Towards an evaluation of the effectiveness of an epilepsy nurse in primary care.

This paper reports on early results of an investigation of the effectiveness of a specialist epilepsy nurse in primary care. Based on before-and-after interviews with sub-samples of adults with epilepsy, these results suggest that not only are expectations of the usefulness of epilepsy nurse interventions high, but also that these expectations are not disappointed in practice. Particular areas where epilepsy nurses may be able to complement and enhance medical approaches to treatment and care are identified.

Minor psychiatric morbidity and menstruation.

The extent of minor psychiatric morbidity in a community sample of women aged 16-44 was investigated, using the 30-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). The relationship between psychiatric ill health and the reporting of menstrual distress, measured by a modified version of the Moos Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MMDQ), was then examined for three phases of the menstrual cycle--the premenstruum, the menstrual flow and the remainder of the cycle. Positive associations were found between psychiatric ill health and the reporting of distinctive patterns of distress in the premenstruum and during the menstrual flow.

Menstrual symptoms, attitudes and consulting behaviour.

Menstrual symptoms are extremely common and yet consultation rates for menstrual symptoms are low. This paper examines the prevalence, nature and severity of the menstrual symptoms reported by a community sample of 79 women aged 16-44. A typology of women's attitudes towards menstruation is constructed.

Kinship and friendship networks and women's demand for primary care.

Women's perceptions of illness are examined and the effects of lay consultations and social networks on the use of general practitioner services are explored.A sample of 79 women aged 16-44 from a new estate in London completed six-week health diaries and were subsequently interviewed. Symptoms were recorded in the diaries one day in every three, and the ratio of medical consultations to symptom episodes was 1:18.