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Biomedical subjects

P Lauzon

Publications and source records attributed to P Lauzon.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Emotional distress among couples involved in first-trimester induced abortions.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the prevalence of clinically significant psychological distress in women and men involved in first-trimester abortions and to identify related risk factors. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: A downtown Montreal public abortion clinic and the Montreal metropolitan area. PARTICIPANTS: We recruited 197 women and 113 men involved in first-trimester abortions and compared them with control groups composed of 728 women and 630 men 15 to 35 years old who had taken part in a previous public health survey (Enquête Santé Québec 1987). One hundred twenty-seven women and 69 men completed the follow-up questionnaire. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Level of distress as measured by the Ilfeld Psychological Symptom Index. RESULTS: Before the abortion, 56.9% of women and 39.6% of men were much more distressed than their respective controls. Three weeks after the abortion, 41.7% of women and 30.9% of men were still highly distressed. Predictors of distress for women were fear of negative effects on the relationship, unsatisfactory relationships, relationships of less than 1 year, ambivalence about the decision to abort, not having a previous child, and suicidal ideation (this association was weaker than in controls). Predictors for men were fear of negative effects on the relationship, relationships of less than 1 year, preoccupation with the abortion and anxiety about its accompanying pain, negative perceptions of their own health, suicidal gestures in the past, and suicidal ideation in the past year (only the association with suicidal gestures was marginally stronger than in controls). CONCLUSION: Being involved in a first-trimester abortion can be highly distressing for both women and men.

Abortion, Legal↗
PubMed1992

Two cases of clonidine abuse/dependence in methadone-maintained patients.

Clonidine has been used to assist opiate detoxification in the past 10 years. This substance is known to have multiple effects on the central nervous system and to cause withdrawal symptoms when stopped abruptly. The combination of these two effects could result in clonidine having a potential for abuse. Two cases of clonidine abuse/dependence in methadone-maintained patients are presented. Nonmedical use of clonidine in opioid-dependent persons has never been evaluated.

Clonidine↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Methadone maintenance: predictors of outcome in a Canadian milieu.

This hypothesis-generating study attempts to identify patient characteristics predicting the successful outcome of methadone maintenance in the treatment of narcotic addiction. The sociodemographic characteristics as well as the general emotional health of 51 addicted individuals in Montreal were studied at entry into the program and are correlated with success one year after entry. The success of the Montreal program, defined as retention in the program and urine samples negative for opiates, is comparable to results reported from many North American clinics. A history of foster care before age 15 is the only characteristic significantly correlated with both retention and negative urines. Emotional health, previous treatment experiences, job status, and level of education do not correlate with success. All addicted individuals applying to a treatment program should therefore be accepted for a trial of treatment while further research on greater numbers of subjects may eventually identify predictors of successful outcome.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Illicit use of methadone among i.v. drug users in Montreal.

Few studies have been done on the prevalence of illicit methadone use. Five hundred fifty-nine IV drug users recruited in various ways in Montreal were interviewed concerning their drug use as part of a longitudinal study on HIV infection. Of this number, 133 had heroin as their drug of preference and 426 cocaine. Among the cocaine group, 202 also used heroin. The lifetime prevalence of any illicit methadone use was 59.4% in the heroin group, 26.7% in the cocaine/heroin group, and 3.6% in the cocaine-only group. The 6-month (preceding the interview) prevalence of any illicit use was 42.1%, 6.9%, and 1.3%, respectively, and the prevalence of at least weekly illicit use during that period was 6.3%, 2.0%, and 0%, respectively. The prevalence of illicit methadone use is significant in the population studied. Whether this level of use will be affected by more stringent control on methadone prescription and dispensation remains to be demonstrated.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Mapping local blood flow of human brain by CT scanning during stable xenon inhalation.

Non-invasive methods are described for estimating local cerebral blood flows (LCBF) and partition coefficients (L lambda) during inhalation of 35% stable xenon gas (Xes) in oxygen during CT scanning. After denitrogenation by 100% oxygen breathing, 35% Xes is breathed for 7-8 minutes to minimize subanesthetic effects. Mean changes in brain Hounsfield units extrapolated to 15 minutes were 7.7 units for white matter and 5.3 units for gray matter. They were measured from volumes 80 cubic mm (10 mm2 area x 8 mm), or larger with an EMI 1010 scanner at 1 minute intervals. These data were used for computing LCBFs and L lambdas. Irradiation measured at the center of brain slices was 1 rad per minute. To calculate L lambdas about 6 exposures are necessary, thereafter, each 1 minute scan provides LCBF measurements for 2 adjacent 8 mm slices. Reproducibility for LCBF was r = 0.85 (P less 0.001). Mean L lambdas were 0.86 +/- 0.08 for gray and 1.34 +/- 0.10 for white matter. Normative mean flows (mls/100 g brain/min) were: basal ganglia = 79.6 +/- 9.3, cortex = 82.3 +/- 8.5, white matter = 29.2 +/- 5.9, midbrain tegmentum = 94.3 +/- 14.8, cerebellar cortex = 80.1 +/- 10.9, dorsal pons = 89.3 +/- 4.7, brachium pontis = 35.0 +/- 4.2. Subject finger exercises produced increases of LCBF in contralateral pre-central and post-central gyri. Eye closure decreased flow values limited to the visual system. Gray matter flow values diffusely decreased in non-REM sleep but increased above normal in REM sleep. Cerebral infarction and hemorrhage resulted in zones of zero flow with borders having reduced lambdas and low flows attributed to edema.

Adult↗