22nd November 1997

An Opportunity to Participate in a Research Project

To Fellow PPSers,

Two months ago, I mentioned on this list service that a senior resident in psychiatry and myself were planning a research project into the incidence and severity of anxiety symptoms and depression in individuals experiencing post polio syndrome. This research will be done by a survey which includes the Beck depression and anxiety scales. We are aware that many symptoms of PPS are physical manifestations of PPS and not necessarily indicative of an anxiety disorder or a major depressive disorder. The cost of this project is being underwritten by the Department of Psychiatry at the Medical College of Virginia. I am still a clinical faculty member at MCV and have encouraged the undertaking of this project.

We will be mailing surveys out to the mailing lists of several support groups around the country (or world). If any of you are officers in local support groups and would like these surveys mailed to your membership, please contact me by e-mail, phone or snail mail. All members of this list service who have PPS are invited to participate in this survey. The survey is anonymous. Simply e-mail me your mailing address and a survey will be sent to you with a postage paid return envelope. If this project proves to be informative, we hope to have the results published. We are hoping for at least 500 participants. Even if it is not published, I will post the results on this service. If you have any questions, please contact me.

Henry Holland
Henry4FDR@aol.com
804-288-8295

301 Westham Pkwy.
Richmond, VA
23229-7432

Posted to the SJU Polio Mailing List, 19th November 1997

Additional Information:

Fellow PPSers,

I am pleased that many of you are interested in participating in the PPS survey which I mentioned on this list service two days ago. A few have asked some questions which I hope to clarify with this post.

1. You do not have to have a "formal" diagnosis of Post Polio Syndrome by a health care professional in order to participate. If you feel reasonably confident that you have PPS, please feel free to participate.
2. I will need your mailing address (snail mail) in order to send you a survey. The surveys will be originating from the Medical College of Virginia and will include a postage paid envelope to return the survey. Some have e-mailed me indicating a willingness to participate, but did not provide a mailing address.
3. I can assure you that the survey is anonymous. You will have the opportunity to voluntarily sign it if you choose. There might be a few individuals who might benefit receiving some feedback, but we are mainly interested in obtaining a large group of participants.
4. I am hopeful that the surveys will be mailed to you around the 1st of December.
5. I am in the process of determining if the survey could be sent by e-mail, but I am not confident if that will occur.

Feel free to ask any questions. I can assure that this research investigation is done with honest intent and good will. Dr. Rizwan Ali is the senior resident who is doing most of the leg work and brain work on this project. He is from Pakistan where the live polio virus still exists. As a physician in Pakistan, he worked with children and is aware that PPS will be a problem for many polio survivors in his country. He also has a close friend with PPS who lives in Washington, D.C. He will be presenting his findings from this survey on April 3, 1998 at a formal Grand Rounds at the Medical College of Virginia. I plan to be present unless my own PPS prevents me from attending. Members of my own PPSG here will be invited to attend the presentation as well as any of you who might live in this area.

Thanks for your interest,

Henry Holland
Henry4FDR@aol.com

Posted to the SJU Polio Mailing List, 20th November 1997

LincsPPN Editorial Note:
A selection of Dr. Henry Holland's posts to the SJU Polio Mailing List including biographical notes can be found in found in the "Dr. Henry Writes" catalogue section of our Library.

6th November 1997

USA - "Polio" in Chair Wins VA Lt. Gov. Election

The GOP took control of the State Senate in Virginia for the first time since Reconstruction with political newcomer John Hager defeating former U.S. Rep. L.F. Payne, a conservative Democrat, in the November 4 election for Lieutenant Governor.

Hager, age 59 and a former American Tobacco Co. executive who uses a wheelchair because of polio, spoke often during the campaign about how he battled back from the disease in early adulthood to resume a successful business career.

In Virginia, the State Senate is split 20-20 between the parties and the lieutenant governor is responsible for breaking ties. Hager said his tie-breaking responsibilities in the Senate might be necessary to push through the virtual elimination of the personal property tax on cars, the key campaign pledge of Jim Gilmore, the Republican elected Governor.

Tom Walter tomincal@aol.com