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Biomedical subjects

R Alarcon

Publications and source records attributed to R Alarcon.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Virtual reality exposure therapy for PTSD Vietnam Veterans: a case study.

Virtual reality (VR) integrates real-time computer graphics, body tracking devices, visual displays, and other sensory input devices to immerse a participant in a computer-generated virtual environment that changes in a natural way with head and body motion. VR exposure (VRE) is proposed as an alternative to typical imaginal exposure treatment for Vietnam combat veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This report presents the results of the first Vietnam combat veteran with PTSD to have been treated with VRE. The patient was exposed to two virtual environments, a virtual Huey helicopter flying over a virtual Vietnam and a clearing surrounded by jungle. The patient experienced a 34% decrease on clinician-rated PTSD and a 45% decrease on self-rated PTSD. Treatment gains were maintained at 6-month follow-up.

Humans↗

Presuicide attempt communications between parasuicides and consulted caregivers.

A high percentage of parasuicides visit professional caregivers prior to the attempted suicide. The content or outcome of these consultations is unknown. We interviewed hospitalized attempters and the professional caregivers they identified as having been consulted prior to their attempts. About half of these patients directly disclosed suicidal symptoms or intentions, especially to mental health professionals. These professionals more often inquired about suicidal ideations than did nonpsychiatric physicians. However, few caregivers noted suicidal thinking or probed suicidal symptoms. The data suggest that professional caregivers and especially nonpsychiatric physicians should be more sensitive and responsive to the signs and symptoms of suicidality.

Adolescent↗

Neutron scattering cross sections and partial kerma values for oxygen, nitrogen and calcium at 18 less than En less than 60 MeV.

Recent measurements of differential elastic and inelastic neutron scattering from oxygen, nitrogen and calcium at 18 less than En less than 26 MeV are presented and analysed in terms of the optical model. These data, together with earlier measurements of scattering and total cross sections, are used to construct model potentials that may be used to calculate various quantities of interest in neutron dosimetry in an energy region (20-60 MeV) where very few cross section data are available. The heavy-ion-recoil contribution to kerma is obtained directly from the data at each energy. The value of proton inelastic scattering data for validating potential models at high energy is discussed.

Calcium↗