Martha A. Medrano

Psychological distress in childhood trauma survivors who abuse drugs

The relationships between the level of childhood maltreatment and current psychological distress were examined in a community sample of 676 substance abusing men and women using a validated self-report instrument (the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire) designed to measure physical, emotional, and sexual abuse and physical and emotional neglect. Current levels of self-reported psychological distress/symptoms were measured using a 53-item Brief Symptom Inventory. Prevalence of early trauma ranged from 44% for emotional neglect to 65% for sexual abuse. The severity of all forms of childhood maltreatment were directly associated with current psychological distress.

Childhood trauma and adult prostitution behavior in a multiethnic heterosexual drug-using population.

A cross-sectional study of the association between severity of childhood trauma and adult prostitution behaviors was conducted among 676 heterosexual drug addicts in San Antonio, Texas. Three hundred and fifty eight women and 338 men taking part in a national multisite program for AIDS prevention research completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire as part of a comprehensive risk behavior assessment. Women addicts in the sample were less educated, more likely to be in a common-law relationship, living with someone of the opposite sex or separated, and had lower incomes in comparison to men addicts. Among male subjects, higher educational levels and older age were positively associated with prostitution activities. Single female subjects were three times more likely to engage in selling sex than married subjects. Single women with higher incomes were more likely to be prostituting than single women with lower incomes. Black women reporting severe degrees of emotional abuse, emotional neglect, or physical neglect were more likely to engage in prostitution behavior than Hispanic or white women with similar levels of trauma. Black men with a history of childhood physical abuse were more likely to use prostitutes than Hispanic or white men.

Quality of life in low-income menopausal women attending primary care clinics

OBJECTIVE To examine the quality of life and health status of a population of menopausal age primary care attendees that demographically has not been well represented in previous studies, and to describe the relationships between population characteristics and outcomes. DESIGN Cross-sectional. SETTING Community primary care clinics. PATIENT(S) Women 45-60 years of age within 5 years of their last period. INTERVENTION(S) None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Participants provided demographic information and completed a series of questionnaires, including the Menopause Quality of Life Instrument (MENQOL) and the Short Form-36 health survey (SF-36). RESULT(S) Women who were employed, had higher levels of education, or higher levels of income reported better overall health and fewer menopausal symptoms. The study population scored significantly lower than the national norms on a summary survey of mental and physical health. There were no significant differences between ethnic groups with respect to either menopausal quality of life or health status. CONCLUSION(S) In a generally low income, poorly educated menopausal population, ethnicity did not significantly affect quality of life. Socioeconomic characteristics (less education and lower income) were associated with increased menopausal symptoms.

Histories of childhood trauma and the effects on risky HIV behaviors in a sample of women drug users

A cross-sectional study was conducted to examine the association between childhood trauma and current human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk behaviors of 181 active illicit-drug-using women in San Antonio, Texas. We found very few statistically significant associations, which could he explained by (a) childhood trauma subtypes not being mutually exclusive, (b) clustering of mild-to-severe forms of abuse. and (c) childhood trauma having an indirect, rather than direct, effect on HIV risk behavior. Public health implications from this study are that prevention programs need to consider past and current individual and environmental factors that influence HIV sexual risk behaviors in women drug users.

DBH, MHPG, and MAO in children with depressive, anxiety, and conduct disorders: Relationship to diagnosis and symptom ratings

Plasma 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG), plasma dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) activity, and platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) were obtained in 42 boys (7-14 years old) consecutively evaluated at a community mental health clinic. The boys were diagnosed according to DSM-III criteria by a child psychiatrist using a semistructured interview with the parent and child. The Revised Behavior Problem Checklist (RBPC) and the Revised Childrens Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS) were consecutively obtained on the last 24 subjects. No relationship of any of the plasma measures was found with respect to the DSM-III diagnoses. Plasma MHPG was positively correlated with the parents rating of the childs anxiety on the Anxiety-Withdrawal factor of the RBPC. Plasma MHPG as well as platelet MAO activity, correlated positively with the childs self-rating of anxiety on the RCMAS. Children classified by the RBPC as having high conduct symptoms and low anxiety symptoms had significantly lower plasma MHPG than those subjects with low conduct problems and high anxiety. Platelet MAO activity was found to be negatively correlated to the childs score on the Lie Scale of the RCMAS.

A national agenda for Latino cancer prevention and control

Although cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and premature death among Latinos, there is limited knowledge of cancer‐related issues and priorities of greatest significance to the Latino population, the largest minority group in the nation. This information is vital in helping to guide Latino cancer research, training, and awareness efforts at national, regional, and local levels. To help identify cancer issues of greatest relevance to Latinos, Redes En Acción, The National Hispanic/Latino Cancer Network, a major network among the National Cancer Institutes Special Populations Networks, conducted a survey of 624 key opinion leaders from around the country. Respondents were asked to rank the three cancer sites most important to Latinos in their region and the five issues of greatest significance for this populations cancer prevention and control. Recommendations were prioritized for three specific areas: 1) research, 2) training and/or professional education, and 3) awareness and/or public education. Among cancers, breast carcinoma was ranked number one, followed in order by cervical and lung carcinomas. The issues of greatest significance to Latinos were 1) access to cancer screening and care, 2) tobacco use, 3) patient–doctor communication, 4) nutrition, and 5) risk communication. This survey solicited information from scientists, health care professionals, leaders of government agencies, professional and community‐based organizations, and other stakeholders in Latino health. The results laid the foundation for a national Redes En Acción Latino cancer agenda, thus providing a useful tool for individuals and organizations engaged in cancer prevention and control efforts among the Hispanic–Latino population. Cancer 2005. Published 2005 by the American Cancer Society.

Redes en acción : Increasing hispanic participation in cancer research, training, and awareness

Hispanics are affected by many health care disparities. The National Cancer Institute (NCI), through its Special Populations Branch, is supporting networking and capacity‐building activities designed to increase Hispanic participation and leadership in cancer research. Redes En Acción established a national network of cancer research centers, community‐based organizations, and federal partners to facilitate opportunities for junior Hispanic scientists to participate in training and research projects on cancer control. Since 2000, Redes En Acción has established a network of more than 1800 Hispanic leaders involved in cancer research and education. The project has sustained 131 training positions and submitted 29 pilot projects to NCI for review, with 16 awards for a total of

Childhood trauma, sexually transmitted diseases and the perceived risk of contracting HIV in a drug using population

800,000, plus an additional

Acculturation and risky injection practices among Hispanic injectors

8.8 million in competing grant funding based on pilot study results to date. Independent research has leveraged an additional

An evaluation of the measurement equivalence of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire—Short Form across gender and race in a sample of drug-abusing adults

32 million in non‐Redes funding, and together the national and regional network sites have participated in more than 1400 community and professional awareness events. In addition, the program conducted extensive national survey research that provided the basis for the Redes En Acción Latino Cancer Report, a national agenda on Hispanic cancer issues. Redes En Acción has increased participation in cancer control research, training, and awareness among Hispanic scientists and within Hispanic communities. Cancer 2006.