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Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent research indicates that currently active or recently detoxified substance abusers make more disadvantageous decisions on a simulated gambling task (SGT). This study expands on the current literature by using the SGT to examine decision making in long-term abstinent alcoholics (mean of 6.6 years' abstinence) who do not have antisocial personality disorder or a history of conduct disorder. METHODS A total of 102 subjects (58 controls and 44 abstinent alcoholics) were tested on the SGT, in which subjects choose cards from 4 different decks that vary in terms of the magnitude of the immediate win (large or small) and the magnitude of long-term loss (large or small). The association of SGT performance with alcohol use variables, with the number of externalizing symptoms, and with personality measures of social deviance was examined. RESULTS Compared with controls, long-term abstinent alcohol-dependent subjects had more externalizing symptoms, had personality profiles associated with a proneness to social deviance, and made more disadvantageous decisions on the SGT. The magnitude of disadvantageous decision making was associated with the duration of peak alcohol use but was associated with only one measure (low socialization) of socially deviant personality traits. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that alcoholics can achieve long-term abstinence despite persistent deficits in decision making and abnormal personality profiles. The decision-making deficits either may be the result of long-term alcoholism or may reflect a factor predisposing to alcoholism that persists with abstinence. The possibility is raised that alcoholics who cannot achieve long-term abstinence are even more impaired on their decision making and have more abnormal personality profiles than the abstinent alcoholics studied here.
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Taylor FC, Irons LJ, Finn P, Summerbell CD. Controlled clinical trial of two weight reducing diets in a NHS hospital dietetic outpatient clinic - a pilot study. J Hum Nutr Diet 2003; 16:85-7. [PMID: 12662366 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-277x.2003.00415.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Outpatient dietary weight reduction for obesity is unsatisfactory. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of an energy prescription diet with usual care (a healthy eating diet) in adult overweight patients referred to a NHS hospital dietetic outpatient clinic, in terms of weight change over 12 weeks. METHODS Controlled clinical trial (systematic allocation). RESULTS Of the 53 patients who attended their first appointment, 27 completed the trial. Mean weight loss (kg) after 12 weeks was 4.2 (sd 3.8) on the energy prescription diet (n = 16) and 6.0 (sd 2.8) on the healthy eating diet (n = 11). CONCLUSIONS Patients on a weight reducing diet based on energy prescription or healthy eating lost, on average, clinically significant amounts of body weight by 12 weeks. Mean weight loss was greater by about 50% in the healthy eating group and supports the development of a larger trial to estimate true effect [corrected].
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Sutton AGC, Finn P, Campbell PG, Price DJA, Hall JA, Stewart MJ, Davies A, Linker NJ, De Belder MA. Early and late reactions following the use of iopamidol 340, iomeprol 350 and iodixanol 320 in cardiac catheterization. THE JOURNAL OF INVASIVE CARDIOLOGY 2003; 15:133-8. [PMID: 12612387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
GOAL To investigate the incidence of early (< 24 hours) and late (> 24 hours to 7 days) reactions to 3 contrast agents commonly used in cardiac catheterization. METHODS AND RESULTS A total of 2,108 patients undergoing cardiac catheterization in a Regional Cardiothoracic Unit were randomly assigned to receive 1 of 3 commonly used contrast agents in a prospective, double-blind study. The contrast agents were iopamidol 340 (Niopam ), a nonionic monomer; iomeprol 350 (Iomeron ), a nonionic dimer; and iodixanol 320 (Visipaque ), a nonionic dimer. The main outcome measures were the incidence of early (< 24 hours) reactions following catheterization and the incidence of late (24 hours to 7 days) reactions. Early reactions, excluding patients with heat on left ventriculography as the sole symptom, were relatively common (7.4%), but there was no significant difference between the 3 agents (p = 0.35). Late skin reactions, excluding reactions solely at the site of the arterial puncture and continuations of early urticarial reactions, were also relatively common (5.4%), but the incidence differed between the 3 agents. Such reactions occurred in 2.7% of those receiving iopamidol 340 (Niopam ), 3.5% of those receiving iomeprol 350 (Iomeron ) and 10.4% of those receiving iodixanol 320 (Visipaque ) (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION The incidence of early adverse reactions is similar with these 3 contrast agents. However, late skin reactions are significantly more common with iodixanol 320 (Visipaque ) than with the other 2 agents. Although such reactions were rarely troublesome, patients should be advised accordingly.
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Murphy M, Reaich D, Pai P, Finn P, Carmichael AJ. A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of ondansetron in renal itch. Br J Dermatol 2003; 148:314-7. [PMID: 12588385 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2133.2003.05172.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Renal itch is a relatively common and distressing problem for patients with chronic renal failure. Ondansetron, a serotonin type 3 receptor antagonist was developed for relief of chemotherapy induced nausea. Recently, anecdotal reports describe relief of renal itch with ondansetron. OBJECTIVES We performed a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial to objectively assess the effectiveness of ondansetron in renal itch. PATIENTS AND METHODS With approval from the local ethical committee, 24 patients on haemodialysis were enrolled in the trial. On a random basis 14 patients were blindly allocated to the ondansetron-placebo sequence and 10 to the placebo-ondansetron sequence. Baseline values for itch were obtained for 7 days before the treatment period and there was a 7-day washout between the treatment periods. During the treatment patients received either 8 mg of ondansetron three times a day or a placebo tablet three times a day for 2 weeks. Patients were asked to record the severity of their pruritus on a visual analogue scale (VAS) twice a day. At the end of the study patients were asked blindly which treatment they had preferred. RESULTS Seventeen patients completed the trial. Pruritus decreased by 16% (95% CI: 0.5-32%) during active treatment and by 25% (95% CI: 9-41%) during treatment with placebo. The change in VAS scores during treatment with ondansetron (P = 0.04) and placebo (P = 0.01) were both significant. Eleven patients expressed a preference, seven for placebo and four for ondansetron. CONCLUSIONS Our results show that ondansetron is no better than placebo in controlling renal itch.
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Dancer SJ, McNAIR D, Finn P, Kolsto AB. Bacillus cereus cellulitis from contaminated heroin. J Med Microbiol 2002; 51:278-281. [PMID: 11871624 DOI: 10.1099/0022-1317-51-3-278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Concern exists over recent unexplained deaths among intravenous drug users. This report describes a patient with crepitant cellulitis who was admitted complaining of severe pain in the right forearm. Ultrasonography demonstrated gas in the tissues and he was referred for early surgical debridement of the arm. He was treated with intravenous benzyl penicillin, gentamicin and metronidazole and made a full recovery. Aspirate samples grew Bacillus cereus, morphologically similar to the isolate obtained from a sample of the patient's own heroin. Antibiogram and API 50CHB profiles were also similar. Further typing included 'H' flagellar serotyping, which found both blood and heroin strains to be non-typable, and amplified fragment polymorphism analysis, which showed that the strains were indistinguishable. Genotyping of two selected genes from B. cereus confirmed almost certain identity between the two strains. This case illustrates the potential virulence of B. cereus when inoculated into tissues, and to our knowledge, is the first report to demonstrate a conclusive microbiological link between contaminated heroin and serious sepsis in a drug user due to B. cereus.
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Ingham RJ, Sato W, Finn P, Belknap H. The modification of speech naturalness during rhythmic stimulation treatment of stuttering. JOURNAL OF SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND HEARING RESEARCH : JSLHR 2001; 44:841-852. [PMID: 11521776 DOI: 10.1044/1092-4388(2001/066)] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated the modification of speech naturalness during stuttering treatment. It systematically replicated an earlier study (Ingham & Onslow, 1985) that demonstrated that unnatural-sounding stutter-free speech could be shaped into more natural-sounding stutter-free speech by using regular feedback of speech-naturalness ratings during speaking tasks. In the present study, the some procedure was used with three persons who stutter-2 adolescent girls and 1 adult man-during rhythmic stimulation conditions. The two adolescent participants spoke only English, but Spanish was the first and English the second language (ESL) of the adult participant. For the 2 adolescents, it was demonstrated that their unnatural-sounding rhythmic speech could be shaped to levels found among normally fluent speakers without losing the fluency-inducing benefits of rhythmic speech. The findings indicate that speech-naturalness feedback may be a powerful procedure for overcoming a problematic aspect of rhythmic speech treatments of stuttering. However, it was not possible to deliver reliable speech-naturalness feedback to the adult ESL speaker, who also displayed a strong dialect. The study highlights the need to find strategies to improve interjudge agreement when using speech naturalness ratings with speakers who display a strong dialect.
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Fischer TA, Ludwig S, Flory E, Gambaryan S, Singh K, Finn P, Pfeffer MA, Kelly RA, Pfeffer JM. Activation of Cardiac c-Jun NH
2
-Terminal Kinases and p38-Mitogen–Activated Protein Kinases With Abrupt Changes in Hemodynamic Load. Hypertension 2001; 37:1222-8. [PMID: 11358932 DOI: 10.1161/01.hyp.37.5.1222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
—The role of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways as signal transduction intermediates of hemodynamic stress leading to cardiac hypertrophy in the adult heart is not fully established. In a rat model of pressure-overload hypertrophy, we examined whether activation of MAPK pathways, namely, the extracellular signal–regulated protein kinase (ERK), c-Jun NH
2
-terminal kinase (JNK), and the p38-MAPK pathways, occurs during rapid changes in hemodynamic load in vivo. A slight activation of ERK2 and marked increases in JNK1 and p38-MAPK activities were observed 30 minutes after aortic banding. The increase in p38-MAPK activity was accompanied by an increase in the phosphorylation of the p38 substrate MAPK–activated protein kinases 2 and 3. Activation of these kinases was coincident with an increase in phosphorylation of c-Jun and activating transcription factor-2 (ATF-2) and enhanced DNA binding of activator protein-1 factors. Thus, hemodynamic stress of the adult rat heart in vivo results in rapid activation of several parallel MAPK kinase cascades, particularly stress-activated MAPK and p38-MAPK and their target transcription factors c-Jun and ATF-2.
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Sutton AG, Finn P, Grech ED, Hall JA, Stewart MJ, Davies A, de Belder MA. Early and late reactions after the use of iopamidol 340, ioxaglate 320, and iodixanol 320 in cardiac catheterization. Am Heart J 2001; 141:677-83. [PMID: 11275937 DOI: 10.1067/mhj.2001.113570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although modern contrast agents have tolerability superior to older agents, significant differences remain between the agents currently in use. METHODS To investigate the incidence of early (<24 hours) and late (>24 hours to 7 days) reactions to 3 contrast agents commonly used in cardiac catheterization, we performed a randomized, prospective, double-blind trial in which 2001 patients received one of the following agents: iopamidol 340, a nonionic monomer; ioxaglate 320, an ionic dimer; and iodixanol 320, a nonionic dimer. Possible reactions to contrast were recorded during the hospital admission and after discharge by means of a questionnaire, telephone follow-up, or both. RESULTS Early reactions occurred in 22.2% of those receiving ioxaglate, 7.6% of those receiving iodixanol, and 8.8% of those receiving iopamidol (P <.0001). Late skin reactions occurred in 12.2% of those receiving iodixanol, 4.3% of those receiving ioxaglate, and 4.2% of those receiving iopamidol (P <.0001). CONCLUSIONS The early side effect profile of certain ionic contrast agents suggests that these agents should no longer be used routinely in cardiac catheterization. The use of nonionic agents, however, is associated with late skin reactions, but there are notable differences between the monomeric and dimeric compounds. Although the skin reactions are generally benign, this is not always the case. Patients should be advised accordingly.
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Vogel-Sprott M, Easdon C, Fillmore M, Finn P, Justus A. Alcohol and behavioral control: cognitive and neural mechanisms. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2001; 25:117-21. [PMID: 11198706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
Abstract
This article represents the proceedings of a symposium at the 2000 RSA Meeting in Denver, Colorado. The organizer/chair was Muriel Vogel-Sprott. The presentations were (1) Alcohol-induced impairment of inhibitory control: Some commonalities with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, by Mark Fillmore; (2) Neural interactions that underlie response inhibition under alcohol: A functional magnetic resonance imaging investigation, by Craig Easdon; (3) Intentional control of behavior under alcohol, by Muriel Vogel-Sprott; and (4) Working memory and the disinhibiting effects of alcohol on passive avoidance learning, by Alicia Justius and Peter Finn.
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Finn P. Working solution. Nurs Stand 1999; 14:28. [PMID: 11040703 DOI: 10.7748/ns.14.6.28.s44] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Solomon SD, Greaves SC, Rayan M, Finn P, Pfeffer MA, Pfeffer JM. Temporal dissociation of left ventricular function and remodeling following experimental myocardial infarction in rats. J Card Fail 1999; 5:213-23. [PMID: 10496194 DOI: 10.1016/s1071-9164(99)90006-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Left ventricular function early after myocardial infarction (MI) predicts subsequent clinical outcome. Nevertheless, the relationship between early changes in left ventricular function and subsequent left ventricular remodeling has not been well defined. METHODS AND RESULTS To explore the temporal relationship between left ventricular function and remodeling after MI, rats (n = 63) underwent coronary artery ligation with and without reperfusion at 45 or 180 minutes or a sham operation. All animals were followed up by serial echocardiography preligation; 4, 24, and 48 hours; and 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 9 weeks after MI. Measures of global left ventricular size and function and regional wall motion were obtained at physiological heart rates. Histological infarct sizes (range, 0% to 52%) were determined in all animals. Within 4 hours of MI, fractional area change (FAC) decreased dramatically in association with an increase in left ventricular systolic cavity area, whereas diastolic area increased more gradually. Early FAC was related to infarct size (r = -0.82; P < .000), predicted the extent of left ventricular enlargement (P = .0001), and remained depressed throughout the duration of follow-up. Regional wall motion excursion and systolic wall thickness decreased in the infarcted and noninfarcted regions in animals with large infarctions. CONCLUSIONS The rate of left ventricular dilatation after MI in rats is proportional to initial left ventricular function, although left ventricular function remains relatively constant as the ventricle progressively enlarges. Regional myocardial function after a large MI is abnormal in noninfarcted as well as infarcted regions.
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Witt E, Cunningham C, Dudek B, Finn P, Henderson N, Plomin R, Samson H. Gene-environment interactions in alcohol research: round table discussion of conceptual and methodological issues using animal models. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 1998; 22:1719-23. [PMID: 9835286 DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.1998.tb03971.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Abstract
Levo-Alpha Acetyl Methadol, or LAAM, is a medication therapy for individuals addicted to opiates that provides an alternative to methadone. Because it is administered only three times a week and, therefore, requires fewer clinic trips, patient acceptance can be higher than with methadone. While blocking the effects of other opiates and preventing withdrawal, LAAM does not produce a subjective high. However, because most patients are not familiar with LAAM, they may be initially more anxious and need more counseling and support when receiving the medication than they would with the more familiar methadone medication. On balance, LAAM enables clinic administrators and counselors to offer an alternative medication to methadone that some clients prefer once they become adjusted to it because of LAAM's even, stable effect. Through hypothetical but true-to-life case studies of LAAM use, it is possible to gain a clearer understanding of the advantages and drawbacks of using LAAM.
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Fischer TA, McNeil PL, Khakee R, Finn P, Kelly RA, Pfeffer MA, Pfeffer JM. Cardiac myocyte membrane wounding in the abruptly pressure-overloaded rat heart under high wall stress. Hypertension 1997; 30:1041-6. [PMID: 9369253 DOI: 10.1161/01.hyp.30.5.1041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The potential role of transient sarcolemmal membrane wounding as a signal transduction event for cardiomyocyte hypertrophy was evaluated in rats with short-term pressure overload caused by banding of the proximal aorta. This procedure resulted in significant increases in left ventricular systolic (1.5-fold) and end-diastolic (2.6-fold) pressures and wall stresses that were associated with significant wall thinning and cavitary enlargement. Quantitative image analysis of frozen sections of the stressed ventricles obtained 60 minutes after banding demonstrated a 6- to 10-fold increase in cytosolic staining with a horseradish peroxidase-labeled anti-albumin antibody compared with sham-operated controls, indicating that an increase in transient sarcolemmal membrane permeability (wounding) is an early response to an abrupt increase in hemodynamic load in vivo. We conclude that an intense hemodynamic stress in vivo can result in histologically detectable cardiomyocyte wounding.
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Finn P, Ingham RJ, Ambrose N, Yairi E. Children recovered from stuttering without formal treatment: perceptual assessment of speech normalcy. JOURNAL OF SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND HEARING RESEARCH : JSLHR 1997; 40:867-876. [PMID: 9263950 DOI: 10.1044/jslhr.4004.867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Current evidence suggests that young children who recover from stuttering are essentially stutter-free. However, there is no evidence to indicate if their speech is perceptually indistinguishable from normally fluent peers or whether they retain perceptually unusual speech. One important example of recovery from stuttering is children who have recovered without receiving formal treatment. An investigation was conducted to determine if the speech of these children is perceptually different from the speech of children who have never stuttered. Speakers consisted of 10 preschool and early school-age children documented as recovered from stuttering without benefit of formal treatment. In a series of studies they were compared with 10 children who had never stuttered. Three groups of judges-sophisticated, unsophisticated, and experienced-were separately asked, using videotaped speech samples of the children, to decide which samples were from children who used to stutter. Results revealed that the children who recovered from stuttering were perceptually indistinguishable from the normal controls. The same result was obtained regardless of whether the samples were presented in paired-stimulus or single-stimulus mode. Two of the groups of judges were also instructed to rate the speech naturalness of the speech samples. The speakers were not distinguished on this measure either. Methodological issues and the implications of the findings are discussed.
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Finn P. Adults recovered from stuttering without formal treatment: perceptual assessment of speech normalcy. JOURNAL OF SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND HEARING RESEARCH : JSLHR 1997; 40:821-831. [PMID: 9263946 DOI: 10.1044/jslhr.4004.821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine if the speech of adults who self-judged that they were recovered from stuttering without the assistance of treatment is perceptually different from that of adults who never stuttered. Fifteen adult speakers verified as persons who had recovered from a valid stuttering problem without the assistance of treatment were compared with 15 adult speakers verified as persons with normally fluent speech. Judges viewed videotaped speech samples of all speakers and were instructed to decide whether a speaker used to stutter or never stuttered. A separate group of judges rated the same samples for speech naturalness. Various speech behavior measures were also obtained. Results revealed that the speech of speakers who used to stutter was perceptually different from that of speakers who never stuttered. This difference was correlated with unnatural sounding speech and a high frequency of part-word repetitions.
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Mackey LS, Finn P, Ingham RJ. Effect of speech dialect on speech naturalness ratings: a systematic replication of Martin, Haroldson, and Triden (1984). JOURNAL OF SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND HEARING RESEARCH : JSLHR 1997; 40:349-360. [PMID: 9130203 DOI: 10.1044/jslhr.4002.349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated the effect of speech dialect on listeners' speech naturalness ratings by systematically replicating Martin, Haroldson, and Triden's (1984) study using three groups of speaker samples. Two groups consisted of speakers with General American dialect--one with persons who stutter and the other with persons who do not stutter. The third group also consisted of speakers who do not stutter but who spoke non-General American dialect. The results showed that speech naturalness ratings distinguished among the three speaker groups. The variables that appeared to influence speech naturalness ratings were type of dialect, speech fluency, and speaking rate, though they differed across speaker groups. The findings also suggested that strength of speech dialect may be a scaleable dimension that judges can rate with acceptable levels of reliability. Dialect may also be an important factor that needs to be incorporated or controlled within systems designed to train speech naturalness ratings. It may also be an important factor in determining the extent to which stuttering treatment produces natural sounding speech.
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Finn P. Establishing the validity of recovery from stuttering without formal treatment. JOURNAL OF SPEECH AND HEARING RESEARCH 1996; 39:1171-1181. [PMID: 8959602 DOI: 10.1044/jshr.3906.1171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
There is no empirical basis for determining goals for stuttering treatment. One approach that might resolve this issue is to systematically investigate persons who claim to have recovered from stuttering without the assistance of treatment. However, critical methodological and conceptual issues must be overcome first in order to assure these persons had a valid stuttering problem and that their recovery was independent of treatment. This study examined a validation procedure for solving these issues based on the combination of two methods: independent verification and self-reports. Forty-two subjects participated: 14 adults who recovered from stuttering without assistance, 14 adults with persistent stuttering, and 14 adults who were normally fluent speakers. For the independent verification, a Speech Behavior Checklist was administered to 42 individuals familiar with the recovered subjects' past speech and the other subjects' current speech. Results indicated that persons who knew the recovered subjects when they used to stutter recalled speech behaviors consistent with subjects who still stuttered, but not the same as speech behaviors consistent with subjects who never stuttered. These findings were supported by an objective analysis of the recovered subjects' descriptions of their past stuttering. Furthermore, a content analysis of subjects' self-reports indicated that recovery was independent of treatment.
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Finn P. Substance-free residence halls: the promise and the practice. JOURNAL OF AMERICAN COLLEGE HEALTH : J OF ACH 1996; 45:51-58. [PMID: 8908878 DOI: 10.1080/07448481.1996.9936862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Binge drinking is a serious problem on many college campuses. A number of schools have established substance-free residence halls as one strategy for coping with the problem. The schools have configured these halls very differently. Administrators agree that following certain guidelines can help ensure that substance-free housing succeeds. These guidelines include starting small, involving students in their design and development, keeping the areas separate, considering carefully whether to offer special programming, and enforcing the rules. Administrators have identified effective responses to the various concerns and objections to establishing substance-free residence halls that have sometimes been heard.
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Ragsdale KG, Cox RD, Finn P, Eisler RM. Effectiveness of short-term specialized inpatient treatment for war-related posttraumatic stress disorder: a role for adventure-based counseling and psychodrama. J Trauma Stress 1996; 9:269-83. [PMID: 8731547 DOI: 10.1007/bf02110660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Psychological tests were administered to 24 participants of an inpatient posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment program both immediately before and following completion of treatment. Responses were compared to a treatment/wait list comparison group composed of 24 subjects awaiting entry into the program. All treatment/wait list comparison group subjects received weekly PTSD outpatient group therapy. Significant improvements were found in the inpatient treatment group in areas of hopelessness, feelings of guilt and shame, loneliness, and emotional expressiveness. Other indices of psychological functional, including interpersonal skills, gender role stress, anxiety, anger, and PTSD symptomatology did not change significantly in response to treatment. No positive changes in any area of psychological function occurred in the treatment/wait list comparison group. Implications for PTSD and areas of future research are discussed.
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Finn P. Program administrator and medical staff attitudes toward six hypothetical medications for substance abuse treatment. J Psychoactive Drugs 1996; 28:161-8. [PMID: 8811584 DOI: 10.1080/02791072.1996.10524388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
There is growing interest in a number of medications with proven clinical efficacy or potential for treating substance abuse. At the same time, many treatment programs make little, if any, use of pharmacotherapy. The reasons for this circumstance are not clear. An exploratory survey using focus groups and telephone interviews with medical personnel and administrators from 38 programs and three professional associations suggests that program staff perceive a variety of drawbacks to pharmacotherapy, which may help account for the lack of more widespread use of this treatment modality.
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Abstract
Many drug user treatment programs have difficulty recruiting, retaining, and successfully treating minority clients. Coupled with the fact that cultural diversity among clients is likely to increase, this consideration makes it critical that programs take steps to increase their responsiveness to minority clients. Among the steps which administrators and clinicians recommend that programs take are conducting a needs assessment; implementing special outreach approaches; hiring additional minority staff; providing staff training and education in cultural sensitivity; and identifying client cultural characteristics at intake.
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Abstract
Many drug treatment programs have difficulty recruiting, retaining, and successfully treating minority clients. Coupled with the fact that cultural diversity among clients is likely to increase, this consideration makes it critical that counselors systematically consider the client's ethnic and racial background during treatment. Experienced clinicians have recommended a number of approaches that counselors can adopt for increasing their cultural responsiveness to minority clients, thereby improving treatment effectiveness with this population of substance abusers.
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Finn P, Ingham RJ. Stutterers' self-ratings of how natural speech sounds and feels. JOURNAL OF SPEECH AND HEARING RESEARCH 1994; 37:326-340. [PMID: 8028313 DOI: 10.1044/jshr.3702.326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The efficacy of stuttering treatment has been a contentious issue in recent years. Two issues of primary concern include the treated stutterer's abnormal speech quality and the problem of continually self-monitoring fluency skills. One approach to addressing these issues is to obtain stutterers' self-ratings of speech quality and levels of speech monitoring. However, the reliability and validity of such self-ratings need to be assessed before they are suitable for use in stuttering treatment. The present study investigated one method of estimating the reliability and validity of stutterers' self-ratings of how natural their speech sounds (speech naturalness), and how natural they feel about the amount of attention they are paying to the way they are speaking (feel naturalness). Twelve adult stutterers were instructed to self-rate the speech and feel naturalness of their speech under a variety of rhythmic stimulation conditions across repeated rating occasions. With some qualifications, the results showed that stutterers were relatively consistent and valid self-raters of speech quality and levels of speech monitoring.
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Hill AG, Finn P, Schroeder D. Postoperative fatigue after laparoscopic surgery. THE AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF SURGERY 1993; 63:946-51. [PMID: 8285907 DOI: 10.1111/j.1445-2197.1993.tb01724.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Postoperative fatigue (POF) appears to be less following laparoscopic surgery but this has not been proven previously. This study compared a group of patients who had undergone open cholecystectomy with a group undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Postoperative fatigue was found to be decreased in duration in the patients having laparoscopic surgery, returning to pre-operative fatigue levels by 14 days, compared to 28 days for open surgery. Postoperative pain in the first 24 h and the early metabolic response to surgery were similar for both groups. The authors conclude that laparoscopic surgery is associated with decreased POF and that this is unlikely to be accounted for by a decrease in the early metabolic response to surgery.
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