This study is from a social work viewpoint and examines the nature and classification of the cases of alcoholism admitted to the Psychiatric Ward of a General Hospital. It gives particular emphasis to underlying personality factors and their relation to cause and cure. The case material was gleaned from records compiled by members of the medical staff and delineates three categories of alcoholics, namely, (a) those who can be helped by case-work treatment, b) those who cannot be helped by case-work because of deep-seated problems, but whose families can be helped, and (c), those who cannot be helped by either direct or indirect means. The findings of this study indicate the need for case-work services (a) in screening alcoholic patients who probably cannot benefit from treatment, (b) in determining the best treatment procedure for those who can be treated, (c) in working with other professional personnel in an integrated team approach to treatment, (d) in helping the patient with rehabilitation from the hospital, and (e), in preventive work in the community. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate

Bibliography: pages 158-170. / A randomised, placebo-controlled double-blind crossover design was employed in assessing the effects of piracetam treatment on the functional capacities of abstinent chronic alcoholics. A sample of 63 subjects, selected for reliability (to counteract an anticipated high drop-out rate) and for a minimum period of abstinence from problem drinking of three months was drawn from the William Slater Hospital, Rondebosch and commenced the trial. The trial consisted of two 8-week periods, with daily dosages of 4,8gm of piracetam or placebo. Subjects were assessed on a psychometric battery yielding a total of 31 scores at baseline, crossover (8 weeks) and trial termination (16 weeks). The final sample size was 48 after drop-outs and noncompliance had been taken into account. Scoring of test data for these subjects was completed before breaking protocols. Results were analysed by means, of two way analysis of variance with repeated measures on the trials variable. Only two of the 31 analyses yielded significant differences between piracetam and the placebo. These yielded opposed results, and as this number of significant results could be expected due to chance alone, it was concluded that they were probably chance results and that no differences existed between the effects of piracetam and placebo on the functional capacities of chronic alcoholics.

For a number of years a history of sudden onset of coma, followed later by death, was noted amongst Africans at King Edward VIII hospital, Durban. Necropsy, where performed, revealed no cause in many of these patients. In 1957 after cerebrospinal fluid had been examined in some of the cases it was seen that the only abnormality present was a low cerebrospinal sugar. Hypoglycaemia was suspected and blood sugar estimation confirmed it. Further investigation failed to reveal the cause of the hypoglycaemia and in some cases because of a "flat" glucose tolerance curve organic hyperinsulinism was suspected. In one case total pancreatectomy was performed but thorough macroscopical and histological investigation failed to reveal a tumour or hyperplasia, and the patient subsequently suffered from diabetes. In August 1958, I admitted an African female patient, of 26 years, to the ward in coma.

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Thesis (M.A.) -- University of Texas at Arlington, 2008.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2001. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains x, 137 p. : ill. Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 104-114).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Florida, 1982. / Description based on print version record. Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 92-111).

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