International journal of psychosomatics : official publication of the International Psychosomatics Institute最新文献

First, a discussion is given of the several types of anxiety. Next, a review is given of the non-pharmaceutical methods of managing anxiety. Finally, an in-depth examination is made of the various types of drugs used to treat the different types of anxiety.

A case report is given of a patient who came to the oral surgery office apparently in pain, but was referred by her general practitioner dentist for an evaluation of a root fragment. The periapical radiograph revealed a "filament" type opacity in the upper right canine area. It was explained to the patient, who opted for its removal. Although, the removed material appeared to be dental amalgam fragments, the patient insisted that it was a transmitter implanted by her gynecologist. The patient was referred for psychiatric therapy but only went for one visit. The tentative diagnosis was schizophrenia.

This article presents an outline of 13 research studies which were carried out in the 1980s at the Clinical Psychology Division of the Psychology Department at the Faculty of Arts in Ljubljana. The studies concentrated on various psychosomatic diseases and dysfunctions by applying 26 psychodiagnostic instruments. The problems, the usefulness of the instruments, and basic characteristics of diseases were analyzed, and a model for further research into psychological factors in psychosomatic diseases was proposed. We are of the opinion that the fundamental dimensions of personality--aggressiveness and ways of coping with stress within a specific life style and supported by information from life history--deserve special attention. Therefore, we suggest that a set of basic psychodiagnostic instruments be compiled. We also suggest that particularly general practitioners be acquainted with these factors involved in psychosomatic dysfunctions, because they most often confront problems of this kind. We believe that somatic therapy is doubtless necessary, but insufficient, because a patient is not treated as a whole, which is imperative in psychosomatics. This is a sphere where medicine and psychology will meet more regularly in the future.

A comparative analysis was conducted on a series of five experiments which examined the effect of complementary healing to the reepithelialization rate of full thickness human dermal wounds. The treatment intervention focused primarily on Noncontact Therapeutic Touch, which was administered within randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled experimental protocols. An important methodological component of the studies was that in general the complementary healing practitioners were separated or isolated from the participants and subjects. This design element, coupled with the fact that in four of the five experiments subjects were blinded to the nature of the active treatment modality, resulted in the preclusion of suggestion, expectation, and the placebo effect; the factors which have confounded most prior complementary healing research. The results of the experiments indicated significance for the treatment group in the initial two studies in the series, and nonsignificant and reverse significant results for the control group in the remaining three experiments. Several factors were postulated as important considerations in the differential results obtained including: (1) cancellation and inhibitory elements; (2) carryover and learning effects; and (3) potential experimenter and placebo effect factors. Although the five studies represent a seminal research effort within the field of complementary healing, the overall results of the series are inconclusive in establishing the efficacy of the treatment interventions examined.

The importance of handwashing in medicine has been identified by individuals for over 700 years. This practice, however, was not widely accepted during the early history of medicine. Handwashing was initially associated with religious and magical ceremonies. Later, public bathing became a social activity, and most recently, handwashing became associated with antisepsis and hygiene. The implications of the history of handwashing for today's physicians are explored.

First, dictionary definitions of stress and stress-related terms are given. Next, a review of Cannon's, Selye's, and other early pioneers' stress definitions are given. Following this, current definitions are reviewed. Finally, using new findings, an up-dated version of the stress concept is presented.

A personal case study conducted over a 49-year period of the relationship between physical symptoms and psychological "hang-ups" and flaws is described. Some of the psychological work done to outgrow these problems, which led both to the dissipation of the symptoms and to personal and psychological growth, is presented in a condensed form. Clarified from this study is the irony that with practice, psychological therapy led to less preoccupation and obsession with the body and more frequent intimate-separating involvements with life outside the body. Implications of this case study for psychotherapy are described.

The reliability of a surface EMG scanning procedure was investigated for the right and left aspects of 10 muscle sites using a large clinical sample of 102 chronic pain patients. Two neutral postures (sitting/standing) were systematically studied on three occasions approximately one hour apart on the same day. The multivariate analysis of RMS microvolts indicated no significant effects for Age, Gender, Muscle site, Aspect or Period. The range of the Pearson correlations was 0.41 to 0.94 when all muscle sites, aspects, postures, and periods were considered. The median correlation was found to be 0.64. The pattern of reliability was seen to be slightly higher in the upper back while sitting, and slightly higher in the lower back while standing. The results indicate that with adequate attention to skin preparation, EMG sensors held in place by hand with a light pressure produce reliable results.