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Biomedical subjects

G Mendelson

Publications and source records attributed to G Mendelson.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Epidural injection of depot corticosteroids. Australian Pain Society Limited.

This position statement is for general information and discussion only and is not intended as medical advice. Its purpose is to review the current literature on a controversial subject so as to assist medical practitioners who have an interest in pain management. The epidural injection of depot corticosteroids is one of a number of treatment techniques for chronic pain, and it is the view of the directors of the Australian Pain Society Limited that patients with chronic pain require assessment and treatment within multidisciplinary pain management programs. This statement does not encourage or discourage medical practitioners from using epidural steroid injections as a treatment modality. While this review of the pertinent literature may be of assistance to practitioners, no responsibility can be accepted by the Australian Pain Society Limited, or its directors, for any inaccuracy contained in studies referred to therein. All liability is expressly disclaimed for any loss or damage which may arise from any person acting on any statement or information contained herein.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1991

Legal aspects of the management of chronic pain.

OBJECTIVE: To review the legal provisions which control the prescription of opioid analgesics in Australia, and to summarise the areas in which practitioners who treat patients with chronic pain may expect to become involved with the legal system. DATA SOURCES: The relevant legislation was reviewed, and a selective review was undertaken of literature dealing with the legal aspects of pain and suffering which may form a basis for personal injury claims. Case law which deals with issues of consent to treatment was also examined. DATA SYNTHESIS: Statutory requirements which control the prescription of opioids were summarised. Leading cases on patient consent were discussed to clarify for the practitioner the principles which the Courts use in the assessment of the validity of the consent given by patients for treatment. The assessment of the pain patient involved in litigation was briefly discussed. CONCLUSIONS: The prescription and administration of opioid analgesics must be in accordance with the legislative provisions. Treatment options must be discussed and explained to patients so that valid consent can be obtained. Patients' questions must be answered in full, and documentation in the clinical record is required.

Australia↗
PubMed1991

Laser acupuncture.

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Acupuncture Analgesia↗
PubMed1991

Chronic pain, compensation and clinical knowledge.

The nosological status of the putative clinical entity of compensation neurosis and the relationship of chronic pain complaints to compensation are explored. It is concluded that, using the traditional criteria of diagnostic validity, there is no support for the view that a specific type of psychiatric disorder related to compensation or litigation can be demonstrated. Although it has been generally considered that chronic pain complaints reflect an underlying disease state, recent evidence has shown that in the medico-legal setting the nature of the compensation system and the level of available benefits have a marked influence on both the rate of chronic pain complaints and the duration of pain related work incapacity.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed1991

The rating of psychiatric impairment in forensic practice: a review.

One of the questions often asked of the psychiatric expert witness is to rate the extent of psychiatric impairment as part of the evaluation of a plaintiff in personal injury litigation, or of a claimant for statutory benefits. At present, there is no generally agreed upon or validated scale for the rating of psychiatric impairment, and the guides to the rating of permanent impairment which are available have not been adequately researched. This article reviews the few rating scales which have been published. It is concluded that, because of the increasing need for objective and valid rating of psychiatric impairment for legal and administrative purposes, there is an urgent need for research to determine the reliability and validity of psychiatric impairment rating scales. Nevertheless, the rating scales currently available do provide a structured approach to the rating of psychiatric impairment and offer a degree of objectivity, and therefore they should be utilized more frequently as clinical judgment within the often adversary setting of forensic practice may be influenced by non-clinical factors which may undermine the validity of the assessment.

Australia↗
PubMed1987

Measurement of conscious symptom exaggeration by questionnaire: a clinical study.

This study compared measures of conscious exaggeration of symptoms by 157 patients with chronic pain who were involved in personal injury litigation with 106 patients not seeking compensation who were also attending a multidisciplinary pain clinic. Pain severity was assessed using a visual analogue scale and the adjectival check-list of the McGill Pain Questionnaire. There was no difference between the two groups on scores obtained on the Conscious Exaggeration (CE) scale; it was found that there was a significant correlation between CE scores and trait anxiety, hostility, state anxiety, and pain descriptors in the 'Miscellaneous' category of the McGill Pain Questionnaire. It was concluded that there is no support for the claim that the Conscious Exaggeration scale can detect deception with the object of financial gain among chronic pain patients involved in litigation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Acupuncture.

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Acupuncture Therapy↗
PubMed1985

Acupuncture.

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Acupuncture Therapy↗
PubMed1985

"Compensation neurosis". An invalid diagnosis.

The concept of "compensation neurosis"--sometimes denoted by one of its numerous synonyms--has been invoked for many years in discussing the emotional sequelae of accidental injury when litigants present with symptoms and disability that are disproportionate to the original injury or to any demonstrable continuing physical abnormality. Although such "diagnoses" carry with them certain assumptions about the aetiology and the prognosis of the patient's symptoms, the clinical validity of these terms has not come under scrutiny in the literature dealing with issues of diagnosis and classification. An examination of "compensation neurosis" as an illness entity, using standard criteria of diagnostic validity, does not support the view that such a distinct disease exists. It is concluded that the possibility of financial gain after a compensable injury should be regarded as one of several potential secondary gains from an hysterical conversion reaction, and that multiple factors need to be considered in the medical assessment and treatment of litigants who complain of continuing symptoms after recovery from physical injury.

Accidents↗
PubMed1985

Acupuncture.

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Acupuncture Therapy↗