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Panic - symptom or disorder? (Current approaches series)
ACCIDENT 81 EMERGENCY NURSING
SUMMARY According to Kodiath (1986): ‘The key to effective pain control is accurate assessment.’ The use of a more objective pain assessment tool in the A & E setting increases nurses’ perceptions of patients’ pain and promotes effective communication between the patient and nurses regarding their pain experience. An individual’s experience, perception and response to pain is unique, and it is vital that nurses are aware of the factors which affect this and are prepared to believe what the patient is experiencing. Accurate assessment will promote more effective pain control, improve documentation and have both quality and legal implications for patient care.
References Berker M, Hughes B 1990 Using a tool for pain assess-
107
ment. Nursing Times (86) 24: 50-52 Do&hit J 1990 Psychosocial assessment and management of paediatic pain. Journal of Emergency Nursing (16) 3: Pt 1: l&170 Hendrich G, Perry S 1982 Helping the patient in pain. American Journal of Nursing (82) 12: 1828-1833 Hunt J 1987 Journal of Pain 14: X, 303-310 Jay S M, Elliott C H, Ozolii M et al 1985 Behavioural management of children’s distress during painful medical procedures. Behavioural Research Therapy (23) 5: 513-520 Kodiath M 1986 Control the pain dilemma. Nursing Success Today (3) 8: 24-30 McCaffery M 1979 Nursing the Patient in Pain. Harper and Row, London O’Neil J 1985 Nursing assessment of the cancer patient who has protracted pain. Nursing Practice (1) 1: 20-25 Reading A, Harris C, Reed C et al 1978 Measuring the subjectiveaspects of pain. Nursing Mirror (147) 13: 1315 Sofaer B 1983 Pain Relief - the importance of communication. Nursing Times (79) 48: 32-35 Tortora G, Anagnostakos N 1990 Principles of Anatomy and Physiology 6th ed, Harper & Collins, ~428 Walker J 1992 Taking Pains. Nursing Times 88,29: 3840 Watson J, Royle J, 1987 Medical and Surgical nursing and relating physiology, 3rd Edn, BailliareTindall, Toronto p128
BOOK REVIEW
Panic - symptom or disorder? (Current Approaches Series) D. Gath and N. L. M. Goeting Duphar Medical Relations 1990 ISBN l-870678-26-5 8Opp (paperback) E5.00 Panic symptom or disorder is a collection of papers presented at a symposium held in 1989. They address the main themes and contrasting views regarding panic and anxiety. Areas include: public health impact, aetiology and behavioural, cognitive and drug therapies. There is, apparently, an increase in the number of people suffering from panic and anxiety disorders. This book attempts to provide a broad outline of current information, thinking and research relating to this subject. I feel the authors have, on the whole, clearly presented their ideas and views using appropriate references. The section on the aetiology was very interesting, covering the mechanisms of panic and reviewing the three major theories relating to panic disorders, although the sometimes complex terminology detracted from the ‘readability’. Despite this, the explanations and descriptions included were fairly straightforward.
The inclusion of the discussion notes - general and following each presentation - was an advantage and certainly helped in clarifying some of the more complex issues. I found out much about chronic panic in somatisation disorder (having never heard of it before!) I found this paper easy to read and understand, and I could identify elements of it in patients I have cared for in the past. The sections of behavioural, cognitive and drug therapies were again easy to read and understand. I found it somewhat reassuring that the drugs paper actually referred positively to the two other methods of treatment and their efficacy. Certain sections of this book would have been easier to understand if I had been more familiar with the terminology, although my personal interest and reading helped my comprehension in some areas. Overall, I feel this is a useful book but is perhaps more geared towards those with a background in Mental Health. CHRISTINE JACKSON A & E Course Teacher, Humberside College of Health
SUMMARY According to Kodiath (1986): ‘The key to effective pain control is accurate assessment.’ The use of a more objective pain assessment tool in the A & E setting increases nurses’ perceptions of patients’ pain and promotes effective communication between the patient and nurses regarding their pain experience. An individual’s experience, perception and response to pain is unique, and it is vital that nurses are aware of the factors which affect this and are prepared to believe what the patient is experiencing. Accurate assessment will promote more effective pain control, improve documentation and have both quality and legal implications for patient care.
References Berker M, Hughes B 1990 Using a tool for pain assess-
107
ment. Nursing Times (86) 24: 50-52 Do&hit J 1990 Psychosocial assessment and management of paediatic pain. Journal of Emergency Nursing (16) 3: Pt 1: l&170 Hendrich G, Perry S 1982 Helping the patient in pain. American Journal of Nursing (82) 12: 1828-1833 Hunt J 1987 Journal of Pain 14: X, 303-310 Jay S M, Elliott C H, Ozolii M et al 1985 Behavioural management of children’s distress during painful medical procedures. Behavioural Research Therapy (23) 5: 513-520 Kodiath M 1986 Control the pain dilemma. Nursing Success Today (3) 8: 24-30 McCaffery M 1979 Nursing the Patient in Pain. Harper and Row, London O’Neil J 1985 Nursing assessment of the cancer patient who has protracted pain. Nursing Practice (1) 1: 20-25 Reading A, Harris C, Reed C et al 1978 Measuring the subjectiveaspects of pain. Nursing Mirror (147) 13: 1315 Sofaer B 1983 Pain Relief - the importance of communication. Nursing Times (79) 48: 32-35 Tortora G, Anagnostakos N 1990 Principles of Anatomy and Physiology 6th ed, Harper & Collins, ~428 Walker J 1992 Taking Pains. Nursing Times 88,29: 3840 Watson J, Royle J, 1987 Medical and Surgical nursing and relating physiology, 3rd Edn, BailliareTindall, Toronto p128
BOOK REVIEW
Panic - symptom or disorder? (Current Approaches Series) D. Gath and N. L. M. Goeting Duphar Medical Relations 1990 ISBN l-870678-26-5 8Opp (paperback) E5.00 Panic symptom or disorder is a collection of papers presented at a symposium held in 1989. They address the main themes and contrasting views regarding panic and anxiety. Areas include: public health impact, aetiology and behavioural, cognitive and drug therapies. There is, apparently, an increase in the number of people suffering from panic and anxiety disorders. This book attempts to provide a broad outline of current information, thinking and research relating to this subject. I feel the authors have, on the whole, clearly presented their ideas and views using appropriate references. The section on the aetiology was very interesting, covering the mechanisms of panic and reviewing the three major theories relating to panic disorders, although the sometimes complex terminology detracted from the ‘readability’. Despite this, the explanations and descriptions included were fairly straightforward.
The inclusion of the discussion notes - general and following each presentation - was an advantage and certainly helped in clarifying some of the more complex issues. I found out much about chronic panic in somatisation disorder (having never heard of it before!) I found this paper easy to read and understand, and I could identify elements of it in patients I have cared for in the past. The sections of behavioural, cognitive and drug therapies were again easy to read and understand. I found it somewhat reassuring that the drugs paper actually referred positively to the two other methods of treatment and their efficacy. Certain sections of this book would have been easier to understand if I had been more familiar with the terminology, although my personal interest and reading helped my comprehension in some areas. Overall, I feel this is a useful book but is perhaps more geared towards those with a background in Mental Health. CHRISTINE JACKSON A & E Course Teacher, Humberside College of Health