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Biomedical subjects

G Parker

Publications and source records attributed to G Parker.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Panic disorder.

We note the recent paradigm shift to sub-divide anxiety into endogenous and exogenous forms, with the former (panic disorder) being viewed as a genetically-determined metabolic disorder. We examine some of the supportive evidence and note the limitations of an exclusive biological model for panic disorder. Drug and other therapies are considered briefly and attention is drawn to the pluralistic approaches used in specialized treatment centres in Australia.

Anxiety Disorders↗
PubMed1987

An acute inpatient geriatric assessment and treatment unit.

The inpatient geriatric assessment unit (GAU) is an important component of the Geriatric Assessment and Treatment Centre (GATC) at the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria, British Columbia. The Centre attempts to accomplish the following: to provide, at the request of the attending physician, diagnostic, treatment, and management services where it best suits the patient (ie, at home, in the outpatient service, or following admission to the ward); and to provide, if necessary, follow-up service after discharge to help prevent readmission to the acute hospital or any part of the geriatric service.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

Characterization of ethanol-inducible human liver N-nitrosodimethylamine demethylase.

Through the use of monospecific antibodies directed against hepatic cytochrome P-450j, an enzyme induced in rats treated with ethanol or isoniazid, we have purified from human liver the related cytochrome P-450 termed HLj. HLj resembles rat P-450j and P-450 LM3a, the homologous cytochrome in rabbit liver, in its NH2-terminal amino acid sequence, in being in highest concentration in liver microsome samples prepared from two patients intoxicated by ethanol and one patient given isoniazid, and in catalyzing the metabolic activation of the procarcinogen N-nitrosodimethylamine. Furthermore, each of nine human liver RNA samples contained a species of mRNA hybridizable to a cloned HLj cDNA. We conclude that HLj is related by structure, function, and some regulatory characteristics to rat P-450j and rabbit P-450 LM3a, cytochromes critical for metabolism of several clinically relevant cytotoxic and carcinogenic agents.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Coping behaviors as predictors of the course of clinical depression.

We assessed a large sample of nonmelancholic, depressed subjects, using a self-report measure we developed, to determine behavioral coping dimensions and the predictive validity of the measure. A principal-components analysis of measure scores suggested dimensions of distraction, support seeking, self-consolation, recklessness, affect reduction, and help seeking, largely replicating findings in nonclinical groups. Factor scores on each dimension were calculated for the subsample of depressive subjects consulting a psychiatrist. Those baseline scores were examined against subsequent improvement in depression levels at six and 20 weeks. A significant and consistent predictor of a poor outcome was a higher initial score on the self-consolation dimension. A better outcome was weakly associated at six and 20 weeks with higher scores on affect reduction, whereas higher distraction scores were weakly associated with a poorer outcome at 20 weeks. The study thus confirmed the relevance of coping behaviors in a clinically depressed group and demonstrated the predictive strength of the measure.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1986

Possible determinants, correlates and consequences of high levels of anxiety in primiparous mothers.

Groups of highly anxious, moderately anxious and minimally anxious primiparous mothers (N = 147) were obtained on the basis of Spielberger trait anxiety scores in the postpartum period, and subjects were compared. Allocation to those groups appeared to be more likely to reflect constitutional levels of anxiety, rather than recent or current social stressors. Highly anxious mothers were distinguished on a number of presumed correlates of anxiety measured by clinical questions (e.g. terminating of anxious situations), hospital notes (e.g. mood problems noted by nursing staff) and blind rater assessments (e.g. unassertiveness). While highly anxious mothers were more likely to report more recent life events, less social support, and negative interpretations of the pregnancy, the hospital experience and the hospital staff, such variables were less discriminating when neuroticism levels were effectively controlled. This suggests an intrinsic perceptual bias, rather than that the factors were determinants. Highly anxious mothers had more delivery complications, while their babies were more likely to be dysmature and slow to suckle, features we interpret as consequences of the anxiety levels. In the postpartum period these mothers were more depressed, had more concerns about their baby, themselves and their marriage, and were less confident about coping and their parenting capacities. Such variables may be correlates or consequences of anxiety.

Anxiety↗
PubMed1986

Validating an experiential measure of parental style: the use of a twin sample.

A study of monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins was undertaken to assess further the properties of the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), a self-report measure of parental care and overprotection, to examine for associations between PBI and mood (trait anxiety and depression) scores, and to assess the genetic contribution to anxiety and depression scores. Mean correlations on the PBI scales were high and strikingly similar for the MZ and DZ twin pairs, supporting the construct validity of the PBI as a measure of parental characteristics. Higher mood scores were linked with less parental care and greater parental protection, the associations being stronger with anxiety than depression. Finally, methodological limitations in estimating heritability are noted.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Childhood bereavement circumstances associated with adult depression.

Seventy-nine women whose mothers had died during the subjects' childhood and whose fathers had remarried were studied to determine how bereavement might dispose to depression in adulthood. Lower social class appeared the most consistent predictor. The sudden death of the mother, the older age of the child, the perception of family support as being deficient in the immediate post-bereavement phase, a longer delay between the mother's death and the stepmother's assuming a maternal role, and the judgement of any replacement mother-figure as being inadequate were associated with adult depression. An important negative finding was that depression in the bereavement phase was neither predictive of a subsequent episode of depression nor of higher levels of state and trait depression in adulthood.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Predicting schizophrenic relapse: a comparison of two measures.

A parental environment placing schizophrenic patients at high risk to relapse has been defined by two measures. One assessing expressed emotion (EE) is 'objective', but takes a considerable time to administer and requires a highly trained rater. The other involves use of a self-report measure (the Parental Bonding Instrument or PBI) which is acceptable in clinical groups and requires only a brief period for completion. The degree to which the two measures predict the course of schizophrenia in patients discharged to their families is examined in representative studies. Each measure is assessed in terms of its sensitivity, specificity, odds ratio and overall diagnostic power, after calibrating modified PBI cut-off scores against rehospitalisation data. The PBI is a potentially useful clinical aid to predicting relapse in schizophrenic patients who return to the home environment.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Research by regional psychiatrists, 1978-84.

An audit was undertaken of research by psychiatrists in Australia and New Zealand published in an accepted scientific journal during the seven-year period, 1978-84. The key analyses were limited to first authors only and identified 89 responsible for 372 scientific publications. Despite an increase in psychiatrists in the region there was no evidence of any increased research output during the seven years. While the distribution of researchers across the region was consistent with the overall distribution of psychiatrists, relatively strong and consistent differences in measures of quality and quantity of research output were demonstrated between geographical areas. The audit examined published research by topic, by publishing journal, and by the affiliation of the researcher. Several measures of research quality and productivity were internally and externally validated. Profiles are given of the average researcher and of those distinguished in terms of high productivity and high citation rates.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

On blinding the Journal assessor.

Thirty-two submissions to the Journal were rated by paired 'blind' and 'non-blind' assessors. The former were requested to identify the authors and their affiliation. For only a minority of the submissions could the assessors identify authorship details. Comparison of ratings made by the assessors established that awareness of the author is not associated with a bias in judging and rating Journal submissions.

Australia↗
PubMed1986

Identification of a human liver cytochrome P-450 homologous to the major isosafrole-inducible cytochrome P-450 in the rat.

The rat 3-methylcholanthrene-inducible family of liver cytochromes P-450 contains two proteins (P-450c and P-450d) that are immunochemically related, possess 68% total sequence homology, and are induced by a number of toxic or carcinogenic compounds. To determine whether equivalent isozymes of hepatic cytochrome P-450 are expressed in humans, as they are in several mammalian species, we performed immunoblot analyses on microsomes prepared from 14 human liver specimens and found that each one contained a 52.5-kDa protein (termed HLd) that reacted with antibodies specific for rat P-450d. In addition, one specimen contained a 54-kDa protein (termed HLc) that reacted with antibodies specific for rat P-450c. HLd was purified through the use of immunoaffinity chromatography and was found to be 56% homologous to rat P-450d and 61% homologous to the equivalent isozyme in the rabbit (P-450 LM4) through their first 18 NH2-terminal amino acids. Finally, levels of immunoreactive HLd varied more than 10-fold among these patients but were unrelated to the patients' drug treatments, smoking habits, or amount of immunoreactive HLp, a human liver cytochrome P-450 related to the glucocorticoid-inducible family of rat cytochromes P-450. We conclude that, in man, there is a cytochrome P-450 family composed of two isozymes (HLc and HLd) that are immunochemically and structurally related to the 3-methylcholanthrene-inducible family observed in several other species.

Adult↗