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R J Frances

Publications and source records attributed to R J Frances.

31 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Risk-taking behavior, substance abuse disorders, and the acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

The Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) has rapidly emerged as a public health crisis of unusual proportion. Despite the attention given to the association of AIDS and parenteral substance use, the relationship between AIDS and other aspects of substance use disorders such as risk taking, disinhibition and lack of self care has not been emphasized. In vitro and in vivo evidence of immune suppression as a result of substance abuse, coupled with behavioral disinhibition and co-existent psychiatric problems make the relationship between these two public health problems a likely area of concern. Substance abuse, increased risk taking and self destructiveness are co-factors involved in the transmission of AIDS which need to be studied epidemiologically. The authors address the relationship between the addictions and disinhibition, suicidal behavior, and the clinical and therapeutic needs of patients, their families and staff.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1986

Suicide and alcoholism.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1986

The acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and suicidal behavior in alcohol-dependent homosexual men.

Three alcohol-dependent homosexual men with suicidal ideation and behavior consciously attempted to contract the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) as a means of committing suicide. The authors briefly examine the interrelationship among alcoholism and substance abuse, homosexuality, suicidal behavior, and AIDS; implications for the substance abuse treatment setting are noted. Early diagnosis and treatment of depression and substance abuse in homosexual men or parenteral drug abusers may prevent the spread of AIDS and reduce hidden suicidal potential.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1985

The drug addict as chronic patient.

From the above discussion, it is clear that the chronic drug addict is in need of a careful diagnostic work-up, a team approach, a highly sophisticated model of illness, and treatment targeted to his or her special needs. . Given the high prevalence and social costs of addictions, it is obvious that increased support for training and research, prevention, and treatment is needed within psychiatry and medicine.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Outcome study of familial and nonfamilial alcoholism.

Among 2,215 male Navy alcoholic inpatients, a higher number of alcoholic first-degree relatives correlated significantly with poorer treatment outcome, measured by follow-up reports of job performance from their commands over 2 years.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1983

Platelet MAO activity in alcoholic patients and their first-degree relatives.

The authors studied 49 alcoholic in patients in remission, 18 first-degree relatives of 10 of these alcoholics, and 25 normal control subjects. Alcoholic patients had significantly lower platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity than control subjects. There was an inverse relationship between platelet MAO levels in the alcoholic patients and prevalence of reported alcoholism in their first-degree relatives. First-degree relatives of alcoholics had lower platelet MAO activity than control subjects. The data suggest a relationship between low platelet MAO activity and predisposition to familial alcoholism.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Studies of familial and nonfamilial alcoholism. I. Demographic studies.

This study supports the notion that a group of familial alcoholics can be isolated that is significantly different on many parameters from nonfamilial alcoholics and that this may have implications for diagnostic classification, prognosis, and treatment. A group of 7,064 military men admitted to naval residential alcoholic treatment programs were categorized into two groups: (1) those who reported no incidence of any family history of problems related to drinking; and (2) those who reported at least one family member with a possible drinking problem. These two cohort groups were compared in terms of demographic and behavioral variables obtained from a biographical questionnaire. It was found that the group with a family history of alcoholism had more severe symptomatology of alcoholism, more antisocial behavior, worse academic and social performance in school, less stable employment histories, more severe physical symptoms related to alcohol, and a background of larger families with lower socioeconomic status and more psychopathology.

Alcoholism↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The wrath of grapes versus the self-medication hypothesis.

Dr. Khantzian's SMH was initially developed to enhance an etiologic understanding of substance use disorders and to promote appropriate and empathic therapeutic responses through careful listening to the human suffering of addicted patients. In the present review he has combined an intensive look at patients with a full exploration of the modern literature on comorbidity and a discussion of the ways in which this more recent work may support or contradict the SMH. Additional longitudinal research is needed to confirm and delineate the SMH. There is a danger that clinicians could use the SMH in overly reductionistic ways. They must be alert to potential rationalization and retrospective distortion while listening to their patients' accounts of the causes of their substance abuse. In the cart/horse problem, it can be clinically useful to tease apart the temporal sequence of onset of each disorder, the ways in which the two disorders interact, and the ways in which each may amplify the suffering caused by the other. In my view, it is still the wrath of grapes that leads to the greater part of suffering in substance use disorders.

Humans↗