RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Somatoform disorders may have their roots in childhood through processes that involve an enhanced parental focus on health. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that somatizing mothers will show less joint involvement than other mothers during play but greater responsiveness when this play involves a 'medical' theme. METHOD: Cross-sectional observational study of 42 chronic somatizers, 44 organically ill and 50 healthy mothers and their 4-8 year-old children during structured play and a meal. Tasks comprised boxes containing tea-set items, 'medical' items and a light snack. RESULTS: Somatizing mothers were emotionally flatter and showed lower rates of joint attention than other mothers during both play tasks. While the three groups had similar rate of bids for attention, somatizing mothers were more responsive to their child's bids during play with the medical box than at other times. In contrast, the children of somatizing mothers ignored a greater proportion of their mother's bids during play with the medical box than did children of other mothers or during play with a non-medical theme. CONCLUSION: The study has demonstrated tentative evidence in support of the hypothesis.
Asunto(s)
Atención , Madres/psicología , Trastornos Somatomorfos/genética , Afecto , Actitud Frente a la Salud , Conducta Infantil , Preescolar , Enfermedad Crónica , Estudios Transversales , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Conducta Materna/psicología , Relaciones Madre-Hijo , Grabación en CintaRESUMEN
The frequency of urinary tract infection before and during pelvic radiotherapy was studied prospectively in 172 patients who were not catheterised and had not had instrumentation for at least 4 weeks prior to radiotherapy. The incidence of urinary tract infection prior to radiotherapy was 17% and a further 17% of patients developed a urinary tract infection during radiotherapy. Mid-stream specimens of urine (MSU) should be examined for infection on a weekly basis during pelvic radiotherapy not only to identify this additional 17% of patients but also to detect those patients who have persistent urinary tract infection in spite of treatment with appropriate antibiotics.