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The Psychiatry of Road Traffic
Accidents
Richard Mayou*
Summary: In this paper,
road traffic accidents and their morbility are discussed, as well
as the most recent studies on the matter. The psychiatric
consequenses of road accidencs, specifically cognitive disorder,
acute stress disorder, emotional disorder, post-traumatic
syndromes, alcohol and sustance abuse problems and other specific
psycological problems are emphasized. The social consequences as
well as the effects on quality of life and also dealt with.
Psycological consequences in children were not forgotten.
Compensation neurosis and whiplash neck injury are other mentioned
issues.
Key-words: Road
traffic accidents, morbility, psycopatology, psycology children
*Psychiatry Professor, University
of Oxford Department of Psychiatry Warneford Hospital Oxford
OX37JX
Tel: (+44) 1865 226477 Fax: (+44) 1865 793101
E-mail: richard.mayou@psych.ox.ac.uk
Hysterectomy, Depression and
Sexual Behaviour
Serafim Carvalho, M.D.*; Ana Sobral,
M.D.**; Júlia Pitrez, M.D.**; Ana Garrett***
Summary: As Psychiatry and Mental Health continue to
enlarge their fields, particularly as far as Liaison
Psychiatry is concerned, we assist to a growing acceptance of team
works comprising Psychiatry, Psychology and other Medical areas.
The purpose of the present study, a prospective one, is to
assess the way hysterectomy, depression and psychosexual behaviour
disorders are related to each other. lt took place at the
Department of Gynaecology of the Hospital Geral de Santo António,
in 1990 and 1991. Initially, a total of 52. women with indication
for Gynaecological surgery were divided in two groups: one group
composed by women submitted to complete hysterectomy; another
group made by women submitted to other kinds of non-mutilating
surgery, particularly plasties. The authors programmed three
assessments: Av0 (before surgery), Av1 (3 months after surgery)
and Av2 (12 months after surgery). 43 women concluded this study:
26 had been submitted to hysterectomy and 17 belonged to the
non-hysterectomy group. The following means of assessment were
used: the General Data Questionnaire, the Beck Depression
Inventory and the Sexual Behaviour Questionnaire.
This work enabled the authors to conclude that there is a
significant relationship between hysterectomy and depression
symptoms.
Some comments/suggestions are further elaborated in order to
increase the level of care provided to women submitted to
hysterectomy.
Key-words: Hysterectomy, depression, and
sexual behaviour.
*Psychiatrist, HCF, C-L Department
- PORTO
**Gynaecology Departement, HGSA - PORTO
***Psycology Student, ISMAI - MAIA
Sum Ergo Cogitum
Ivone Fonseca, M.D., Helder Machado*, and M.D., M. SC. (Mc
Gill).
Summary: In order to make
good medical decisions despite uncertainty. Physicians have to get
acquainted with morphology and functionality, get used to
probability and utility concepts, so logical reasoning can be put
at work. However only the real knowledge of the patient enables us
to make the distinction between theory and practice. The paper
attempts to describe how competent physicians might succeed
applying psychological well identified sub systems related to
empathy and emotion so as to reinforce logical reasoning. In doing
so medical decision making improves its quality under most
circumstances and our interventions may approach adequacy in face
of suffering.
Key-words: Medicine - Clinical Decision Making;
Physician - Patient Communication, empathy; Neuropsychology-Prefrontal
areas.
*Helder Machado - Director Family
and Occupational Medicine
C.I.C.A. - Hospital Geral St. António - Porto.
4000 Porto
Portugal
Clinical Assisted Reproduction:
Psycho-Social Profile of the
Couples in Consulation
Aucíndo Valente*, José Raio**,
Orlando Von Doellinger***
Summary: A brief analysis of the motivations behind the
search for clinical assisted reproduction, the psychological
reactions to infertility and to its treatments is made. Based on
their experience in a multidisciplinary consultation, in the
"Centro Hospitalar de Vila Nova de Gaia", the authors
make a characterisation of the psycho-social profile of the
couples undergoing such treatments.
Key-words: Infertility; Clinical assisted
reproduction; Psychological reactions; Psychotherapeutic support.
*Chefe de Serviço do Departamento
de Psiquiatria e Saúde Mental do Centro Hospitalar de vila Nova
de Gaia
**Assistente Eventual do Departamento de Psiquiatria e Saúde
Mental do Centro Hospitalar de vila Nova de Gaia
***Assistente Eventual do Departamento de Psiquiatria e Saúde
Mental do Centro Hospitalar de vila Nova de Gaia
Psycopathology of Puerperal
Psychoses
Rui M.X. Vieira*
Summary: Puerperal psychoses are heterogeneous and
severe illnesses which often require admission to a psychiatric
hospital. One of the questions that has raised some controversy is
the problem of preservation of the early mother-baby relationship
in this context.
We have recently presented the experience of the first 44
patients admitted to the mother-child psychiatric unit created in
the Psychiatric Department of the University Hospital of Santa
Maria. In this presentation we discuss in detail the first 11
cases of patients with postpartum psychoses (6) and postpartum
major depression (5), in terms of the personal features, the
family history, the social aspects, the characteristics of the
psychiatric conditions as well as the clinical course during the
time at the unit and the therapeutic intervention done. Finally we
will discuss the value of this type of unit and also the role that
the Departments of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry can play in
General Hospitals on the basis of our experience.
Key-words: Puerperal psychoses;
psychopathology; consultation-liaison psychiatry; mother-child
psychiatric unit; general hospital
*Assistant Professor of Psychiatry.
Faculty of Medecine of Lisbon and Santa Maria Hospital of Lisbon. |
