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Biomedical subjects

Z Solomon

Publications and source records attributed to Z Solomon.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

[Mentally ill soldiers in the reserves--professional secrecy and therapist judgment regarding reporting incapacity to carry weapons].

Medical confidentiality is a complex subject, requiring contemplation by both therapists and patients. Medical confidentiality is conventionally regarded to be in the best interest of the individual and opposed to public demands for information, especially on issues in which danger is involved. The therapist represents both the patient and the public, belonging to both worlds and acting according to existing laws and regulations. We report six incidences, in which important medical information was transferred to the army by the patient himself, rather than by the therapist. The therapist must consider his own judgment on the subject, in conjunction with existing laws and regulations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Hardiness: an examination of its relationship with positive and negative long term changes following trauma.

Two models positing direct versus moderating effects of hardiness were examined in relation to long term positive and negative changes following exposure to traumatic stress. Participating in the study were 164 Israeli POWs and a matched group of 184 veterans of the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Participants completed a battery of questionnaires that included the Personal Views Survey (hardiness); the Trait, Attitude, and Behavior Change questionnaire; and questions related to their captivity/war experiences. Findings were consistent with a model that posits moderating effects of hardiness on both long term negative and positive changes. The discussion addresses the possible role of hardiness in relation to negative and positive outcomes of traumatic events.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2001

The impact of posttraumatic stress disorder in military situations.

The constant threat to life and gruesome sights and sounds of war take their toll on the soldier psychologically as well as physically. A significant number of war veterans suffer from a wide range of debilitating psychological symptoms that vary in duration. For some the symptoms are transient, while for others profound and prolonged psychological and somatic sequelae manifest in the form of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other comorbid conditions. This article reviews current understanding regarding combat stress reaction--often the first indicator of psychological breakdown--and posttraumatic sequelae. The longer-term detrimental consequences of PTSD and the impact of secondary traumatization. reactivation, and delayed-onset PTSD are also addressed.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Secondary traumatization among wives of PTSD and post-concussion casualties: distress, caregiver burden and psychological separation.

This study has two aims. First, it assesses the implication of husbands' post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and post-concussion syndrome (PC) on their wives' sense of burden and emotional distress. The second aim was to examine the implication of the women's separation-individuation on their adjustment. Sixty women participated in study: 20 women married to war veterans diagnosed as suffering to PTSD, 20 women married to war veterans suffering from PC, and 20 women married to healthy controls. Data was collected using self report questionnaires assessing psychiatric symptomatology, caregiver burden and psychological separation-individuation. Results indicate that women from both research groups suffer from higher levels of burden and distress than controls. The level of separation-individuation was found to be correlated to levels of burden and distress. The complex implications of living with a traumatized spouse are discussed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2000

Posttraumatic residues of captivity: a follow-up of Israeli ex-prisoners of war.

BACKGROUND: This article examines the long-term impact of wartime captivity. METHOD: One hundred sixty-four prisoners of war (POWs) and 189 matched combatants of the 1973 Yom Kippur War filled out a series of questionnaires that assessed posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), general psychiatric symptomatology, and social functioning according to DSM-III-R criteria. RESULTS: Almost 2 decades after the war, ex-POWs exhibited higher rates and greater intensity of posttraumatic stress reactions, more general psychiatric symptomatology, and more severe problems in functioning at home, at work, and in the military than did the control group (Israeli veterans who were not POWs). They were also more likely to obtain official disability recognition and to seek psychological help. Their recovery was slower and professional help less effective. In addition, the veterans with PTSD in both groups had high rates of comorbid general psychiatric symptomatology. CONCLUSION: These findings point to the depth, range, and persistence of the stress residuals of wartime captivity.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1998

An eighteen-year follow-up study of Israeli prisoners of war and combat veterans.

The current study assesses the psychological and psychiatric aftermath of war captivity; 164 Israeli ex-POWs and 189 comparable controls were assessed for posttraumatic stress disorder, intrusion and avoidance tendencies, and generalized psychiatric symptomatology 18 years after the war. Findings indicated that trauma-related psychopathology and general psychiatric symptomatology were more prevalent among POWs than among their matched controls. In addition, captivity experience, social support at homecoming, and, above all, sociodemographic and military factors were found to be strongly correlated with the outcome measures. Theoretical and clinical implications of the aftermath of captivity are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

The assassination of Yitzhak Rabin. Its impact on therapists and patients.

The tragedy of the assassination of the prime minister, Yitzhak Rabin, affected the entire population, regardless of individual mental states. The event influenced the therapeutic situation and gave rise to questions of the limitations and boundaries of treatment. The patients reacted and coped with greater or lesser intensity, according to their abilities, as did the rest of the population. The therapists encountered difficulties in their efforts to continue routine work while dealing with the influence of the event on the patients and on themselves. The attempts of an out-patient clinic to work and deal with these issues are discussed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1997

[Fear of personal death among hospital physicians].

Many studies have tried to explain why professionals experience difficulty when dealing with, and in treating efficiently situations connected with death. We studied levels of personal fear among physicians in general hospitals and addressed 2 questions: Does exposure to death on professional and personal levels, affect the level of the fear of personal death which physicians experience? Is there a relationship between personality variables, represented by the repression-sensitization dimension, and level of fear of personal death? A sample of 233 physicians from 22 general hospitals who specialized in oncology, internal medicine, surgery, psychiatry or pediatrics was studied. Each answered 4 questionnaires with regard to demographic information, fear of personal death, level of repression-sensitization and exposure to the death of relatives and significant others. There were no differences in level of fear of personal death of physicians according to specialization, but those who had been exposed to death on the personal level, feared less their own death. With respect to the personality variable, tendency to sensitization, it was found that those who were sensitized exhibited a higher level of the fear of their own death compared to those who were repressive. Of the various demographic variables examined (sex, level of religious observance, age, number of children, health, professional experience) it was found that those: with many years of professional experience, who were relatively older, who were nonobservant religiously and who were in good health, had lower levels of personal fear of death; gender was not a factor.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1997

Internal medicine, psychiatry, and emergency medicine residents' views of assisted death practices.

BACKGROUND: Although studies have revealed conflicting attitudes within the medical community regarding assisted death practices in the United States, the views of current resident physicians have not been described. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the perspectives of residents from 3 medical specialty fields regarding the acceptability of assisted suicide and euthanasia practices as performed by 4 possible agents (the resident personally, a referral physician, physicians in general, or nonphysicians in general) in 6 patient scenarios. METHODS: An anonymous survey exploring responses to 6 patient vignettes was conducted with a convenience sample of all residents in the internal medicine, psychiatry, and emergency medicine training programs. RESULTS: A total of 96 residents, 72% of those asked, participated in this study. Overall, residents expressed opposition or uncertainty regarding assisted suicide and euthanasia. The residents were disinclined to directly perform such practices themselves and did not support the conduct of assisted suicide practices by nonphysicians. Respondents were somewhat more accepting of other physicians' involvement in assisted death activities. Conflicting views were expressed by residents, with emergency medicine residents more likely to support assisted suicide practices in 4 of 6 patient vignettes than either internal medicine or psychiatry residents. Residents who reported being influenced by religious beliefs (21 respondents [22%]) did not support assisted death practices, whereas those influenced by personal philosophy (74 respondents [77%]) expressed less opposition. CONCLUSIONS: This study explores the uncertainty and differing views of residents from 3 fields about physician-assisted suicide practices. Study findings are considered within the larger literature on clinician attitudes toward assisted suicide and euthanasia.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Physiologic responses to loud tones in Israeli veterans of the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

Eyeblink and autonomic components of the acoustic startle response were evaluated in a community sample of Israeli veterans of the Yom Kippur war. Individuals were solicited by mail and telephone to participate in the study; they were not seeking treatment or compensation. Nineteen Israeli veterans with current posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and 74 veterans without PTSD were exposed to 15 consecutive 95-dB, 500-msec, 1000-Hz tones with 0-msec rise and fall times, while orbicularis oculi electromyogram, skin conductance, and heart rate responses were measured. Individuals with PTSD produced larger averaged heart rate responses, and a slower decline in skin conductance responses, across the 15 tone presentations compared to non-PTSD subjects. There was no group difference in the magnitude of the averaged electromyogram response. Results of this study replicate previous findings of increased autonomic responses to loud tone stimuli in this disorder.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1997

Hospitalized mentally ill patients in Israel vote for the first time.

For the first time in Israel, hospitalized mentally ill patients were enabled to participate in the election of the prime minister and members of the Knesset (Israeli parliament) held on May 29, 1996. In a demonstration election held in Yehuda Abarbanel Hospital to teach and prepare the patients to vote, the outcome of the vote for the prime minister was identical to the results of the general public vote. The sample vote results for members of the Knesset were slightly different from those in the actual election. The character of the voting in this sample bolsters arguments for the rights of mentally ill individuals to participate in the basic democratic process of voting and should ease any misgivings felt by some of the public about their ability to vote as rationally as other members of the public.

Humans↗
PubMed1996

Effects of stressful stimuli: a comparison between two time periods.

Studies of the effects of stressful stimuli that occurred sometime in the past have generally found both intrusion and avoidance as consequences. The present investigation used Horowitz et al.'s (1979) Impact of Events Scale to compare the responses of victims who had been recently evacuated to a hotel after a missile attack on their home with a similar group one year later. Although during the attacks intrusion responses were found to be significantly higher than avoidance, the means on the two mental states did not differ significantly one year after. In addition, intrusion was found to be more highly correlated with several functioning measures; this latter trend becoming more pronounced at Time 2. Implications of the findings and limitations of the study were mentioned.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1996

Responses of mental health professionals to man-made trauma: the Israeli experience.

The reactions and responses of mental health professionals in the area of armed conflict is the focus of this paper. It examines the way the therapeutic community has dealt with the survivors of two catastrophes-the Holocaust and warfare. A parallel process of a gradual change of attitudes towards the survivors was observed: emotional detachment, lack of recognition in the early stages and, eventually, social acceptance and empathy. The origins of these attitudes will be discussed, and three explanations will be offered. Israel is a small, stress-ridden country that has known seven full-scale wars and countless hostilities during its 47 years of existence. Our national history over 2000 years has been beset with persecution, programs and deportations, culminating in the Nazi Holocaust. The establishment of the State of Israel brought with it the hope of a secure existence. Unfortunately, this has not been achieved, and Israel is a natural laboratory of war stress. The reactions and responses of mental health professionals in areas of armed conflict is the focus of this paper. Presented here will be this author's analysis of the way the Israeli society and the helping professions in Israel have dealt with two kinds of man-made catastrophic events: the Nazi Holocaust and seven Arab-Israeli wars. In these different events of human violence, a parallel process of a gradual change of attitude towards the survivors was observed. This remarkable parallel presents emotional detachment, lack of recognition and at times blaming the victims in the early stages and, eventually, social acceptance and empathy. The process of social change becomes complex when the agents of change are themselves members of the social entity undergoing the change. This paper shall demonstrate that therapists and mental health planners had considerable difficulties in transcending public attitudes toward survivors of the Holocaust and psychiatric casualties of the Israeli-Arab conflict. As a result, they were unable to treat properly those injured by trauma until certain social changes took place. This paper submits that the Israeli experience is not isolated and limited to our part of the globe. It represents a general, universal process, from which parallel processes in other countries and in other man-made trauma can be drawn.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1996

War-induced psychic trauma: an 18-year follow-up of Israeli veterans.

Eighteen years after their participation in the Yom Kippur War, the psychiatric status of two groups of Israeli veterans--112 combat stress reaction casualties and 189 comparable controls--was assessed. Casualties had higher rates and greater intensity of posttraumatic stress disorder than did controls, both initially and at 18-year follow-up. Similarly, intrusion and avoidance tendencies and psychiatric symptomatology were evidenced more often by combat stress reaction casualties than by controls. Clinical implications of the findings are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

The impact of the Gulf War on the mental health of schizophrenic patients.

The Gulf War, which took place during January-February 1991, strongly affected the lives of Israeli civilians. The missiles that landed on the home front were a threat to the entire civilian population, thus differentiating the Gulf War from prior Israeli wars (Danon and Shemer 1991). This was similar to the London blitz during World War II (Scoville 1942).

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1996

Post-traumatic stress disorder in brain injury patients.

In the absence of the recognition of the emotional sequelae following traumatic brain injury (TBI), many patients are deprived of adequate treatment. The purpose of the current study is to evaluate the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and explore the clinical picture among TBI patients. Twenty four outpatients with diagnosed head injuries following various traumas filled out standardized questionnaires, assessing post-traumatic residuals. Thirty-three per cent of these patients met criteria for PTSD diagnosis. The clinical picture of PTSD following TBI is somewhat distinguished from those following other traumatic events. Issues concerning the specific nature of the syndrome following TBI, and the difficulties in differentiating between PTSD and postconcussive syndrome, are discussed.

Adolescent↗