The Relationships of Childhood Trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder to Smoking Outcomes in Cancer Patients

https://openworks.mdanderson.org/sumexp22/1105/thumbnail.jp

Effected Cancer Region and Psychiatric Disorders in Smoking Cessation

https://openworks.mdanderson.org/sumexp23/1003/thumbnail.jp

Modelo tripartito sobre el afecto positivo y negativo, la depresión y la ansiedad : evidencia basada en la estructura de los síntomas y en diferencias sexuales

El modelo tripartito sobre la depresión y la ansiedad sugiere que la depresión y la ansiedad poseen componentes compartidos (afecto negativo generalizado) y específicos (anhedonia e hiperactivación fisiológica). En este artículo comentamos cinco estudios recientes que han abordado aspectos del modelo tripartito. Los estudios indican que: 1) el afecto positivo y el afecto negativo representan dimensiones separables del ánimo, lo cual es evidenciable a través de diferentes culturas incluida la española; 2) el modelo tripartito de la depresión y la ansiedad parece ser una buena descripción de las características de ambos síndromes; 3) hombres y mujeres parecen diferir respecto a los síndromes asociados a la depresión, pero no en relación con la depresión "pura" en sí misma. Se discuten la implicaciones teóricas y clínicas de estos hallazgos

A comparison of nefazodone, the cognitive behavioral-analysis system of psychotherapy, and their combination for the treatment of chronic depression

Background Patients with chronic forms of major depression are difficult to treat, and the relative efficacy of medications and psychotherapy is uncertain. Methods We randomly assigned 681 adults with a chronic nonpsychotic major depressive disorder to 12 weeks of outpatient treatment with nefazodone (maximal dose, 600 mg per day), the cognitive behavioral-analysis system of psychotherapy (16 to 20 sessions), or both. At base line, all patients had scores of at least 20 on the 24-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (indicating clinically significant depression). Remission was defined as a score of 8 or less at weeks 10 and 12. For patients who did not have remission, a satisfactory response was defined as a reduction in the score by at least 50 percent from base line and a score of 15 or less. Raters were unaware of the patients’ treatment assignments. Results Of the 681 patients, 662 attended at least one treatment session and were included in the analysis of response. The overall rate of response (both remission and satisfactory response) was 48 percent in both the nefazodone group and the psychotherapy group, as compared with 73 percent in the combined-treatment group (P Conclusions Although about half of patients with chronic forms of major depression have a response to short-term treatment with either nefazodone or a cognitive behavioral-analysis system of psychotherapy, the combination of the two is significantly more efficacious than either treatment alone

Myasthenia gravis

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a rare, autoimmune neuromuscular junction disorder. Contemporary prevalence rates approach 1/5,000. MG presents with painless, fluctuating, fatigable weakness involving specific muscle groups. Ocular weakness with asymmetric ptosis and binocular diplopia is the most typical initial presentation, while early or isolated oropharyngeal or limb weakness is less common. The course is variable, and most patients with initial ocular weakness develop bulbar or limb weakness within three years of initial symptom onset. MG results from antibody-mediated, T cell-dependent immunologic attack on the endplate region of the postsynaptic membrane. In patients with fatigable muscle weakness, the diagnosis of MG is supported by: 1. pharmacologic testing with edrophonium chloride that elicits unequivocal improvement in strength; 2. electrophysiologic testing with repetitive nerve stimulation (RNS) studies and/or single-fiber electromyography (SFEMG) that demonstrates a primary postsynaptic neuromuscular junctional disorder; and 3. serologic demonstration of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) or muscle-specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK) antibodies. Differential diagnosis includes congenital myasthenic syndromes, Lambert Eaton syndrome, botulism, organophosphate intoxication, mitochondrial disorders involving progressive external ophthalmoplegia, acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (AIDP), motor neuron disease, and brainstem ischemia. Treatment must be individualized, and may include symptomatic treatment with cholinesterase inhibitors and immune modulation with corticosteroids, azathioprine, cyclosporine, and mycophenolate mofetil. Rapid, temporary improvement may be achieved for myasthenic crises and exacerbations with plasma exchange (PEX) or intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg). Owing to improved diagnostic testing, immunotherapy, and intensive care, the contemporary prognosis is favorable with less than five percent mortality and nearly normal life expectancy

Association Between Quitting Smoking and Survival in Cancer Patients

https://openworks.mdanderson.org/sumexp21/1010/thumbnail.jp

JNDS, Volume 33, Number 4

Article describing the results of informal and formal research regarding electromagnetic (EM) effects of near-death experiences (NDEs); it reviews cases in which a person acts on his environment and those in which a person reacts to the environment. The paper also proposes more precise terminology regarding EM phenomena based on the research and literature review

JNDS, Volume 34, Number 3

Article discussing the development of an instrument to measure healthcare professionals' knowledge and attitudes about NDEs that would demonstrate acceptable psychometric properties