Biomedical subjects

W H Yarborough

Publications and source records attributed to W H Yarborough.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

Addiction medicine for the primary care physician.

Addiction and the consequences including medical, social, and legal are seen almost daily in a primary care office. To effectively deal with these problems it is imperative that the physician view addiction as a disease. This article explores the disease concept and the basis for the view as well as providing a guide to diagnosis and assessment. Useful screening tools are also provided as well as a discussion of biochemical markers currently available. A guideline for delivering the diagnosis is also discussed. An overview of the stages of treatment is provided as well, with particular emphasis on what the primary care physician needs to know. Outcome data regarding types of treatment looking at abstinence, harm reduction, and economic impacts are provided. Finally a look at parity for addiction treatment with a discussion of the cost and the benefits to society are also outlined.

Acamprosate↗

PubMed2000

Drug seeking behavior--a differential approach.

"Drug seeker" is a common term for patients who are perceived to be seeking drugs that might be abused or used in an illegal fashion. While there are patients who seek drugs for totally illegitimate reasons, most of these patients have some type of underlying medical issue. A differential model is proposed using four categories of seeker. The first is fraudulent behavior, second is addictive disease, third is under-treated symptomatology such as pain, and last is psychiatric disorders. Each area is discussed with useful examples of behavior in each category. With a good working knowledge of these areas described, physicians can more effectively manage this difficult group of patients.

Behavior, Addictive↗

PubMed1999

Substance use disorders in physician training programs.

Physician impairment due to substance use occurs in all age groups of physicians. Risk factors are similar for age-matched controls, but choice of substance may be influenced by specialty and narcotic permit. Alcohol is by far the most commonly abused drug involved. One of the last areas of performance affected is work. Other areas may provide earlier clues. Intervention and referral to appropriate treatment centers is important. Death rates are relatively high in this disease. We report a favorable outcome of 75 percent at The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Tulsa (OUHSC-T), but a death rate of 16.7 percent in our small sample. Aftercare and monitoring are essential to a successful outcome. The vast majority of physicians in training can complete their training with appropriate treatment and monitoring and go on to successful careers.

Alcoholism↗