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Biomedical subjects

P H Connell

Publications and source records attributed to P H Connell.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Treatment of drug-dependent patients, 1968-1969.

Attention has been given from time to time to the question of what happened in drug-dependence clinics in the early days of their operation. It has recently come to my attention that records of meetings of consultants, held at the Department of Health, during that period, have not been kept. The following memorandum was submitted by me to a meeting held on 8 September 1969 under the title 'Practical matters relating to the treatment of drug-dependent patients'. Unfortunately, I have no record of the comments made on it, but I do not recall any major disagreement with this statement. I hope that this document, reprinted below in full, may be of historical interest.

Cocaine↗
PubMed1976

What is barbiturate dependence and who is at risk?

The dependence on drugs today, particularly by young people, must concern many - doctors and nurses, social workers, lawyers and the police, and parents. The writers of the group of papers which follow, although inevitably overlapping in some respects, attempt to examine the questions raised from the particular point of view of each. When does taking a drug (generally a barbiturate) become a state of dependence is the question posed and answered by Dr Connell. He begins by setting out the series of offical definitions of addiction, habituation and dependence formulated by the World Health Organization and in Britain by the Interdepartmental Committee (the Brain Committee). With these definitions as a framework he examines barbiturate dependence and abuse in the setting of current medical practice.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Volunteers at risk.

An experiment is described in which three male volunteers, who fully understood the nature of the project, were given doses of heroin which could have led to addiction if the subjects had proved to be physiologically or psychologically vulnerable to developing a state of addiction. The experiment was discussed most carefully by the Ethics Committee of the unit where it was conducted, and the subjects were themselves the investigators. The objective was to learn about the initial stages of the adaptation to heroin, of which nothing was known as heroin addicts usually come to the doctor when the habit is firmly established. A physician, who has studied the subject of drug addiction in a special clinic, is the first commentator, the second a lawyer and the third an associate professor of social ethics. These three experts are not discussing the results or the methodology of the experiment but whether the decision of the Ethics Committe was the right one.

Ethical Review↗
PubMed1975

Ward environment in an inpatient drug dependence treatment unit: II. Attempts to improve ward environment.

Ward activity and atmosphere in a Drug Dependence Treatment Unit were found to be poor in a previous study. The results of two attempts to improve ward environment are reported. The arrival of an occupational therapist had a very slight and restricted effect on the level of patients' constructive activity, and produced only one significant change on the Ward Atmosphere Scale; patients perceived an increase in Practicality. There was, however, a consistent improvement in patients' Vigor and Friendliness mood scores following the arrival of the occupational therapist. A pilot project using cigarettes as reinforces for patient constructive activity produced little sustained effect. Possible reasons for the difficulties in managing drug-dependent patients are discussed, and suggestions made for improvement.

Affect↗
PubMed1974

Chlorodyne dependence.

Eight cases of chlorodyne dependence seen in a London drug clinic are described. These cases and the results of an inquiry among pharmacies in central and south London suggest that this form of drug dependence is commoner among younger people than has been supposed and that the total number of chlorodyne-dependent people in Greater London may exceed 1,000. The prognosis for cure is poor. We recommend that the supply of chlorodyne, now available without prescription to the public, should be restricted.

Adult↗
PubMed1972

Amphetamine and other non-opioid drug users attending a special drug dependence clinic.

This paper reports the findings in 104 users of nonopioid drugs (mainly amphetamines) attending a drug dependence clinic in London between March 1968 and February 1969 in relation to demographic characteristics, forensic, psychiatric, and medical histories, clinical groups, management policy, and the use of biochemical tests for the presence of drugs in the urine.Nearly one-third gave a history of starting amphetamine misuse while at school (13.5%) or within a year of leaving school (16.3%). Amphetamine psychosis had occurred in 35% of cases and was a more frequent complication of intravenous than of oral abuse. Except for a small proportion of older patients who have become dependent on drugs originally prescribed for therapeutic purposes, "maintenance therapy" is most unlikely to be effective in the treatment of amphetamine dependence. Nevertheless, about one-quarter of the younger patients in this series had obtained prescriptions from general practitioners after starting their drug abuse illicitly. There is a strong case for the compulsory notification under the Misuse of Drugs Act (1971) of persons dependent on amphetamines.

Adolescent↗