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Biomedical subjects

S M Turner

Publications and source records attributed to S M Turner.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Social phobia: a comparison of specific and generalized subtypes and avoidant personality disorder.

The validity of the social phobia subtype distinction was examined in a large sample of carefully diagnosed social phobics (N = 89). Generalized and specific subtypes were diagnosed reliably, and the generalized subtype showed a consistent pattern of greater symptom severity than did the specific subtype. In addition, generalized social phobics with and without avoidant personality disorder were compared, and a difference was found for only 1 of 4 parameters. The results are discussed in terms of the validity of subtyping in social phobia and the diagnostic boundary between social phobia and avoidant personality disorder.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Perceptual deprivation in the acute phase of spinal injury rehabilitation.

Patients in intensive care units are often reported to experience psychological disturbances which may be attributable to a number of well-researched causes. However, it is suggested that the total lack of proprioceptive and motor feedback after spinal trauma may be a significant factor in the genesis of these disturbances which are unique to this group of patients. All cases admitted to the Regional Spinal Injuries Centre in Southport from January 1987 through December 1990 were assessed (n = 187) and the conditions surrounding the occurrence of behavioural disturbances (n = 23, 12.3%) established. The level of interaction with relatives and significant others was established for all acute admissions, and low frequency was found to correlate significantly with the development of perceptual deprivation experiences. The effects of inadequate somatosensory input, lesion level, increasing age, and visitor variability for spinal patients is discussed and an algorithm presented to highlight the potential factors associated with aetiology and treatment of the problem. The implications of these findings for the future management of acute spinal trauma are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Controlled prospective trial of wound management in elective hand surgery.

A total of 33 consecutive patients undergoing elective hand operations were randomly allocated 5 days after the operation either to have all dressings discarded or to continue with an occlusive bandage for a further 2 weeks. Assessments at 2 and 6 weeks showed that wound healing, hand function, symptoms and complications were identical in both groups. It was concluded that for selected patients early removal of hand dressings after surgery does not have any deleterious effects.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Social phobia: Axis I and II correlates.

The presence of Axis I and Axis II disorders in 71 social phobic patients was examined. Generalized anxiety disorder was the most common secondary Axis I disorder, followed by simple phobia. Avoidant personality disorder and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder were the most common Axis II diagnoses, and 88% of the sample exhibited features of these 2 personality styles. Subjects with additional Axis I diagnoses were more anxious and depressed than those with no additional Axis I disorder. Social phobics with additional Axis II disorders were more depressed but not more anxious than those with no Axis II diagnosis. Furthermore, those with an additional Axis I disorder had higher scores on measures of neuroticism, interpersonal sensitivity, and agoraphobia. The prevalence and impact of additional Axis I and II disorders on the etiology, maintenance, and treatment outcome for persons with social phobia are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Anxiety disorders research with African Americans: current status.

Anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric disorders in the general population of the United States. Recent findings indicate that the prevalence of certain anxiety disorders may be higher in African Americans. In addition, anxiety disorders in African Americans may be manifested differently. Despite the high prevalence and the suggestion of different patterns of manifestation, a paucity of research exists on anxiety disorders in this population. This may be due in part to the pattern of help-seeking behavior among African Americans, a negative perception of research by members of this community, the small number of African American researchers, and perhaps to some extent a general disinterest on the part of researchers. The available research on anxiety disorders in African Americans is critically reviewed, the need for research in the area is highlighted, and ways to facilitate such research are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Social phobia: relationship to shyness.

The characteristics of social phobia and shyness were compared on six dimensions: somatic features, cognitive characteristics, behavioral responses, daily functioning, clinical course, and onset characteristics. The results revealed that shyness and social phobia have a number of similar features. However, as currently conceptualized, the two syndromes differ in a number of important aspects as well. Definitive distinctions are hampered by the lack of empirical studies directing comparing the two conditions and by the heterogeneity of the shy population. Recommendations for clarifying some of the ambiguities are made.

Arousal↗
PubMed1979

Depressive symptoms in rape victims.

Thirty-four recent rape victims were assessed for depressive symptomatology using a well-validated self-report instrument in combination with formal psychiatric evaluation. Fifteen subjects were found to be moderately or severely depressed when measured on the self-report questionnaire. A closer examination of these 15 subjects revealed that 8 were suffering from a major depressive disorder. The authors emphasize that all clinicians working with rape victims should be alert to the emergence of depression in this population.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Pharmacological treatment of aggressive behavior and emesis in the Cornelia de Lange Syndrome.

Chlorpromazine and fluphenazine decanoate were employed to treat aggressive behavior and emesis in a 22-year-old patient with Cornelia de Lange syndrome. Institution of the above neuroleptics, following an unsuccessful trial of diazepam, produced reductions of 95.1 per cent and 37.9 per cent for aggressive behavior and emesis, respectively. Four follow-up observations, occurring at 3-week intervals, revealed maintenance of low rates of aggressive behavior and continued reductions in emesis (mean reduction of 81.5 per cent). These findings are important for their a) inclusion of direct behavioral observation as the data base, and b) initial promising effects of neuroleptics for a rare mental retardation syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Catecholamine uptake, accumulation, and release in acute porphyria.

Hypertension and tachycardia are well known features of acute porphyria and have been shown to be related to increased circulating catecholamines. The mechanism by which circulating catecholamines are increased was studied using the isolated perfused rat heart and human platelets as a model of adrenergic neuronal function. It was found that neither delta-aminolevulinate (ALA) nor porphobilinogen (PBG) blocked uptake or caused release in the isolated perfused rat heart. Platelets from six patients with acute prophyria, three in remission and three latent, with matching normal controls were studied with regard to their uptake of [(3)H]norepinephrine in the presence of ALA or PBG. It was found that ALA and PBG significantly reduced uptake and accumulation of [(3)H]-norepinephrine in patients with acute porphyria; however, no similar reduction in uptake and accumulation was observed in the platelets of normal controls. Therefore, it appears that there is a latent defect in the catecholamine uptake and (or) accumulation of platelets of patients with acute prophyria which only manifests itself in the presence of ALA or PBG. If platelet uptake serves as a model of adrenergic neuron uptake, this suggests that elevated circulating catecholamine levels during acute attacks of acute porphyria are caused at least partially by blockade of re-uptake into the sympathetic neurons.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1977

Avasucular necrosis of pheochromocytoma followed by spontaneous remission.

Following an acute spontaneous hypertensive crisis and shock a patient with pheochromocytoma was found to have an exceedingly high catecholamine excretion rate. After this episode, the patient remained normotensive and urinary excretion of catecholamines returned to normal. During surgery, a large pheochromocytoma was found and removed that showed avascualr necrosis. In phenochromocytoma, a sudden and exceedingly high rate of catecholamine release may cause intense vasoconstriction both generally and within the tumor itself. In this patient, avascular tumor necrosis led to a spontaneous remission of clinical symptoms.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

Effects of phenothiazines and social skills training in a withdrawn schizophrenic.

The effects of phenothiazines and social skills training on a severely withdrawn schizophrenic were examined. Regulation of phenothiazine levels had the result that the patient became more receptive to behavioral interventions. Specific application of a token economy program effected a marked improvement in the assertive training was employed to improve the patient's repertoire of ininterpersonal responses. Prior to actual hospital discharge the patient was faded back into his natural environment during a job retraining phase at Goodwill Industries. Specific data on the patient's improved social functioning are presented in a multiple baseline analysis. Follow-up data document the patient's successful adaptation of his natural enviroment.

Adult↗