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Biomedical subjects

G Isaacs

Publications and source records attributed to G Isaacs.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1979

Medical sociology in general practice. An evaluation of course content and course strategy.

The increasing role of general practitioners in the medical curriculum has been accompanied by a greater concern for those aspects of the medical course directed toward an understanding of human behaviour. Medical sociology is one of the new disciplines which provides an understanding of this behaviour. As with any other new discipline, two types of question stand out. Firstly, what are medical sociologists trying to teach? Secondly, how do students react to this content? Both these questions are addressed via an evaluation of two medical sociology courses at Queensland University. Students begin a medical sociology course with a somewhat negative stereotype of how relevant the subject is likely to be. Following the two courses, some of their previously held views are modified. The nature of the modification appears to depend upon the balance between practical or theoretical orientations in the course, and their reflection in specific components of the course content.

Australia↗
PubMed1978

Teaching sociology to medical students.

A recent change in many medical curricula has been the introduction of courses in the behavioural sciences. These courses, while introduced with the intention of emphasizing interpersonal and behavioural skills, have not been shown to lead to any of the changes towards which they are directed. Rather, there is evidence that students find these courses 'waffly' and boring. If the sociology component of these courses is to lead to change, then there is the need for a continuing process of evaluation and modification. In this paper we report upon one medical sociology course, its evaluation, subsequent modification and re-evaluation. Our evidence would suggest that sociology courses can lead to changed attitudes and values, but that such changes are contingent upon the overt application of relevant sociological concepts to the health care field.

Australia↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A comparison of normal, bipolar and seasonal affective disorder subjects using the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire.

The Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire is an instrument for retrospective self-rating of change in mood and vegetative functions with the seasons. It has been used in studies to identify and characterise patients with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) in three countries. In this paper, the test-retest reliability of all items and the sensitivity to differences between groups have been investigated. Clear differences were found between the SAD group and a normal group. A group of bipolar affective disorder patients had intermediate scores on reported seasonal changes between the normal and SAD groups. All groups reported significant changes in mood and vegetative functions during the winter in the direction symptomatic for SAD suggesting that SAD patients may suffer an exaggerated form of a normal seasonal variation.

Bipolar Disorder↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Seasonal affective disorder--a British sample. Symptomatology in relation to mode of referral and diagnostic subtype.

Fifty-one patients were recruited into a descriptive study of the putative syndrome of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), diagnosed according to strict criteria. Some differences were found between this sample and those previously reported but there were many more similarities. Comparisons were made between self-referrals and psychiatrists' referrals, between patients who had previously been treated by psychiatrists and those who had never been treated, and between those who became depressed on follow-up through the winter of 1985/1986 and those who remained well. The syndrome of SAD was broadly supported.

Adult↗