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Biomedical subjects

S M Valente

Publications and source records attributed to S M Valente.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Electroconvulsive therapy.

Electroconvulsive therapy treatment for severely depressed adults is increasing because it economically and rapidly reduces symptoms in most patients. Improved administration and unilateral electrode placement have decreased complications. However, concern exists about cognitive and other adverse effects of electroconvulsive therapy. Nurses are in a critical position to educate patients about electroconvulsive therapy, to be advocates for patients' rights, and to monitor responses to treatment. Because both depression and electroconvulsive therapy may impair cognitive functioning, nurses should renegotiate patients' consent during electroconvulsive therapy. Nurses who know, research, and evaluate memory and confusion can effectively observe and diminish the side effects of electroconvulsive therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Deliberate self-injury. Management in a psychiatric setting.

Self-injury is a significant clinical problem of psychiatric patients, although the prevalence of self-injury in specific disorders is unclear. Nurses can assess and intervene in the psychological causes and behavioral sequelae self-injury. Each patient's early history, dynamics, and motives for self-injury require evaluation. Behavioral techniques (eg, reinforcement) and psychodynamic techniques, such as exploring feelings and anxiety, can help patients understand their self-destructive tendencies. Patients can learn to anticipate anxiety-provoking situations, plan strategies to manage anxiety, cope with feelings, and reduce self-injury.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Clinical hypnosis with school-age children.

Despite the fact that nurses are in key positions to learn and use hypnosis to bolster a child's symptom management, ability to solve problems, or self-esteem, they lack knowledge about the clinical effectiveness of hypnosis. Substantial clinical literature demonstrates that hypnosis effectively reduces anxiety, enhances coping, and has been used successfully to treat behavior disorders, school phobias, and sleep disorders. Hypnosis can effectively reduce a child's anxiety and symptoms and has few side effects when used competently. With education and supervision, nurses can effectively use hypnosis to improve a child's mastery and self-esteem and to reduce severe levels of anxiety.

Anxiety Disorders↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Adolescent suicide: assessment and intervention.

Understanding how to prevent suicide, the third leading cause of adolescent death, is the focus of this article. To prevent suicide, the nurse assesses risk factors, covert messages, overt suicide clues, and intervenes with the adolescent and family. Suicide risk and hopelessness decrease as suicidal youths learn to clarify problems, rally significant others, expand resources and use safe coping strategies. Interventions include a no-suicide contract, family therapy and school suicide prevention programs. Nurses can identify the youth at risk for suicide and, in many cases, provide the therapy that helps prevent suicide. Vignettes illustrate strategies that effectively reduce suicide risk.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The challenge of ritualistic child abuse.

Survivors of ritual abuse have endured physical and psychosexual trauma typically compounded by mind-altering drugs. Some abused children have never known a trustworthy adult to protect them from harm. Children often cope with the anxiety and terror of abuse through psychological defenses such as denial, self-hypnosis, and dissociation, but more extreme responses such as self-mutilation or multiple personalities may occur. Reports of ritual abuse of children are so shocking and bizarre that professionals initially respond with confusion and disbelief (Cozolino, 1989). Nurses need to assess clues and detect symbols of abuse in drawings or flashbacks, to build trust, and to monitor their attitudes and countertransference. Nurses are in a critical position to detect and begin healing wounds of ritual abuse.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Using hypnosis with children for pain management.

Although nurses are in a strategic position to use hypnosis to manage a child's cancer pain, many lack the knowledge, the skill, or the exposure to the clinical effectiveness of hypnosis. Hypnosis has been a potent analgesic and anesthetic agent for more than 100 years; it reduces a child's cancer pain and the pain associated with painful procedures. Nurses can use hypnosis to help children diminish pain and cope with lumbar punctures (LPs), bone marrow aspirations (BMAs), and nausea or vomiting from chemotherapy. This article's purpose is to discuss myths, contraindications, research, processes, and effectiveness of hypnosis as a strategy for managing the cancer pain of school-age children. Vignettes from the author's clinical practice illustrate concepts and procedures.

Autosuggestion↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cancer and suicide.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Depression↗