Alvin F. Poussaint

A controlled study of imipramine (Tofranil) in the treatment of childhood enuresis

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study with corssver, 47 enuretic children (aged 5 to 16 years) were treated for 8 weeks. It was found that imipramine in doses of 25 or 50 mg. (for children 12 years of age and over) was markedly superior, clinically and statistically (p

Amitriptyline in childhood enuresis

In a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study with cross‐over, 50 outpatient enuretic children (aged 5 to 15) were treated for 8 weeks. It was found that amitriptyline in doses of 25 or 50 mg. (for children aged 12 and over) was superior clinically (P < 0.0005) to a placebo in decreasing the frequency of nights with enuresis. Adverse effects from the amitriptyline were found to be minimal. After the 8 week treatment period, the dosage of amitriptyline at bedtime was manipulated over a range of 25 to 75 mg. and the clinical response was improved in some instances. Five children (10 per cent) became completely dry and remained dry after the drug was gradually withdrawn. Thirty children (62 per cent) showed various degrees of improvement with a small percentage of relapses when the drug was withdrawn. Fourteen (28 per cent) failed to benefit from treatment.

Clinical experience and minority group students. A perspective from Harvard Medical School.

Medical educators realize that there are no simple predictors for student performance in the clinical training years. College grades and Medical College Admission Test scores may suggest the strength of a students achievement in the basic sciences but cannot be relied on to predict efficacy in patient care. There is no fool proof way of assessing noncognitive abilities critical to clinical competence. However, in admissions, extracurricular activities, community service, leadership abilities, recommendations, and interviews are examined to assess personal strengths. The authors observations suggest that noncognitive attributes are important in the success of disadvantaged students. Although some, but not all, with low Medical College Admission Test scores may not excel in the basic sciences, once they reach the clinical years, a leveling of the playing field gives them an opportunity to show their special competence with patients. Minority students, perhaps because of their own life experiences, often are alert to the needs and sensitivities of patients. As a group, they are respectful of the dignity of patients. Many embrace the dictum: treat every patient as you would want a family member to be treated. Most minority students, despite pressures of being a minority in predominantly white environments, perform at a very high level in the clinical years and thereafter.

Common themes from the extremes: using two methodologies to examine adolescents' perceptions of anti-violence public service announcements

PURPOSE To determine in what ways adolescents perceive public service announcements (PSAs) in general and, more specifically, anti-violence health messages. METHODS Seventy-nine adolescents who were involved with the issue of violence (39 pro-social, 40 incarcerated) participated. These youth were from four sites (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Detroit, Michigan, Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Portland, Oregon) and were chosen at random from a pool recommended by community leaders. First, adolescents were questioned on their demographics and knowledge of, attitudes about, and experience with, violence. Then, adolescents rated eight PSAs on levels of interest, understanding, believability, and perceived effect. In semistructured individual interviews, the adolescents discussed each of the PSAs as well as how health messages can effectively reach young people. We used quantitative and qualitative methodologies to analyze the data. RESULTS Adolescents had similar opinions about the presented messages and using PSAs. Across both the pro-social and incarcerated groups, adolescents (a) opposed celebrity spokespeople, (b) preferred authentic-looking characters and realistic situations, (c) dismissed messages directed at either younger or older audiences, (d) confused abstractions, (e) focused on visuals, and (f) suggested using graphic images. CONCLUSIONS The similarities observed between the pro-social and incarcerated adolescents may arise from the fact that, although the nature of their experience varied, both groups had high levels of issue involvement. From this study, we can make three recommendations for creating messages: (a) use authentic-looking characters in realistic situations; (b) employ simple, visual, and graphic messages; and (c) do formative evaluations with target audiences.

Human Sexuality and the American Minority Experience

Each of the coauthors has been asked to contribute to this chapter both because of our expertise in minority mental health issues and because of our personal ethnic backgrounds. Dr. Poussaint is a Black American; Dr. Small, Chinese American; Dr. Shapiro, Cuban American; and Dr. Wilkeson, Puerto Rican American. We appreciate the sensitivity of our editors in recognizing that materials related to minority persons can be most accurately portrayed by those of us who know and personally esteem the various cultural groups to be described. Primarily because of this shared conviction, we have decided not to attempt to present material on other groups. We trust that the reader will recognize that there is a marked diversity between and within different cultural groups and will understand the importance of acquiring specific knowledge of the cultural backgrounds of all patients.

The Poussaint-Satcher-Cosby chair in mental health: creating activists on behalf of our communities, our youths, and ourselves.

An earlier version of this editorial was delivered by the author at the Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Ga, on the occasion of the establishment of the Poussaint-Satcher-Cosby Chair in Mental Health on June 5, 2006. I’m very proud and deeply honored to be part of an extraordinary historical event: the establishment, through the generosity of Camille and Bill Cosby, of the Poussaint-Satcher-Cosby Chair in Mental Health at Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Ga. I’m delighted that the first incumbent of this chair will be David Satcher, who has contributed his enormous wisdom and leadership to move mental health to the forefront of public health initiatives in America, with a view to eliminate inequities and disparities for ethnic minorities in the mental health system. Mental Health, Culture, Race, and Ethnicity was the title of a ground-breaking report issued by Satcher when he was US Surgeon General. Mental health is critical to general health, a fact that people should always appreciate. Mental health affects the way we think, the way we act, the way we feel, and the way we behave.