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Biomedical subjects

D R Denney

Publications and source records attributed to D R Denney.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Depression during exacerbations in multiple sclerosis: the importance of uncertainty.

The following correlates of depression were examined in a sample of 166 patients with clinically definite relapsing-remitting (n=140) or secondary progressive (n=26) multiple sclerosis: (a) the present state of the patients' illness (i.e., whether or not they were currently experiencing an exacerbation of their symptoms); (b) their level of uncertainty concerning their illness; and (c) their strategies for coping with their illness. A current exacerbation in symptoms, greater uncertainty of illness, and greater use of emotion-centered forms of coping were all related to depression. Multivariate analyses revealed that uncertainty of illness played a pivotal role as a mediating variable. Exacerbations in illness appeared to heighten patients' levels of uncertainty, and it was largely through this heightened uncertainty that the increases in depression came about.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2001

The relationship between disability and depression in multiple sclerosis: the role of uncertainty, coping, and hope.

The relationship between disability and depression was studied in 188 patients with clinically definite multiple sclerosis (MS). Patients were administered the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale, Ways of Coping, Uncertainty of Illness Scale, and Hope Scale during their regular clinic appointments. Their current level of disability was rated by the attending physician using the Expanded Disability Status Scale. Even when the depression measure was corrected for items overlapping with other symptoms or consequences of MS, depression was correlated with disability. Depression was also correlated with an array of psychological variables, including uncertainty concerning ones illness, hope, and the use of various emotion-centered, though not problem-centered coping strategies. Multiple regression analyses revealed that none of these psychological correlates mediated or moderated the relationship between disability and depression. Instead, disability, uncertainty, hope, and emotion-centered coping were significant independent predictors of depression, together accounting for approximately 40% of the variance in patients' self-reported depression. The relationship between disability and depression in MS is usually interpreted as evidence that depression is psychogenic and reactive to the demands and limitations of this disease. The demonstration that this relationship is not diminished when an array of potentially intervening psychological variables are included in the analysis raises questions concerning the validity of this interpretation.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2000

Fatigue in multiple sclerosis: relationship to depression, disability, and disease pattern.

In order to investigate the associations between fatigue and depression, disability, and disease subtype, 207 individuals with clinically definite Multiple Sclerosis (MS) were administered the Fatigue Severity Scale and the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale during a regular clinic appointment. Their current level of disability was established using the Expanded Disability Status Scale. Fatigue and depression were highly correlated (r=0.58), even when the depression measure was corrected for items overlapping with fatigue and other symptoms or consequences of MS (r=0.44). Fatigue and disability were also correlated (r=0.33). Multiple regression revealed that both depressed mood and disability were significant predictors of fatigue, together accounting for approximately 23% of the variance in patients' self-reported fatigue. The combined groups of primary progressive (n=45) and secondary progressive patients (n=25) appeared to have higher fatigue scores than relapsing-remitting patients (n=137). However, an analysis of covariance revealed that this apparent difference was in fact attributable almost exclusively to differences in disability among the three subtypes of MS. Other reports of differences in fatigue between subtypes of MS should be re-examined in light of this finding.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Stress and coping in multiple sclerosis: exacerbation, remission and chronic subgroups.

Individuals with multiple sclerosis were asked to identify stressors they had experienced over a 6-month period and the coping mechanisms employed to deal with those stressors. Subjects who reported currently experiencing an exacerbation of symptoms were compared with those in remission or in the chronic phase of their illness. Of the 61 subjects who completed the Hassles Scale, Uplifts Scale, and Ways of Coping, those classified as being in an exacerbation phase of MS were found to have significantly higher hassles scores than those in the chronic phase. A significant difference was also found in terms of a factor labeled 'passive avoidant and aggressive coping' derived through a factor analysis of the Ways of Coping subscales. Subjects in the exacerbation subgroup had higher scores on this coping factor than those in the chronic subgroup. The difference in hassles scores remained significant after between-group differences in length of illness and reported number of symptoms were controlled through an analysis of covariance, although the difference in coping fell short of significance in this covariance analysis.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1996

Lymphocyte subsets and interleukin-2 receptors in autistic children.

Blood samples were obtained from 10 male autistic children ages 7-15 years and 10 age-matched, male, healthy controls. Lymphocyte subsets (helper-inducer, suppressor-cytotoxic, total T, and total B cells) were enumerated using monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry. Bound and soluble interleukin-2 receptors were assayed in unstimulated blood samples and in cell cultures following 72-hour stimulation with phytohemagglutinin. The children with autism had a lower percentage of helper-inducer cells and a lower helper:suppressor ratio, with both measures inversely related to the severity of autistic symptoms (r = - .56 and - .68, respectively). A lower percentage of lymphocytes expressing bound interleukin-2 receptors following mitogenic stimulation was also noted, and this too was inversely related to the severity of autistic symptoms.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Speed of scanning in primary memory in persons with dementia of the Alzheimer type.

The nature of the search of primary memory by persons with a presumptive diagnosis of mild Alzheimer's disease (DAT) was compared with that of normal elderly and young persons using the Sternberg (1966) paradigm. DAT subjects evidenced a substantial deficit in the speed of scanning in primary memory and a deficit in at least one other stage of processing. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the decline in memory performance evidenced by persons with DAT may be attributable to an increase in the time requirements of mnemonic processing.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Immune variables, depression, and plasma cortisol over time in suddenly bereaved parents.

Bereavement has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The authors monitored a previously unstudied population, parents who had experienced sudden death of a formerly healthy child, for immunological changes, plasma cortisol level, and depression. Nine bereaved parents were matched case-for-case with nonbereaved controls and concurrently monitored 2, 4, 6, and 8 months post-bereavement. The bereaved parents showed significantly decreased T-suppressor cells, significantly increased T-helper cells, and depression compared with controls, but no difference in cortisol levels. The bereaved also showed nonsignificant but elevated blastogenesis in mitogen-stimulated cells. These changes persisted throughout the first 8 months of bereavement.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Self-control of dysmenorrheic symptoms through pain management training.

An adaptation of Anxiety Management Training was evaluated as a means of teaching women to use relaxation in order to control menstrual pain and discomfort. After reporting their menstrual symptoms for two successive baseline periods, spasmodic and congestive dysmenorrheic subjects received four individual sessions of pain management training. Following treatment, these subjects reported significant reductions in pain, discomfort, interference, and time loss due to dysmenorrheic symptoms relative to their own baselines and to an untreated control group. These effects were still in evidence 18 months after treatment and appeared to have generalized to behavioral, attentional and autonomic symptoms that might be considered secondary sequelae of dysmenorrhea. With one minor exception, there was no differential response to treatment by spasmodic as opposed to congestive subjects.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

The relationship between classification and questioning strategies among adults.

Adults ranging from 30 to 90 were administered the Twenty Questions Task to evaluate questioning strategies and the Picture Pairing Test to assess classification preferences. With respect to the Twenty Questions Task, the results indicated that the percentage of constraint-seeking questions decreased while the percentage of hypothesis-testing questions increased across age. With respect to classification, the results indicated that the use of similarity-based classifications decreased while the use of complementary-based classification increased across age. Further, there was significant relationship between questioning strategy and classification preference. Individuals who asked constraint-seeking questions tended to use similarity-based classifications and those who asked hypothesis-testing questions tended to use complementary-based classifications.

Adult↗