Biomedical subjects

J H Wright

Publications and source records attributed to J H Wright.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1982

The Family Drawing Depression Scale.

Described the development of a standardized rating scale for scoring Kinetic Family Drawings of depressed patients. The Zung Self Rating Depression Scale (SDS) and a Kinetic Family Drawing (KFD) task were administered to hospitalized depressives who met the DSM-III criteria for Major Depression. Using the Family Drawing Depression Scale (FDDS), family drawings were analyzed in the depressed patients, pre- and posttreatment, and in a group of normal control Ss (N = 71). It is concluded that the FDDS is a useful and reliable measure of depression. Potential clinical and research applications are discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed1982

Treatment of tardive dyskinesia with propranolol.

A double-blind, intensive case design was used to study the effect of propranolol on tardive dyskinesia. No short-term improvement was observed, but two of the four subjects responded to long-term propranolol use. Properties of propranolol other than acute beta blockade are suggested as possible mechanisms of action.

Adult↗

PubMed1981

The inpatient psychiatric unit as a system.

A university-affiliated psychiatric inpatient unit in a private general hospital is an organization which serves many purposes. However, the primary purpose is quite evident: to provide various psychiatric therapies to patients with diverse psychopathologies. This becomes extremely complicated if the unit attempts an eclectic approach. Thus, the unit must consider: (1) psychopathological frameworks such as genetic, sociocultural, psychoanalytic, behavioral, and biochemical etiologies; (2) therapeutic interventions such as individual, group, and family therapy; insight-oriented, supportive, and behavioral psychotherapy; milieu therapy; and psychopharmacological treatment; (3) the various philosophies, attitudes, and skills of the multidisciplinary team of psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, aides, social workers, activities therapists, expressive therapists, and administrative support personnel. General systems theory and general living systems models may further the conceptualization and understanding of the inpatient unit. This, in turn, may improve patient treatment. For the inpatient psychiatric unit, we describe the 19 critical subsystems of general living systems theory, with special emphasis on the decider subsystem.

Hospital Bed Capacity, 300 to 499↗

PubMed1981

Decision making in an interdisciplinary team.

Decision making in an interdisciplinary team occurs at the interface between groups with varied backgrounds, orientations, interests, and goals. Most interdisciplinary teams attempt to identify the complex set of variables influencing their decisions and then utilize this knowledge to maximize efficiency in health care delivery. Models of information and decision analysis developed by general systems theory are suggested as a method for advancing the understanding of where, when, and how decisions are made by the interdisciplinary team. A university-affiliated psychiatric service in a private general hospital is studied. Here the following forces meet, complement, compete, and collide: the community, university, hospital administration, private practitioners, insurance companies, consultation and liaison psychiatrists, university staff psychiatrists and residents, nurses, aides, social workers, activities personnel, patients and their families, the patient group, the ward milieu. Considering these factors, we describe: (1) the flow of information and feedback loops into, within, and out of the psychiatric service; (2) the location of decision nodes; (3) decision-making echelons. The general systems theory concepts utilized in this analysis are proposed as pragmatic tools for improving interdisciplinary team function.

Decision Making↗

PubMed1980

Depression in family practice patients.

Multiple factors have been described as significant contributors to depression in medical patients. This study attempts to assess the relative significance and interrelationship of variables associated with depression. A group of 199 family practice patients were studied. Using a multivariate research design, significant depressive symptoms were found in 41% of the sample. A stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that the five most important factors associated with depression, in order of significance, were socioeconomic status, recent stress, use of birth control pills, serious physical illness, and distant life events. This study supports the thesis that depression is a final common pathway syndrome in which biologic and social forces coalesce into syndrome expression. The primary care practitioner needs to be aware of the multiple risk factors for depression to develop effective detection and intervention strategies.

Depression↗

PubMed1978

Glucose metabolism in unipolar depression.

Glucose utilization, serum insulin, human growth hormone, and free fatty acids were studied in 18 unipolar depressed patients and 14 normal controls, using the intravenous glucose tolerance test. Patients were kept drug-free for at least two weeks before testing, and physical activity and diet were carefully controlled. Previously described abnormalities in the balance between glucose and free fatty acids were not seen, but endogenous depression was associated with lowered glucose utilization rate with insulin resistance. Changes in kinetics of membrane transport in endogenous depression which could account for this finding are discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed1977

[SKF 28,175: preliminary study of a new antidepressant].

This is a preliminary report concerning a new antidepressant, SKF 28,175 which is neither an IMAO nor does it have the usual tricyclic structure, retaining the CF 3 at the number two position on the ring. It was studied in 27 male and female patients. The drug was highly effective, within 4-7 days for the most part, as confirmed by statistical analysis of the Hamilton Rating Scale. There were relatively few side effects. Only one dosage per day, in the evening, was required.

Adult↗

PubMed1976

Augmentation mammaplasty by the transaxillary approach.

Augmentation mammaplasty by the transaxillary approach seems to be a safe and anatomically sound procedure which produces consistent results with a low complication rate. Our experiences with this procedure and our modifications in the technique are described. Two instruments which were designed to facilitate the procedure are reported. An anatomical justification for the transaxillary method is made.

Axilla↗

PubMed1973