Pain is an unfortunate daily experience for many individuals. Chronic pain -- lasting six or more months -- is suffered by approximately 30% of the population in the United States. These individuals wake up, function during the day and go to sleep, trying to keep pain at a minimum while, at the same time, maintaining some quality of life. They may make frequent visits to the doctor and the pharmacy. When they find relief, it is usually short-lived and comes at a cost such as dependence on narcotic medications or complete limitation of activity. Pain often becomes the central point of their existence.
This practice guide describes an approach to psychological evaluation of the chronic pain patient who is being considered for surgery. A large body of research is accumulating which demonstrates that the outcome of surgical procedures aimed at chronic pain relief can be strongly influenced by psychological and emotional factors. This approach, termed "presurgical psychological screening" (PPS) uses interview and testing techniques to identify emotional, behavioral, and psychosocial difficulties which have been demonstrated to negatively impact surgical outcome. Studies show that even patients with clearly identifiable pathophysiology may respond poorly to surgery, due to issues such as pain sensitivity, medication dependence, rewards for pain behavior and personality style. Thus, some insurance carriers, rehabilitation nurses and state worker's compensation systems are encouraging, or even requiring, presurgical psychological screening in cases of surgery designed to relieve chronic pain.
The first to present a comprehensive, unified approach to PPS in chronic pain syndromes, this text is designed to provide the behavioral health practitioner, as well as the trainee, with all the tools and information necessary to conduct PPS evaluations. It identifies a multitude of risk factors for poor surgical outcome and reviews research associated with each risk factor. Hands-on techniques for eliciting information from the patient about risk factors is also detailed. Toward this end, the practice guide also contains a number of forms and session outlines which can be directly utilized, or which can be altered to fit readers' needs. Models for weighing and combining surgical outcome risk factors are also provided. Thus, practitioners are able to reach valid and reliable predictions of surgical results. Finally, the text provides outlines of psychological interventions which can facilitate surgical outcome as well as surgical treatment alternatives. Upon completion of this practice guide, readers should be able to begin providing PPS evaluations which are scientifically valid, clinically sound, and which result in significant overall improvement in the treatment of chronic pain syndromes.

This revised and updated second edition is a rhetorical analysis of written communication in the mental health community. As such, it contributes to the growing body of research being done in rhetoric and composition studies on the nature of writing and reading in highly specialized professional discourse communities. Many compelling questions answered in this volume include:
* What "ideological biases" are reflected in the language the nurse/rhetorician uses to talk to and talk about the patient?
* How does language figure into the process of constructing meaning in this context?
* What social interactions -- with the patient, with other nurses, with physicians -- influence the nurse's attempt to construct meaning in this context?
* How do the readers of assessment construct their own meanings of the assessment?
Based on an ongoing collaboration between composition studies specialists and mental health practitioners, this book presents research of value not only to writing scholars and teachers, but also to professional clinicians, their teachers, and those who read mental health records in order to make critically important decisions. It can also be valuable as a model for other scholars to follow when conducting similar long-range studies of other writing-intensive professions.

With the development of rapidly increasing medical imaging modalities and their applications, the need for computers and computing in image generation, processing, visualization, archival, transmission, modeling, and analysis has grown substantially. Computers are being integrated into almost every medical imaging system. Medical Image Analysis and Informatics demonstrates how quantitative analysis becomes possible by the application of computational procedures to medical images. Furthermore, it shows how quantitative and objective analysis facilitated by medical image informatics, CBIR, and CAD could lead to improved diagnosis by physicians. Whereas CAD has become a part of the clinical workflow in the detection of breast cancer with mammograms, it is not yet established in other applications. CBIR is an alternative and complementary approach for image retrieval based on measures derived from images, which could also facilitate CAD. This book shows how digital image processing techniques can assist in quantitative analysis of medical images, how pattern recognition and classification techniques can facilitate CAD, and how CAD systems can assist in achieving efficient diagnosis, in designing optimal treatment protocols, in analyzing the effects of or response to treatment, and in clinical management of various conditions. The book affirms that medical imaging, medical image analysis, medical image informatics, CBIR, and CAD are proven as well as essential techniques for health care.

I found this textbook to be a real bonus for my phlebotomy class. It had plenty of illustrations that complemented the text. I wound up getting an A in the class so I think the book is worth the money!" - Amazon Reviewer "Used this whole training for phlebotomy! Such a helpful informative book!" - Stacy T., Amazon Reviewer "Great book for a phlebotomy class. …lots of tips and warnings along with pertinent information and pictures." - Amazon Reviewer Enter the classroom and the laboratory with confidence! Rely on this comprehensive resource to master the techniques you need to safely obtain quality specimens. You'll understand all the hows and whys that lead to success in this rapidly changing field. Inside, you'll find the up-to-date coverage of routine procedures and their complications as well specialized procedures, quality and infection control, state-of-the-art equipment, medical terminology, ethical and legal issues, body systems, and related diagnostic laboratory tests. Videos and animations online help you to excel.

Informed by more than thirty years of experience, this guide provides a wealth of insight into the clinical observation, diagnosis and treatment of elderly patients. Organized geographically from (literally) head to toes, it concentrates on the basic geriatric physical examination with each chapter providing general information as well as helpful approaches to specific regional complaints. Emphasis is placed on assisting the dedicated clinician in becoming a more perceptive observer of elderly patients with honed skills in geriatric bedside diagnostic evaluation. The text also includes historical vignettes and anecdotes of great physical diagnosticians to demonstrate the evolution of clinical skills. Tables and line drawings complement the text.

"This book presents the technology evaluation methodology from the point of view of radiological physics and contrasts the purely physical evaluation of image quality with the determination of diagnostic outcome through the study of observer performance. The reader is taken through the arguments with concrete examples illustrated by code in R, an open source statistical language." - from the Foreword by Prof. Harold L. Kundel, Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania "This book will benefit individuals interested in observer performance evaluations in diagnostic medical imaging and provide additional insights to those that have worked in the field for many years." - Prof. Gary T. Barnes, Department of Radiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham This book provides a complete introductory overview of this growing field and its applications in medical imaging, utilizing worked examples and exercises to demystify statistics for readers of any background. It includes a tutorial on the use of the open source, widely used R software, as well as basic statistical background, before addressing localization tasks common in medical imaging. The coverage includes a discussion of study design basics and the use of the techniques in imaging system optimization, memory effects in clinical interpretations, predictions of clinical task performance, alternatives to ROC analysis, and non-medical applications. Dev P. Chakraborty, PhD, is a clinical diagnostic imaging physicist, certified by the American Board of Radiology in Diagnostic Radiological Physics and Medical Nuclear Physics. He has held faculty positions at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, University of Pennsylvania, and most recently at the University of Pittsburgh.

A concise, quick-reference handbook on history taking and physical examination Pocket Guide to Physical Assessment is a compact yet comprehensive reference for students and practitioners alike, employing a step-by-step framework for effective patient assessment, diagnosis and planning of care. This valuable guide covers topics including cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological and musculoskeletal system examinations, patient interviews, history taking and general health assessments. Clear diagrams and checklists illustrate key points, while easy-to-follow instructions and concise descriptions of clinical situations and diseases aid in clinical decision-making. Compact, pocket-sized guide that contains only the essential information for physical assessment Instructs readers on best clinical practice and how to present and communicate cases Develops and improves necessary skills for physical clinical examinations Ideal for use on the ward or as a companion to the accompanying textbook, Physical Assessment for Nurses and Healthcare Professionals Pocket Guide to Physical Assessment is an invaluable reference for healthcare students, newly qualified and advanced nurse practitioners, and allied health practitioners.

For many centuries, people have tried to learn about the state of their health. Initially, in the pre-technological period, they had to rely only on their senses. Then there were simple tools to help the human senses. The discovery of X-rays, which allowed people to look "inside" the body, turned out to be a major breakthrough. Contemporary medical diagnostics is increasingly being assisted by information technology that allows, for example, thorough image tissue analysis or pathology differentiation. They also allow very early preventive diagnostics. Influenced by information technology, "classic" diagnostic techniques change and new ones arise. Information Technology in Medical Diagnostics presents selected and extended conference papers from Polish, Ukrainian and Kazakh scientists. They address problems of the application of new methods of image processing for analysis of medical images, new methods of classification of medical data as well as new medical imaging methods. Some of the presented technologies are inspired by the functioning of living organisms. Information Technology in Medical Diagnostics is of interest not only to academics and engineers, but also to professionals involved in biomedical engineering, and seeking for solutions for issues that cannot be solved with the help of "traditional" technologies.

This straightforward guide to taking patient history comprehensively covers all of the commonly seen OSCE scenarios within the current undergraduate medical curriculum. The Easy Guide to Focused History Taking for OSCEs includes introductory chapters with general OSCE guidance, mapping onto the Calgary-Cambridge model. These include tips from recently qualified doctors and highly respected physicians and surgeons who commonly examine OSCEs, as well as a sample OSCE marking scheme. The book then covers 56 histories based on presenting complaints - more than any other text on the market - thoroughly testing both knowledge and examination technique. Each history is based around the exam requirements, with mnemonics, 'red flag' symptom boxes and list-based breakdowns to aid prompt recall. Common and serious differentials are highlighted, as well as investigations to help rule out the serious conditions. Each section concludes by outlining key aspects for each differential diagnosis as well as a list of investigations and management options. With this book, every student will be well equipped to tackle any clinical problem, in the OSCE examination and also in their continued professional practice.

Updated to reflect changes in the field since publication of the first edition in 1979. Provides a detailed review of the methodology available for assessing the diagnosis and prognosis of cancer patients including data on the application of tumor marker assays and other immunodiagnostic procedures

Addressing the early clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer disease, this book was written to evaluate the relevance of current research on the subject. It uncovers the present lack of clinical utility in research methodologies such as neuro-imaging, drug challenges, electro-encephalographic studies and brain biopsy. The essays addressing each of these issues will provide the reader with a perspective on the role of each technology in clinical practice and an in-depth introduction to the technologies and research findings in each of the areas reviewed.

The extent to which teachers should make use of theoretical and expert knowledge as opposed to tacit experiential knowledge, and how these might be combined, is a perennial issue in discussions on pedagogy. This book addresses these debates through a creative development of the concept of productive uncertainty. Using case studies focusing on teachers working with children with autism, a particularly fertile crucible for considering uncertainty, the book explores how the radical 20th century psychoanalyst Wilfred Bion's epistemological approach to uncertainty can be used to re-frame Donald Schoen's concept of reflection in action, offering a new perspective on the practice of teachers and other caring professionals. Several areas of potential uncertainty are identified, including uncertainty relating to areas of practice including diagnosis, the relationship between expert knowledge and practice, the implications of autism for autonomy and agency, and uncertainties in relation to the understanding of and use of new technologies. A strong argument is made, based on both theoretical and empirical grounds, that in juggling between theoretical and tacit knowledge in the classroom there is more to be gained by staying with the struggle with uncertainty than by fleeing from it too early, into the promise of expert solutions. Consideration is also given to the relative importance of specific theoretical training for teachers, both in general and in relation to working with children with special educational needs, in the context of international and UK policy developments in this area. This book will be of key value to researchers and postgraduates in the fields of education studies, teacher thinking and research, psychoanalytically informed psychosocial studies, as well as to practitioners working in special educational needs/autism education.

A practical, accessible and insightful handbook on reading the eye. The human eye is a blueprint of the bodies genetically inherited strengths and weaknesses: a comprehensive health profile that allows one to make informed dietary and lifestyle choices that fully support one's unique constitution. This book is a guide to the often-misunderstood subject; a practical manual that can be easily used by medical professionals and interested enthusiasts alike. Complete with high quality photographs, charts and detailed case studies, this essential book should be a staple on every modern health care practitioner's bookshelf. Taking a holistic approach, author Sarah Donoghue explores the subject of iridology from a scientific, physical and emotional perspective. It allows readers to safely examine the iris and make confident assessments, as well as formulate individualised herbal, dietary and lifestyle interventions based on information gleaned from the depths of the endlessly fascinating iris!

This book highlights assessment techniques, issues, and procedures that appeal to practicing clinicians. Rather than a comprehensive handbook of various tests and measures, The Clinical Assessment of Children and Adolescents is a practitioner-friendly text that provides guidance for test selection, interpretation, and application. With topics ranging from personality assessment to behavioral assessment to the assessment of depression and thought disorder, the leaders in the field of child and adolescent measurement outline selection and interpretation of measures in a manner that is most relevant to clinicians and graduate students. Each chapter makes use of extensive case material in order to highlight issues of applicability.

Here's a user-friendly, readable introduction to the study of electrocardiography. It guides you in capturing and interpreting ECGs, with an eye towards clinical correlation for easy application to your practice. New in this edition are increased content on pediatric ECGs, implantable cardiodefibrillators, and pacemakers. Comprehensively and expertly describes how to capture and interpret all normal and abnormal ECG findings in adults and children. Features the expertise of internationally recognized authorities on electrocardiography, for advanced assistance in mastering the subtle but critical nuances of this complex diagnostic modality. Features new chapters on pediatric electrocardiography that explore rhythm problems associated with pediatric obesity, heart failure, and athletic activity. Presents a new chapter on recording and interpreting heart rhythms in patients with pacemakers. Includes new material on interpreting ECG findings associated with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators. Provides fully updated coverage on the increased importance of ECGs in stress testing.

For centuries the analysis of the heart rhythm has belonged to the foundations of medical art. We know that doctors in ancient Tibet used the interpretation of the heart rate to draw prognostic conclusions-somehow a modern rationale-that deserves further attention. The rapid advancement of science is providing more and more information about the details, but the subatomic resolution of structures hides the risk and the complex procedures are fragmented into static impressions. The same has happened to the ECG. The revolutionary development, acknowledged by the Nobel Prize for Einthoven, ledfromtheanalysisofthedynamicheartratetothestaticanalysisofthe heartstream curve. It is only with the ECG Holter recording over longer periods that the cardiologists rediscovered the old dynamic. With the continuous recording of the heart rate and its periodicity, it became accessible to a new dimension, a dim- sion that requires technically well-de?ned foundations for accurate data coll- tion, detailed knowledge of the electrocardiologic particularities of arrhythmia, and medical knowledge for the translation of the results into a diagnostic synthesis. With the ECG Holter the issue is no longer just to detect an arrhythmia, but also to determine dynamic circumstance in which the critical event occurred. In fact, we investigate the trigger, the event, and the context, and we have to integrate all of that information within the clinical picture, from the pathology right through to the symptom-indeed a multi-dimensional task.

Recent advances in medicine for resuscitation and care have led to an increased number of patients that survive severe brain damage but who are poorly responsive and non-communicative at the bedside. This has led to a striking need to better characterize, understand, and manage this population who present a real challenge for the assessment of pain and for planning treatment. This edited collection provides clinicians with a guide to recent developments in research on pain perception and assessment, and the detection of consciousness and communication in patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC). With contributions from leading global researchers, the book gives an overview of issues concerning the assessment of pain. It also covers the development of suitable tools both to improve pain management and to detect consciousness and communication in these patients, to influence their prognosis and treatment, and their quality of life. Methodological and ethical issues concerning the implication for future research are also considered. The book will be an invaluable guide for clinicians, medics and therapists working in rehabilitation and acute care, particularly in the demanding field of pain perception, pain assessment and detection of consciousness and communication in patients with DOC. It will also be useful for students and researchers in neuropsychology and medical sciences.

Recent advances in medicine for resuscitation and care have led to an increased number of patients that survive severe brain damage but who are poorly responsive and non-communicative at the bedside. This has led to a striking need to better characterize, understand, and manage this population who present a real challenge for the assessment of pain and for planning treatment. This edited collection provides clinicians with a guide to recent developments in research on pain perception and assessment, and the detection of consciousness and communication in patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC). With contributions from leading global researchers, the book gives an overview of issues concerning the assessment of pain. It also covers the development of suitable tools both to improve pain management and to detect consciousness and communication in these patients, to influence their prognosis and treatment, and their quality of life. Methodological and ethical issues concerning the implication for future research are also considered. The book will be an invaluable guide for clinicians, medics and therapists working in rehabilitation and acute care, particularly in the demanding field of pain perception, pain assessment and detection of consciousness and communication in patients with DOC. It will also be useful for students and researchers in neuropsychology and medical sciences.

The genesis of this book goes back to the conference held at the University of Bologna, June 1999, on collaborative work between the University of California at Berkeley and the University of Bologna. The book, in its present form, is a compilation of some of the recent work using geometric partial differential equations and the level set methodology in medical and biomedical image analysis.The book not only gives a good overview on some of the traditional applications in medical imagery such as, CT, MR, Ultrasound, but also shows some new and exciting applications in the area of Life Sciences, such as confocal microscope image understanding.

This unique and comprehensive atlas by an expert practioner provides an innovative pictorial guide to flexible bronchoscopy, one of the most exciting and challenging procedures in respiratory medicine today. Includes the very latest procedures and techniques Comprehensive coverage, guides you through the range of anatomical and pathological possibilities A step-by-step guide to the use of bronchoscopic techniques, interpretation of images and differential diagnoses Integrates naked eye, bronchoscopic and radiological anatomy to give you a thorough understanding of the procedure Numerous full colour illustrations and sound practical advice make this a key text for learning and refining your technique The book will be invaluable to those training in respiratory medicine, plus also specialist respiratory nurses and practising pulmonologists who wish to expand their practice and knowledge of the technique.

Volume 68 in the internationally acclaimed Advances in Clinical Chemistry contains chapters authored by world renowned clinical laboratory scientists, physicians and research scientists. The serial provides the latest and most up-to-date technologies related to the field of Clinical Chemistry and is the benchmark for novel analytical approaches in the clinical laboratory.

Assessing Psychosis: A Clinician's Guide offers both a practical guide and rich clinical resource for a broad audience of mental-health practitioners seeking to sharpen their understanding of diagnostic issues, clinical concepts, and assessment methods that aid in detecting the presence of psychotic phenomena. Practicing psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and psychiatric nurses will find this a valuable resource for clinical practice, training, and teaching purposes.

This new edition provides paediatricians with the latest developments in the diagnosis of diseases and disorders in children. Divided into five sections, the book begins with a colour atlas illustrating different signs and symptoms. The following chapters describe numerous common paediatric presentations with guidance on differential diagnosis. The book concludes with sections on differential diagnosis of select clinical signs, salient laboratory findings, and select radiologic signs. The sixth edition has been fully revised and features new topics including micrognathia, Potter's face syndrome, mediastinal shift, and more. Key points Guide to latest developments in differential diagnosis of paediatric diseases and disorders Fully revised, sixth edition featuring several new topics Includes comprehensive colour atlas illustrating different signs and symptoms Previous edition (9788184487275) published in 2008

Combining a professional development course on diagnostic endoscopy from SPIE (the international society advancing light-based research) and the authorsa (TM) graduate course on biomedical optics, this work is written for researchers in medical optics and biomedical engineering as well as graduate medical optics students. It uses extensive examples/case studiesto familiarize readers with the the basics of endoscopic optics, the pros and cons of white light endoscopy and fluorescence endoscopy for diagnostic applications, and various microscopic endoscopy imaging modalities.It covers basic optics, details of design and biomedical uses, as well as microscopic endoscopy, and endoscopic spectroscopy.