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Biomedical subjects

E Clifford

Publications and source records attributed to E Clifford.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Psychologist in a plastic surgery service.

Some of the roles of a psychologist on a plastic surgery service, particularly with patients undergoing cleft palate, craniofacial, and breast reconstruction, are explored. Psychological counseling with parents of infants with birth defects is described. For patients with craniofacial anomalies team management, extensive presurgical evaluations, and a psychological support system during hospitalization are required. Patients undergoing breast reconstruction need to work through preexisting feelings and attitudes about mastectomy as well as their anticipation of results of corrective surgery. For all patients, printed materials are used to augment the counseling. Research is emphasized, in keeping with the role of such a plastic surgery service in a university setting.

Attitude to Health↗

Breast reconstruction following mastectomy: I. Social characteristics of patients seeking the procedure.

Information is presented from a clinical study of 65 women and a psychometric study of 85 women having breast reconstruction following mastectomy for breast cancer. The average woman was in her midforties. Less than a third of the women described themselves as fulltime housewives; most were employed outside the home. Almost all had completed high school and most had received additional education. Most of the women were married when they sought breast reconstruction. The time at which women had had their mastectomies was related to their source of information about breast reconstruction. When more than five years had elapsed between mastectomy and reconstruction, a woman most often had obtained her information from the media. Women with more recent mastectomies, though utilizing the media, obtained their information more frequently from medical sources.

Adult↗

Breast reconstruction following mastectomy: II. Marital characteristics of patients seeking the procedure.

Information is presented from a clinical study of 65 women and a psychometric study of 85 women. All had had mastectomies because of breast cancer and were reconstruction patients at Duke Hospital. Women seeking breast reconstruction did not exhibit characterological problems. Relatively few were in psychiatric treatment, and previous research had established the presence of positive rather than negative self-images. The marriages of women seeking this surgical procedure were positively and the women viewed their marriages as a chief source of support. Considerable satisfaction was expressed about husbands being supportive, although husbands were also viewed as poor listeners and, at times, as unable to communicate effectively. Most women were satisfied with various aspects of their sexual lives. A small percentage of the women reported problematic marriages. Various factors, related to the presence of conflict in the marriage and the ability of the husband to understand his wife, may account for the distress evidenced in these marriages. Such factors, of course, are present in any problematic marriage; it remains to be demonstrated whether these problems were caused or exacerbated by the woman's mastectomy and decision to seek breast reconstruction.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

When my child was born: maternal reactions to the birth of a child.

A 32-item multiple choice test, "When My Child Was Born," was designed to measure maternal perceptions of their reactions at the time of their child's birth. A total of 200 mothers were administered the test. The population included 97 mothers of children with cleft lip/palate and 103 mothers of physically normal children. Factor analyses identified three factors: Maternal Positive Affect, Paternal Affect, and Parental Anxiety. On all factors, normal subject had the highest scores, and mothers of children with defects had the lowest scores. The findings suggest that the test measures both current and projected feelings of the mothers about the birth of their child.

Adolescent↗

Psychosocial aspects of craniofacial disfigurement. A "State of the Art" assessment conducted by the Craniofacial Anomalies Program Branch, The National Institute of Dental Research.

The psychosocial sequelae of craniofacial disfigurement may have as great an impact on the patient as the strictly physical aspects of the problem. Very little systematic work has been focused directly on these effects. The following broad recommendations would constitute initial research steps in this field: Development of satisfactory measures of physical attractiveness and their use in studies to explore the role of craniofacial features in over-all physical attractiveness. The establishment of valid metrics for assessing the severity of craniofacial anomalies through the use of both physiologic and behavioral measures, thus constructing a broader definition of what constitutes a craniofacial handicap. Studies of the relationships among physiologic and behavioral variables using recently developed statistical techniques and computer methods to determine the psychosocial consequences of craniofacial disfigurement. Studies of the process through which persons with various types of malocclusion decide to seek and complete treatment. The studies would include the patients' demographic characteristics, self-perceptions, perceptions of them by others, and the complex patient-clinician interactions during the treatment programs.

Body Image↗

Relationship of static respiratory muscle pressure and maximum voluntary ventilation in normal subjects.

40 normal subjects performed spirometry, maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV), and tests of static inspiratory (Pi max) and expiratory (Pe max) respiratory muscle pressure. Forced expiratory volumes in 0.5 (FEV0.5), in 0.75 (FEV0.75), and 1 sec (FEV1) correlated significantly with MVV (r = 0.805, 0.804, 0.779, respectively). When Pi max was considered as a second independent variable, the probability of predicting MVV from timed forced expiratory volumes was enhanced (r = 0.914, 0.900 and 0.872 for FEV0.5, FEV0.75, and FEV1, respectively). Statistical analysis indicated that multiple regression with Pi max was superior to regression with timed forced expiratory volume alone in the prediction of MVV. For any given FEV1, however, Pi max was widely dispersed (range: -60 to -200 cm H2O). MVV values, expressed as percentage difference between largest and smallest value, varied less than did Pi max. Pe max, vital capacity, height and age did not enhance the ability of timed forced expiratory volumes to predict MVV. These data indicate that while respiratory muscle strength is important for sustaining maximal ventilation, the MVV is not a sensitive indicator of respiratory muscle strength.

Adult↗

Cognitive, self-concept, and body image measures of normal, cleft palate, and obese adolescents.

Using discriminant function analyses, this study attempted to establish linear combinations of variables that would identify group membership correctly. Groups of normal (N = 100), cleft palate (N = 51), and obese (N = 22) adolescents responded to measures of cognitive sytle and structure, body image, and self-concept. Linear combinations of congitive measures were not effective in differentiating group membership. Body image measures, in combination, clearly distinguished obese adolescents from the other two groups. A linear combination of self-concept measures differentiated adolescents with clefts from normals, with the former group having a pattern of higher self-esteem and lower perceived acceptability by their parents.

Adolescent↗

Maternal and child locus of control and field-dependence in cleft palate children.

The cleft palate experience includes events which are beyond the control of cleft palate children and their mothers. To investigate whether the experiences relate to other maternal and child variables, 44 cleft palate children, 9--18 years of age, and their mothers were compared to 61 control children and their mothers. Maternal variables included locus of control and perceived reactions to the child's birth. Child variables included locus of control, field dependence, parental perceptions, and teacher ratings. Mothers of children with cleft palates indicated a significantly greater negative impact at their children's births but did not indicate greater externality. Children with clefts were significantly more external in control, were more field-dependent, perceived parental reactions as more negative, and had more negative academic ratings. Mothers who were more external in locus of control had children who were more field-dependent and had more external control.

Adolescent↗

When I was born: perceived parental reactions of adolescents.

A 32-item multiple choice test, When I Was Born, was designed to measure adolescents' perceptions of parental reactions at the time of their births. A total of 372 subjects, ages 11 through 20 years, were administered the test. The population included 140 physically normal subjects, 97 adolescents with acquired physical problems, and 135 subjects with congenital physical anomalies. Factor analyses of test data using 100 normal subjects as the criterion population identified four factors: Parental Emotion, Parental Apprehension, Parental Pride, and Parental Nurturance. On all four factors, normal subjects had the highest scores, and subjects with congenital anomalies had the lowest scores. The findings suggest that the test measures both adolescents' projected feelings about parental reactions at their birth and the current impact of a physical problem on the child.

Adolescent↗