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Biomedical subjects

J Bancroft

Publications and source records attributed to J Bancroft.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1980

Androgens and sexual behaviour in women using oral contraceptives.

Twenty women using oral contraceptives and complaining of impaired sexual function were compared with twenty women without sexual problems, matched for age and oral contraceptive. Whilst the sexual behaviour differed in the two groups, the plasma testosterone, androstenedione, oestradiol and SHBG concentrations were very similar. The total androgen levels were low in both groups. Plasma testosterone and oestradiol concentrations were correlated with measures of sexual interest in the no-problem group, but not in the problem group. Administration of exogenous androstenedione to women in the problem group, using a double blind cross-over comparison with a placebo, failed to improve their sexual function except in one case. The majority of women showed a rise in androgen and oestradiol between day 24 of one pill cycle and day 4 of the next. The possible behavioural indications of this pattern are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

The reasons people give for taking overdoses: a further inquiry.

A representative sample of 41 cases of self-poisoning was studied in depth. In each case 'reasons' for taking the overdose, both stated spontaneously and chosen from a presented list, were recorded. The commonest spontaneous reason was the 'wish to die'. Nearly one-third indicated some non-suicidal purpose early in the interview and consistently denied suicidal intent subsequently. Apart from suicidal intent, reasons chosen from the list bore little resemblance to reasons that had been offered earlier in the interview and are therefore of uncertain relevance. Three psychiatric judges attributed reasons for each case based on common-sense criteria. Several reasons were seldom or never chosen by them; four were chosen frequently with good agreement, i.e. communicating hostility, influencing others, relieving a state of mind and suicidal intent. The first two were the most frequently chosen, attributed to 71 per cent and 54 per cent of cases respectively. They were the reasons chosen least frequently by the self-poisoners themselves. Of 23 (56 per cent) subjects indicating suicidal intent, 12 (29 per cent) were judged to be suicidal by psychiatrists. These were not clearly distinguishable on the basis of their original interviews, except that those judged suicidal tended to indicate suicidal intent early in the interviews. The clinical and research implications of these findings are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Combination of hormonal and psychological treatment for female sexual unresponsiveness: a comparative study.

Thirty-two couples with the presenting problem of female sexual unresponsiveness were treated in a controlled study using a balanced factorial design. Treatment involved a combination of drug therapy and counselling. Half the subjects received testosterone and half diazepam, half received weekly and half monthly counselling. They were assessed before treatment, at the end of treatment and at six months follow-up. Those receiving testosterone did significantly better on a number of behavioural and attitudinal measures than the diazepam group. There were no notable differences in outcome between the two counselling regimes. There were no undesirable side-effects with the testosterone. Further work is needed to establish the indications for testosterone therapy for unresponsive women.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

People who deliberately poison or injure themselves: their problems and their contacts with helping agencies.

A representative sample of 130 people was interviewed shortly following self-poisoning or self-injury. The interview method is described. Events in the week prior to the attempt, and the incidence of various kinds of chronic problems are reported. Events involving key relationships were much more common than other kinds. The most important event was a quarrel, particularly in the 48 hours prior to the attempts and more common with female than with male attempters. The possible relevance of quarrels to understanding overdose behaviour is discussed. Nearly a third were receiving non-psychiatric treatment at the time of the 'attempt'. Approximately one quarter were currently receiving psychiatric treatment and a half had received it at some time. A substantial proportion had been admitted to either psychiatric or non-psychiatric hospitals within the past year. The proportions indicating the need for various kinds of help are reported. Most people said they needed 'someone to talk to'. More than half had been in contact with some form of helping agency during the week prior to the attempt. The possible significance of these findings is discussed. An attempt was made to look for 'syndromes' or groupings of problems. The resulting analysis, whilst of interest, did not lead to a satisfactory method for classifying individuals. It was concluded that a more satisfactory typology of 'attempters' is likely if types of relationship problems are investigated in more detail.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

The repetitiveness of self-poisoning and self-injury.

A year's cohort of 690 suicide 'attempters' was followed for two years in order to monitor further attempts leading to referral to the general hospital. Eighteen per cent were involved in one or more repeat episodes, 16 per cent within the first year. More repeats occurred within the first three months than in the rest of the 21 months, and a large majority of repeats occurred within the first year. Study of a smaller cohort of 141 persons gave information about the frequency and timing of previous attempts. Forty-five per cent had made previous recognized attempts and 10 per cent previous unrecognized attempts. Sixty persons reported 166 previous attempts. Of previous attempters 32 per cent made two or more attempts within a three-month period. Three types of repeaters are suggested: (a) the chronic, habitual repeater; (b) the individual who repeats several times within a short period, and (c) the 'one-off' very occasional repeater.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1975

Homosexuality and the medical profession: a behaviourist's view.

That a homosexual -- man or woman -- is neither a sinner nor a sick person is the thesis of this paper by an authority on sexual deviation. Therefore, such a man or woman neither needs penance and pardon nor cure in the medical sense. Nevertheless such individuals sometimes need the help of doctors and must be treated with understanding. The medical profession also has, in the view of the behaviourist school of psychiatrists, of which Dr Bancroft is a member, the duty of influencing social attitudes towards homosexuals. Obviously homosexuals who come into conflict with the law are special cases, and must be treated as such but this is not 'medical' treatment so much as social control even if drugs and other forms of therapy are used.

Attitude↗