Psychosomatic medicine
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Psychosomatic medicine · Sep 2001
Posttraumatic stress symptomatology is associated with unexplained illness attributed to Persian Gulf War military service.
Controversy exists concerning unexplained illness in Persian Gulf War veterans, especially regarding the contribution of psychological trauma. We sought to determine if war zone trauma or posttraumatic stress symptomatology (PTSS) are associated with illnesses reported by Gulf War veterans that were documented by medical examination but not attributable to a medical diagnosis. ⋯ PTSS related to war zone trauma warrants additional prospective research study and attention in clinical screening and assessment as a potential contributor to the often debilitating physical health problems experienced by Persian Gulf War veterans.
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Psychosomatic medicine · Sep 2001
Self-efficacy as a predictor of adult adjustment to sickle cell disease: one-year outcomes.
The present study prospectively investigated the role of self-efficacy in predicting disease symptomatology and health services utilization for adult patients with sickle cell disease. ⋯ Self-efficacy beliefs among African American adults with sickle cell disease are inversely related to reported disease symptomatology, and these relationships persist across time. Future investigations should examine the mechanisms through which relationships between self-efficacy and adjustment to sickle cell disease are effected, as well as the feasibility and effectiveness of enhancing self-efficacy beliefs as a means of improving adjustment to sickle cell disease.