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Biomedical subjects

Roberto Mester

Publications and source records attributed to Roberto Mester.

29 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

A comparison of firearms--related legislation on four continents.

Firearms are produced in great quantities. Their use is universal, widespread and often lethal. The control and supervisory systems of these weapons differ from country to country and are an expression of specific attitudes and cultural trends of each society on the subjects of individual rights, violence and the meaning of firearm possession. This paper presents a comparative study of firearm use legislation of four different countries in four different areas of the world (Sweden, United States, Japan and Israel). Particular attention will be paid to the traditions and cultural characteristics underlying the differences in legislative approach.

Cross-Cultural Comparison↗
PubMed2003

[Compulsory treatment of nondelinquent drug-alcohol abusers in Israel: the present situation and feasible solutions].

The number of persons affected by alcoholism and/or substance abuse is constantly increasing in Israel as well the number of those suffering from severe addictions. The Israel Law for the Treatment of the Mentally Ill, 1991, does not allow the compulsory treatment of nondelinquent alcoholics and/or drug abusers who refuse treatment and who are not in a psychotic condition which includes severe and immediate danger to themselves or others. This paper analyzes and discusses the possibilities of assisting this group of patients within the framework of the present Israel legislation, other than the Law for the Treatment of the Mentally Ill of 1991, as well as focusing on modifications of this law that would be necessary to facilitate the implementation of urgent therapeutic interventions.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed2003

The concept of severe mental disorder and the amended law of reduced punishment for murder.

According to the 1995 amendment 300a of the Israeli Penal Law 1977, punishment for murder may be reduced in cases where "a severe mental disorder" is present. As a consequence, psychiatrists are called upon to define the mental disorder and to assess its impact on the actions of the murderer. This constitutes a major challenge both for the courts and for forensic psychiatrists who are still in the process of learning the ramifications of this medico-legal issue. We suggest that, from the psychiatrist's point of view, the law be used only for people suffering from mental disorders which are very closely associated with psychotic mental illness.

Crime↗
PubMed2003

Suicidal behavior of adolescent girls: profile and meaning.

In the last two decades the incidence of adolescent suicides has been very high (though it has been on the decrease in the U.S.A. over the last four years), giving rise to a multitude of empirical and theoretical studies. The extensive knowledge that has accumulated regarding adolescent suicidal behavior has led to a more differentiated attitude. Many studies try to clarify specific needs, motivations and the conceptualization of death and suicide in various adolescent subgroups (minorities, females, homosexuals), thereby enabling more specific and exact methods of evaluation, prevention and intervention. Adolescent girls' suicidal behavior is different in many aspects from boys' suicidal behavior: Girls mortality rate from suicide is a 3-5 times lower rate than boys, but their attempted suicide rate is four to hundreds time higher. Girls suicide mainly by drugs and their suicide is mainly in reaction to interpersonal difficulties. Their motivation is often a cry for help. The comorbidity of suicide and depression is much higher for adolescent girls than boys. These differences generate a different understanding and separate treatment strategies. Two theoretical approaches that may explain the profile which characterizes suicidal girls will be presented. One has a psychological developmental context, and the other a social cultural context. Implications for specific prevention measures include legal action on pack sizes of analgesics, compulsory registration of attempted suicide and more gender specific treatment and prevention programs.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

[Legal aspects of the psychiatric treatment of minors].

This article deals with the involvement of the law in the psychiatric treatment of minors through the directives it gives with regards to examination, diagnosis, treatment and hospitalization of minors. In recent years changes have been made in the law dealing with these issues. These were set out in the 1995 amendments to two laws: "The Law of the Treatment and Supervision of Minors" and "the Law of the Treatment of the Mentally Ill". The amendments include changes in the procedural processes as well as the introduction of concepts which did not exist in the previous laws. Since these amendments have begun to be put into practice, the therapeutic system has discovered that problems have arisen in two areas--the conceptual and the practical--of the instructions of the new laws. These problems arise out of the difficulty in understanding what the laws actually say, difficulties in executing the laws, and a special clumsiness which causes it to miss its objective through the insistence on systems of control the likes of which are not found in any other branch of medicine. This article will discuss the above-mentioned amendments to the law with two aims in mind: to present an overview and clarification of a complex and complicated law with which a large part of the public is not competently apprised; and to present the limitations of this law and our comments about it.

Child↗
PubMed2001

Plasma serotonin response to carbohydrate-rich food in chronic schizophrenic patients: clozapine versus classic antipsychotic agents.

Researchers have reported a stimulatory effect of carbohydrate-rich intake on platelet-poor plasma (PPP) serotonin (5-HT) levels in healthy human subjects. Dietary manipulation may serve as a safer and less invasive means than pharmacologic challenge to provoke serotonergic responsivity in studies of schizophrenia. In the present study, we used the carbohydrate-rich meal test as an indicator of 5-HT activity in 12 patients with chronic schizophrenia maintained for at least 6 months on clozapine. PPP 5-HT levels were measured at baseline and at 1, 2 and 3 h after administration of the test. Findings were compared with those in schizophrenic patients treated with classic antipsychotic agents for the same duration. The maximal PPP 5-HT response was reached 120 min after meal administration in the clozapine-treated group and 60 min after in the classic antipsychotic-treated group (P<0.05 vs baseline for both). The 5-HT level (as percentage of baseline) at 60 min was significantly lower in the clozapine-treated group (P<0.02), as were individual PPP 5-HT peak values (P<0.05). The individual time to reach the peak response was similar in the two groups. Our results indicate that in patients with chronic schizophrenia 5-HT responsivity to the natural challenge of carbohydrate-rich meals is lower in those treated with clozapine than in those given classic antipsychotic agents. Values in both groups were lower than those in an appropriate historical comparative group of healthy subjects. We suggest that both clozapine and classic antipsychotic agents suppress serotonergic system sensitivity, but to a different degree. Copyright 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Sildenafil citrate for the sexual dysfunction in antidepressant-treated male patients with posttraumatic stress disorder. A preliminary pilot open-label study.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have suggested that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may be associated with pervasive sexual dysfunction. Sildenafil citrate was established as a highly effective and well-tolerated oral agent for the treatment of sexual dysfunction of various etiologies. There are no studies that have examined the efficacy of oral sildenafil in PTSD patients with sexual dysfunction. OBJECTIVE: The current study evaluated the impact of sildenafil added to an ongoing antidepressive treatment in male PTSD patients. METHODS: Ten consecutive male PTSD patients who complained of sexual dysfunction were enrolled in an open-label 4-week fixed-dose study of sildenafil citrate 50 mg/day p.r.n. Patients were evaluated at baseline and after treatment with the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS); sexual function assessments were performed using the International Index of Erectile Function. RESULTS: All patients completed the study and statistically significant improvement was observed in all evaluated domains of sexual functioning: erectile function (53.5%), orgasmic function (40.3%), sexual desire (53%), intercourse satisfaction (82%) and overall satisfaction (57.4%). Oral sildenafil treatment appeared to be well tolerated and no single patient stopped the treatment. Improvements in various CAPS subscales were also obtained; however, there was no significant correlation between improvement in sexual functioning and the changes in CAPS subscale scores. CONCLUSION: Sildenafil seems to be an efficacious, safe and well-tolerated treatment of sexual dysfunction in antidepressant-treated male PTSD patients.

Adult↗