Biomedical subjects

Renée R Taylor

Publications and source records attributed to Renée R Taylor.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2002

Chronic fatigue, abuse-related traumatization, and psychiatric disorders in a community-based sample.

The relationship between sexual and physical abuse history and negative health effects has been well-documented in medical facility samples. Few studies have examined the role of abuse history and its relationship with chronic fatigue and psychiatric disorders in a diverse, randomly selected community-based sample. The present study compared rates of different types of abuse events in individuals with chronic fatigue and non-symptomatic controls. Relationships between specific types of abuse and psychiatric disorders commonly associated with chronic fatigue were also explored. A stratified random sample of 18,675 adults residing in ethnically and socioeconomically diverse neighborhoods in Chicago first completed a telephone screening questionnaire. A control group and a group of individuals with chronic fatigue symptomatology were identified and administered a semi-structured psychiatric interview assessing DSM-IV Axis I psychiatric disorders and a sexual and physical abuse history questionnaire. Controlling for sociodemographic differences, fatigue outcome was significantly predicted by childhood sexual abuse and the total number of different childhood abuse events. Within the chronic fatigue group, diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was significantly predicted by childhood sexual abuse, childhood death threat, the total number of childhood abuse events, and lifetime abuse events. Sexual abuse during adolescence or adulthood significantly predicted other anxiety disorders among individuals with chronic fatigue. These findings suggest that a history of abuse, particularly during childhood, may play a role in the development and perpetuation of a wide range of disorders involving chronic fatigue. Among individuals with chronic fatigue, PTSD and other anxiety disorders appear to demonstrate the strongest association with abuse history. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Documenting outcomes of occupational therapy: the center for outcomes research and education.

This article presents two themes related to the development and implementation of sound outcomes research that emerged from a 3-year dialogue among fellows of the University of Illinois Center for Outcomes Research and Education (CORE). These themes are: that outcomes research needs to be an interrelated multi-method system of investigation, and it should be developed in collaboration with its key stakeholders (consumers and practitioners). Examples from the literature and from a cluster of papers published in this focus issue are used to exemplify the themes.

Evidence-Based Medicine↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Quality of life and symptom severity for individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome: findings from a randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: Chronic fatigue syndrome is a profoundly disabling condition characterized by severe, unrelenting fatigue and a number of other physical and cognitive symptoms. Currently, there is no cure or widely accepted treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome, and few rehabilitation programs exist to address quality of life issues in chronic fatigue syndrome. In the present randomized clinical trial, the effects of an integrative, consumer-driven rehabilitation program on quality of life and symptom severity for individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome were examined. METHOD: Forty-seven participants were randomly assigned to either an immediate program group (n = 23) or a delayed program control group (n = 24) and assessed with the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptom Rating Scale and the Quality of Life Index before the program, after program participants completed the group phase, and after program participants completed the one-on-one phase. It was hypothesized that the program would lead to improvements in quality of life and an overall reduction in symptom severity. RESULTS: Linear growth models were estimated comparing program and control conditions over time using random-effects regression analyses. Significant condition by time interactions were observed for the main outcomes of symptom severity and overall quality of life. Effect sizes for these interactions involving symptom severity (Cohen's d = 0.71) and overall quality of life (Cohen's d = .66) were moderate. CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicate that consumer driven programs such as this one can have a positive impact on symptom severity and quality of life over time for individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Developing and evaluating community-based services through participatory action research: two case examples.

Occupational therapy has a strong history of embracing concepts of client empowerment. However there is limited literature in the field on how to achieve empowerment, or on how to extend empowerment to the level of the community and social groups and services within it. This article discusses how concepts and strategies of participatory action research, an extension of empowerment theory, can be used to inform service development and evaluation in occupational therapy. The participatory action research approach is illustrated using two case examples of participatory action research programs for persons with chronic fatigue syndrome and individuals with autoimmune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). A critical analysis of the application of this approach to research and practice is provided. Finally, the paper identifies key principles of participatory action research that can be used to guide occupational therapy services and empower both individuals and communities.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗