Dealing with the stress of an HIV-positive diagnosis at an Army medical center.

Following mandatory military-wide testing for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Army medical facilities have gained extensive experience with HIV-positive persons who undergo special stresses as a result of their affiliation with the military. The consequences of evacuation to medical centers for evaluation of HIV status are presented and the impact of this process on the medical center staff are considered. This paper is a description of one system designed to evaluate, treat, and support HIV-positive soldiers and their families.

Methaqualone abuse among U.S. army troops stationed in Europe.

Methaqualone (primarily Mandrax) abuse among United States troops stationed in Europe increased significantly from 1972 onward as seen by morbidity reports related to medical treatment and mortality studies related to autopsy toxicology reports. Rarely was methaqualone used alone. It was generally combined with alcohol and hashish, the combination of which resulted in an extremely dangerous situation for both the individual and society.

Methaqualone (Mandrax) abuse, urine testing, and identification: clinical correlation between a new mass urinalysis test and a military drug abuse program.

A urine test presently based on thin-layer chromatography screening and gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) confirmation has been a practical way of detecting methaqualone use in individuals. A more practical test is the radioimmuno assay for screening and GLC for confirmation. It appears that the drug methaqualone can be easily detected in the urine up to 72 hr after the last dosage. Individuals evaluated after being identified through the urine testing procedure readily admit to the use of illegal drugs and are most cooperative in giving drug abuse data, whether it is Mandrax, hashish, herion, or alcohol. The majority evaluated in this study were not in any program for drug abuse although all but one admitted to frequent drug abuse. The finding has been generally true of the other urinalysis test for drugs of abuse as the majority of the soldiers in the rehabilitation program have been identified by urinalysis over the past year. Because of the uncertainty of surveys on how prevalent was Mandrax use (anywhere from 5 to 90%, depending on who was consulted), a random selection of urines was done in September/November 1973. A total of 7,545 urine samples were tested those 2 months and the results were 2.9 and 3.9% positive respectively. Since that time and through June 1974 approximately 250 urine samples a week were tested for Mandrax based on a special request by the commander who suspected an individual of abusing Mandrax, and approximately 20 to 30% of the samples were positive. During June and July all randomly collected urines were tested and the results on a daily basis were from 1.5 to 3.5%. Since July 1974 no urines have been collected or tested. The follow-up indicates that of this number practically all are clinically confirmed as drug abusers and are entered into the Army's Drug Rehabilitation Program.

Childhood psychosis and long-term chemo and psychotherapy.

Childhood psychosis is a complex problem. The cases of any developmental deviations in children deserve its consideration. This type of child will need a multidisciplined approach involving the medical profession and those para-professionals in the educational area. The use of medication appears to be an important factor so that various other attempts at thereapy, such as speech, art, and education, can be better appreciated. Whether the child should also be labeled mentally retarded or not depends on the available facilities such as a residential center. It appears that with early detection and the start of appropriate doses of medication, that secondary mental retardation can be prevented and the deterioration to a more severe psychosis averted. Whether the psychotic picture in the long-term outlook can be stopped remains to be seen.