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Biomedical subjects

J L Levenson

Publications and source records attributed to J L Levenson.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Psychopathology and pain in medical in-patients predict resource use during hospitalization but not rehospitalization.

The authors investigated the relationship between psychopathology and resource use in general medical in-patients during hospitalization and rehospitalization. Between 1 July 1987, and 30 April 1989, 1020 in-patients were prospectively screened for depression, anxiety, cognitive dysfunction, and pain. Overall, the screen identified 47% of patients as having high psychopathology or pain, including 25.7% depressed, 21.8% anxious, 17.6% with cognitive dysfunction, and 5.2% with high pain. There were no measured differences in demographics or disease severity between high and low psychopathology groups. High psychopathology patients had longer stays and higher costs during the index hospitalization but there were no differences during subsequent hospitalizations. Length of stay declined overall during the study period, but there were no changes over time in the association between high psychopathology or pain with increased resource use. The measured symptoms of psychopathology and pain we measured are associated with increased short-term utilization of health care resources, but the increase does not extend to subsequent hospitalizations. Outcome studies aiming to reduce psychopathology in medical in-patients should pay particular attention to short term costs.

Anxiety Disorders↗
PubMed1992

Psychosocial interventions in chronic medical illness. An overview of outcome research.

Previous studies have shown that psychopathology is common in the medically ill, affects the course of medical illness, and is associated with increased health care costs. Recent controlled trials have demonstrated that psychosocial interventions in the medically ill can improve both psychosocial and medical outcomes. Although an important aim of current research is to assess the cost effectiveness of such interventions, the meaning and significance of "cost effectiveness," "cost benefit," and "cost offset" are frequently misunderstood. An overview of outcome research will be used to illuminate the promise and the limitations of such studies, with special attention to bias in research design.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1992

A randomized controlled study of psychiatric consultation guided by screening in general medical inpatients.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to test the hypothesis that psychiatric consultation would reduce health care utilization during and after medical hospitalization. METHOD: A randomized, double-controlled clinical trial of psychiatric consultation was conducted on the general medical inpatient services of a university hospital. After meeting inclusion criteria, 1,541 patients were screened for depression, anxiety, confusion, and pain over a period of 21 months. The 741 patients with high levels of psychopathology or pain were subdivided into baseline control subjects (N = 232), contemporaneous control subjects (N = 253), and an experimental consultation group (N = 256). The major outcome measures were length of hospital stay and hospital costs. Secondary outcome measures were posthospital health status, rehospitalization rates, and use of outpatient medical care. RESULTS: This study did not demonstrate an effect of experimental psychiatric consultation on hospital resource use or posthospital medical care utilization after adjustment was made for disease severity. Hospital resource use decreased in the entire sample over the 21-month duration of the study. CONCLUSIONS: The brief, efficient screen for anxiety, depression, confusion, and pain identified a group of patients who also used more hospital resources, but a single experimental psychiatric consultation did not reduce costs. The double-controlled nature of the design proved essential to avoid being misled by background changes in hospital resource use.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Psychopharmacology and neuropsychiatric syndromes in organ transplantation.

The physiological imbalances associated with organ insufficiency and the complexity of organ transplant surgery and postoperative care puts patients at risk for psychiatric disorders. The brain is susceptible to a variety of insults as a result of these complex processes, including those secondary to medications and infections. We review literature relevant to organ transplant patients and also include empirical knowledge based on clinical practice. We first describe the physiologic and psychiatric issues for each major organ that is commonly transplanted, including liver, kidney, heart, bone marrow, and pancreas, as well as multiple organ transplantation. We then discuss the pharmacologic treatment and neuropsychiatric side effects of rejection with various immunosuppressants, including cyclosporine, azathioprine, OKT3, FK506, and corticosteroids. Certain bacterial, fungal, viral, and protozoal infections occur more frequently in the transplant population; their relationship to neuropsychiatric dysfunction is discussed. We then present details of psychopharmacotherapy of delirium, other organic mental disorders, depression, mania, anxiety, and insomnia, with attention to drug interactions and differential diagnosis. Particularly cautious monitoring of medication doses and serum levels is recommended in these patients.

Drug Interactions↗
PubMed1991

Psychological factors affecting end-stage renal disease. A review.

This review summarizes recent systematic research literature regarding psychological factors as they affect chronic renal disease. Special attention is devoted to depression, quality of life, noncompliance, outcome studies, withdrawal from dialysis, and directions for future research.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1991

The role of psychological factors in cancer onset and progression.

Psychological factors have been presumed to play a role in cancer initiation and progression. This article critically reviews the literature on cancer and its potential connections to affective states, coping/defensive styles and personality traits, behaviors, and stressful life events. Much of the existing research is flawed by poor study design and analysis that have limited the reliability and validity of both negative and positive studies. While some psychological factors can be associated with cancer onset and progression, no direct links have been established. Recent studies have documented some medical and psychosocial benefits of psychotherapeutic intervention in patients with cancer.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1991

Sexual dysfunction, social maladjustment, and psychiatric disorders in women seeking treatment in a premenstrual syndrome clinic.

The NIMH Diagnostic Interview Schedule (n = 43), and the Hopkins Symptom Checklist and Weissman Social Adjustment Scale (n = 35) was administered to assess the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and psychosocial maladjustment present in women seeking treatment in a multidisciplinary Premenstrual Syndrome Clinic. We found a 67 percent lifetime prevalence of DIS/DSM-III psychiatric disorders: 50 percent Major Affective Disorder (primarily Depression), 53 percent Anxiety Disorder (primarily Phobias or Generalized Anxiety Disorder), and 40 percent Psychosexual Dysfunction (notably Inhibited Sexual Desire or Excitement). Our group had significantly greater Major Depression, Dysthymia, and any one psychiatric disorder compared with female general population samples. Two-thirds of women with premenstrual symptoms had true Premenstrual Syndrome. In our sample, social maladjustment as well as psychiatric symptomatology was significantly greater than in normals and closer to that in psychiatric out-patient norms, and was independent of cycle phase. Presence or absence of PMS, social maladjustment and sexual dysfunction was each not significantly different in women with or without psychiatric disorder.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Methodology in consultation-liaison research: a classification of biases.

Methodology is receiving overdue attention in psychiatric research. This article focuses on biases encountered in studies in consultation-liaison psychiatry. A classification of biases derived from epidemiology is presented, and the expected impact of each bias is discussed. Methods to minimize bias in the design and implementation of consultation-liaison research are suggested.

Bias↗
PubMed1990

Relation of psychopathology in general medical inpatients to use and cost of services.

The authors investigated the relation between psychopathology in medically ill inpatients and use and cost of medical care services. Of 455 medical inpatients, the Medical Inpatient Screening Test identified 27.9% as very depressed, 27.5% as very anxious, 20.2% as having cognitive dysfunction, and 8.6% as having high pain levels. Overall, the test identified 51% of the patients as having high levels of psychopathology or pain. These subjects had a 40% longer median length of hospital stay and 35% greater mean hospital costs than those with low levels of psychopathology or pain. Patients with greater psychopathology also had higher hospital charges, more procedures during hospitalization, and more discharge diagnoses but did not differ from the other patients in sex, race, age, diagnosis-related group (DRG) major diagnostic category, or DRG weight.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Perceptions of housestaff stress and dysfunction within the academic medical center.

Stress, emotional dysfunction, and work impairment are seen as accelerating phenomena in residency training, and have received increased attention in the medical literature. The authors review relevant literature in this area, and note continued deficiencies in programs for prevention and intervention. The present study focuses on the perceptions of key members of the academic hierarchy regarding housestaff stress and impairment. Chairmen, program directors, and chief residents in all specialties were asked to estimate the prevalence of several impairment syndromes, to describe any existing policies or programs to assist residents, and to express their opinions about developing such intervention strategies. The results are compared by respondent group, by resident postgraduate year, and by groupings of surgical and non-surgical programs. Suggestions for further research in this area are then offered.

Academic Medical Centers↗