Physical Diseases (physical + disease)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Asylum-seeking children with severe loss of activities of daily living: clinical signs and course during rehabilitation

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 12 2009
B Aronsson
Abstract Aim:, To investigate whether severe loss of activities of daily living (ADL) in asylum-seeking children is associated with physical disease or toxic influences and to describe the clinical course during the recovery process. Methods:, A total of 29 asylum-seeking children with severe loss of ADL were regularly assessed by physical examinations, laboratory tests and a structured evaluation of their ADL status during rehabilitation. Results:, A total of 12 children had previously recorded suicide attempts and 21 were recorded to have experienced traumatic events in their country of origin. The mean time from turning point to recovery was 6 months. Of the study participants, 22 needed enteral feeding and 18 gained weight during recovery. All children had a pulse rate and systolic blood pressure within the normal range. No sign of intoxication or physical disease was identified in laboratory tests or clinical examinations, with the exception of one case of epilepsy. Conclusion:, Physical disease, pharmacological sedation or anorexia nervosa was not considered to be a probable cause of the loss of ADL in these children. The high rate of psychosocial risk factors and the stressful event of being in an asylum-seeking process call for further investigation of psychosomatic mechanisms. [source]


Psychosomatic tendency for suicide among the elderly in Mie Prefecture, Japan

PSYCHOGERIATRICS, Issue 2 2007
Ken INOUE
Abstract Background:, The aim of the present study is to show the causative factors of suicide among the elderly (over 65) in Mie Prefecture, Japan, and to discuss the prevention of the suicidal influences in elderly patients. Methods:, We investigated all inquest records during the 14-year period 1989,2002 in cooperation with the First Department of Criminal Investigation of Mie Prefectural Police Headquarters. From all cases classified as suicides, we extracted data on age, sex and background, and we focused on suicide in the elderly group. Results:, During the test period, there were 5048 suicides (3276 male and 1772 female suicides) of which 1513 (691 male and 822 female) were in the elderly group. The rate of suicide in the elderly group was approximately 30% of the total in all age groups. The rate of female suicides in the elderly group was approximately 46.3%. The major causative factors of suicide among the elderly were ,suffering from physical illness', and ,psychiatric disorders'. ,Physical diseases' were not negligible backgrounds in middle and elderly groups. Among physical diseases, the number of malignant neoplasm was clearly less than the other diseases. Notably, ,cardiovascular disease' and ,orthopedic disorders' were most frequent causative factors of suicide other than malignant neoplasm. Conclusion:, It is consequently concluded that improvements in the system of home nursing and health care should be involved in the suicidal prevention of the elderly who ,suffer from physical illness'. The patients who ,suffer from physical illness' should be given physical and mental support. In order to prevent suicide, not only psychiatrists but also general practitioners as well as medical staff and general public should be provided with education regarding depression among ,psychiatric disorders'. [source]


Examination of the analytic quality of behavioral health randomized clinical trials

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 1 2007
Bonnie Spring
Adoption of evidence-based practice (EBP) policy has implications for clinicians and researchers alike. In fields that have already adopted EBP, evidence-based practice guidelines derive from systematic reviews of research evidence. Ultimately, such guidelines serve as tools used by practitioners. Systematic reviews of treatment efficacy and effectiveness reserve their strongest endorsements for treatments that are supported by high-quality randomized clinical trials (RCTs). It is unknown how well RCTs reported in behavioral science journals fare compared to quality standards set forth in fields that pioneered the evidence-based movement. We compared analytic quality features of all behavioral health RCTs (n = 73) published in three leading behavioral journals and two leading medical journals between January 2000 and July 2003. A behavioral health trial was operationalized as one employing a behavioral treatment modality to prevent or treat an acute or chronic physical disease or condition. Findings revealed areas of weakness in analytic aspects of the behavioral health RCTs reported in both sets of journals. Weaknesses were more pronounced in behavioral journals. The authors offer recommendations for improving the analytic quality of behavioral health RCTs to ensure that evidence about behavioral treatments is highly weighted in systematic reviews. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol 63: 53,71, 2007. [source]


Asylum-seeking children with severe loss of activities of daily living: clinical signs and course during rehabilitation

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 12 2009
B Aronsson
Abstract Aim:, To investigate whether severe loss of activities of daily living (ADL) in asylum-seeking children is associated with physical disease or toxic influences and to describe the clinical course during the recovery process. Methods:, A total of 29 asylum-seeking children with severe loss of ADL were regularly assessed by physical examinations, laboratory tests and a structured evaluation of their ADL status during rehabilitation. Results:, A total of 12 children had previously recorded suicide attempts and 21 were recorded to have experienced traumatic events in their country of origin. The mean time from turning point to recovery was 6 months. Of the study participants, 22 needed enteral feeding and 18 gained weight during recovery. All children had a pulse rate and systolic blood pressure within the normal range. No sign of intoxication or physical disease was identified in laboratory tests or clinical examinations, with the exception of one case of epilepsy. Conclusion:, Physical disease, pharmacological sedation or anorexia nervosa was not considered to be a probable cause of the loss of ADL in these children. The high rate of psychosocial risk factors and the stressful event of being in an asylum-seeking process call for further investigation of psychosomatic mechanisms. [source]


Physical illness and schizophrenia: a review of the literature

ACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 5 2007
S. Leucht
Objective:, The lifespan of people with schizophrenia is shortened compared to the general population. We reviewed the literature on comorbid physical diseases in schizophrenia to provide a basis for initiatives to fight this unacceptable situation. Method:, We searched MEDLINE (1966 , May 2006) combining the MeSH term of schizophrenia with the 23 MeSH terms of general physical disease categories to identify relevant epidemiological studies. Results:, A total of 44 202 abstracts were screened. People with schizophrenia have higher prevalences of HIV infection and hepatitis, osteoporosis, altered pain sensitivity, sexual dysfunction, obstetric complications, cardiovascular diseases, overweight, diabetes, dental problems, and polydipsia than the general population. Rheumatoid arthritis and cancer may occur less frequently than in the general population. Eighty-six per cent of the studies came from industrialized countries limiting the generalizability of the findings. Conclusion:, The increased frequency of physical diseases in schizophrenia might be on account of factors related to schizophrenia and its treatment, but undoubtedly also results from the unsatisfactory organization of health services, from the attitudes of medical doctors, and the social stigma ascribed to the schizophrenic patients. [source]


Highlights of Papers in Clinical Investigations Section: Depressive Disorder as a Predictor of Physical Disability in Old Age

JOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 3 2001
S-L Kivela
In this longitudinal study with a 5-year follow-up, 786 subjects were assessed for the impact of depression on physical disability. Depression present at baseline did not predict lowering of functional abilities during the follow-up period. However, new-onset depression that was relapsing or long-term in course was associated with increased risk for lowering functional abilities, even when age, sociodemographic factors, physical diseases, and baseline disabilities were controlled. Depressed older people should be placed on a program to maintain their functional abilities through physical exercise and training in activities of daily living and intermediate activities of daily living. [source]


Psychosomatic tendency for suicide among the elderly in Mie Prefecture, Japan

PSYCHOGERIATRICS, Issue 2 2007
Ken INOUE
Abstract Background:, The aim of the present study is to show the causative factors of suicide among the elderly (over 65) in Mie Prefecture, Japan, and to discuss the prevention of the suicidal influences in elderly patients. Methods:, We investigated all inquest records during the 14-year period 1989,2002 in cooperation with the First Department of Criminal Investigation of Mie Prefectural Police Headquarters. From all cases classified as suicides, we extracted data on age, sex and background, and we focused on suicide in the elderly group. Results:, During the test period, there were 5048 suicides (3276 male and 1772 female suicides) of which 1513 (691 male and 822 female) were in the elderly group. The rate of suicide in the elderly group was approximately 30% of the total in all age groups. The rate of female suicides in the elderly group was approximately 46.3%. The major causative factors of suicide among the elderly were ,suffering from physical illness', and ,psychiatric disorders'. ,Physical diseases' were not negligible backgrounds in middle and elderly groups. Among physical diseases, the number of malignant neoplasm was clearly less than the other diseases. Notably, ,cardiovascular disease' and ,orthopedic disorders' were most frequent causative factors of suicide other than malignant neoplasm. Conclusion:, It is consequently concluded that improvements in the system of home nursing and health care should be involved in the suicidal prevention of the elderly who ,suffer from physical illness'. The patients who ,suffer from physical illness' should be given physical and mental support. In order to prevent suicide, not only psychiatrists but also general practitioners as well as medical staff and general public should be provided with education regarding depression among ,psychiatric disorders'. [source]