurrence.

To develop a model of how stress and other psychosocial constructs may interact to explain recurrences of genital herpes, assessments of major and minor life stress, locus of control, arousal or stimulation seeking, and social support were given to 153 university students (33% male; 67% female) who were seropositive for genital herpes. Retrospective and concurrent indices of illness vulnerability were evaluated. Serum levels of thymosin-alpha-1, a peptide sensitive to psychosocial stress, were measured at the beginning of the study. A causal model suggested by previous research was not supported by the data. An alternate model showed that psychosocial stress did not affect herpes recurrence directly, but instead predisposed subjects to more generalized illnesses, which in turn mediated recurrences. Social support increased rather than decreased the likelihood of illness vulnerability, thus increasing the risk of recurrence. Higher levels of both arousal seeking and external locus of control increased illness vulnerability but moderated the likelihood of herpes recurrence. Higher levels of thymosin-alpha-1 were related to greater illness vulnerability but this peptide was not associated with psychosocial stress as originally predicted. Additional construct validation of the role of illness vulnerability in increasing the risk of herpes recurrence is recommended.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Students' self-ratings of stress in medical school: a replication across 20 months.

We replicated the essential results of a prior study on the capacity of the BAROMAS scales to reflect stress in medical school as perceived by students. As before, subjective stress was high at the start of medical school, and when facing the exams prerequisite to entry into clinical clerkships. On most measures, stress was lowest when the second year began (i.e. after having passed the first). Once again, most test-retest reliabilities (significant rs ranged from 0.24 to 0.66 for confidence ratings at 12- and 20-months after entry) were moderate.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1990

Substance abuse patterns reveal contrasting personal traits.

The Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) responses of 202 male and 95 female substance users taken during 21 months at a public-sector hospital facility were studied. Collectively, inpatients were more impulsive (high P), introverted (low E), and anxious (high N) than same-sexed normals on the main EPQ scales (p less than .001). The alcohol, cocaine, opioid, and polysubstance users and a residual mixed group differed on all EPQ scales (ps less than .05). Cocaine users were the most impulsive, with alcohol and opioid users least so. The polysubstance and residual mixed groups were the most extroverted, with opioid users least. The alcohol and residual mixed groups were the most anxious, and cocaine users least so. Alcohol users earned the highest "lie" (L) scores, with opioid users lowest. When the residual mixed group was excluded from analyses the results were little changed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1990

Effects of doxepin on withdrawal symptoms in smoking cessation.

In a double-blind study, 15 cigarette smokers self-monitored 10 withdrawal symptoms. For the first 21 days (baseline), subjects received doxepin hydrochloride, up to 150 mg/day, or inert medication while continuing to smoke. On day 22, they were instructed to stop smoking; medication was continued. Withdrawal symptoms on the first 28 days of treatment (baseline and 7 days of attempted cessation) were analyzed. During cessation, subjects taking doxepin reported significantly less craving for cigarettes. Results from this study and others suggest that antidepressants may attenuate the severity of symptoms during withdrawal from addictive substances.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Doxepin as an adjunct to smoking cessation: a double-blind pilot study.

In a double-blind study, 19 adults received bedtime doses of either 150 mg of doxepin hydrochloride (N = 9) or placebo (N = 10). After 3 weeks the subjects were instructed to stop smoking and continue taking medication for 4 additional weeks. Cessation was reported by all nine doxepin subjects 1 week after cessation and by seven doxepin subjects 9 weeks after cessation. One placebo subject reported cessation. Cotinine assays generally confirmed cessation but were subject to interpretation. Doxepin assays suggested that the precessation level was associated with cessation. Further studies with larger samples and extended follow-up are needed to determine the reliability of these results.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

The role of external version in the intrapartum management of the transverse lie presentation.

External version under tocolysis was applied and studied prospectively as an alternative to routine cesarean delivery in the laboring patient with a transverse lie presentation. After sonographic confirmation and signing of informed consent, 12 patients with a transverse lie presentation and intact membranes agreed to participate in the current investigation. For these 12 patients, 10 (83%) presentations were successfully converted to a longitudinal lie (nine cephalic, one breech) and two (17%) remained transverse. Of the 10 patients with successful conversions, six (60%) delivered vaginally while four required cesarean delivery. In two (20%) patients external version was unsuccessful and both patients were delivered by cesarean. With the exception of one infant with congenital anomalies, neonatal outcome was excellent in the study population. Overall, the use of external version in the laboring patient with a transverse lie presentation was associated with a 50% reduction in the cesarean section rate. While these results are encouraging, further experience is still needed to more clearly define the maternal and fetal risks associated with this procedure.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Hospital violence: site, severity, and nurses' preventive training.

A sample of 663 nurses was surveyed about exposure to violence at the work site; 243 (37%) had faced violence. Hospitals with low response rates to the questionnaire reported less assault, yet the violence admitted to was described as more deadly. More nurses at public than private hospitals had obtained some training to handle potentially violent situations. Serious assault was negatively related to amount of training. At the public psychiatric hospital, violent acts were most frequent, but the rate of deadly violence (e.g., rape, use of knives or guns, etc.) was lowest. The need to train staffs at general as well as psychiatric hospitals was discussed.

Humans↗