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D K Wellisch

Publications and source records attributed to D K Wellisch.

50 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1978

Psychosocial aspects of mastectomy: I. the women's perspective.

The authors administered a questionnaire to 41 women who had had mastectomies to investigate aspects of the procedure itself, pre- and postmastectomy adjustment, effects on sexual relationships, and the influence of age. Although most women reported good overall adjustment, there were strong indications of psychological suffering (suicidal ideation, increased use of alcohol and tranquilizers, etc.). Psychological intervention may be called for in many cases, and age, support systems, and premorbid functioning may be indicators of the amount and type of intervention needed. Counseling is particularly important before surgery, since this was viewed as the period of maximum stress by most women. Further research with larger, more random samples and postsurgical control groups is indicated to determine more precisely the factors related to adjustment to mastectomy.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1978

Psychosocial aspects of mastectomy: II. the man's perspective.

In order to assess factors related to men's adjustment to mastectomy and its aftermath the authors administered a questionnaire to 31 men whose wives or partners had had mastectomies. Most men reported a good overall adjustment, but a subgroup remained distressed and reported adverse effects on their relationships with wives or lovers. The data indicate that the nodal points in the process are the involvement of partners in the decision-making process, the frequency of hospital visits, resumption of the sexual relationship, and the man looking at his partner's body after surgery. These findings have implications for counseling couples who face this emotionally stressful procedure.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1978

Living in limbo: psychosocial intervention in families with a cancer patient.

Modern medical practice has changed cancer from an acute to a chronic catastrophe. The family system of a cancer patient moves therefore into a state of a "limbo" where interactions, plans, and socioeconomic realities are continually imbalanced and ever-changing. Family coping styles are examined; therapists' strategies and pitfalls are delineated.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1977

A family therapy outcome study in an inpatient setting.

A small sample of adolescents hospitalized in a public mental health facility received family therapy while a control group received individual therapy. Follow-up at three months indicated that those treated in family therapy returned to functioning more rapidly and were rehospitalized less frequently than adolescent patients in individual therapy. Directions for further study are suggested

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Families and cancer.

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Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Bone marrow transplantation vs. high-dose cytorabine-based consolidation chemotherapy for acute myelogenous leukemia. A long-term follow-up study of quality-of-life measures of survivors.

Thirty patients previously treated for acute leukemia were studied on the average of 5-6.5 years postdiagnosis in regard to issues of quality of life. Of these 30, 11 were treated with bone marrow transplantation, 19 were treated with conventional chemotherapy. Overall, significant differences were not found between the two groups in regard to evidence of depression symptoms, multifocal psychiatric symptomatology, or on any subscale of a test evaluating problems and rehabilitation needs of cancer patients. A step-wise regression was done, controlling for baseline covariates that included type of medical treatment, months since diagnosis, type of induction chemotherapy protocol, sex of patient, and age of patient. Significant differences in quality of life were not found between the treatment groups.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Psychological and immunological reactions of family members to patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation.

The authors' goal was to evaluate the impacts of patients' bone marrow transplant (BMT) on their spouse/partner's (subjects) psychological and immunological status at four key points in the course of their transplant. Subjects' (N = 24) psychological and immunological status was prospectively evaluated at four key points in the patient's BMT which included: at patients' admission to hospital and 0-, 20-, and 34-day intervals after BMT infusion. Psychological variables examined included: a) general psychological distress and negative affect; b) tendency to respond in a socially desirable manner; c) state negative affect; and d) coping style, specifically if escape-avoidance coping was used. Immune variables examined included: percentages of total T cells and of CD4+, CD8+ cells, B cells, and natural killer (NK) cells, and NK cytotoxicity. Greatest abnormality in immune variables was detected before the initiation of BMT (i.e., between admission and day 0) with normalization between days 21 and 34 thereafter. During the waiting period before BMT, the subjects had the highest scores on negative affects, escape-avoidance coping, and psychological symptoms. These progressively declined after the BMT procedure. Significant correlations were found among trait anxiety, escape-avoidance coping, and total percentage of T cells and of CD4+ cells. Escape-avoidance coping was reliably correlated with percentage of B cells. The greatest psychological and immunological impacts on spouse/partners of BMT patients were found in the period directly after hospital admission and before BMT infusion. Alterations in immune values occurred in anticipation of BMT in the spouse/partners. Psychological symptoms followed this same pattern, being most elevated before BMT and decreasing in the successive evaluations post-BMT for the spouse/partners. The most significant and consistent psychological variable in predicting immune changes was escape-avoidance coping, with less escape-avoidance coping predicting better immune functioning.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A psychological profile of depressed and nondepressed women at high risk for breast cancer.

This study examines the difference on several demographic and psychosocial variables between women at high risk for breast cancer above and below the cut-off point of a depression measure (Center for Epidemiological Study Depression Scale). Data are presented for 430 consecutive patients from the UCLA Revlon Breast Center High Risk Clinic. Women scoring above the depression cut-off point were younger, had more relatives with breast cancer, reported more symptoms of anxiety, and had more self-perceived vulnerability to breast cancer. In addition, women above the depression cut-off point were more likely to be single, childless, to have not viewed the results of the surgical treatment of their relative, and to feel more anxiety regarding screening practices (mammography, pap smears, and breast self-examinations).

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A comprehensive program of psychosocial care for mastectomy patients.

The traumatic experience of the discovery of a lump in the breast, the diagnosis of cancer and eventual mastectomy have focused medical attention on the importance of providing adequate psychosocial care for mastectomy patients. This paper outlines a comprehensive program now underway. This program includes the premastectomy (preventive), postoperative (interventive) and recovery (postventive) periods. To secure more information for this program, an initial project examining the psychological effects of mastectomy on women and their spouses has been undertaken. It is anticipated that these findings will be helpful in identifying some of the problems encountered and aid in the success of the program in attaining the desired results.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Psychological assessment of adults with cystic fibrosis.

We administered a battery of self-rated objective and quantitative psychometric tests, including the MMPI, to a group of adult cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Important findings were related to the age but not the sex of the patients. We found that older patients (i.e., over the median age of twenty-three) were more likely than younger patients to: 1) express emotional conflicts through physical symptoms, 2) be anxious or uncomfortable in social situations, and 3) have self-doubt. We could not confirm a previous report of increased depression or anxiety in adult CF patients. We discuss implication of these results for health professionals.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Family relationships of the mastectomy patient: interactions with the spouse and children.

The relationships of the breast cancer patient who has undergone mastectomy with her spouse and children can undergo many drastic changes. The data indicate that male partners who are more involved in decision making and hospital visitation are more supportive and cope better themselves. Nonviewing of the surgical site can be a joint psychological problem not confined to the female patients only. Children will tend to express their distress in indirect and potentially symptomatic ways. The symptoms may differ between preadolescents and adolescents. Adolescent girls may be at special risk when their mothers have undergone mastectomy; maternal envy and competitiveness may result in increased friction between mother and daughter.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The Transplant Evaluation Rating Scale. A revision of the psychosocial levels system for evaluating organ transplant candidates.

Psychosocial criteria play an important role in evaluating organ transplant candidates. The Transplant Evaluation Rating Scale (TERS) classifies patients' level of adjustment in 10 aspects of psychosocial functioning that are thought to be important in adjusting to transplantation. On the basis of pretransplant psychiatric consultations, 35 liver transplant recipients received retrospective TERS ratings. Results showed significant correlations between TERS scores and visual analogue scale ratings of five outcome variables at 1-3 years posttransplant. Significant interrater reliability was also found. The TERS represents a promising instrument for transplant candidate selection as well as a valuable tool for further research.

Adaptation, Psychological↗