Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C Aitken

Publications and source records attributed to C Aitken.

51 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Psychosocial aspects of disease and their management.

The pathogenesis of psychosomatic distress is considered. This emphasises interest in aetiology of distress rather than solely of disease. The influence of psychological aspects is as important whether the disease is of known or unknown aetiology, and can be of greater importance in poorer socio-economic circumstances. The doctor's role is to tease out the influence of these many factors. Certainly a holistic approach is necessary to assess and manage appropriately patients with disability. There is an important role for psychiatrists within services for management of such patients. Leadership by all doctors and psychiatrists in particular to apply the holistic approach should be encouraged.

Humans↗

Elusive allowances.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Attitude to Health↗

Dr. Denis Leigh.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

History, 20th Century↗

Psychosomatic approach to medical rehabilitation.

The author records his views about the future of medical rehabilitation. He reports some of the evidence on which to advocate the psychosomatic approach for the management of all disease and injury prone to chronic morbidity. As the causes of distress are multiple, clinical service is required from a multiprofessional team. The success of outcome is to be judged in the social adaptation achieved, recognising that this is influenced by such intangible concepts as morale and motivation.

Emotions↗

Prospects and services for medical rehabilitation.

In the developed world, comprehensive services for disabled patients are usually well established for children and elderly people. Services for rehabilitation of middle-aged patients generally consist of specific treatment facilities, such as for physiotherapy. On the other hand, a range of services of psychiatric patients is now established, with a model suitable for most disorders. Arrangements are flexible, ranging from crisis intervention to long-term care, in some places being remarkably comprehensive and well coordinated. There is a need to plan development of medical and social services for patients prone to chronic morbidity from whatever cause; this plan for the physicially disabled should take account of their many needs, and of the many facilities now available, some statutory, some voluntary. There is reason to believe that redeployment of resources existing in many countries could improve the standard of medical rehabilitation for patients of all ages.

Adolescent↗

Clinical psychosomatic research.

Psychosomatic medicine embrances the influence of psychological factors on the development and course of diverse physical symptoms. Reasons are given why it is recognized that physical morbidity is influenced by such factors, with illustrations from the authors' research on acute ischemic heart disease, peptic ulcer and bronchial asthma. The nature of the psychological factors can be elucidated with the use of recently developed psychometric tests; these relate particularly to mood disturbance, either attributable to affective disorder or prominent personality traits. To insure that samples studied are representative of the disease or symptom being considered, and that all relevant variables are taken into account, the research approach usually necessitates a multidisciplinary team.

Affective Symptoms↗

Seroprevalence of hepatitis markers; HAV, HBV, HCV and HEV amongst primary school children in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

The prevalence of hepatitis markers (Hepatitis A, B, C and E) in primary school children in Freetown, Sierra Leone was investigated in a government school, representative of the urban middle class. The children were aged between 6-12 years old. A sub-sample (n = 120) of the 450 pupils were invited to participate. Of the 66 volunteers (mean 8.32 years) 12 were positive for HBsAg (males 9, females 3) and 11 were confirmed. Six of these were HBeAg positive, anti-HBe negative, (male 5, female 1). Whilst 6 were HBeAg negative, anti-HBe positive (male 4, female 2). HBcAb was present in 47 children (71%). Hepatitis A, C and E antibodies were detected in 64 (97%), 1 (2%) and 5 (8%) of children respectively.

Biomarkers↗