Joseph L. Rauh

Chlamydia trachomatis cervical infections in female adolescents

To determine the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis cervical infection in an urban adolescent population, 100 sexually active female adolescents were screened with endocervical cultures for Chlamydia, in addition to bacterial cultures, Gram stains, wet mounts, and Papanicolau smears. C. trachomatis was isolated from 22% of these patients. Neisseria gonorrhoeae was isolated from only 3% of this population. No historical or clinical features were specific to those with positive chlamydial cultures, although cervical inflammations was noted more frequently. Treatment with tetracycline or erythromycin produced bacteriologic cure in 95% of culture-positive patients.

Adolescents view their mental health

A new 40-item behavioral checklist, the Adolescent Life Assessment Checklist (ALAC), was devised to be used with patient and nonpatient samples. A comparable form obtains information from a parent or guardian. Responses of 356 adolescents from three sources were analyzed for differences attributable to race, sex, age, sample source, and their interactions. A factor analysis was carried out on the average within-race-sex-source subgroup correlation matrix, resulting in seven meaningful and six usable oblique factors. Subscales were developed and corrections were computed to remove estimated differences due to race, sex, and age. Corrected scales significantly differentiate the three samples.

Experience with the copper 7 intrauterine device in an adolescent population.

A retrospective study was conducted of 120 consecutive patients who received a Cu-7 IUD at the Cincinnati Adolescent Clinic during a four-year period from July, 1974, through June, 1978. Follow-up was obtained in 116 (97%) of the initial patient population. Mean age at initial Cu-7 insertion was 16.8 years; 81% of the patients were nulliparous. An experience of 149.7 women years was accumulated; the pregnancy rate at the conclusion of the study was 2.0/100 women years. Continuation rate was 83% at six months, 70% at 12 months, 49% at 24 months, and 39% at 36 months. Patient expulsion rate was 18% overall, with a total of 17 expulsion events/100 woman years. Subjective satisfaction with the IUD as a contraceptive method was expressed by 72% of these patients. The Cu-7 has proven to be a safe, effective, well-tolerated contraceptive method in the adolescent female.

Follow-up studies of rubella vaccinees at adolescence

This report provides the results of follow-up surveillance and postvaccination rubella HI antibody studies on adolescent girls in Cincinnati.

Chlorphentermine as an Anorexigenic Agent In Adolescent Obesity Report of Its Efficacy in a Double-Blind Study of 30 Teen-agers

Chlorphentermine proves to be a suc cessful anorexigenic agent in this study. When compared to a placebo, it produced a significant degree of weight loss and maintained its value for up to nine months of follow up. It has replaced all other drugs for the treatment of obese adoles cents in this busy clinic.

Social alienation-personal disorganization assessment in disturbed and normal adolescents.

Two groups of adolescents seeking psychotherapy (N = 91 and N = 198) and a normative group (N = 112) provided 5-minute verbal behavior protocols which were content analyzed for social alienation-personal disorganization (SA-PD). The data supported the hypothesis that adolescents applying for help in 1974 to 1975 showed greater pathology than those seen in 1972 to 1973. The normative adolescents were significantly healthier than either of the two Adolescent Clinic groups. In the clinic samples, older adolescents were more disturbed than those in the younger ranges. The SA-PD scale is a useful addition to tools available for the assessment of emotional states of adolescents. The data support the idea that there appears to be an increasing severity in the problems presented by adolescents in very recent years.

Demographic characteristics of adolescents with self-poisoning. A survey of 235 instances in Cincinnati, Ohio

The distribution by age and sex for all 235 patients is shown in Figure f . Eighty per cent were age 15 years or older. There were no differences in sex and race distribution within each age group. No seasonal distribution was noted for self-poisoning. Table 1 shows a breakdown of the population by race and sex and history of drug abuse. Most of the patients were white (74 per cent) compared to black (26 per cent).

Problems with Contraception in Adolescents The Successful Use of an Intrauterine Device

Contraceptive methods of all types have their highest failure rates in young or nulliparous females. This paper describes ex periences with intrauterine contraceptive devices in adolescents.

Survey of physician fellows in adolescent medicine.

A national survey of physician fellows in adolescent medicine from 1974 to 1979 was made. One hundred forty-six fellows were identified; 107 responded to the questionnaire. Of the 40 listed programs for 1978-1979, 29 had at least one fellow during the survey period. Eleven filled every year. Eighty-three per cent of the respondents had taken a pediatric residency, 48% were in a full-time academic or institutional program, and 56% spent 75-100% of their professional time in adolescent health care. When asked to assess whether 15 different content areas were adequately covered in their fellowships, significant content deficiencies were identified. The most frequently recommended changes were for more inpatient care (30%), opportunity to do research (25%), and more involvement with psychosocial problems (22%). Two-year fellows indicated more satisfaction with the specific content areas. More attention should be given to two-year fellowships for those physicians with serious interest in academic or institutional careers.

Pelvic calcification and autoamputation of the uterine adnexa in an adolescent

An adolescent with pelvic calcification, autoamputation of the right uterine adnexa, and surface endometriosis of the left ovary is presented. The differential diagnosis of pelvic calcifications in adolescent females is discussed.