No description available.

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Durban Institute of Technology, Durban, 2003. / The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of lIex paraguensis 6x in the treatment of nocturnal enuresis. It was part of a group research project, which intended to explore the effectiveness of a homoeopathic complex (Cantharis vesicatoria 12ch, Equisetum hymenale 12ch, Sarsaparilla 12ch, Staphysagria 12ch, Uva ursi 12ch); as well as the homoeopathic simillimum in the treatment of the above-mentioned disorder. The research focuses on children between the ages of five and eighteen living in various children's homes in Durban. The incidence of nocturnal enuresis in these institutions is high and poses a real problem to both the institutions and the affected children. Nocturnal enuresis is categorised into primary and secondary enuresis. Primary nocturnal enuresis is defined as the failure to achieve dryness consistently and accounts for more than 90 percent of all cases of enuresis (Ullom-Minnich, 1996: 2259). Secondary enuresis refers to the return of incontinence after an extended period of dryness (Ullom-Minnoch, 1996: 2259). For the purpose of this study this distinction was largely ignored as homoeopathic treatment is not reliant on a detailed diagnosis for it's efficacy. The children were however screened for chronic urinary tract infections as well as other neurological and systemic causes e.g. diabetes mellitus. Each child received a full physical examination as well as a detailed homoeopathic case taking. The aim of the above was to exclude any clear aetiologies as well as to establish the homoeopathic simillimum. The sample comprised twenty-six children, five received placebo, and twenty-one received llex paraguensis. This study was part of a larger group research, which comprised of sixty-eight children divided into four groups. Three trial groups of fifteen, sixteen and twenty-one children each, and one placebo group of sixteen children i.e. the placebo group was shared. An observation period of two weeks with the completion of enuresis diaries was used as a baseline for statistical analysis. The following two weeks formed the treatment period with each child receiving a single powder each evening before bed. The remaining four weeks formed the post treatment observation period. Upon completion of the trial, placebo group children were offered free treatment and those who wished to continue with treatment were referred to the Homoeopathic Day Clinic. Results were analysed using descriptive and non-parametric statistical procedures. The average number of wet nights was used and the results analysed both within and across the groups. The Mann-Whitney U test was applied to the inter group comparison and the Wilcoxon's Signed Rank test was applied to the intra group comparison. No statistically significant improvement was noted in either the placebo or treatment group. There was also no statistically significant difference between the two groups. This indicated an absence of response to homoeopathic treatment with lIex paraguensis. This study failed to demonstrate any clinical improvement in symptoms of nocturnal enuresis. Possible wider psychodynamic improvements or clinical improvements over a longer time period were not measured in this study. Further research could be aimed to assess these areas, before final conclusions can be made about the efficacy of homeopathic lIex paraguensis in the management of nocturnal enuresis. / M

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston University

published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Clinical Psychology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

Thesis (Dip.App.Psych.) -- University of Adelaide, Dept. of Psychology, 1977.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Florida, 1981. / Description based on print version record. Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 144-154).

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Durban Institute of Technology, 2003. / The purpose of this randomised double blind study was to evaluate the efficacy of the homoeopathic complex (Cantharis vesicatoria 12CH, Equisetum hyemale 12CH, Sarsaparilla 12CH, Delphinium staphysagria 12CH, Uva ursi 12CH) in the treatment of nocturnal enuresis with regard to the number of wet nights per week. It focused on children between the ages offive and eighteen, residing at children's homes in the greater Durban area. It was hypothesised that the homoeopathic medication would reduce the weekly incidences of bed wetting and thus provide a, safe, viable and effective alternative to existing treatment options. / M

M.Tech.

MSc (Med) Neurodevelopmental Paediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand / Background: Elimination disorders are childhood behavioural disorders. In South Africa these disorders fall within a neglected field of study when compared to physical illnesses. This report serves as formative research in order to address this neglect. Aims: To identify and summarise the clinical presentations, age and gender distribution, associated comorbid disorders and psychosocial factors in our mainly black patients from Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa. Methodology: One hundred and sixteen children aged 4 – 14 years with these conditions were enrolled into a descriptive prevalence or survey study over a period of three years. An interview questionnaire was explained and responses recorded, from the caregivers and subjects. Result: There were 72 males and 44 females and their mean age at presentation was 9 years. More males suffered from encopresis only and both elimination disorders than females. There was only one female with encopresis alone. More females had enuresis than males. A greater percentage of subjects had primary enuresis as compared to encopresis, which was predominantly secondary in nature. Mental retardation, learning disability and ADHD were common comorbid conditions. Conclusion: The prevalence of elimination disorders in children attending an outpatient paediatric facility does justify the need for a specialised elimination disorder clinic. This clinic needs to be accommodated within an ambulatory paediatric unit such as the paediatric outpatients department of the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital.

The first part of this thesis examines the psychosocial characteristics of a cohort oj 270 bedwetting children attending a community enuresis service for treatment These children were recruited to a stratified cluster randomised controlled trial which forms the second part of this thesis in which additional information wa~ provided via a multimedia computer program and written leaflets. The mail clinical outcome measures were becoming dry and remaining dry six months pos discharge, time to dry, non-attendance and dropout rates. The main psycho socia measures were maternal tolerance, the impact of bedwetting and self-esteem. Th theoretical basis for the intervention(s) was the 'incomplete learning' model c bedwetting.' It was hypothesised that the intervention (s) would improve the sell efficacy of children through the mediation of cognitive, motivational, affectiv and self-selection changes (Bandura 1977). The randomisation procedure was slightly biased with children in the comput( group being sampled from a more affluent population and those in tl control/leaflets group from a more deprived population. There were also few, children from minority ethnic groups in the computer group. Significa differences were found between the ethnic groups in response to the impact bedwetting and maternal tolerance scales, together with parents' reports of th{ child's distress and parental worry. Therefore analysis was conducted on a samI matched by Jarman scores which excluded the children from affluent areas in t computer group and children from deprived areas in the control and leaflets grm Analysis was also conducted on the entire cohort. Bedwetting children had a lower self-esteem than school children. However, selfesteem improved with treatment with the greatest changes occurring for those who became dry. Low self-esteem was significantly related to a high impact of bedwetting. The presence of housing difficulties produced the least positive response on the psychosocial measurement scales. Low parent reported child distress and less severe wetting at initial assessment predicted a successfu: outcome. Although self-esteem was significantly lower for bedwetting children compared t( the school children the mean difference of less than one item suggests this result i not clinically meaningful. Nevertheless there are clearly some bedwettinJ children with less positive psychosocial and clinical situations. Bedwetting seem to be worse psychosocially for children from less affluent backgrounds, measure by the presence of housing difficulties, and those who are most distressed by it ne only have a lower self-esteem, but they are less likely to get dry. Howeve children's self-esteem does improve with treatment. The intervention( s) made no significant difference to any of the clinical outcorr measures or any of the psychosocial measures recorded during and post-treatmel for either the matched sample or the entire cohort. The absence of an intervention effect is disappointing and suggests that it is n sufficient merely to provide novel additional information to bedwetting childre Two main problems with the study design were identified. The large variation bedwetting children's time to dry suggests the outcome measures used may not sufficiently precise to detect a difference if one was present. The computer and the leaflets may have had insufficient power to produce changes in children at the level measured. Future research might wish to use a more intensive program where the computer intervention is combined with the leaflets. Nevertheles~ whilst this intensive training input and measurement is likely to motivate somt children this will not be the case for all.