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Biomedical subjects

P R Slavney

Publications and source records attributed to P R Slavney.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

When does Huntington's disease begin?

Recent studies have detected basal ganglia atrophy in clinically asymptomatic persons with the genetic mutation that causes Huntington's disease (HD). Whether reductions in caudate and putamen volume on MRI scans are associated with changes in cognitive and neurologic functioning was examined in 13 healthy adults with the IT-15 mutation. Reduced striatal volume was found to correlate with greater neurologic (largely motor) impairment, slower mental processing speed, and poorer verbal learning, although none of the participants met even liberal criteria for clinical diagnosis of HD. These correlations are strikingly similar to those observed in symptomatic HD patients, possibly reflecting the earliest manifestations of disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Predictors of psychological adjustment to genetic testing for Huntington's disease.

In the present study the authors assessed predictors of adjustment to genetic testing for Huntington's disease. Fifty-two genetically positive and 108 genetically negative persons were studied for 1 year following testing. Adjustment, defined by hopelessness and depressive symptoms, was measured at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after disclosure and was within normal limits for both groups. Those less well adjusted had tested positive, were married, had no children, or were closer to their estimated ages of onset. The study delineated risk factors for psychological distress that should be considered by people contemplating testing for Huntington's disease.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1994

In defense of Pseudoseizure.

There continues to be disagreement over the best term for behavior that simulates an epileptic seizure. In the author's view, pseudoseizure is the most accurate of the expressions currently in use, and fears about its potentially damaging effects are unfounded. Even pseudoseizure, however, fails to convey the behavioral nature of the phenomenon in question, for it identifies what the problem is not, rather than what it is.

Conversion Disorder↗
PubMed1989

Presymptomatic diagnosis of delayed-onset disease with linked DNA markers. The experience in Huntington's disease.

Clinical medicine in the 21st century is almost certain to include wide-scale use of molecular genetic diagnostic tests. In September 1986, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine initiated a voluntary program of presymptomatic genetic testing for Huntington's disease for persons at 50% risk. DNA analyses using the D4S10 (G8), D4S43, and D4S95 locus probes have been performed for 55 people. Twelve of the tests have yielded positive results, 30 were negative, and 13 were uninformative. Initial reactions ranged from joy and relief to disappointment, sadness, and demoralization. Thus far, there have been no severe depressive reactions. Although the sample size is small, our data suggest that people who receive genetic test results cope well, at least over the short term, when the testing is performed in a clinical context that includes education, pretest counseling, psychological support, and regular follow-up.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Patients with medically unexplained symptoms: DSM-III diagnoses and demographic characteristics.

This study reports DSM-III diagnoses and demographic characteristics of 100 patients consecutively referred to a university hospital consultation-liaison service for evaluation of medically unexplained symptoms suggesting physical disorders. Thirty-seven percent of patients received diagnoses of somatoform, dissociative, or factitious disorders, and 14% were felt to have psychologic factors affecting physical conditions. Although black and male patients were less often referred for medically unexplained symptoms, once referred they were more likely than white and female patients to receive diagnoses of somatoform, dissociative, or factitious disorders. Among patients with somatoform disorders, those with conversion disorder and somatization disorder tended to be young women, whereas those with psychogenic pain disorder were older and equally likely to be male or female.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

The life-story method in psychotherapy and psychiatric education: the development of confidence.

The disease concept and the life-story method are perspectives of psychiatry that have different consequences for the education and practice of house officers. The premises of the disease concept are taught in medical school, and provide a familiar basis for the explanation of certain psychiatric conditions. As the house officer sees how the disease concept is applied to such problems, he rapidly becomes confident in his abilities to diagnose and treat them. For other conditions, however, the disease concept is inappropriate, and the life-story method should be chosen. The premises of this way of understanding suffering are rarely taught in a formal manner before residency training begins, and thus, when confronted with a patient for whom psychotherapy is the treatment of choice, the fledgling psychiatrist is often bewildered. An understanding of the life-story method and its implications for the process of psychotherapy should help give confidence to the practice of beginners.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed1985

Clinical judgements of self-dramatisation. A test of the sexist hypothesis.

It has been claimed that the diagnosis of histrionic personality disorder is inherently sexist. To estimate the extent to which psychiatrists are influenced by sexist prejudice in their judgements about self-dramatization (the central trait in the histrionic cluster), we conducted a study in which male and female subjects rated the degree of self-dramatization portrayed in videotaped vignettes. The results did not support the sexist hypothesis that dramatic behaviour would more often be attributed to a woman than to a man, especially by male raters.

Female↗
PubMed1981

Body image in obese adults.

Data were gathered on 38 obese women and 16 obese men attending a weight-reduction programme and on an equal number of normal weight controls, regarding accuracy of perception of body width in 4 regions, as well as attitudes towards body size. Obese subjects, particularly women, tended to overestimate body width and to dislike their bodies, but neither of these factors predicted success in losing weight. Age of onset of obesity was not related to degree of adult obesity or to accuracy of estimation of body width.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Neuroleptic serum levels measured by radioreceptor assay and clinical response in schizophrenic patients.

Serum neuroleptic levels and clinical response have been compared serially in 10 schizophrenic patients treated with a variety of neuroleptics using a novel radioreceptor assay for neuroleptics. In this assay the drug in serum completes with [3H]spiroperidol for binding to dopamine receptors on membranes of the caudate nucleus. Serum neuroleptic levels, expressed in terms of dopamine receptor occupancy, were similar for most neuroleptics at therapeutic doses. Thioridazine levels were substantially higher than those of other neuroleptics.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Clinical state and serum neuroleptic levels measured by radioreceptor assay in schizophrenia.

The authors measured serum neuroleptic levels by radioreceptor assay in 30 schizophrenic patients receiving haloperidol, fluphenazine, chlorpromazine, molindone, thiothixene, or trifluoperazine. Neuroleptic levels were significantly correlated with clinical state, monitored by an abbreviated version of the Present State Examination (the mini-PSE). Poor therapeutic responses were associated with serum levels under 50 ng/ml chlorpromazine equivalents. There was no correlation between neuroleptic dosage and mini-PSE score or between neuroleptic dose and serum neuroleptic levels.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Variability of mood and the diagnosis of hysterical personality disorder.

Twenty patients with the diagnosis hysterical personality disorder were compared with a matched control group pf patients with other personality and neurotic diagnoses. Subjects' moods were assessed with a visual analogue scale 4 times a day for 5 consecutive days. Patients with a primary discharge diagnosis of hysterical personality disorder showed greater variability of mood than controls. Since emotional lability is said to be a characteristic hysterical trait, the results are taken as empirical support for the validity of one of the clinical judgements inherent in the diagnostic process.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Hysterical traits and variability of mood in normal men.

In a study of 40 normal men it was found that self-ratings on variability of mood were positively correlated with self-ratings on hysterical traits. These results are similar to those found in normal women and lend support both to the validity of the concept of hysterical personality and to the idea that men and women experience fluctuations of mood in a similar way.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Fetal alcohol damage and schizophrenia.

The case of a 15 year old girl with fetal alcohol damage and schizophrenia is presented. Because fetal exposure to alcohol may produce brain damage, itself associated with increased vulnerability for schizophrenia, and because chronic exposure to alcohol may lead to a symptomatic schizophrenic illness, prospective study of children with fetal alcohol damage is needed to determine whether they are at greater risk for the later development of schizophrenia.

Adolescent↗