Illness-related Characteristics Research Articles

Use of the Internet for Health Information by Older Adults With Arthritis

Despite the information available on the Internet and the increasing number of older adults who use the Internet, little is known about Internet use for health information by elders with arthritis. The purposes of this study were (1) to examine the use of computers and the Internet by elders with arthritis and (2) to describe demographic and illness-related characteristics of elders who use the Internet to find health information. Seventy-one elders with arthritis completed survey questionnaires. Twenty-eight percent had a computer in their home, of whom 95% had Internet access. Thirty-nine percent sought arthritis information on the Internet. People with more education were more likely to use the Internet. However, age and functional disability resulting from arthritis were not associated with Internet use. Health professionals need to be aware of Internet resources and assist elders in finding appropriate Internet-based arthritis information.

Cognitive-behavioral group intervention as a means of tertiary prevention in depressed patients: Acceptance and short-term efficacy

This paper describes the implementation and evaluation of the Coping with Depression (CWD) course in a sample of patients, who were pretreated for clinical depression on a psychiatric in- or outpatient basis. Based on a psychoeducational approach, the CWD integrates elements of cognitive-behavior therapy, which have proven effective in dealing with problems associated with the development and maintenance of depression, such as relaxation, training of social skills, increasing pleasant activities, and constructive thinking. The present results suggest that, through a process of self-selection, the program appealed especially to those patients, who still displayed extensive depressive symptoms after discharge or who had experienced an early relapse into the depressive episode. By strictly matching CWD participants and nonparticipants on illness-related characteristics at pretreatment, it was found that the group intervention was mainly effective in preventing short-term relapses during the 6-month period under treatment.

An update on Tourette syndrome.

This summary of the present status of tic disorders in based on our experience with 650 patients and review of the literature. The three major tic disorders, Transient Tic of Childhood, Chronic Motor Tic, and Tourette syndrome, now thought to have similar organic etiology, form a continuum with heterogeneity of symptoms and severity. This paper summarizes current understanding of the demography, illness-related characteristics, psychopathology, neuropathology, genetics, neurochemistry, and treatment.

Psychological reactions to the onset of chronic illness.

Patients (N = 126) interviewed during hospitalization at the onset of chronic illness were found to be experiencing considerable emotional arousal. Their psychological reactions were assessed by applying content analysis scales to accounts of their current experienced and comparing these with the accounts of non-patients. Multivariate analysis of variance indicated that patients experienced significantly more anxiety, depression, and directly and indirectly expressed anger, as well as positive feelings and that they perceived themselves to be more helpless. Canonical analyses were applied to investigate the relationships between patients' reactions and their biographic and illness-related characteristics. Patients' reactions were related to demographic factors and their perceptions of their handicaps. No relationships were found between patterns of reaction and patients' life styles, medical records of their illnesses or the types of their disabilities.