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Biomedical subjects

M M Ghoneim

Publications and source records attributed to M M Ghoneim.

117 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Psychological consequences of surgery.

The purpose of the present study was to assess changes in psychological distress and memory complaint following a wide variety of surgeries. In addition, variables reflecting type of surgery, demographic characteristics, history of mental illness, and health factors were evaluated as predictors of postoperative psychological distress and memory complaint. Using the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), it was found that 10.9% of patients had high levels of psychological distress the day before surgery compared to 13.9% of patients three months after surgery. Complaints of memory disturbance also increased significantly. Only the anxiety subscale of the BSI showed a significant decrease at three months postsurgery. Hierarchical multiple regression revealed that younger age, lower social status, being male, having a history of mental illness, higher presurgery BSI, and poorer postsurgery health were significant predictors of postsurgery psychological distress. The results of the study suggest that, although patients become less anxious after surgery, other forms of emotional distress increase, perhaps due to factors such as slower than anticipated recovery. Results also suggest that medical factors may play an indirect rather than a direct role in psychological consequences of surgery.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Plasma levels of diazepam and mood ratings.

Ten subjects received 10 and 20-mg. doses of diazepam intravenously. The plasma levels of the drug and its major metabolite, desmethyl-diazepam were measured and coordinated with answers to a subjective questionnaire. After initial rapid decline of the diazepam level, the level and shape of the remaining part of individual plasma curves showed considerable variance. Increases in diazepam levels were minute (0.04 plus or minus 0.03 mcg./ml.). Desmethyl-diazepam levels continued to build up until the end of sampling. Contrary to some previous reports, no recurrent drowsiness was evident after initial recovery. Correlation between plasma levels of diazepam and some of the subject's moods was significant. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to determine whether plasma levels can be meaningfully related to various cerebral effects of the drug.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Psychedelic effects of a subanesthetic concentration of nitrous oxide.

The subjective effects of nitrous oxide were examined by administering questionnaires to volunteers (16 men and 16 women) breathing 30% nitrous oxide or 100% oxygen. Nitrous oxide produced a variety of subjective effects, including some that are characteristic of psychedelic drugs, such as happy, euphoric mood changes, changes in body awareness and image, alterations of time perception, and experiences of a dreamy, detached reverie state. The subjective effects, including those of a psychedelic nature, were very similar to the subject effects we observed in a previous study of nitrous oxide. However, euphoric mood changes were more pronounced, and adverse effects were less pronounced, in the present study, possibly due to the shorter duration of gas inhalation or the minimal tests of performance involved. Some other differences in subjective effects between the present and previous studies were identified by a discriminant analysis and seemed related to specific differences in experimental conditions. This suggests that the environment can influence which drug effects emerge, or at least their relative prominence. Clinicians should be familiar with the range of subjective effects that patients inhaling nitrous oxide may experience.

Adult↗