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WD Abel

Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics of Persons Presenting with Deliberate Self-harm to the Accident and Emergency Department of the University Hospital of the West Indies

Issue: 
Vol 2, Issue 1 (2015): Substance Abuse and Mental Health
DOI: 
10.7727/wimjopen.2014.269
Pages: 
28–32
Synopsis: 
Most of the patients who presented with deliberate self-harm were females (64%), single (82%) and unemployed (72%). Overdose of medication was the main method of harm. There was a significant association between reason for self-harm and psychiatric illness.

ABSTRACT

Objective: The primary objective of this study was to determine the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of all persons who presented to the Accident and Emergency Department of the University Hospital of the West Indies with a history of deliberate harm over a six-month period.

Received: 
October 13, 2014
Accepted: 
October 27, 2014
Published: 
March 16, 2015
PDF Attachment: 
PDF icon Henry et al--Characteristics of Persons Presenting with Self-harm.pdf
Journal Sections: 
Original Articles
Keywords: 
Deliberate self-harm
clinical characteristics
Journal Authors: 
M Henry
P Whitehorne-Smith
WD Abel

Current Trends in Adolescent Substance Use in Jamaica

Issue: 
Vol 2, Issue 1 (2015): Substance Abuse and Mental Health
DOI: 
10.7727/wimjopen.2014.262
Pages: 
15–8
Synopsis: 
Alcohol is still the substance most widely used by Jamaican adolescents, followed by tobacco and marijuana. While the average age of initiation has slightly increased for all substances, the prevalence still remains high.

ABSTRACT

Objective: National secondary school-based drug surveys facilitate the identification and understanding of patterns of substance use among adolescents, associated risk and protective factors which exist and inform prevention and treatment interventions and policies which are appropriate for resource constrained settings. This paper analyses current trends as well as reviews trends from the last National School Survey conducted by the National Council on Drug Abuse in 2006.

Received: 
October 13, 2014
Accepted: 
October 27, 2014
Published: 
March 16, 2015
PDF Attachment: 
PDF icon Atkinson et al--Adolescent Substance Use in Jamaica.pdf
Journal Sections: 
Original Articles
Keywords: 
Drug use
Adolescence
secondary school surveys
Journal Authors: 
U Atkinson
WD Abel
P Whitehorne-Smith

Psychoactive Substance Use among Medical/Health Faculty Undergraduate Students

Issue: 
Vol 2, Issue 1 (2015): Substance Abuse and Mental Health
DOI: 
10.7727/wimjopen.2014.268
Pages: 
11–4
Synopsis: 
Preliminary results indicate that approximately one-third of medical students reported a past prevalence of psychoactive substance use and half reported their first use when they were 15–19 years old.

ABSTRACT

Objective: This study sought to explore the drug use practices of undergraduate students within the Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica.

Received: 
October 13, 2014
Accepted: 
October 27, 2014
Published: 
March 16, 2015
PDF Attachment: 
PDF icon Whitehorne-Smith et al--Psychoactive Substance Use among Medical Students.pdf
Journal Sections: 
Original Articles
Keywords: 
substance use
Medical students
university students
Journal Authors: 
P Whitehorne-Smith
C Mitchell
WD Abel
J Harrison

A Case Report of Conversion Disorder Secondary to an Unresolved Childhood History of Sexual Abuse

Issue: 
Vol 2, Issue 1 (2015): Substance Abuse and Mental Health
DOI: 
10.7727/wimjopen.2014.261
Pages: 
46–8

ABSTRACT

Conversion symptoms can develop in adults with a childhood history of chronic sexual abuse. Allowing the patient to reconstruct the trauma narrative can result in a diminution of symptoms. 

Received: 
October 13, 2014
Accepted: 
October 27, 2014
Published: 
March 16, 2015
PDF Attachment: 
PDF icon Thompson et al--Conversion Disorder Preceded by Sexual Abuse.pdf
Journal Sections: 
Case Reports
Keywords: 
Conversion disorder
sexual abuse
Journal Authors: 
EM Thompson
OJ Bernard
WD Abel

The Prevalence of Depression among Medical Inpatients at the University Hospital of the West Indies, Jamaica

Issue: 
Vol 2, Issue 1 (2015): Substance Abuse and Mental Health
DOI: 
10.7727/wimjopen.2014.267
Pages: 
33–5
Synopsis: 
There is a high prevalence of depression among patients with chronic illnesses admitted to the medical wards of the University Hospital of the West Indies. Greater attention should be directed to psychiatric evaluations in the care and treatment of these patients.

ABSTRACT

Objectives: The present research sought to determine the prevalence of depression and depressive symptoms among patients with chronic illness admitted to the medical ward at the University Hospital of the West Indies and the association between depression and sociodemographic characteristics among these patients.

Received: 
October 13, 2014
Accepted: 
October 27, 2014
Published: 
March 16, 2015
PDF Attachment: 
PDF icon Morgan et al--Prevalence of Depression among Medical Inpatients.pdf
Journal Sections: 
Original Articles
Keywords: 
Chronic illnesses
depression
medical ward
Journal Authors: 
AN Morgan
P Whitehorne-Smith
A Coore
L Simms
WD Abel
DT Gilbert

Alprazolam Dependence – The Sting in the Tail: A Case Report

Issue: 
Vol 2, Issue 1 (2015): Substance Abuse and Mental Health
DOI: 
10.7727/wimjopen.2014.271
Pages: 
52–4

ABSTRACT

Received: 
October 13, 2014
Accepted: 
October 27, 2014
Published: 
March 16, 2015
PDF Attachment: 
PDF icon Martin et al--Alprazolam Dependence.pdf
Journal Sections: 
Case Reports
Keywords: 
Alprazolam dependence
bipolar disorder
suicide
Journal Authors: 
JS Martin
WD Abel
CA Sewell

A Comparison of Substance Abuse and Mental Illness in Male Offenders in Jamaica and England and Wales

Issue: 
Vol 2, Issue 1 (2015): Substance Abuse and Mental Health
DOI: 
10.7727/wimjopen.2014.258
Pages: 
36–40
Synopsis: 
Approximately 18% of males in the Jamaican prison population have a mental illness, with substance abuse being the most frequently diagnosed.

ABSTRACT

Background: The present study sought to determine the prevalence of substance abuse, mental illness, sociodemographics and clinical characteristics of mentally ill offenders. These data were compared to data from the prison population in the United Kingdom.

Received: 
October 13, 2014
Accepted: 
October 27, 2014
Published: 
March 16, 2015
PDF Attachment: 
PDF icon Sewell et al--Substance Abuse and Mental Health in Male Offenders.pdf
Journal Sections: 
Original Articles
Keywords: 
Male offenders
substance abuse
mental illness
Journal Authors: 
CA Sewell
FW Hickling
WD Abel
S Smith
V Paisley
J Martin
J Shaw

The Impact of Cannabis Use on the Dosage of Antipsychotic Drugs in Patients Admitted on the Psychiatric Ward at the University Hospital of the West Indies

Issue: 
Vol 2, Issue 1 (2015): Substance Abuse and Mental Health
DOI: 
10.7727/wijmopen.2014.259
Pages: 
23–7
Synopsis: 
Male cannabis users presenting with psychotic disorders may not achieve optimal therapeutic benefit within seven days of chlorpromazine equivalent doses ≤ 300 mg.

ABSTRACT

Objective: To assess the impact of cannabis use on the efficacy of antipsychotic drugs in male subjects presenting to the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) with psychotic episodes.

Received: 
October 13, 2014
Accepted: 
October 27, 2014
Published: 
March 16, 2015
PDF Attachment: 
PDF icon Thomas et al--Cannabis Use on Dosage of Antipsychotic Drugs.pdf
Journal Sections: 
Original Articles
Keywords: 
Antipsychotics
cannabis
chlorpromazine equivalent dose
Journal Authors: 
P Thomas
M Gossell-Williams
CA Sewell
WD Abel
D McGrowder
J Martin

Gender Differences in Psychosocial Risk and Protective Factors for Adolescent Alcohol Use and Misuse in Jamaica

Issue: 
Vol 2, Issue 1 (2015): Substance Abuse and Mental Health
DOI: 
10.7727/wimjopen.2014.264
Pages: 
19–22
Synopsis: 
Gender differences in risk and protective factors exist among Jamaican adolescents. Further research needs to be done to determine the extent of these differences, which need to be considered in the development of more effective prevention and intervention programmes.
ABSTRACT
 
Objective: The present study sought to determine if there were gender differences in the impact of five psychosocial risk and protective factors for adolescent alcohol use. The five factors considered by the study were family relationships, self-esteem, peer pressure, religious involvement and school performance.
Received: 
October 13, 2014
Accepted: 
October 27, 2014
Published: 
March 16, 2015
PDF Attachment: 
PDF icon Whitehorne-Smith et al--Gender Differences in Alcohol Use in Jamaica.pdf
Journal Sections: 
Original Articles
Keywords: 
gender differences
substance use
risk factors
Adolescents
protective factors
Journal Authors: 
P Whitehorne-Smith
K Morgan
W De La Haye
WD Abel

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate Withdrawal in Jamaica – A Case Report

Issue: 
Vol 2, Issue 1 (2015): Substance Abuse and Mental Health
DOI: 
10.7727/wimjopen.2014.263
Pages: 
49–51

ABSTRACT

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) use became more prominent during the 1990s in various parts of the developed world. To date, no case of GHB use has been identified in Jamaica, though this drug is frequently used in other parts of the world at “raves” and other parties characterized by elaborate lights and fast-paced music. Here, a case of a 30-year old visitor to Jamaica is presented, highlighting the typical features of GHB withdrawal and the ease with which this party drug can be imported into the country.

Received: 
October 13, 2014
Accepted: 
October 27, 2014
Published: 
March 16, 2015
PDF Attachment: 
PDF icon Sewell et al--GHB Withdrawal.pdf
Journal Sections: 
Case Reports
Keywords: 
Drug use
gamma-hydroxybutyrate
GHB
prescription drug
withdrawal
Journal Authors: 
CA Sewell
R Roberts
WD Abel
J Martin
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West Indian Medical Journal

Faculty of Medical Sciences,
The University of the West Indies,
Mona, Kingston 7
Tel: (876) 927-1214
Fax: (876) 927-1846
wimj@uwimona.edu.jm
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