Eating disorders in young women with type 1 diabetes. Prevalence, problems and prevention.

Disordered eating attitudes and behavior are common and persistent in adolescent and young adult females with type 1 diabetes, and are associated with impaired metabolic control and a higher risk of diabetes-related complications. Specific aspects of diabetes and its management, e.g.

Eating disturbances, diabetes and the family: an empirical study.

This study of 113 adolescent females with IDDM and their mothers investigated whether: (1) interaction patterns are more dysfunctional in families of girls with eating disturbances than in those without; and (2) the relationship between family functioning and metabolic control is mediated by an eating disturbance. Based on self-reported eating attitudes and behaviors, subjects were categorized as Nondisturbed (N = 56), Mildly Disturbed (N = 37), and Highly Disturbed (N = 20). Mothers and daughters rated overall family functioning (FES), and daughters rated parental relationships (IPPA, MFP).

Family factors in adolescent unipolar depression.

This paper reviews the current literature on the contribution of family factors to unipolar depression among adolescents. Research which examined the following factors was reviewed and evaluated: genetic transmission, parental depression, parental death, quality of attachment and family interaction. Studies had to meet the following criteria to be included: publication must have been between the years 1985 and 1992; the evaluation had to be empirical with some form of control; a dependent measure of family characteristics or functioning; the adolescent had to be between the ages of 13 to 19; and the adolescent had to meet the recognizable criteria for unipolar depression.

Student learning experiences with Jamaican practitioners.

Due to the destruction of teaching facilities in primary care by a recent hurricane, first clinical year medical students were placed with general practitioners, in order to fulfil the requirements of a community medicine clerkship. Student feedback indicated a very high level of interest, with a variety of learning experiences--the attitudinal attributes of general practitioners ranking highest. This experience has provided a useful opportunity to enhance the training of medical students and to develop collaborative links with non-university physicians.

The prevalence of health insurance in a Jamaican suburb and its correlations with service utilisation.

The prevalence of health insurance in a low-income Jamaican community was determined from a systematic sample of 103 households. A household prevalence for health insurance of 32 per cent was found. Differentials in health service utilisation were more striking for private practitioner services where the highest correlation with coverage was found (r = 0.