The Transmission of Trauma from Mother to Infant: Radioactive Residues and Counter-Transference in the Case of a Haitian Mother and Her Two-Year-Old Son*

ABSTRACT

Close observation of the interactions between a traumatised mother and her infant son provides information on the modes of transmission of psychic trauma in the mother–infant dyad. Following the presentation of a current literature review on the theme, the subject of “radioactive residue” and counter-transference in the transmission of psychic trauma from mother to infant will be illustrated through a clinical case study that focuses on a Haitian mother and her two-year-old infant son who has been referred to a “transitional care nursery” in urban Paris. The encounter with this mother–infant dyad is analysed through observing the quality of the interactions that take place between the mother and infant in order to determine how a particularly traumatic narrative impacts the mother–infant relationship, in addition to relations with the clinician. Mother and infant respond to one another through the emission and reception of “radioactive residues” as hypothesized by Gampel. This clinical case study shows that there is a need to consider transcultural factors and collective experience and history when analysing traumatic events. Additionally, the case study shows that counter-transference can be an effective clinical tool for gaining access to an infant's experience as the recipient of a traumatic narrative.     

Does acute peripheral trauma contribute to idiopathic adult-onset dystonia?

BackgroundAcute peripheral trauma is a controversial risk factor for idiopathic dystonia.Materials and methodsWe retrospectively analyzed data from the Italian Dystonia Registry regarding the occurrence of acute peripheral trauma severe enough to require medical attention in 1382 patients with adult-onset idiopathic dystonia and 200 patients with acquired adult-onset dystonia.ResultsPatients with idiopathic and acquired dystonia showed a similar burden of peripheral trauma in terms of the number of patients who experienced trauma (115/1382 vs. 12/200, p = 0.3) and the overall number of injuries (145 for the 1382 idiopathic patients and 14 for the 200 patients with secondary dystonia, p = 0.2). Most traumas occurred before the onset of idiopathic or secondary dystonia but only a minority of such injuries (14 in the idiopathic group, 2 in the acquired group, p = 0.6) affected the same body part as that affected by dystonia. In the idiopathic group, the elapsed time between trauma and dystonia onset was 8.1 ± 9.2 years; only six of the 145 traumas (4.1%) experienced by 5/1382 idiopathic patients (0.36%) occurred one year or less before dystonia onset; in the acquired dystonia group, the two patients experienced prior trauma to the dystonic body part 5 and 6 years before dystonia development.Discussion and conclusionOur data suggest that the contribution of peripheral acute trauma to idiopathic dystonia is negligible, if anything, and likely involves only a small subset of patients.     

Self-reported outcomes of a randomized trial comparing three community health worker interventions for diabetes prevention among Cambodian Americans with depression

ObjectiveCambodian Americans have complex, interrelated and persistent medical and mental health problems stemming from genocide and the social determinants of health. We examined changes in multiple domains of self-reported health outcomes from a diabetes prevention trial. Methods: Cambodian Americans with depression and high risk for diabetes (n = 188) were randomized to one of three community health worker interventions: lifestyle vs lifestyle plus medication therapy management vs social services. Assessments were at baseline, 12- and 15-months. Results: The typical participant was 55 years old, female, earned below $20,000 annually, and had 7 years of education. About one-third were taking antidepressant medication and over half had elevated depressive symptoms. Relative to social services, lifestyle and lifestyle plus medication therapy management were both similarly effective at increasing diabetes knowledge, nutrition habits, sleep quality and decreasing pain; 2) lifestyle alone was superior to social services for self-reported health; and, 3) all three groups showed improved anxiety and insomnia. There were no effects on physical activity or physical functioning. Conclusion: Community health worker interventions have multiple benefits beyond delaying diabetes. Practice Implications: Health promotion programs that are designed and delivered appropriately can impact even hard to reach and hard to treat groups.     

Optimizing access and configuration of trauma centre care in New South Wales

IntroductionGetting the right patient, to the right place, at the right time is dependent on a multitude of modifiable and non-modifiable factors. One potentially modifiable factor is the number and location of trauma centres (TC). Overabundance of TC dilutes volumes and could be associated with worse outcomes. We describe a methodology that evaluates trauma system reconfiguration without reductions in potential access to care. We used the mature trauma system of New South Wales (NSW) as a model given the perceived overabundance of urban major trauma centres (MTC).MethodsWe first evaluated potential access to TC care via ground and air transport through the use of geographic information systems (GIS) network analysis. Potential access was defined as the proportion of the population living within 60-min transport time from a potential scene of injury to a TC by ground or rotary-wing aircraft. Sensitivity analyses were carried out in order to account for potential pre-hospital interventions and/or transport delays; travel times of 15-, 30-, 45-, 60-, and 90-min were also analyzed. We then evaluated if the current configuration of the system (number of urban MTS in the Sydney basin) could be optimized without reductions in potential access to care using two GIS methodologies: location-allocation and individual removal of MTC.Results86% of the NSW population has potential access to a TC within 60 min ground travel time; potential access improves to 99% with rotary-wing transport. The 1% of the population without potential TC access lives in 48% of the land area (>384,000km2). Utilizing two different methodologies we identified that there was no change in potential access by ground transport after removing 1 or 2 MTC in the Sydney basin at the 30-, 45-, and 60-min transport times. However, 0.02% and 0.5% of the population would not have potential access to MTC care at 15 min after removing one and two MTC respectively.DiscussionRedistribution of the number of MTC in the Sydney basin could be achieved without a significant impact on potential access to care. Our approach can be utilized as an initial tool to evaluate a trauma system where overabundance of coverage is present.     

The relationship between childhood maltreatment and psychopathology in adults undergoing bariatric surgery

Background

A history of childhood maltreatment and psychopathology are common in adults with obesity.

醋酸精氨酸对创烧伤患者预后的影响及安全性分析——86例多中心、随机、双盲、安慰剂对照试验

目的观察服用醋酸精氨酸对创烧伤患者预后的影响及可能出现的不良反应。方法采用多中心、随机、双盲、安慰剂平行对照的研究方法,将96例创烧伤患者(实际完成86例)随机分为治疗组和对照组,治疗组41例,服用醋酸精氨酸0．4 g·kg-1·d-1;对照组45例,服用安慰剂酪氨酸,剂量同前,均连用7 d。两组患者采用等氮、等热量的营养支持疗法。比较患者创面(切口)愈合时间、住院时间及不良反应发生情况。结果创伤患者治疗组(29例)创面(切口)愈合时间和住院时间分别为(11．1±2．8)、(19±6)d,明显短于对照组(13．2±5．5)、(22±6)d(33例,P< 0．05);烧伤患者治疗组(12例)创面愈合时间和住院时间各为(20±5)、(28±6)d,与对照组(22±8)、(29±8)d(12例)比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0．05)。在整个试验过程中,患者出现的不良反应为恶心、腹泻,其中治疗组1例占2．44％,对照组1例占2．22％,两组比较差异无统计学意义(P= 1．000)。以上不良反应停药后消失。结论服用醋酸精氨酸能显著促进创伤患者创面(切口)愈合,缩短住院时间,且无明显不良反应,但对烧伤患者的预后无明显改善,这可能与病例数较少有关,其确切疗效有待于通过大样本的临床试验予以确定。     

180篇创伤骨科论文临床疗效研究方法的评估

目的了解目前我国创伤临床病例研究的主要应用手段和研究水平。方法对中华骨科学会创伤学组2002年年会投稿临床病例研究稿件进行总结分析,对稿件论述的研究范围、研究对象、病例数量、骨折分类、研究方法、随访评价、统计分析应用等方面进行统计研究。结果大会收到225篇稿件。其中随访临床病例报告180篇。报告病例1万多例、范围广,包括了当前主要的临床治疗方法。回顾性研究中,对临床资料进行统计学分析的论文仅占少数(6.1%)。对骨折分类方法及临床随访结果评价标准不统一,欠规范。无前瞻性研究报告。结论创伤临床病例研究方法有待进一步改进。