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PubMed1980

[" To each his own " an intervention project at the CLSC Centre-Ville).].

This article deals with the C. L. S. C. Centre-Ville's experience with old people over the last five years. What characterizes this experience in particular is the isolation of the individual and the deterioration of the social milieu. Interventions were made on three different levels : individual, personal and individual care at home ; collective, organization of group activities; community, interventions aimed at improving the social conditions and health of the population and its milieu. The originality of this step lies in its global and multidisciplinary approach wherein all dimensions of health are interrelated (diagnosis established and treatments prescribed in light of the economic, social and psychological characteristics of the individual).

English Abstract↗
PubMed1993

Social research in health and the American sociopolitical context: the changing fortunes of medical sociology.

The fortunes of medical sociology, like other public policy-relevant disciplines, are shaped by political dynamics and prevailing values and attitudes. In the 1980s the field, which views disease and disability as consequences to a substantial degree of material conditions, social stratification, and inequalities among varying strata, lost ground to economics as societal attention focused on cost containment issues. Sociological concern with social structures clashed with dominant conservative and individualistic perspectives and the increased focus on personal responsibility and market strategies. There was decreasing tolerance in policy circles for the view that health, and the problems affecting disenfranchised groups such as the poor, the homeless, the uninsured and people with disabilities, were more due to our politics and social arrangements than the personal characteristics of those affected. Thus, little attention has been given in public health discourse to how life imperatives and social opportunities and constraints shape behavior. The paper documents the important role of the social sciences in health services research with special attention to examining the social context of the RAND Health Insurance Experiment. Although many of the questions medical sociology address sit on the periphery of policy-makers' concerns, a strong case is made for the revitalization of a critical scholarly role in medical sociology. I conclude, given the short and longterm problems we face in medicine and health, that we would have to invent a vigorous critical medical sociological enterprise if we did not already have one.

Forecasting↗
PubMed1996

Chronic alcoholism in a forensic material. 1. Social parameters in alcoholics.

An investigation was performed on material from deceased from the Copenhagen County, examined at the Institute of Forensic Medicine during the period 1985-1989. The basis and the reliability of the diagnosis of chronic alcoholism in a forensic post-mortem material is discussed. The frequency of alcoholics in the autopsy material varied between 25 per cent and 30 per cent annually. The frequency of women was significantly lower than that of men. The alcoholics were generally younger than controls, they were more often divorced, but cohabited with the same frequency as controls. Both the alcoholics and the controls belonged mainly to the lowest social classes. Alcoholics lived in flats and died in the living room more often than controls. Special attention is given to persons dying in bathtubs and on staircases. The interval between 'last seen alive' and 'found dead' was significantly longer in alcoholics, signifying loss of social network. Both alcoholics and controls generally lived under poor social conditions, more pronounced in the former.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Initiation into drug abuse: the pathway from being offered drugs to trying cannabis and progression to intravenous drug abuse.

The aim of the study was to analyse the initiation process into illicit drug use focusing on three endpoints which can be seen as stages in the drug career: being offered drugs, using cannabis and using intravenous drugs. Questionnaire data were available on 23,482 men, aged 18-20 years, conscripted for military service in 1969-70. The association between family background, social conditions, other illicit drug use, emotional control and the three endpoints were analysed. Although many conscripts tried cannabis, a smaller number continued with intravenous drug abuse. These were in general characterised by poor emotional control and a history of social maladjustment, and early onset of use. Our findings give further evidence for social maladjustment as a causative factor for illicit drug use and for the role of cannabis as a stepping stone to heavy drug abuse.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Rat behavior in a light/dark chamber: place preference task].

After a 6-week social isolation (from 22nd to 70th day from birth) male Wistar rats (a sibship, 10 animals), were tested for 20 min in a light/dark box in order to reveal behavioral features of choice of their spatial localization in unknown conditions. Socially deprived rats significantly differed from control animals in longer time of the room choice, higher number of entries of the light section, and higher number of rearings, which was probably explained by their higher anxiety and lack of experience to estimate unexpected stimuli and select a response. The mean level of behavioral activity during exploration of the box defined by the number of elementary operations per minute remained constant and was significantly higher in the socially deprived rats than in the control animals.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

The generation of spatial population distributions from census centroid data.

"Census data are commonly used in geographical analysis and to inform planning purposes, though at the disaggregate level the basis of enumeration poses difficulties. In this paper an approach to surface generation is described that offers the prospect of revealing an underlying population distribution from centroid-based data which is independent of zonal geography. It is suggested that this can serve a wide variety of analytical, cartographic, and policy purposes, including the creation of spatial indicators of economic and social conditions and enhancing the value of census data. The approach is illustrated by reference to an analysis of part of the valleys of South Wales, in the United Kingdom."

Censuses↗
PubMed1999

Mild mental retardation: psychosocial functioning in adulthood.

BACKGROUND: Evidence on the adult adaptation of individuals with mild mental retardation (MMR) is sparse, and knowledge of the factors associated with more and less successful functioning in MMR samples yet more limited. METHOD: Prospective data from the National Child Development Study were used to examine social circumstances and psychosocial functioning in adulthood in individuals with MMR and in a non-retarded comparison group. RESULTS: For many individuals with MMR, living circumstances and social conditions in adulthood were poor and potential stressors high. Self-reports of psychological distress in adulthood were markedly elevated, but relative rates of psychiatric service use fell between childhood and adulthood, as reflected in attributable risks. Childhood family and social disadvantage accounted for some 20-30% of variations between MMR and non-retarded samples on a range of adult outcomes. Early social adversity also played a significant role in contributing to variations in functioning within the MMR sample. CONCLUSIONS: MMR appears to be associated with substantial continuing impairment for many individuals.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1997

Chronic cough and wheeze in children: do they all have asthma?

In the experience of both authors, children referred for investigation of a chronic productive cough often do not fit conventional diagnostic categories. The aim of this study was to answer two questions: 1) do such diagnostic orphans exist? and, 2) if so, can they be classified in a clinically useful manner? Eighty one previously undiagnosed children referred with a history of more than 3 months productive or rattly cough were studied prospectively. Investigations consisted of a detailed history, physical examination, and an extensive set of clinical investigations. Sixty randomly selected asthmatic children served as demographic controls. Children fell into three groups: 23 had newly diagnosed conditions, such as cystic fibrosis, or were indistinguishable from asthma; 24 had a history of major medical interventions (cardiac surgery, chemotherapy, tracheo-oesophageal fistula repair); 34 had a history of significant early respiratory tract infections, usually combined with poor social conditions. The latter group differed significantly from asthmatic controls in a wide range of demographic and clinical comparisons. Native American children were overrepresented. The results of this study suggest that early respiratory insults (whether viral or medical) can induce self-perpetuating inflammation, manifesting as a chronic productive cough and intermittent wheeze. The associations between poverty and infant chest infections or early invasive medical treatment with subsequent chronic respiratory disease are clearly definable and probably justify diagnostic terms distinct from asthma, particularly for use in epidemiological studies.

Asthma↗
PubMed1998

[The social sciences' other health-care discourse].

Since the late 1960s and early 1970s, concern over inadequate social conditions - which is what has truly hampered human development - has been focused on growth together with equity. If human development is a process which should steadily broaden human options, what place does this concept play in the discourse of the social sciences and politics as 'master' - whose major product today is greater poverty, overpopulation, and less options for people? How can this situation be reverted, so that people can enjoy a long, healthy life, receive an education, and have access to the resources that are needed if their life chances are to be greater than their death chances? What role does or should the social sciences play in devising an ethical discourse on health care? To what objectives will we need to return, if we are to refrain from using scientific knowledge to validate the unjust social inequalities espoused in the discourses of power and of the master?

Delivery of Health Care↗
PubMed2000

[Ambulatory anesthesia: which optimal organization for optimal safety?].

The ambulatory anesthesia is now well developed because of the improvement of the intraoperative and the postoperative anesthetic management. The environmental conditions are as well important as surgery and anesthesia management. The ambulatory surgery may be practiced in different type of structures. The conception of an ambulatory center must reflect the medical need and must take care of the economical and social conditions. The aim of this review article is to determine the benefit and the disadvantage of the types of ambulatory surgery organization.

Ambulatory Care↗
PubMed1976

[System analysis of the multi-oscillatory functional order in the circadian and ultradian frequency range and its monitoring value for load effects, exemplified by a varying light-dark regimen in the intensive rearing of sheep].

As part of the experiments to influence the annual rhythmicity of sexual reproduction, various artificial light-dark regimens were tested for their systemic effects. From the polygraphic registration of several functions, such as food ingestion, rumination, movement, cardiac and respiratory rhythm were obtained biorhythmometric system-analytic parameters of the multi-oscillatory functional order. Under well-balanced light-dark conditions (LD 13.5:10.5), a high intra- and interparametric degree of functional coupling of 80% is obtained, while under extreme conditions (LD 22:2) this value amounts to 39%, which is equivalent to a disorganized time structure and disturbed neuro-vegetative multi-oscillatory functional order. The significance of these or analogously contrived studies on environmental problems under human social conditions is pointed out.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

[Menopause: apropos of some psychological and psychiatric aspects].

Menopause, begining of woman's involutional period, may (or must) be systematically treated by estrogens, preventing most of immediate or later menopausel complications and limitating effects of aging. This use of estrogens (which causes many controversies and resistances) has also probably a positive neuropsychic effect. The author reminds classical psychopathological explanations supporting mental troubles of this period which are usually considered as reaction to a crisis, instead properly psychiatric diseases are included in involutional pathology. A short review of psychiatric litterature indicates that psychiatrists refuse any specificity to menopausal psychic troubles. He points out also "the phobia of menopause", the increasing fear of old age in a "youth culture", in spite of progress of woman emancipation, social liberation following biological liberation (birth control, decrease of child mortality, etc). The reports of Jaszmann and Van Keep and Kellerhars are summarized. They show the main role of sociological, economical and familial factors in appearance, intensity and duration of climacteric troubles and progressive degradation with aging of: personnal integration, intellectual and cultural integration, and human relation-ships, and mental sanity. These reports seem to indicate that menopause is only a critical period of the slow process of aging and decadence. But systematic estrogen treatment and improvement of femine social condition should change drasticelly these troubles and this decadence.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

The therapeutic community: a critical reappraisal.

Any new concept or movement can be understood only when considered in light of the sociopolitical context in which it emerges. The authors critically assess the concept of the therapeutic community in such terms. They assert that the therapeutic community should be viewed as a protest movement itself, or as part of a greater protest against the dehumanizing conditions of mental hospitals in the early 20th century. As a protest movement it has achieved significant success. However, the author say, its therapeutic value has yet to be conclusively demonstrated and its practicability is also highly questionable. The authors suggest that the therapeutic community should be reassessed in light of changed social conditions, and a new and more pragmatic approach to organizing psychiatric hospitals be formulated.

Humans↗
PubMed1980

[Possibilities of cognitive and functional behavior analysis and the resulting therapeutic interventions in a mentally retarded pyromaniac].

Apart from general educational and treatment practices there is practically no attempt in providing specific rehabilitation programs for the mentally retarded adult firesetter. After a brief review of cognitive-behavior modification approaches in self-control training, the authors report on a method which has proved to be effective in cognitive and behavior analysis under threatening penalty conditions in a case of mental retardation with a history of repeated firesetting. The treatment goals are derived from the functional behavioral and cognitive analysis of the problem situation, the developmental analysis including attitudes and attributions, the motivational and self-control analysis and the analysis of social conditions. Fire-setting is defined as an operant behavior under discriminative stimulus control. An individual treatment program relevant to the different therapeutic targets is established. The proceedings are described by the authors.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Quantitative changes in reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase-reactive neurons in the brain of Octodon degus after periodic maternal separation and early social isolation.

The influence of preweaning maternal separation and postweaning social isolation on the development of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-diaphorase-reactive neurons in prefrontal cortical areas, in subdivisions of the nucleus accumbens and in the corpus callosum was quantitatively investigated in the precocious rodent Octodon degus. Forty-five-day-old degus from three animal groups were compared: (i) degus that were reared under normal undisturbed social conditions; (ii) degus that were repeatedly separated from their mothers during the first three postnatal weeks and thereafter reared with their family; and (iii) degus that remained undisturbed with the family until weaning (postnatal day 21) and thereafter were reared in social isolation. Preweaning maternal separation led to a significant decrease in NADPH-diaphorase-containing neurons in the corpus callosum in both genders (down to 33%) compared with the social control group. No significant changes were found in the subregions of the medial prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens. Postweaning social isolation led to a reduced density of NADPH-diaphorase-containing neurons in the corpus callosum in both genders (down to 52%) compared with the social control group. Furthermore, in the precentral medial cortex of female pups, a significant reduction in NADPH-diaphorase-reactive neurons (down to 72%) was detectable. All other regions of the medial prefrontal cortex and the nucleus accumbens remained unchanged. The observed deprivation-induced changes may reflect either an excessive reduction in NADPH-diaphorase-positive neurons or a down-regulation of the enzyme in neurons that normally express it.Our results indicate a link between early adverse socio-emotional experience and the maturation of NADPH-reactive neurons. Further studies are required to analyse the functional implications of this experience-induced brain pathology.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Gonadal response to psychosocial stress in male tree shrews (Tupaia belangeri) morphometry of testis, epididymis and prostate.

Male tree shrews (46 animals in all) were kept under distinct social conditions. Two kinds of controls were investigated: isolated animals as well as males out of female/male couples. Comparing these two groups only little isolation effect was observed. With the other individuals, initially isolated, dyads were formed which coexisted for 7 or 50 days. In a third group of dyads, after 50 days of coexistence social circumstances were aggravated for 5 more days by providing only half of the cage. All dyads established clear cut dominance relationship. Animals behaving dominantly developed no signs of gonadal regression rather that of stimulation concerning especially with the epididymis. In contrast, animals behaving as subordinates revealed profound regressive changes although differentiated with respect to any parameter, both morphological and conditional. In testis, chronical subordination (50 days, mainly 50 + 5 days) leads to a loss of organ weight, narrowing of seminiferous tubules and to enlarged spermatogonia nuclei. The case is similar in the epididymis: loss of organ weight, lowered epithelium and an enormously increased frequency of immature germ cells within tail segments. Whereas prostate weight drops continuously, striking histological regression occurs already after 7 days (extreme diminution of epithelial height and of epithelial cell nuclei).

Animals↗
PubMed1998

[Social work with the elderly--current orientation and strategies].

Social work for the elderly in a demographical ageing society is not justified per se, but has to prove its utility under the altering social conditions of the changing age-structure. In the field of practice, this has led to an increasing need for professional orientation and to searching for profiles of performance with greater attraction. As manifold as the target groups are the spectra of social work for the elderly is also manifold in its content and methods. Nevertheless, we are able to recognize some general orientations and strategies, which are conceptual adaptions from social work in general, cultural work and educational work--combined with fundamental supplies of social gerontological knowledge. In this sense, social work, for the elderly--in its most advanced realms--should be integrated into an ageing-policy concept, which is of relevance for the society as a whole.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Marital status, gender roles, stress, and health in the elderly.

A model of the relationship between the social context effects of marital status and gender role differences in health was tested in a sample of noninstitutionalized elderly. The conceptual model assumed that (a) marital status is a social context; (b) social contexts give rise to social interactions; (c) social interactions result in the assumption or modification of gender roles; and (d) gender roles determine the behavior of elderly individuals with regard to health, stress, coping, and social support. A random telephone survey of 6,585 households in six northeastern states resulted in a sample of 900 elderly 65 years of age or older. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to test the main effects, the joint effects, and the combined effects of gender and marital status on the independent variables as they related to health. Findings suggested that of the four marital contexts studied (married men and married women and unmarried men and unmarried women), married women were in the poorest health and most vulnerable to stress. For them, social support in terms of both number of confidantes and access to helping networks was not protective. These findings suggest that social context affects elderly women's health. The potential for expanding theories of women's health to include the social conditions in which they live is discussed.

Age Factors↗