Japanese Journal of General Hospital Psychiatry
Online ISSN : 2186-4810
Print ISSN : 0915-5872
ISSN-L : 0915-5872
Volume 22, Issue 3
Displaying 1-5 of 5 articles from this issue
Original Article
  • ―Liaison psychiatry in Department of Psychiatry, National Center for Global Health and Medicine―
    Takumi Takahashi, Masataka Yoshikawa, Takumi Tsutsui, Riki Matsunaga, ...
    2010 Volume 22 Issue 3 Pages 203-209
    Published: July 15, 2010
    Released on J-STAGE: July 01, 2014
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    The purpose of the current study was to conduct field research of HIV positive patients from the AIDS Clinical Center (ACC) who had previously consulted with a psychiatrist. The patients of the research were 86 HIV positive patients (31 inpatients, 55 outpatients) who participated in a National Center for Global Health and Medicine research project from April, 2007 through March, 2009. Twenty-four of the 86 patients (27.9%) were diagnosed with Adjustment Disorder at the initial visit in the Department of Psychiatry. Among those 24 adjustment disorder patients, 9 were diagnosed with HIV infection, and the direct cause of stress was due to large issues, such as notification of HIV. In addition, 15 patients were diagnosed with HIV, and the direct cause of stress was due to lesser issues, such as work, family, or romance related problems. Therefore, it is possible to suggest that the HIV infection was not the direct cause of the adjustment disorder for 60% of the patients. The current situation, which requires the patient to wait a long time to get consultation with psychiatrists, supports this result. Therefore it is important to keep in mind that there are other causes of stress and anxiety than HIV infection when consulting HIV positive patients and when determining patient needs.
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  • Hiroshi Ihara, Hiroyuki Ogata, Aya Inuzuka, Noriko Ohta, Toshiro Nagai ...
    2010 Volume 22 Issue 3 Pages 210-220
    Published: July 15, 2010
    Released on J-STAGE: July 01, 2014
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Purpose: Psychological resilience is considered to be the ability of an individual to adjust positively to adversity. This study was conducted to develop a 'Resilience Scale for Nurses' (RSN) and to describe the psychometric evaluation of the RSN.
    Method: After reviewing the literature about resilience and related topics, a 32-item RSN was constructed and administered to 464 nurses employed at a university hospital. For evaluating concurrent validity, constructs theoretically relevant to the RSN, such as the 'Japanese Self-Esteem Scale,' the 'Japanese Hardiness Scale 20,' the 'Japanese version of the Beck Depression Inventory,' and the 'Japanese version of Burn-out Scale,' were also employed.
    Results: A total of 429 nurses responded to the questionnaire (92.5 % response rate). The principal factor method suggested a four-factor solution, consisting of 'Positivity in nursing,' 'Interpersonal skill,' 'Having an anchor in personal life,' and 'Response to novelty.' The levels of Cronbach's alpha for the overall RSN (.84) as well as each of the four factors (87; .77; 76; .63, respectively) were respectable. Positive correlations of the RSN were found with the Self-Esteem Scale and the Hardiness Personality Scale, and negative correlations of the RSN were found with the Beck Depression Inventory and the Burn-out Scale.
    Conclusion: The levels of Cronbach's alpha supported the internal consistency reliability of the RSN. All of the four factors reflected characteristics of resilience as had already been indicated by the previous studies, supporting the construct validity of the RSN. Significant correlations of the RSN with wellestablished measures of mental health provided evidence for concurrent validity.
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Clinical report
  • Masami Yokota, Mahito Kimura, Norio Ikemori, Yasutaka Nakao, Nao Nakay ...
    2010 Volume 22 Issue 3 Pages 221-226
    Published: July 15, 2010
    Released on J-STAGE: July 01, 2014
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Dry mouth is a common side effect of psychotropic drugs, and it decreases treatment compliance and the quality of life (QOL) of patients. Several studies have revealed that the histamine (H2)-receptor blocker nizatidine promotes salivation through its anticholinesterase activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of nizatidine on salivation in patients who were on psychotropic treatment and complained of dry mouth. The study population comprised 22 such patients (16 women and 6 men; average age, 53.1 years [standard deviation, 14.8 years]). These patients were administered nizatidine (Acinon) for 8 weeks, and the subjective symptoms of dry mouth were observed at 0, 4, and 8 weeks. An improvement was noted in the subjective symptoms at 4 and 8 weeks. Therefore, it appears that nizatidine is effective in alleviating dry mouth in patients receiving psychotropic drugs.
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Appendix
  • Keiko Amano
    2010 Volume 22 Issue 3 Pages 227-238
    Published: July 15, 2010
    Released on J-STAGE: July 01, 2014
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Gender-specific medicine aims to advance research for diseases with different incidence or clinical causes between men and women, and to advance our physiological and biological knowledge which is limited to one gender, and finally to investigate the social status of men and women related to health. The ultimate aim is to reflect the results of such research in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Outpatient clinics for women based on EBM and NBM are one realization of the concept of gender-specific medicine. The first outpatient clinic for women in Japan was opened at Kagoshima University in May, 2001. Since then, the percentage of psychiatric symptoms as a chief complaint in outpatient clinics for women has increased to 20. How female physicians can enjoy a balanced, fulfilling life without compromising their professional careers is an important issue. For both males and females, their lives are becoming more consumed with a host of family and other personal responsibilities and interests. Therefore, it is increasingly important for all to recognize work-life balance. The Labor Standard Law guarantees expectant and nursing mother's leave before and after childbirth, limitation on overtime work or late-night work and child care time after childbirth. The Child Care and Family Care Leave Law secures the right for men and women to take child care leave or family care leave. Establishment of a system to assist male and female physicians to take family and child care leave on a daily basis is necessary.
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  • Yoshie Hitomi, Mitsuru Okada
    2010 Volume 22 Issue 3 Pages 239-244
    Published: July 15, 2010
    Released on J-STAGE: July 01, 2014
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    In developed countries, the number of female doctors has been increasing. As this number has increased, some problems have become evident, for example, lack of manpower in surgical fields. Female doctors, especially those who have children, have some particular characteristics. They are less career-oriented and tend to choose part-time jobs. The situation is also the same in Japan. In addition to that, a lot of Japanese female doctors leave hospitals after having children because they cannot continue their work. Therefore it is serious issue to tackle urgently.
    A new clinical training system for doctors was launched in 2004 which changed young doctors' working style drastically. They tend not to belong to university hospitals and they prioritize their own quality of life and work life balance. Generally, it is suggested that to support female doctors is synonymous with supporting female doctors who have children. This is a reasonable idea, however, actually even single middle-aged female doctors leave university hospitals and public hospitals because they prefer to work in a less stressful environment. Therefore this issue should be elucidated from various viewpoints, generations, gender role stereotypes and sexual distinctions. It is also necessary to discuss our own gender role stereotype and to educate medical students about noblesse oblige, that is to say, to keep working as a doctor.
    The most crucial thing is not only to equip the hospital with a nursery, but also to enable all people, irrespective of gender and marital status, to design their own career. As psychiatry tends to be chosen by female doctors, it is important that general hospital psychiatry departments offer flexible, accessible and progressive programs.
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