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Biomedical subjects

G D Burrows

Publications and source records attributed to G D Burrows.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Psychiatry, compensation and rehabilitation.

In December 1984, the Victorian Government published its proposals for the reform of workers' compensation legislation. Many groups have expressed concern about the proposed changes. The literature contains studies of heterogeneous groups of patients from different countries with very different medical and legal systems. Assessment of the psychological outcome of patients with compensable injuries has not usually included the assessment of confounding variables such as other injuries, inter- and intrapersonal problems, and social circumstances. No firm conclusions can be reached about the relative benefits and disadvantages of lump sum and periodic payments from a psychological perspective.

Australia↗
PubMed1986

Treatment effectiveness of hypnosis and behaviour therapy in smoking cessation: a methodological refinement.

Studies in smoking cessation have generally failed to adequately control for active treatment effects and have assumed that measures of smoking behaviour (i.e., estimated smoking rate, self-monitoring and chemical analysis) are equally reliable measures. Sixty smokers were randomly assigned to one of four different smoking cessation treatment groups: hypnosis, focussed smoking, attention placebo and a waiting list control. Subjects were asked to estimate and monitor their own smoking behaviour. Blood samples were also taken for thiocyanate analysis before treatment. Smoking rates were similarly measured directly, at 3 months and 6 months after treatment. The results indicate that the three measures of smoking behaviour were all highly correlated. No significant differences were found between treatments, directly after treatment or at the 3- and 6-month follow-ups. These results suggest that active treatment effects may not be responsible for behavioural change in a smoking cessation program. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Liaison psychiatry in a spinal injuries unit.

Spinal cord injury may produce both immediate and long term stress and disability. The liaison psychiatrist may have an important role in dealing with the problems of the spinal cord injured patient, his family and the medical team. Problems occurring may cause or be exacerbated by psychological difficulties. Problems occurring during rehabilitation and long term adjustment have not been systematically studied. Many assumptions concerning the psychological responses to injury have been made. Such assumptions have important implications for both the short and long term treatment of patients. This paper examines some of these areas.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1986

Pharmacological treatment of panic disorder.

Panic disorder has recently been recognized as a distinct sub-type of anxiety which may occur with or without phobic avoidance. Controlled prospective trials have demonstrated the efficacy of the tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors in the treatment of this disorder. The use of benzodiazepines and beta-blockers has been more controversial. Some preliminary studies assessing other pharmacological agents are available. Methodological problems limit the conclusions which may be drawn from available data.

Anti-Anxiety Agents↗
PubMed1986

A mother and baby unit in a psychiatric hospital.

Two rooms where women with puerperal psychiatric illness could be admitted together with their babies were provided in a general psychiatric unit. Over a 21-month-period demand for joint admission far exceeded capacity and most referrals could not be accepted. Women with various psychiatric disorders were referred to and managed in the unit. Greatest demand was for young women suffering from psychosis following childbirth.

Breast Feeding↗
PubMed1986

Panic and phobic disorders--are psychological or pharmacological treatments effective?

Panic disorder with or without phobic avoidance has recently been delineated as a distinct nosological entity. Several controlled studies have demonstrated the efficacy of various pharmacological agents in controlling panic attacks. Behaviour therapy, especially desensitisation, is of value in alleviating phobic avoidance but has not yet been shown to be effective in the alleviation of panic attacks. No systematic studies comparing pharmacological and psychological treatments in panic disorder are available.

Behavior Therapy↗
PubMed1986

Plasma melatonin concentrations in depression.

The pineal hormone melatonin was measured in midnight plasma samples from 11 depressed patients and 18 control subjects. Plasma melatonin concentrations were significantly lower in the depressed patients. The implication of these findings for beta-adrenoceptor subsensitivity in depression is discussed.

Depressive Disorder↗
PubMed1986

Psychiatrists and negligence.

There is an increasing concern about potential negligence actions being issued against psychiatrists. This has resulted from a greater interest by the community in the issues of informed consent and involuntary hospitalisation. This paper gives an overview of the present law relating to negligence relevant to the treating psychiatrist. Traditional views in the areas of contract and tort, with some comments on the current changes in that law, are described.

Australia↗
PubMed1985

Progesterone and the premenstrual syndrome: a double blind crossover trial.

A double blind, randomised, crossover trial of oral micronised progesterone (two months) and placebo (two months) was conducted to determine whether progesterone alleviated premenstrual complaints. Twenty three women were interviewed premenstrually before treatment and in each month of treatment. They completed Moos's menstrual distress questionnaire, Beck et al's depression inventory, Spielberger et al's state anxiety inventory, the mood adjective checklist, and a daily symptom record. Analyses of data found an overall beneficial effect of being treated for all variables except restlessness, positive moods, and interest in sex. Maximum improvement occurred in the first month of treatment with progesterone. Nevertheless, an appreciably beneficial effect of progesterone over placebo for mood and some physical symptoms was identifiable after both one and two months of treatment. Further studies are needed to determine the optimum duration of treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

The biological basis of anxiety. An overview.

The DSM-III divides anxiety disorders into two broad categories, Phobic Disorders and Anxiety States. Anxiety states characterised by panic attacks have been separated from generalised anxiety disorders. While this classification may not be generally accepted it is of heuristic value. Delineation of panic disorder as a distinct diagnostic entity has led to renewed efforts to identify a biological cause for the sudden severe somatic and psychological symptoms experienced by these patients. A review of evidence for the involvement of the major neurotransmitter systems is presented. Systematic investigations in DSM-III defined groups of patients are only beginning to be reported. It is difficult as yet to draw any definite conclusions, but some tentative evidence for abnormalities of the noradrenergic system and the GABA-benzodiazepine chloride ionophore receptor complex are emerging. The reliable induction of panic attacks by chemical agents provides the promise of a greater understanding of the possible biological mechanisms involved in this anxiety disorder.

Anxiety Disorders↗
PubMed1985

Antidepressant therapy: benefits and risks in perspective.

The introduction of second generation antidepressants, such as mianserin and nomifensine, was prompted by the desire to produce drugs which were safer, had fewer side-effects and were faster acting than the tricyclics. A brief review of the data on mianserin and nomifensine is presented in relation to these aims. Some advantages for the new drugs can be claimed and the risks of severe adverse effects relating to blood dyscrasias in the case of mianserin, and fever in the case of nomifensine, appear outweighed by the therapeutic gains.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗