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Biomedical subjects

Nicholas Forand

Publications and source records attributed to Nicholas Forand.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

An open pilot study of interpersonal psychotherapy for panic disorder (IPT-PD).

Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) is a time-limited psychotherapy initially developed to treat depression. It has yet to be studied systematically for treatment of panic disorder. We modified IPT for the treatment of panic disorder and tested this treatment in an open clinical trial with 12 patients seeking treatment of DSM-IV panic disorder. Patients were assessed before during and after treatment. At completion of treatment, nine patients (75%) were independently categorized as responders (i.e., rated as much improved or very much improved on the Clinical Global Impression-Change Scale). Substantial improvement was found for panic symptoms, associated anxiety and depressive symptoms, and physical and emotional well-being. Degree of change in this sample approximated that obtained in studies using established treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy. Results, though preliminary, suggest that IPT may have efficacy as a primary treatment of panic disorder. Further study is warranted.

Adolescent↗

Anxiety and depressive symptoms and anxiety sensitivity in youngsters with noncardiac chest pain and benign heart murmurs.

OBJECTIVE: Chest pain in children and adolescents is rarely associated with cardiac disease. We sought to examine psychological symptoms in youngsters with medically unexplained chest pain. We hypothesized that children and adolescents with medically unexplained chest pain would have high rates of anxiety and depressive symptoms. METHODS: We assessed 65 youngsters with noncardiac chest pain (NCCP) and 45 comparison youngsters with benign heart murmurs using self-report measures of anxiety and depressive symptoms and anxiety sensitivity. RESULTS: Compared with the asymptomatic benign-murmur group, youngsters with NCCP had higher levels of some anxiety symptoms and anxiety sensitivity. Differences on depressive symptoms were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Though preliminary, results suggest that youngsters with chest pain may experience increased levels of some psychological symptoms. Future studies of noncardiac chest pain in youngsters should include larger samples and comprehensive diagnostic assessments as well as long-term follow-up evaluations.

Adolescent↗

Conducting analysis after September 11: implications for psychoanalytic technique.

The September 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the World Trade Center profoundly affected the population of New York City, including analysts and analysands. To study the effect of this event on the technique of psychoanalysts conducting ongoing analysis during the weeks after 9/11, confidential questionnaires were sent to all candidates and faculty at the Columbia University Center for Psychoanalytic Training and Research. Respondents indicated that in the days and weeks following 9/11 they initiated phone calls to their analysands, asked about their analysands' families, gave advice when it was requested, offered reassurance, and answered personal questions. They did not initiate physical contact, discontinue use of the couch, or give unsolicited advice. These responses suggest that these analysts made decisions to alter their technique in certain ways in the wake of a catastrophic event shared by the community.

Humans↗

The impact of graduation from psychoanalytic training.

To examine candidates' experience of graduation from psychoanalytic training, 1997-2001 graduates of the Columbia University Center for Psychoanalytic Training and Research were sent a confidential questionnaire about their first year after analytic training. Of this group, 72 percent (23/32) returned the survey. Questions focused on the impact of graduation on time availability, net income, professional advancement, and sense of personal and professional autonomy. Graduates from analytic training were found to have more income in their first postgraduate year, a mean increase of 30,000 dollars, and more available time, a mean increase of sixteen hours. Increased earnings came primarily from seeing more patients during the time made available with the end of classes. In addition, graduates did not terminate their control cases or stop supervision. Graduates most valued their sense of professional accomplishment and ability to spend more time with their families. Although graduates also experienced relief from evaluation pressure, they did not rank this high in importance. For candidates, graduation profoundly impacts the structure of professional and personal life, but does not mean an end to learning.

Adult↗

Psychoanalytic practice in the early postgraduate years.

As a pilot investigation for a longitudinal study of psychoanalytic careers, a survey was conducted of analysts who graduated during the last fifteen years from the Columbia University Center for Psychoanalytic Training and Research. Graduates were asked to describe both their analytic practice and their interest in pursuing appointment as training and supervising analysts. The 23-item questionnaire was completed by 67 of 102 potential respondents (66%). The study identified two subgroups of graduates: those who were not certified and were not training analysts (GAs), 78% of the sample, and certified and training analysts (CAs, TAs), 22% of the sample. GAs started a mean of 1.4 new analytic cases since graduation, as compared to CAs and TAs, who started a mean of 5.4 and 8.3 new cases, respectively. CAs and TAs also saw more twice-weekly therapy cases than did GAs. Once-weekly therapy was the most commonly practiced treatment for all subgroups. Interest in becoming a TA was highest during the first five postgraduate years and was lower among non-TAs five to fifteen years after graduation. Only one of the CA respondents met current APsaA immersion criteria for training analyst appointment.

Adult↗