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Biomedical subjects

J Mintz

Publications and source records attributed to J Mintz.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Treating geriatric depression: a 26-week interim analysis.

Two concurrent studies of geriatric outpatients who received diagnoses of depression were conducted. In the first, patients were treated with one of two tricyclic antidepressants or with a placebo. In the second, patients were assigned to groups receiving either psychodynamic group therapy or cognitive-behavioral group therapy. Patients in the placebo group showed the least improvement; most patients receiving group psychotherapy showed some improvement, but only 12% had full remissions; by contrast, 45% of patients receiving imipramine or doxepin had full remissions, while 36% of them experienced little or no benefit. An early response to tricyclic antidepressant drugs was a reliable predictor of continued improvement.

Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic↗
PubMed1981

Measuring outcome in psychodynamic psychotherapy: Psychodynamic vs symptomatic assessment.

Malan has argued forcefully that meaningful measurement of outcome in psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapy requires a complex clinical-judgment process by an expert clinician that is based on a psychodynamic hypothesis. Information pertaining only to symptom status before and after treatment was abstracted from each of 18 case summaries published by Malan. Each of these abstracted "cases" was related by a nonprofessional judge for global improvement and by me for symptomatic improvement. Correlations among these simple outcome ratings, "dynamic assessments" of treatment outcome made by the Tavistock group, and several theoretically important variables measuring transference manifestations during treatment were examined. Simple symptomatic improvement was an important component of the complex Tavistock outcome rating. The results raised questions as to the importance of the expert clinician and the psychodynamic hypothesis in the assessment of treatment outcome.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Propoxyphene form maintenance treatment of narcotic addiction.

Two studies compared propoxyphene napsylate (Darvon-N) with methadone hydrochloride as maintenance treatment for narcotic addicts. Most measures indicated that methadone was more effective than propoxyphene as a maintenance drug. Patients receiving propoxyphene reported more withdrawal-related symptoms early in treatment, tended to drop out sooner than patients receiving methadone, and were more likely to abuse heroin. Nevertheless, follow-up interviews at one and six months after treatment indicated no between-group differences in adjustment.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Psychotherapy for opiate addiction: some preliminary results.

In summary, this preliminary analysis suggests two important points. First, that narcotic addicts enrolled in a methadone treatment program are receptive to psychotherapy. Secondly, that psychotherapy may add something to routine counseling services. As seen, the psychotherapy patients, in this very preliminary analysis, are using fewer drugs (including prescription drugs, methadone and illicit drugs) and they report fewer psychiatric symptoms than those receiving drug counseling alone. We do not think that the design of this project rules out the possibility that these results are nonspecific effects (seeing a "doctor," having an opportunity to see two helpers rather than one), however, we also see nothing here to support the idea that narcotic addicts cannot benefit from the services of professionally trained psychotherapists. These early analyses represent only a very small portion of the entire range of data collected. We will be especially interested in identifying reasons for improvement in those patients who respond. Preliminary analysis of segments of tapes by the independent rates shows that the raters correctly identified 80% of the therapy tapes. Comparing these independent taped ratings with outcome measures may be a valuable way to assess possible relationships between amount and kind of therapy and treatment outcome. Finally, patient ratings of therapists including the patient's views of the helping relationship may supply additional important information regarding why improvement occurs.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Predicting the outcome of psychotherapy. findings of the Penn Psychotherapy Project.

Our study of predictability of outcomes of psychotherapy used predictions of two kinds: (1) direct predictions by patients, therapists, and clinical observers; and (2) predictive measures derived from the same sources. Seventy-three nonpsychotic patients were treated in psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapy (mean, 44 sessions). Two thirds of the therapists were residents in psychiatry; one third were more experienced. The two main composite outcome measures, measured at termination, were Raw Gain (residualized) and Rated Benefits, which intercorrelated at .76. Most patients improved and showed a considerable range of benefits. The clinical observers' direct predictions of Rated Benefits were highest (.27, P less than 905). The success of the predictive measures were generally insignificant, and the best of them were in the .2 to .3 range meaning that only 5% to 10% of the outcome variance was predicted. The Prognostic Index Interview variables did the best (eg, emotional freedom composite, .30; a crossvalidation for 30 patients was .39 (P less than .05). Neither the therapist measures nor the early psychotherapy session measures predicted significantly. Reanalysis of the similar Chicago Counseling Center study, in our terms, showed a similar low level of prediction success, eg, adequacy of functioning, marital status match, and length of treatment predicted significantly in both studies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Follow-up of Vietman veterans. I. Relapse to drug use after Vietnam service.

A sample of 202 former army enlisted men who served in Vietnam between 1971 and 1972 were studied 28 months after their return to a large metropolitan area. Subjects were divided into three groups, frequent (n = 98), occasional (n = 55) and nonusers (n = 49) according to their inservice narcotics use. Results indicated that in spite of high rates of inservice narcotics use, only 39% of those addicted in Vietnam, and 11% of those who used narcotics occasionally, continued to use narcotics after returning to the United States. However, other types of substances, such as alcohol and marijuana, were used more heavily in all groups. A series of multiple correlations indicated that preservice variables also played a significant role in determining postservice drug involvement.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1980

Follow-up of Vietnam veterans II. Social adjustment.

Vietnam veterans were divided into three groups according to their inservice narcotics use: frequent users (n = 98), occasional users (n = 55) and nonusers (n = 49). Using a blind interview procedure the three groups were found to differ in the areas of employment/education, family adjustment, physical health, and depression. A composite "Social Adjustment Factor" was derived from these four areas, and a series of multiple correlations were computed in order to assess the effect of Vietnam drug use on the Social Adjustment Factor when preservice variables were held constant. Both the Social Adjustment Factor and two of its components, family adjustment and depression, continued to correlate significantly with the Vietnam drug group after the influence of preservice variables had been accounted for. Correlations between the two components employment/education and physical health and Vietnam drug group were no longer significant. The authors conclude that current social adjustment is determined by the interaction of preservice conditions and the Vietnam experience itself.

Education↗
PubMed1980

The impact of the interview method on reported symptoms of narcotic addicts.

Male veterans applying for outpatient treatment of narcotic addiction were interviewed as to symptoms of withdrawal and overdose using a two-phase procedure. First they were asked how they felt, with no specific symptoms mentioned by the interviewer. Then a list of 28 symptoms was read. Symptoms reports increased dramatically. Every symptom was reported more frequently when patients were specifically asked. Correlations indicated fairly good agreement on severe symptom levels, but poor agreement on mild and moderate symptoms. Standardization of method of inquiry seems essential for valid comparison of studies of addiction.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

The impact of Vietnam service on heroin-addicted veterans.

Age-matched samples of Vietnam veterans and veterans who did not serve in Vietnam were surveyed at the time that they applied for treatment of heroin addiction. Vietnam veterans were more likely to have begun using heroin during their military service, and they were more likely to say that their service experiences had affected their use of drugs, usually citing relief of fear and tensions of war. Veterans who had not been in Vietnam were somewhat more likely to have begun using drugs after service, and generally indicated that their military experiences had not affected their drug use. When they did cite an effect of service, the factors usually indicated were boredom and a lack of meaningful activity. Attitudes toward narcotic use were negative in both groups, but significantly less so among Vietnam veterans. However, these attitudes did not relate to patterns of current or past drug use. Groups did not differ in the extent of or reasons for current illicit drug use, but non-Vietnam veterans reported more alcohol use. The Vietnam war was mentioned by one Vietnam veteran and by no non-Vietnam veterans as a reason for continuing narcotic use. Few other differences were found. Notably, typical treatment course over a 5-year follow-up period was similar in the two study groups.

Adult↗