Use of Palliative Oxygen in Cancer Patients.

Despite the lack of evidence to support the use of palliative oxygen to relieve dyspnea at the end of life, its prescription is widespread and often supported by local and national practice guidelines. The objectives of this study were (1) to determine to what extent oxygen prescriptions meet the proposed prescription criteria in our institution, (2) to examine the indication of individual prescriptions in relation to the severity of dyspnea and (3) to review the utilization of opioids in patients receiving palliative oxygen. Retrospective chart review of cancer patients who were prescribed palliative oxygen between April 2015 and January 2020 through a respiratory home care program in Quebec City, Canada.

Treatment-resistant major depressive disorder: Canadian expert consensus on definition and assessment.

Background: Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is a debilitating chronic mental illness that confers increased morbidity and mortality, decreases the quality of life, impairs occupational, social, and offspring development, and translates into increased costs on the healthcare system. The goal of this study is to reach an agreement on the concept, definition, staging model, and assessment of TRD.

Methods: This study involved a review of the literature and a modified Delphi process for consensus agreement.

Delivery of electroconvulsive therapy in Canada: a first national survey report on usage, treatment practice, and facilities.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to document electroconvulsive therapy use in Canada with respect to treatment facilities and caseloads based on a survey of practice (Canadian Electroconvulsive Therapy Survey/Enquete Canadienne Sur Les Electrochocs-CANECTS/ECANEC) and to consider these findings in the context of guideline recommendations.

Method: All 1273 registered hospitals in Canada were contacted, and 175 sites were identified as providing electroconvulsive therapy; these sites were invited to complete a comprehensive questionnaire. The survey period was calendar year 2006 or fiscal year 2006/2007.

Electroconvulsive therapy teaching in Canada: cause for concern.

Aim: The objective of this study was to present survey data on the teaching of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in health care centers across Canada.

Methods: Of 1273 centers identified, 175 were found to practice ECT. These centers were asked to complete a questionnaire, and 107 (61%) of them answered 5 questions dealing specifically with ECT teaching.

The Canadian Survey of Standards of Electroconvulsive Therapy Practice: a call for accreditation.

Objective: To report the results of the policies and procedures subsection of a nationwide electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) survey: Canadian Electroconvulsive Therapy Survey/Enquête canadienne sur les electrochocs.

Method: We contacted 1273 registered health care institutions in Canada and invited the 175 centres identified as providing ECT to complete a comprehensive postal questionnaire. Nonresponding sites were repeatedly reminded and then eventually contacted by telephone.

Canadian survey of perianesthetic care for patients receiving electroconvulsive therapy.

Objectives: We report on the anesthesia subsection of a comprehensive nationwide survey (Canadian Electroconvulsive Therapy Survey/Enquête canadienne sur les electrochocs) on the practice of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in Canada.

Methods: This comprehensive survey was sent to the 175 Canadian institutions identified as providers of ECT in 2007. Among other topics, 9 anesthesia-related questions were administered regarding anesthesiology consultation; high-risk patients; credentials of the anesthesia provider; monitoring, airway, and resuscitation equipment; anesthetic induction, muscle relaxant, vasoactive, and other perianesthetic drugs and practices; and postanesthetic discharge.

Bilateral anterior capsulotomy for intractable depression.

A group of eight patients with severe depression lasting 6 years or longer were treated with anterior capsulotomy and followed prospectively. Stereotactic surgery was used to produce radiofrequency lesions in the anterior limbs of both internal capsules. For all patients, there are follow-up data for at least 24 months.

Access to electroconvulsive therapy services in Canada.

Objectives: We sought to determine factors governing access to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in Canada.

Methods: We contacted all 1273 registered health care institutions in Canada and invited the 175 centers identified as providing ECT to complete a comprehensive questionnaire. To determine geographic access to ECT, we used a geographic information system, population density data, and road network data.

Diet induced weight loss accelerates onset of negative alliesthesia in obese women.

Background: The physiological and behavioral responses to hypocaloric diet are to increase energy intake to defend a steady body weight. We utilized the method of "negative alliesthesia" for measuring the hedonic reponse to sweet stimulus before (Initial session) and 3 months after entering a weight loss program. The negative alliesthesia test is known by physiologists but few clinical data exist.