Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese art that has been practiced for centuries. This mind-body exercise is a standard of medical care in many Asian countries. The Western world lags behind in the study of alternative medical treatments. This pilot study utilized Tai Chi to relieve anxiety in a population diagnosed with moderate-severe anxiety. This diagnosis was made by clinicians utilizing the well-respected Hamilton-Anxiety psychiatric rating scale. This non-pharmacologic method for reduction of anxiety was chosen because medications presently utilized for anxiety often cause untoward side effects. Subjects were recruited throughout the community. Patients completed a health questionnaire and were screened by a psychiatrist before and after participating in a 10-week program of Tai Chi classes lasting one hour twice weekly. The results of this study showed marked improvement in anxiety. The median beginning score for all participants on the Ham-A scale was 23 points. The median ending score after Tai Chi instruction was 12 points. The median overall difference in scores was 11 points. This pilot study demonstrated phenomenal reductions in the symptoms of anxiety. Patients also reported feeling more relaxed and peaceful. It is apparent that Tai Chi may be a clinically effective tool for reducing anxiety.

No abstract

Mechanically ventilated children usually require a combination of sedation (morphine = M, diazepam = D) and paralysis (pancuronium = P) to minimize anxiety, discomfort, and the risks of self-extubation, tracheal injury, and pulmonary barotrauma. We sought to determine whether our use of MDP varied with patient age. Cases where the dosage of MDP would be influenced by neurological, hemodynamic, or painful diagnoses were excluded. The 36 cases selected were divided according to age into three groups (< 4 months = A, 4-18 months = B, > 18 months = C). The daily sum of MDP dosages was calculated for each of the 326 study days, a mean of 9 study days for each case. The median daily drug usage in group B (2.3 mg/kg/day) was twice that in either group A (younger) or group C (older) (both p < 0.001). This finding may be explained by developmental changes in physiology, pharmacology, and behavior, and may have been influenced by a paradoxical drug effect or multiple drug antagonism.

No abstract

No abstract