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PubMed1984

[Systems approach to adolescence. Refresher course of the Swiss Psychiatric Society, Zurich, May 1983].

The author summarizes contributions of General Systems Theory to the understanding of adolescence. GST, a metatheory that does not replace intermediary theories which are directly comparable to experience, has firstly attempted to describe hierarchical organizations. More recently, new models have focused on processes. One of these models, the evolutive paradigm, has specified essential conditions of interaction between environment and evolutive systems, called constancy and adjustment. It is applied here to data of a crisis within a non-clinical family with adolescents.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

Taking a computational approach to aging: the SPAN theory of working memory.

The decline of working memory capacity associated with normal adult aging is well-known. What is less well established is the cause of this decline. One prominent proposal is that working memory decline is caused by a reduction in basic information-processing speed, but this account has lacked a demonstration that general slowing is computationally sufficient to produce a decrease in working memory capacity. This article presents a production system theory of working memory (SPAN) based on established mechanisms: slowing, decay, and displacement. Models of 2 tasks--digit symbol and computation span--which have been prominent in research on slowing, are presented in detail. These models demonstrate that slowing is sufficient to produce differences in these tasks, and they provide a quantitative match to observed young-old differences as well. This advance for slowing theory also demonstrates the viability of computational tools in aging research.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Clergy burnout: an integrative approach.

Understanding how clergy, who begin their careers with high idealism, optimism, and compassion, burn out is difficult. One body of research suggests that clergy, among others, burn out because of the systems in which they work. From this perspective, burnout is the result of external systemic factors such as bureaucracy, poor administrative support, and difficult work conditions. The other body of research suggests that burnout is the result of intrapersonal factors such as high idealism, Type-A personality, narcissism, and perfectionism. It is our position that these two bodies of research are compatible, and that by integrating the Self psychology of Kohut with the general systems theory of Bowen, it becomes easier to understand burnout. Further, by integrating these two theories, principles for treatment become clearer.

Adult↗

PubMed1982

Expansions: a study in the unity of science.

This article attempts to establish some of the general laws relating to spatial aspects of general systems theory, i.e., how forces, impulses, and ideas (matter, energy, and information) spread, diversify, and compete with one another, and how the earlier history of observed structures can be traced by backtracking. Principles that have long been accepted for nonliving and low-level living systems are recognized in the activities of individual human beings, groups, and supranational systems.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

[The difficult patient--or the difficult relation. Clinical use of the context concept].

The difficult patient is a well-known character in the literature and in doctors' surgeries. We discuss the advantage of broadening the perspective from studying the qualities of the patient to studying the qualities of the therapeutic relationship. We underline the need to analyze not only the content of symptoms but also the meaning of symptoms in a wider relational context. The theoretical concepts are taken from systems-theory and the concept context is central. We stress the need to negotiate a context and common aims for therapy.

Humans↗

PubMed1984

Family health assessment--an integrated approach.

The author discusses the development of a family assessment guide which combines family systems theory and Orem's self-care nursing framework. The rationale for integrating these two approaches is presented, based on the argument that a family conceptual framework or nursing framework alone cannot provide adequate guidelines for family nursing in the community. The family is viewed as a system with structure and function. Orem's self-care requirements are incorporated into the functions of the family. Five major assessment categories are discussed: environmental data; family structure; family function--meeting self-care requisites of family members; family function--adapting to change; and family perception of health situation. Data to be collected within each category is outlined, as well as the rationale for its inclusion in terms of its relevance for nursing of families in community health nursing.

Community Health Nursing↗

PubMed1978

General theory of critical periods and development of obesity.

The general systems theory (GST), the general theory of organization (GTO), and the general theory of critical periods (GTCP) have been applied to some nutritional problems. This theoretical approach seems to be in good agreement with most of the data of the literature and with the personal experience, pointing at the possibility to use a simple general model to interpret the complex problem of obesity.

Critical Period, Psychological↗

PubMed1997

The relationship between research and the nursing process in clinical practice.

The nursing process was originally adopted by the North American nursing profession from the general systems theory (GST) and quickly became a symbol of contemporary nursing as well as a professionalist nurse ideology. In contrast its initial introduction in the United Kingdom (UK) was not a complete success. This could be attributed to the mode of its implementation, which utilized a power-coercive change strategy, that is, comprising of imposition from above without sufficient time for education regarding its scientific and philosophical foundations. Consequently the nursing process was initially regarded as a professional and educational mandate rather than an organizational component of nursing care delivery. It has been maintained that the theoretical basis from which the nursing process was derived, together with the theoretical developments in diagnostic and intervention studies, has established the nursing process as a key element of the nurse's role in research, education and practice. This paper will briefly review the early theoretical developments and fate of the nursing process as a tool for clinical practice and research. It will then examine recent attempts to revitalize and modernize the theory for practice through research into nursing diagnosis.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

PubMed1994

Chaos and physiology: deterministic chaos in excitable cell assemblies.

In this review we examined the emerging science of deterministic chaos (nonlinear systems theory) and its application to selected physiological systems. Although many of the popular images of fractals represent fascination and beauty that by analogy corresponds to nature as we see it, the question remains as to its ultimate meaning for physiological processes. It was our intent to help clarify this somewhat popular, somewhat obscure area of nonlinear dynamics in the context of an ever-changing procedural base. We examined not only the basic concepts of chaos, but also its applications ranging from observations in single cells to the complexity of the EEG. We have not suggested that nonlinear dynamics will answer all of our questions; however, we did attempt to illustrate ways in which this approach may help us to answer new questions and to rearticulate old ones. Chaos is revolutionary in that the overall approach requires us to adopt a different frame of reference which, at times, may move us away from previous concerns and methods of data analysis. In sections I-IV, we summarized the nonlinear dynamics approach and described its application to physiology and neural systems. First, we presented a general overview of the application of nonlinear dynamical techniques to neural systems. We discussed the manner in which even apparently simple deterministic systems can behave in an unpredictable manner. Second, we described the principles of nonlinear dynamical systems including the derived analytical techniques. We now see a variety of procedures for delineating whether frenetic chaotic behavior results from a nonlinear dynamical system with a few degrees of freedom, or whether it is caused by an infinite number of variables, i.e., noise. Third, we approached the applications of nonlinear procedures to the cardiovascular systems and to the neurosciences. In terms of time series, we described initial studies which applied the now "traditional" measures of dimensionality (e.g., based on the algorithm by Grassberger and Procaccia) and information change (e.g., Lyapunov exponents). Examples include our own work and that of Pritchard et al., demonstrating that the dynamics of neural mass activity reflect psychopathological states. Today, however, the trend has expanded to include the use of surrogate data and statistical null hypotheses testing to examine whether a given time series can be considered different from that of white or colored noise (cf. Ref. 262). One of the most important potential applications is that of quantifying changes in nonlinear dynamics to predict future states of the system.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Complementarity and contradiction in cancer research: the role of hierarchies in carcinogenesis.

The essays on carcinogenesis in this volume tend to fall into groups according to the level of complexity at which the theories focus. Many investigators focus on events and processes involving genetic mutations. Others, however, identify events or processes at the chromosomal, cellular, tissue, or organsimal level as being of primary importance. While such different approaches to carcinogenesis may, at first, seem to be contradictory, they may be seen to be complementary in light of the general theory of hierarchical organization. Hierarchy theory, which is a development of general systems theory, describes the manner in which organized processes are formed by subunits that have unique properties of their own but which can acquire new properties through their interactions. Hierarchy theory suggests that carcinogenesis can only be understood as a set of interactions between organizational processes at every level from genetic to organismal.

Cell Transformation, Neoplastic↗

PubMed1990

The M-I-D-D-L-E G-R-O-U-N-D: a model for interinstitutional integration.

This article describes the creation and implementation of a model to integrate nursing education and nursing service. This model for interinstitutional integration of professional nursing presents five areas for collaboration between service and education. Mythology, creativity, innovative planning, and systems theory are used to bring together two systems to form a new whole called M-I-D-D-L-E G-R-O-U-N-D.

Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The role of the community-oriented primary care physician.

The role of community-oriented primary care is the subject of considerable debate and controversy, leading to confusion for both its practitioners and educators. This paper attempts to clarify this role by applying systems theory to the concept of community-oriented primary care as first-contact medical care for the patient, in the context of the community. Relationships between the primary care physician and the following entities are defined: the patient; the physician's and patient's community, culture, and society; the physician's office; the medical care system; and the physician's and patient's families. The educational implications of the resultant role are discussed.

Community Health Services↗

PubMed1986

Information integration for the imaging specialist.

Medical imaging is an information business of rapidly increasing complexity. Imaging practice and imaging information support systems are inseparable. How both operate and how they ought to operate can be considered productively in terms of system theory. This concluding article on some practical system principles, therefore, presents one way of thinking about the rest of the volume.

Computers↗

PubMed1978

Systems analysis of an aeromedical evacuation mission.

The author applies general systems theory to the analysis of a social system. Through an examination of information processing in an aeromedical evacuation mission, more meaningful levels of coordination evolve. Thus system analysis, as applied here, is an approach used to not only describe an organization but, more importantly, to clearly discern the interrelationships inherent in an activity of major significance such that change or improvement, if needed, may the more readily result.

Aerospace Medicine↗

PubMed1987

Use of research based knowledge in clinical practice.

The authors describe three research utilization projects that used a knowledge-driven approach to nursing practice. The activities involved in developing and implementing these research utilization projects included: (1) preparing nurses to read, critique, and use research; (2) identifying and reviewing research studies in a common area to develop a research base; (3) transforming the research based knowledge into a protocol to be used in the clinical area by nurses caring for patients; and (4) evaluating the protocol to see whether it is being implemented as expected and whether it is producing the predicted results. This practical utilization is discussed and illustrated in a systems theory model.

Body Temperature↗

PubMed1995

Addictive behaviors: relationship factors and their perceived influence on change.

An empirical study of a British clinical population is reported, in which the influence of relationships on confidence in maintaining change across a number of addictive behaviors was investigated. The hypothesis was that the perceived quality of relationships would be correlated with a client's confidence in sustaining abstinence or change. It was also thought that qualitative data would help clarify some of the underlying processes mediating such a link if it were established. The results largely supported the predictions, although relationship difficulties were significantly more common in gamblers and alcoholics compared with smokers and overeaters. The discussion develops the view that the notion of emotional disclosure and system theory's emphasis on circular causality are particularly useful concepts in making sense of the data.

Alcoholism↗

PubMed2003

Theory of functional systems and human general pathology.

We analyze the role of the theory of functional systems for human general pathology and the necessity of integration of this theory with the concepts of pathological and ambivalent systems. Multiple (qualitatively heterogeneous) nature of system-forming factors and principle possibility of the formation of physiological, pathological, and ambivalent systems by the same factors are discussed. These theses broaden the application of the theory of functional systems as the fundamental basis for studies of informational mechanisms of vital activity under normal and pathological conditions.

Humans↗

PubMed1999

When the care giver needs care.

Case studies are used to illustrate family dysfunction that can occur when the wife and/or mother who has assumed the role of primary care giver is diagnosed and treated for cancer. These women were treated by the liaison psychiatrist and social workers at a large cancer center. The cases are discussed from a framework of family systems theory. Treatment implications for social workers in health care are also presented.

Adult↗