The Journal of nervous and mental disease
-
J. Nerv. Ment. Dis. · Sep 2006
Comparative StudyAn examination of cognitive versus behavioral components of recovery from anorexia nervosa.
Definitions of "full recovery" from anorexia nervosa (AN) vary, and rarely include the cognitive criteria of lack of body image distortion and fear of weight gain. We investigated the implications of including or excluding cognitive criteria of AN in the definition of "full recovery". ⋯ On all measures included, the scores of the behaviorally recovered women were significantly more anorexic-like than those of the women recovered cognitively as well, who were indistinguishable from controls. Criteria for recovery from AN need to be refined and standardized, and cognitive criteria incorporated, to characterize a minority who recover to the extent that their eating attitudes and personality profiles are indistinguishable from those of women with no history of an eating disorder.
-
J. Nerv. Ment. Dis. · Oct 2005
Long-term follow-up (32 Years) of PTSD in Israeli Yom Kippur War veterans.
The Yom Kippur War came as a major shock to the confidence and stability of the national psyche in Israel, and it may be suggested that the incidence of associated psychological trauma at least in war veterans may be more profound and long-standing. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the presence of PTSD in a naturalistic cohort of Yom Kippur veterans 32 years after the war managed for PTSD in a specialized unit during the war. Results indicated that of the 277 (20.9%) initial battle front-injured referred for evaluation who were diagnosed with PTSD, 32 years later only 19 war veterans were still suffering with PTSD (6.85% of the PTSD subpopulation or 1.43% of the original injured combat veteran cohort). Results from this long-term follow-up study indicate a low incidence of chronic symptomatology that may be accounted for by the nature of the initial care, follow-up, and subpopulation investigated.
-
J. Nerv. Ment. Dis. · Aug 2005
Comparative StudyPostconcussional disorder: Are the DSM-IV criteria an improvement over the ICD-10?
Little is known about the characteristics and outcomes of patients diagnosed with postconcussional disorder (PCD) under the provisionally proposed criteria in the DSM-IV and how they differ from patients diagnosed with postconcussional syndrome (PCS) under the International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition clinical (ICD-10) criteria. This study investigated differences in outcome based on a diagnosis of PCD (DSM-IV) versus PCS (ICD-10 clinical criteria) as to which criteria set might be preferred for clinical practice. A consecutive series of adult patients with mild (N = 319) to moderate (N = 21) traumatic brain injury was assessed at 3 months postinjury with a brief neuropsychological battery and measures of specific outcome domains. ⋯ Although the two criteria sets resulted in markedly different incidence rates, there was no substantial pattern of differences between the DSM-IV and ICD-10 in the outcome domains of psychiatric symptoms and disorders, social and community integration, health-related quality of life, or global outcome as measured by the Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended. In spite of significant differences between the two diagnostic criteria sets and different incidence rates for PCD/PCS, outcome in all measured domains was very similar at 3 months postinjury. There is no compelling evidence, based on these outcome domains, to suggest which of the two diagnostic criteria sets should be clinically preferred.
-
J. Nerv. Ment. Dis. · Apr 2005
Comparative StudyReligiosity/spirituality and pain in patients with sickle cell disease.
Religion/spirituality has been identified by individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD) as an important factor in coping with stress and in determining quality of life. Research has demonstrated positive associations between religiosity/spirituality and better physical and mental health outcomes. However, few studies have examined the influence religiosity/spirituality has on the experience of pain in chronically ill patients. ⋯ Prayer/Bible study and intrinsic religiosity were not significantly related to pain in our study. Positive associations are consistent with recent literature, but our results expose new aspects of the relationship for African American patients. We conclude that religious involvement likely plays a significant role in modulating the pain experience of African American patients with SCD and may be an important factor for future study in other populations of chronically ill pain sufferers.