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Biomedical subjects

V Schnieden

Publications and source records attributed to V Schnieden.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

Use of a psychiatric proforma for accident and emergency officers.

OBJECTIVE: To devise a proforma for clinical documentation of psychiatric illness in an accident and emergency (A&E) department, since A&E senior house officers (SHOs) have little psychiatric experience before starting their jobs. METHODS: History taking and mental state examinations by 16 SHOs were compared before (n = 50) and after (n = 50) the introduction of the proforma. Comments on the proforma were provided by all participants on a questionnaire. RESULTS: There was an improvement in documentation with the use of the proforma (Mann-Whitney U test, P < 0.001). The senior house officers found the proforma useful and supported further development of this initiative. CONCLUSIONS: A standard form for documenting psychiatric history, designed according to local needs, is useful and should be available in A&E departments.

Clinical Competence

Violence in the accident and emergency department.

A survey of Accident and Emergency nurses was undertaken to study the prevalence, types and possible precipitating factors of violence in the workplace. Violence was sub-divided into physical and verbal. Verbal violence was more common than physical assault but often not reported. Often physical violence is under-reported but in fact had affected one third of respondents. Associations with different types of violence are discussed. The need for further training in defusing violent situations and analysis of violent incidents is identified. Some suggestions for inclusion in a training programme are given.

Adult

Violence in clinical forensic medicine.

OBJECTIVE: to investigate the levels of physical and verbal violence experienced in the preceding year by doctors working in clinical forensic medicine. DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: anonymised questionnaire sent to all full members of the Association of Police Surgeons. RESULTS: 517 eligible questionnaires were returned; 18.2 per cent of respondents had experienced physical violence, a total of 150 incidents. Of those incidents 'warning signs' of violence had been present in only 25 per cent. A total of 54 working days were lost. Injuries included a fractured wrist and corneal scarring. Of the respondents, 65.5 per cent had experienced verbal violence (of which the most common type was obscenity); 11.8 per cent had received training in dealing with verbal violence and 10.4 per cent in dealing with physical violence; 88 per cent believed that training on how to deal with violence should be part of police surgeon/forensic medicine training. CONCLUSION: verbal and physical violence are common in clinical forensic medicine. Training in dealing with these issues should be introduced.

Education, Medical, Continuing

Management of Gilles de la Tourette syndrome using sulpiride.

One hundred and fourteen patients with Gilles de la Tourette syndrome have been reviewed. Sixty-three were managed using sulpiride, and worthwhile beneficial effects occurred in 59%. Our experience with sulpiride compared to other drug treatments is discussed. The main adverse side effects of sulpiride treatment were sustained drowsiness and, possibly, depression. Tardive dyskinesia was not reported in our cohort.

Adolescent