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Biomedical subjects

J Richman

Publications and source records attributed to J Richman.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Coping and depression. The relative contribution of internal and external resources during a life cycle transition.

This study addresses two questions relevant to psychiatric epidemiological models of the stress-distress relationship: Are personality and social support resources independent phenomena or highly correlated? and What are the relative contributions of these two types of resources in protecting against the development of depressive symptomatology? A cohort of beginning medical students was administered self-report questionnaires measuring social supports, locus of control, interpersonal dependency, and depressive symptomatology. On the basis of correlation and regression analysis, the data show that the personality characteristics more strongly predict depressive symptomatology than do social supports, and that social supports are unrelated to locus of control but directly correlated with interpersonal dependency. The authors discuss these findings in the context of a life cycle transition.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1984

The effect of molybdate on the intracellular distribution of estrogen receptor in mammary tumors.

The addition of sodium molybdate (20 mM) to human breast tumor homogenates results in an increased yield of estrogen receptor sites in the cytosol, but reduces the number of sites detectable in salt extracts of purified nuclei. Only about 25% of the increase in cytosol receptor can be accounted for by the loss of nuclear sites. Addition of molybdate to isolated nuclear salt extracts has no inhibitory effect on the estrogen receptor assay, but addition of the oxyanion to the cytosol after separation of the initial nuclear pellet still gives a significant increase in estradiol binding capacity. Furthermore, addition of molybdate to the suspension from the first nuclear pellet still results in loss of binding sites in the nuclear salt extract. This rules out the possibility that the negative effect of molybdate on nuclear receptor recovery is by its inhibition of cytosol receptor activation and translocation during tissue preparation. The number of nuclei isolated from estrogen receptor-containing tumors does not differ significantly in the presence or absence of molybdate. Estrogen receptor-negative tumors however yield fewer nuclei, particularly when they are processed in the presence of molybdate. We conclude that when homogenization of tumors is carried out in the presence of molybdate, a significant fraction of estrogen receptor which would normally be present in purified nuclei is lost, perhaps by leakage through the nuclear membrane.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1984

Sex differences in social adjustment. Effects of sex role socialization and role stress.

This study focuses on the social role functioning component of psychiatric disorders. It assesses sex differences in social adjustment in regard to: work, marriage, parenthood, relations with friends and extended family, and the nuclear family as a whole. Hypotheses predicting sex differences in social adjustment are derived from socialization and role stress frameworks and tested with data from a New Haven community epidemiologic study, utilizing the Social Adjustment Scale-Self Report (SAS-SR). The data show that, consistent with socialization-derived predictions, women manifest greater feelings of inadequacy than men in instrumental work role performance, while men manifest greater emotional inhibition and interpersonal friction. Morever, consistent with role stress frameworks, women express greater conflict and resentment than men in regard to family relationships, but not in regard to friendship relationships. In addition, women's subjective disinterest and impaired functioning in their work role is greater for housewives than for employed women. The implications of these findings for social supports research are discussed.

Aggression↗
PubMed1984

The use of methylmethacrylate cement as an instantaneous fusion mass in posterior cervical fusions: a canine in vivo experimental model.

The authors previously predicted the failure of posterior cervical fusions utilizing methylmethacrylate cement as an instantaneous "fusion" mass, based on research using an in vitro canine experimental model. This report describes the results of in vivo canine studies on the same subject. Three groups of dogs had application of a posterior C4-C5 20-gauge cerclage wire and autologous iliac crest bone graft; application of a posterior C4-C5 20-gauge cerclage wire and methylmethacrylate cement; or application of a C4-C5 20-gauge cerclage wire only. This group represented the control group. The dogs were allowed to live for 3 months postoperatively, at which time they were killed and their spine fusions studied radiologically, mechanically, and histologically. Five of the bone fusions united solidly radiologically. Their flexion stability was statistically superior to the others. Histologic studies confirmed solid union of the fusion mass to the underlying bone. Four of the six methylmethacrylate fusions demonstrated cerclage wire fracture and methacrylate-bone separation by the second postoperative month. At the time the dogs were killed, their flexion stability was statistically inferior to the bone fusions and tended to be inferior to the controls as well. Histologically, fibrous tissue was noted to have grown between the methacrylate "fusion" mass and the underlying bone. This work provides a mechanical explanation for the well-known success of the traditional bony fusion. It further supports our original prediction regarding the failure of methylmethacrylate "fusions."

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Suicide and infantile fixations.

Infantile fixations upon primary parental figures and relationships is one of several factors central to the suicidal situation. The association of infantile fixations to suicidal behavior relates not only to their presence or degree but to their traumatic quality and to the occurrence of patterns of relationship with others who are similarly fixated. Other significant features of such infantile fixations are their rigid and repetitive character. Case illustrations highlight both the infantile fixation phenomenon and efforts to change by forming new or different attachments, and the conflict between the two. Lastly, implications for psychotherapy include the needs to reduce the anxiety and self hatred associated with infantile ties; to provide a temporary regression as a first step towards transformation of fixation and mastery; and to accept, rather than to attack, the suicidal patient's infantile attachments and patterns.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

The family therapy of attempted suicide.

Suicidal behavior is a multidetermined act based upon a variety of factors among which family tensions and patterns of interaction predominate. Family therapy, nevertheless, is underutilized for suicidal situations because too few practitioners possess the requisite skills in both suicidology and family treatment. This paper attempts to integrate the two fields, describes some assessment procedures, and presents an account of the method of family therapy utilized by the author with suicidal persons. The basic goals of therapy are to help initiate and to catalyze a healing process that will enable the participants to accept changes in both individual and family existence; to decrease the amount of destructive family interaction; to deal with the inevitable anxiety that accompanies growth and development; to make contact with and among the family members; and to provide hope.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Symbiosis, empathy, suicidal behavior, and the family.

This paper discusses the theoretical concept of symbiosis, as described by Mahler and her co-workers, and its clinical applications in suicidal situations. Symbiosis is defined as both a developmental phase characterized by a lack of differentiation between self and others and a relationship which is contingent upon the family and social network. A disturbed symbiosis is a major component in a suicide attempt. The destructive aspects of symbiosis are traced together with its relationship to empathy and the efforts to both restore and resolve a symbiotic conflict through suicidal behavior. In family therapy a repetition of older symbiotic relationships is frequently observed. These are repeated from one generation to the next in order to keep the old relationship alive. Finally, the practical implications of the concept of symbiosis for assessment and treatment are discussed.

Empathy↗
PubMed1978

Performance of MA-matched nonretarded and retarded children on discrimination learning and transfer-shift tasks.

The effects of the nature of the relevant dimension, response mode, imagery, and age on discrimination learning and shift performance was examined. Three age groups were used, CA 8 years-MA 8 years, CA 5 years-MA 5 years. CA 8 years-MA 5 years. The latter group learned both intradimensional and extradimensional shifts slower than did the former two groups. Subsequent analyses suggested that the reason for the slower learning in the retarded group was their greater frequency of control by dominant dimensions and/or the initial control by novel stimuli. A second finding was related to the particular procedure employed. Children were required to either press a button to indicate which of two stimuli was correct or pick up the correct stimulus. Form-relevant but not color-relevant problems were facilitated by the pick-up procedure. These findings suggest that dimensional dominance may be a consequence of the procedures employed in previous reports where children were or were not permitted to manipulate the stimuli.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1976

Patient dissatisfaction and attempted suicide.

This paper deals with the presence of suicidal behavior in a mental health clinic and psychiatric emergency room, and its relationships to what has been described in the literature as the "dependent-dissatisfied" personality. Procedures included a suicidal potential scale, projective figure drawings, and a brief interview about past and present suicidal behavior. The scale used significantly differentiated between high and low potentially suicidal groups. The high suicidal group showed a significantly greater dissatisfaction with treatment both past and present. The implications for both evaluation and therapy of suicidal patients are discussed.

Attitude↗