bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A follow‐up study of dementia diagnosed in the community using the Cambridge Mental Disorders of the Elderly Examination
Authors: O'Connor D. W. , Pollitt P. A. , Hyde J. B. , Fellows J. L. , Miller N. D. , Roth M.
Published: August 2007

Elderly Cambridge residents diagnosed as demented using the Cambridge Mental Disorders of the Elderly Examination (CAMDEX) were reviewed approximately 12 months later. Diagnoses were confirmed in 133 of 137 surviving cases (97%). Subjects said to have minimal dementia (cognitive impairment insufficient to warrant a diagnosis of dementia proper) had a varied outcome. Only 6 out of 29 survivors showed progressive intellectual deterioration and 13 were reclassified as normal. Subjects passed as normal in the first year of the study were reviewed using the Mini‐Mental State Examination. We cannot be certain how many were actually dementing, but our findings suggest that only a small number of false negative diagnoses were made in the first year of the study.
Limitations of the Mini‐Mental State Examination in predicting neuropsychological functioning in a psychiatric sample
Authors: Faustman W. O. , Moses J. A. , Csernansky J. G.
Published: August 2007

The present study examined the ability of the Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE), a cognitive screening test commonly employed in research and clinical applications, to predict level of performance on a comprehensive neuropsychological battery, the Luria‐Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery (LNNB). The tests were administered to a diagnostically mixed sample of 90 psychiatric inpatients. Correlations between the tests were statistically significant but modest and the MMSE was not able to detect many patients who demonstrated significant deficits on the LNNB. Additional correlational analyses between the MMSE and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale‐Revised in a subset of patients (n= 72) also showed a modest relationship between these instruments. The results suggest that the MMSE may seriously underestimate cognitive impairment in samples exclusively composed of psychiatric patients, making it inappropriate to rely solely on this instrument to distinguish psychiatric patients with and without cognitive deficit.
Risk factors for aggressive behaviour are of limited value in predicting the violent behaviour of acute involuntarily admitted patients
Authors: Palmstierna T. , Wistedt B.
Published: August 2007

Violent behaviour within 8 and 28 days respectively was related by a multivariate statistical procedure to risk factors for aggressive behaviour in an epidemiologically representative sample of 105 acute involuntarily admitted patients. Previous violent behaviour by the patient was found to correlate significantly with aggressive behaviour during the first 8 days of admission, and abuse of drugs other than alcohol was found to correlate significantly with aggressive behaviour during the first 28 days of admission. Determination coefficients were very low, and it is concluded that risk factors associated with aggressive behaviour are of limited value in predicting aggressive behaviour among acute involuntarily admitted inpatients.
Diagnostic and therapeutic value of testing stimulation of thyroid‐stimulating hormone by thyrotropin‐releasing hormone in 100 depressed patients
Authors: Vanelle J.M. , Poirier M.F. , Benkelfat C. , Galinowski A. , Sechter D. , de Luca H. Suzini , Lǒo H.
Published: August 2007

The thyrotropin‐releasing hormone (TRH) test was performed in 100 depressed patients, including 73 patients with a major depressive episode (MDE) according to DSM‐III. Thirty‐one patients subsequently received an antidepressant with a predominant serotoninergic action (indalpine or citalopram), and 27 patients received a noradrenergic antidepressant (maprotiline). The diagnostic value of the TRH test was not conclusive for any of the subgroups of depressed patients: MDE, MDE with melancholia or MDE in bipolar patients. Similarly, the value of the TRH test in the choice of antidepressant treatment according to the monoaminergic action was not convincing. These results are discussed in the light of the data of the international literature.
Premenstrual depression predicts future major depressive disorder
Authors: Graze K. K. , Nee J. , Endicott J.
Published: August 2007

To assess the power of premenstrual changes as a risk factor for future major depressive disorder (MDD), we conducted a follow‐up study of 36 women who had volunteered for menstrual cycle studies. Scores on the depressive subscale of the Premenstrual Assessment Form (PAF) at initial evaluation were found to be significantly correlated (r= 0.35) with the occurrence of MDD during the follow‐up period. Moreover, multiple regression analysis indicated that the PAF scores had predictive value above and beyond 2 known risk factors for MDD, family history of depression and prior personal history of depression. The Premenstrual Change Index, a score derived from prospective daily self‐ratings of severity of dysphoric symptoms, was also correlated with interval MDD, but did not enhance the predictive power of the PAF score. We conclude that the assessment of premenstrual depression has validity in identifying women at risk for future MDD, even when a retrospective instrument, PAF, is utilized for such assessment.
Infantile autism: diagnosis and treatment
Authors: Gillberg C.
Published: August 2007

This article reviews recent developments in the diagnosis and treatment of infantile autism. Autism is currently conceptualized as a behavioural syndrome with multiple biological aetiologies. A diagnosis of infantile autism implies that a thorough neurobiological investigation is called for. The core psychological deficit necessary and sufficient to cause central autism symptoms is gradually being defined. The multiple aetiologies of autism will lead to multiple treatment in the future. At the present stage structured education and behaviour modification provide the cornerstones of any treatment programme.
Reactive psychosis and mortality
Authors: Jørgensen P. , Mortensen P. B.
Published: August 2007

Reactive psychosis is generally thought of as a nosological term of favourable course and outcome. Studies of mortality risk following this psychosis are sparse and inconclusive. This study shows that using mortality as an index of outcome, first‐admitted patients with reactive psychosis have as poor an outcome as patients with the endogenous psychoses schizophrenia and manic‐depressive psychosis, and thus an excess mortality risk compared with that of the population in general. Reactive depressed patients have even a higher relative mortality risk than endogenous depressed patients. Certain precautions are attached to the use of diagnostic classification of first admissions and especially for reactive psychosis. But as this is a commonly used diagnostic term in Scandinavian psychiatry, the high relative mortality risk is notable. In the search for methods of prevention, the cause of death will be examined in future studies.
Secondary depression in panic disorder: an indicator of severity with a weak effect on outcome in alprazolam and imipramine treatment
Authors: Rosenberg R. , Bech P. , Mellergård M. , Ottosson J.‐O.
Published: August 2007

Depressive symptoms are frequent in panic disorder. Among 123 Scandinavian patients participating in a placebo‐controlled multicenter study of the efficacy of alprazolam and imipramine treatment in panic disorder, 21% and 23% fulfilled the DSM‐III criteria of current and past major depressive episode, respectively, and 17% had dysthymia, even when melancholia and depressive episode with onset prior to the panic symptoms were excluded. According to a subscale of the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) with higher validity than the full scale, 18% were classified as major depression and 57% as minor depression. A major finding was that patients with affective symptoms had higher scores on many psychopathological measures, including several Symptom Checklist‐90 factors. Accordingly, secondary depression was suggested as an indicator of the severity of panic disorder. Depressed and nondepressed patients significantly improved on major outcome measures, but patients with current minor or major depression improved less. Although the sample was too small for detailed analysis of differences in drug efficacy, there was no indication that imipramine was more effective than alprazolam, considering scores on an HRSD subscale.
Central cholinergic functioning and aging
Authors: Müller W. E. , Stoll L. , Schubert T. , Gelbmann C. M.
Published: August 2007

Normal aging in experimental animals and humans has been demonstrated to affect various aspects of central cholinergic functions. Although deficits at the levels of the number of cholinergic neurons, the acetylcholine synthesis, and the number of muscarinic cholinergic receptors are probably less relevant, deficits at the levels of acetylcholine release, muscarinic cholinergic receptor plasticity, as well as muscarinic cholinergic receptor function are fairly pronounced and seem to justify the assumption that the functioning of the central cholinergic system is impaired by aging. However, whether these cholinergic deficits of normal aging are the sole neurochemical basis to explain age‐associated memory impairment or whether other transmitter systems also play a role is still a matter of controversy.
The nature and treatment of excessive gambling
Authors: England S. Legg , Götestam K. G.
Published: August 2007

Satisfactory models of the nature and treatment of excessive gambling must incorporate behavioural, cognitive, emotional and physiological findings. The acquisition of gambling behaviour is apparently influenced by social exposure and financial reinforcement. Continuation is promoted by partial reinforcement schedules and biased cognitions. Excessive gambling also involves changes in the individual's internal state, including physiological arousal, euphoria, distraction and perceived control. These effects might depend on the prior characteristics of the individual. Treatment should remove conditioned triggers, establish alternative means of financial and internal regulation, and reduce the individual's need for the financial and subjective rewards provided by gambling. Treatment goals and resources are discussed.
Lithium carbonate in chronic schizophrenia — a brief trial of lithium carbonate added to neuroleptics for treatment of resistant schizophrenic patients
Authors: Collins P. J. , Larkin E. P. , Shubsachs A. P. W.
Published: August 2007

The value of lithium carbonate as an adjunctive treatment of resistant schizophrenia was tested in a 4‐week clinical trial using a single‐blind, randomized, consent design. Treatment and control groups were drawn from a population of detained patients in an English special (maximum security) hospital. The 2 groups were comparable in terms of age, sex, severity of symptoms, length of hospitalization and concurrent neuroleptic dosage. The addition of lithium carbonate to the treatment regimen did not result in symptomatic improvement in patients completing the treatment protocol. The ethical and practical difficulties raised by the trial are discussed.
Assessment of child psychopathology: relationships between different methods, different informants and clinical judgment of severity
Authors: Verhulst F. C. , van der Ende J.
Published: August 2007

The purpose of this study was to assess the relationships between information on children's problem behavior obtained by different methods (rating scales and clinical interviews) and from different sources (adolescent, parents and teacher). From a sample of 132 14‐year‐old international adoptees and their parents, information was obtained via the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), the Youth Self‐Report and the Teacher's Report Form, the Child Assessment Schedule, and the Graham and Rutter Parent Interview. Agreement between the CBCL and the clinical judgment of the severity of psychopathology was substantial. Assessment procedures providing data on the adolescents’ functioning derived from different sources revealed less agreement than those derived from the same informant. Agreement was higher for externalizing than for internalizing behaviors. Data from different sources made unique contributions to clinicians’ judgments of the severity of psychopathology.
Long‐term use of aversive drugs in outpatient alcoholism treatment
Authors: Öjehagen A. , Skjaerris A. , Berglund M.
Published: August 2007

In a 2‐year outpatient treatment programme for alcoholics, 90% of the patients used aversive drugs during some part of the treatment period. Long‐term use was significantly related to a favourable drinking outcome during 2 years subsequent to treatment compared with short‐term use. Long‐term and short‐term users did not differ in background data. Continued use of aversive drugs after the first 6 months might have been critical for favourable outcome.
Paroxetine and imipramine treatment of depressive patients in a controlled multicentre study with plasma amino acid measurements
Authors: Nielsen O. A. , Morsing I. , Petersen J. S. , Larsen T. , Møller S. E. , Manniche P. M. , Skausig O. B. , Bille N. , Fredslund‐Andersen F. , Jensen E. , Jensen T. , Meidahl B. , Ring G. , Stender A. , Stouby V. , Treufeldt P. , Vogt C. H.
Published: August 2007

In a 12‐week double‐blind study with 36 patients with major depressive episode (DSM‐III), paroxetine (Seroxat® Aropax® showed significantly quicker onset of efficacy on the Melancholia Scale, and better tolerance than imipramine. Plasma concentration analyses showed no clear concentration‐efficacy correlation in either treatment group. During long‐term treatment paroxetine seemed to be superior to imipramine in preventing relapse: both treatments were well tolerated. A significant correlation between baseline plasma tryptophan: large neutral amino acids ratio and final Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) score and a trend towards an inverse correlation between this ratio and percentage reduction in HRSD score were seen in the paroxetine group but not in the imipramine group. In line with previous studies, these results support the hypothesis that paroxetine is an effective and well tolerated antidepressant.
Deliberate self‐poisoning: repeaters and nonrepeaters admitted to an intensive care unit
Authors: Öjehagen A. , Regnéll G. , Träskman‐Bendz L.
Published: August 2007

Seventy‐nine patients admitted to the Lund Intensive Care Unit after deliberate self‐poisoning were investigated by a psychiatrist and a social worker by means of a semi structured interview. Suicide risk evaluation included statistical risk factors according to the SAD PERSONS Scale, severity of suicidal intent according to the Suicidal Intent Scale, and interviewer reaction according to Motto. Two‐thirds of the patients were in treatment or had had counselling with a social worker. More than half of the sample were repeaters. Compared with nonrepeaters, repeaters were less often employed, lacked social support and more often had relational problems. The majority of the repeaters had ongoing treatment, mostly psychiatric treatment. Repeaters more often acted impulsively, and their suicidal intent tended to be less severe than those of nonrepeaters. Interviewers more often reacted with negative or neutral feelings towards repeaters. Our results indicate that those who repeat suicidal behaviour differ from nonrepeaters. Self‐poisoners, and especially repeaters, often had ongoing or previous psychiatric treatment. For the repeater group it is important to consider their impulse dyscontrol and their hostile attitude when alternative treatment strategies are devised and evaluated.
Somatization and conversion disorders: comorbidity and demographics at presentation
Authors: Tomasson K. , Kent D. , Coryell W.
Published: August 2007

Although somatization disorder and conversion disorder are linked in DSM‐III and DSM‐III‐R, they have very different histories. To directly compare these disorders, we reviewed the records accrued for 2 years at a large medical center and identified 65 somatization disorder patients and 51 conversion disorder patients. They differed substantially. The large majority (78%) of conversion disorder patients and nearly all (95%) of the somatization disorder patients were women. Ages at onset occurred throughout the life span among conversion disorder patients but mostly before the age of 21 among the somatization disorder patients. Somatization disorder patients were more likely to have had a history of depression, attempted suicide, panic disorder and divorce.
Standardized Assessment of Depressive Disorders: a replicated study from northern India
Authors: Gupta R. , Singh P. , Verma S. , Garg D.
Published: August 2007

A total of 91 subjects with depressive disorder have been studied using the WHO‐standardized Standardized Assessment of Depressive Disorders (SADD). The 10 most frequently reported symptoms were sadness, anxiety, joylessness, lack of energy, hopelessness, loss of interest, disruption of social functioning, irritability, loss of ability to concentrate and lack of appetite. The results of this study are compared with other available work on SADD.
Comparative study of affective disorders in three Asian countries. II. Differences in prevalence rates and symptom presentation
Authors: Nakane Y. , Ohta Y. , Radford M. , Yan H. , Wang X. , Lee H. Y. , Min S. K. , Michitsuji S. , Ohtsuka T.
Published: August 2007

This study used standardized diagnostic criteria and method to investigate both prevalence rates and nature of symptoms of depressive disorders in three Asian centres – Nagasaki. Shanghai and Seoul. Of the patients who visited a psychiatric clinic in each of the 3 centres for the first time, over 20% suffered from depression. Unlike previous reported prevalence rates for Asian countries, these results suggest that rates in Asia may not be much lower than those reported in Western countries. Although prevalence rates of depression were similar in all 3 centres, differences in symptoms were noted.
Effect of medical school stress on the mental health of medical students in early and late clinical curriculum
Authors: Bramness J. G. , Fixdal T. C. , Vaglum P.
Published: August 2007

Earlier research has shown that medical students in the United Kingdom and the United States report a higher level of nervous symptoms than the general population. To better understand how medical students in Norway compare with these findings, 299 male and female students in the clinical curriculum at the University of Oslo were asked to complete a questionnaire about themselves and their mental health. Medical students in Norway do not differ from the general population in mental health. However, the students report a lower level of general self‐esteem than the general population. The male students had more nervous symptoms and a less general self‐esteem than the female students compared with the general population. This research also shows that medical school stress is a good predictor of nervous symptoms even when psychosocial variables such as marital or cohabitation status, confident other and general self‐esteem are taken into consideration.
A comparative study of immune status in panic disorder patients and controls
Authors: Ramesh C. , Yeragani V. K. , Balon R. , Pohl R.
Published: August 2007

Alterations of immunocompetence in various mental disorders have been reported. We studied white blood cell counts and immunoglobulin levels in 59 panic disorder patients and 30 controls. The significantly increased IgA levels and tendency toward increase in other immunoglobulins in panic disorder patients suggest an immune dysfunction.
The Cronholm‐Ottosson Depression Scale: the first depression scale designed to rate changes during treatment
Authors: Bech P.
Published: August 2007

In 1960 Ottosson published the first specific depression rating scale (the Cronholm‐Ottosson Depression Scale) designed to be sensitive in measuring change during antidepressive therapy. Ottosson and his group have never used factor analysis to validate the scale, as the items of the scale were selected on a preconceived idea for homogeneity, i.e. having a monotonic correspondance to the underlying dimension of severity of depression. The most appropriate method of testing the construct validity of the Cronholm‐Ottosson Depression Scale is latent structure analysis. Using the original Ottosson data, a latent structure analysis has been made showing that the 8 items of the scale are homogeneously related, i.e. can be ordered on one dimension of severity of depression. The descriptive statistic of a 50% reduction of pretreatment score (or more) equaled the global clinical score of moderate to excellent improvement. Both scales showed that, already after 4 electroconvulsive treatments, about 80% of depressed patients who received adequate fits had moderate to excellent improvement, whereas only around 40% of depressed patients who received inadequate fits improved moderately or excellently.
Traditional perceptions and treatment of mental disorders in western Ethiopia before the 1974 revolution
Authors: Jacobsson L. , Merdasa F.
Published: August 2007

This article describes the traditional concepts and treatment of mental disorders in the Oromo areas in western Ethiopia before the revolution in 1974. There are three traditional cultural influences operating: traditional Oromo thinking, the Coptic church and the Islamic culture. One important element in traditional Oromo thinking is that each person is believed to possess an ayana, which is a special divine agent that can descend upon people, but also means a person's character and personality. In the traditional Oromo society, the Kallu is the religious leader who, through an ecstatic ritual technique, can investigate the causes of the disorder and advise what to do. Mental disorders are generally explained as resulting from disturbances in the relationship between people and divinity. The second important cultural element in western Ethiopia is the orthodox Coptic church, which usually looks upon mental disorders as possession by evil spirits, which are thus treated by specially gifted priests and monks by praying and giving holy water or eventually exhortation. According to Islamic teaching in the area, mental disorders are caused by evil spirits sent by God to punish the unfaithful people. Some Muslim sheiks treat mental cases with prayers, but herbal remedies are also used. There is a great intermingling of these different cultural and religious elements and people attend different healers and religious leaders more depending on the reputation of the person than on cultural and religious affiliation.
Changes in antisocial aggressiveness during treatment in a hierarchical therapeutic community. A prospective study of personality changes
Authors: Ravndal E. , Vaglum P.
Published: August 2007

Thirty‐six consecutive substance abusers were examined at intake and after 1 year of residency in a hierarchical therapeutic community using the personality instruments Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI) and Basic Character Inventory. Two antisocial aggressiveness subgroups were identified: a no‐increase group (n= 11) that had high intake scores on MCMI antisocial aggression, small changes during the stay and a high dropout rate (45%) as outpatients: and an increase group (n= 25) with lower scores at intake and a low dropout rate (20%). A high level of antisocial aggressiveness at intake was related to dropout in the no‐increase group, and a high degree of increase in antisocial aggressiveness was related to dropout in the increase group. The results show the importance of monitoring antisocial aggressiveness during treatment.
Dopaminergic hypothesis for retarded depression: a symptom profile for predicting therapeutical responses
Authors: Rampello L. , Nicoletti G. , Raffaele R.
Published: August 2007

We assessed the therapeutical efficacy of various antidepressants (amineptine, minaprine and clomipramine) in patients affected by retarded depression. All patients exhibited symptoms of retardation, including hypokinesia, anergia, reduction of speech, increased salivation, hypersomnia, Parinaud's syndrome, reduced sexual activity, slowness, hypomimia, orthostatic hypotension, dysphagia and drowsiness. Antidepressant drugs were administered for a 6‐week period in a randomized double‐blind vs placebo design. The rank order of clinical effectiveness (amineptine > > minaprine>clomipramine>placebo) paralleled the specificity of antidepressants as dopaminomimetic agents. These results support the view that a reduced dopaminergic transmission contributes to the pathophysiology of retarded depression.
Psychophysiological response patterns in panic disorder
Authors: Hoehn‐Saric R. , McLeod D. R. , Zimmerli W. D.
Published: August 2007

To determine whether panic disorder patients exhibit physiological hyper‐arousal during rest or during mild, non‐panic‐inducing stress, 18 patients who experienced frequent panic attacks were compared with nonanxious controls on a battery of physiological assessments. During baseline, patients with panic disorder exhibited higher forehead electromyographic activity, higher systolic blood pressure and higher heart rates than non‐anxious volunteers. During psychological stress, heart rate and systolic blood pressure rose more in patients with panic disorder than in nonanxious controls. The skin conductance response, however, was greater and more variable in the nonanxious controls. The results suggest that panic disorder patients with frequent panic attacks exhibit heightened cardiovascular arousal and decreased electrodermal flexibility than nonanxious people, even in nonthreatening situations.
The Panic‐Associated Symptom Scale: measuring the severity of panic disorder
Authors: Argyle N. , Deltito J. , Allerup P. , Maier W. , Albus M. , Nutzinger D. , Ayuso J. L. , Bech P. , Rasmussen S.
Published: August 2007

The Panic‐Associated Symptom Scale (PASS) is presented as a new measurement of the severity of the core symptoms of panic disorder. This first description addresses the rationale for its design and its scoring, score distributions, test‐retest reliability, correlations within the PASS and with other scales, principal component structure, and response to drug therapy. Data are presented from a large study group of patients with panic disorder (n= 1168). Problems in measuring panic disorder are discussed.
Diagnosing personality disorders in psychiatric inpatients
Authors: Jackson H. J. , Whiteside H. L. , Bates G. W. , Bell R. , Rudd R. P. , Edwards J.
Published: August 2007

This study investigated assumptions made by DSM‐III and DSM‐III‐R regarding Axis I ‐ Axis II associations and sex differences for the 11 personality disorders (PD). A total of 112 patients formed 4 Axis I diagnostic groups: recent‐onset schizophrenia (n= 35); recent‐onset mania (n= 26); unipolar affective disorder (n= 30); and a mixed diagnostic group (n= 21). The prevalence of PD was determined using the Structured Interview for DSM‐III Personality Disorders (SIDP). Schizophrenia was associated with antisocial PD and schizotypal PD; manic disorder was associated with histrionic PD; and unipolar affective disorder was associated with borderline, dependent and avoidant PD. Some of these results were consistent with DSM‐III/DSM‐III‐R postulates. However, there was little support for the DSM‐III/DSM‐III‐R statements on sex differences in the prevalence of PD, except for antisocial PD. The implications of the results for DSM‐III/DSM‐III‐R assumptions are discussed.
Trichotillomania in childhood
Authors: Hamdan‐Allen G.
Published: August 2007

Trichotillomania is the irresistible urge to pluck one's own body hair. It is a chronic mental illness that imposes severe limitations on the patient's social, emotional, and occupational adjustment. A review of the literature is presented; the clinical picture, psychiatric implications, possible etiologic theories, and treatment issues are discussed. It is concluded that trichotillomania is a disorder with multifaceted pathology that is best overcome by an interdisciplinary approach to treatment.
Children and adolescents with obsessive‐compulsive disorder: the demographic and diagnostic characteristics of 61 Danish patients
Authors: Thomsen P. H. , Mikkelsen H. U.
Published: August 2007

To find children and adolescents with obsessive‐compulsive disorder (OCD), a review was made of all the charts of the 4594 nonretarded, nonpsychotic patients treated at the Children's Psychiatric Hospital in Risskov, Denmark, as in‐or outpatients from 1970 to 1986. Sixty‐one children and adolescents (37 boys and 24 girls) fulfilled the DSM‐III criteria for OCD. The frequency of OCD in a child psychiatric clientele was 1.33%, which supports earlier findings. Only 8 of the 61 children were actually discharged with a diagnosis of OCD (ICD‐8 diagnosis). Most children were diagnosed as neurosis infantilis and about one fifth received a diagnosis of maladjustment. The possible reasons for this are discussed. It is concluded that it is hardly a matter of underdiagnosing OCD, but more likely an attempt to look upon the obsessive‐compulsive symptoms as transient phenomena and perhaps an unwillingness among clinicians to use the diagnosis of OCD, which is often connected with a bad prognosis. Boys and girls with OCD did not differ significantly on important demographic items.
Psychiatric aspects of multiple sclerosis
Authors: Bal M. A. Arias , Vázquez‐Barquero J. L. , Peña C. , Miro J. , Berciano J. A.
Published: August 2007

A consecutive sample of 50 patients with a diagnosis of definite multiple sclerosis was evaluated by means of the Clinical Interview Schedule (CIS) and other psychopathological instruments. A global prevalence of psychopathology of 54% was found, with the prevalence of depression being 22%. Moreover, 46% of the sample presented signs indicative of neuropsychological deterioration in the Benton Visual Retention Test. The association between the presence of psychopathology and the social and neurological characteristics of the sample was also investigated, with results of low significance.
Long‐term clinical outcome of schizophrenia with special reference to gender differences
Authors: Opjordsmoen S.
Published: August 2007

A sample of 94 first‐admitted schizophrenics and 47 patients with schizophreniform disorder (DSM‐III) was personally re‐examined after a mean of 10 years (by Retterstöl), and 110 of the patients after a mean of 31 years (by the author). Nearly half of the patients were admitted in 1946‐1948 (long‐term) and the remaining in 1958‐1961 (short‐term). Average outcome was significantly more favourable for short‐term than for long‐term patients. Single marital status and no, minimal or mild psychosocial stressor at onset (Axis IV) predicted poor long‐term outcome. At 10‐year follow‐up there was no difference between men and women in clinical outcome. No substantial change was revealed in men at last follow‐up, whereas on average women had clearly deteriorated.
A survey of the living conditions and psychological states of elderly people admitted to nursing homes in Japan
Authors: Horiguchi J. , Inami Y.
Published: August 2007

We investigated the living conditions and the prevalence of depression in 920 elderly subjects admitted to 32 nursing homes. Their prevalence of depression was compared with that of 1153 elderly subjects living in the community. The prevalence of depression was determined by the Zung Self‐Rating Depression Scale. Over half of the nursing home subjects were admitted directly from their familial residence and had been under supervision for more than 3 years. Most subjects participated in outdoor leisure activities, attended recreational events, communicated freely with others, and were visited by their children and relatives. Only 10% had living spouses. We evaluated 61% of the elderly people in the nursing homes and 36% of the elderly people in the community as depressed, a statistically significant difference.
Negative symptoms and visual behavior in DSM‐III‐R prognostic subtypes of schizophreniform disorder
Authors: Troisi A. , Pasini A. , Bersani G. , Mauro M. Di , Ciani N.
Published: August 2007

Eighteen male patients with a DSM‐III‐R diagnosis of schizophreniform disorder were rated on the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms and their visual behavior during interview was recorded through an ethological technique. Affective flattening, alogia and the global severity of the negative‐symptom syndrome were found to be more prominent among poor‐prognosis patients. In addition, compared with patients with good prognostic features, poor‐prognosis patients showed a pattern of visual behavior (less eye contact and more eye closures) suggesting poor rapport with the interviewer. The results demonstrate that cross‐sectional phenomenology of patients with DSM‐III‐R schizophreniform disorder shows differences in important clinical domains, such as negative symptoms and capacity to establish and maintain social interaction.
The P300 component of the auditory event‐related potential in monozygotic and dizygotic twins
Authors: Rogers T. D. , Deary I.
Published: August 2007

The P300 component of the auditory event‐related potential was recorded from 10 pairs of monozygotic (MZ) twins and 11 pairs of dizygotic (DZ) twins during an auditory discrimination task. The within‐pair similarity of P300 latency was significantly greater in MZ than in DZ twins. The within‐pair similarity of P300 amplitude was not significantly greater in MZ than in DZ twins. These results support previous findings suggesting that P300 latency is largely genetically determined.
Lithium alone or in combination with carbamazepine for the treatment of rapid‐cycling bipolar affective disorder
Authors: Costanzo E. Di , Schifano F.
Published: August 2007

The authors retrospectively examined the clinical outcome (after 1,2 and 5 years of beginning the therapeutic protocols) for 16 rapid‐cycling bipolar affective disorder patients given either lithium alone or lithium plus carbamazepine. The results suggest that both therapeutic protocols have been safe and clinically effective. However, improvement was observed earlier in the patients given lithium and carbamazepine.
Mental disorders in first‐degree relatives of schizophrenics
Authors: Onstad S. , Skre I. , Edvardsen J. , Torgersen S. , Kringlen E.
Published: August 2007

A total 215 first‐degree relatives of 88 twin probands with schizophrenia, mood disorders and nonaffective psychoses were studied. The twins’ parents and siblings were personally interviewed with structured diagnostic instruments and diagnosed in accordance with DSM‐III‐R criteria. The first‐degree relatives were interviewed by interviewers who were blind to the twins’ diagnoses. Schizophrenia and schizotypal personality disorder were significantly more frequent in first‐degree relatives of schizophrenic twins. Respectively, anxiety and mood disorders were significantly more prevalent among the parents and siblings of probands with mood disorders. Schizophrenic spectrum disorders were significantly more common in the families of schizophrenic probands compared with relatives of mood disorder probands, thus confirming a relationship between schizophrenia and schizophrenic spectrum disorders. However, we cannot, based on our study, specify whether this relationship is caused by genetic or environmental factors.
A multivariate study of simultaneous escape from suppression by dexamethasone of urinary free cortisol, plasma cortisol, adrenocorticotropic hormone and β‐endorphin in melancholic patients
Authors: Maes M. , Vandervorst C. , Suy E. , Minner B. , Raus J.
Published: August 2007

To investigate the relationships between pre‐ and postdexamethasone hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal (HPA) axis functioning in depression, we measured the levels of baseline and postdexamethasone urinary free cortisol (UFC), plasma cortisol, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and β‐endorphin. We found that dexamethasone significantly suppressed all hormone levels. All 4 postdexamethasone hormones ‐ but not their baseline levels ‐ were significantly higher in melancholic subjects than in minor and simple major depressives. We have accumulated evidence that the melancholic and minor depression groups form discrete classes in postdexamethasone HPA axis hormone levels; this supports the biological heterogeneity hypothesis of melancholia. We found that a combination of the postdexamethasone UFC and β‐endorphin values yielded the most significant diagnostic tool for melancholia. Our results suggest that the measurements of both hormones may constitute the most accurate index reflecting the HPA axis escape from suppression by dexamethasone in melancholia. By means of pathway analysis, we determined the causal relationships between age, dexamethasone circulating levels, diagnostic depression classification and the various baseline and postdexamethasone hormone values.
Nocturnal wandering caused by restless legs and short‐acting benzodiazepines
Authors: Lauerma H.
Published: August 2007

A patient with incapacitating restless‐leg syndrome had suffered from repetitive confusional states exclusively after use of short‐acting benzodiazepines. Complete removal of symptoms was achieved using levodopa. An association between many reported adverse reactions to triazolam and the common syndrome of restless legs or nocturnal myoclonus is suggested.
The Life Skills Profile: psychometric properties of a measure assessing function and disability in schizophrenia
Authors: Parker G. , Rosen A. , Emdur N. , Hadzi‐Pavlov D.
Published: August 2007

The Life Skills Profile (LSP) was developed as a measure of function and disability in schizophrenia. We now report a number of studies assessing its psychometric properties, principally when completed by case workers, residential carers and parents. We demonstrate high test‐retest reliability for all 3 rater groups. High interrater reliability was demonstrated between raters of the same background (such as parent vs parent) and when co‐ratings by caseworkers and residential carers were examined. By contrast, parents rated differently to case workers and residential carers, a finding that could reflect different raters “knowing” subjects in different ways, or the effects of response biases. To pursue the latter possibility, the influences of rater “burden of care” and “optimism” were examined. A concurrent validity study is reported, offering additional support for the validity of the measure.
Prevalence of problem behavior in Dutch children aged 2‐3
Authors: Koot Hans M. , Verhulst Frank C.
Published: August 2007

The present study provides prevalence data on behavioral and emotional problems in Dutch preschool children from the general population. The Child Behavior Checklist for ages 2‐3 (3) was completed by parents of 421 children aged 2‐3 living in the Dutch province of Zuid‐Holland. Mean 3‐week test‐retest reliability of the instrument was .79 (pearson correlation) and the mean interparent agreement was .47. The CBCL/2‐3 scores correlated positively and significantly (mean r of .65) with the BCL, an instrument designed to measure behavior problems, and not substantially (mean rof‐.06) with the MCDI, an instrument to assess the child's level of general development. For each of the 99 problem items the prevalence rates were presented graphically for boys and girls in 6‐months age‐groups. The prevalence rates of individual problem items ranged from 1% to 80%. Sixteen percent of the items was scored for more than half of the sample, indicating that the behavior covered in these items may be quite common in young preschool children. In this sample 7.8% of the children were estimated to have a behavior problem, which compares well to the rates found in other studies. No age, sex, or SES differences in total problem scores were found. Almost all significant age, sex, and SES differences found for individual items were small. Age differences found for individual problem items probably reflect the growing self‐other differentiation in 2‐3‐year‐olds. Analysis of sex differences revealed that boys were rated to be more aggressive and oppositional and as having more developmental problems, and that girls were rated to have more sleep problems. SES differences were found for items which reflect hyperactive, under‐controlled, dependent, and depressed behaviors.

Comparison of problem scores for referred and nonreferred preschool children indicated higher scores for referred children on 72 of the 99 problem items. The largest differences were found for the items Doesn't get along with other children, Wants a lot of attention, and Can't concentrate. Based on the total problem score 70 percent of the children could be correctly classified as referred or non‐referred. A large percentage of children, however, was incorrectly classified based on the total problem score alone.
Birthweight and obstetric complications in schizophrenic twins
Authors: Onstad S. , Skre I. , Torgersen S. , Kringlen E.
Published: August 2007

Birthweight and obstetric complications were registered retrospectively in 24 monozygotic (MZ) twin pairs. Sixteen pairs were discordant and 8 pairs were concordant for DSM‐III‐R schizophrenia. There was no significant intrapair difference in birthweight between the 2 groups of MZ twins. Prematurity was more often observed in the discordant pairs, but neither differences in prematurity nor differences in obstetric complications between the concordant and discordant twins reached significance. No difference in respect of family history of schizophrenia between the 2 groups of MZ twins was found. In the discordant pairs, no significant difference between the schizophrenic twin and the nonschizophrenic co‐twin was observed regarding birth order, birthweight or physical condition at birth.
Parasiticide in Europe: the WHO/EURO multicentre study on parasuicide. I. Introduction and preliminary analysis for 1989
Authors: Platt S. , Bille‐Brahe U. , Kerkhof A. , Schmidtke A. , Bjerke T. , Crepet P. , Leo D. De , Haring C. , Lonnqvist J. , Michel K. , Philippe A. , Pommereau X. , Querejeta I. , Salander‐Renberg E. , Temesvary B. , Wasserman D. , Faria J. Sampaio
Published: August 2007

The WHO/EURO multicentre study on parasuicide is a new, coordinated, multinational, European study that covers two broad areas of research: monitoring trends in the epidemiology of parasuicide (epidemiological monitoring study); and follow‐up investigations of parasuicide populations, with a view to identifying the social and personal characteristics predictive of future suicidal behaviour (repetition prediction project). This article provides background information on the development and organization of the multicentre study, and presents selected findings from the epidemiological monitoring project, based on a preliminary examination of data collected in 15 centres on parasuicides aged 15 years and over treated in health facilities in defined catchment areas during the year 1989. The overall parasuicide incidence varied considerably across the centres, from a high (event) rate of 414 per 100,000 males in Helsinki to a low of 61 among males in Leiden. The highest female event rate was 595 in Pontoise, and the lowest 95 in Guipuzcoa. The mean event rate across all centres was 167 among males and 222 among females. Parasuicide incidence tended to be elevated among 15‐ to 34‐year‐olds, with lowest rates among those aged 55 years and over. With one exception (Helsinki), the female parasuicide rate was higher than the male rate, the F:M ratio ranging from 0.71:1 to 2.15:1, with a median of 1.5:1 (events). Short‐term repetition rates (as measured by the event:person ratio) differed between centres, from 1.03 to 1.30 (median = 1.12) among males, and from 1.07 to 1.26 (median = 1.13) among females. Although we warn against generalizing from our findings to make statements about differences in parasuicide between countries, we argue that the differences between centres are valid and should be addressed in further research.
Season and manic relapse
Authors: Hunt N. , Sayer H. , Silverstone T.
Published: August 2007

The episodes of mania occurring in a cohort of 86 patients with bipolar affective disorder were recorded over a 6‐year period. Of the 54 patients who had at least 2 episodes, 8 (15%) met our criteria for a seasonal pattern of relapse. There was no particular season in which these relapses clustered. Overall, the time of year of the first recorded episode during the 6‐year period did not predict the timing of subsequent episodes.
Influence of cannabis abuse on schizophrenic psychopathology
Authors: Peralta V. , Cuesta M. J.
Published: August 2007

A study was carried out on a group of 95 schizophrenic patients (DSM‐III‐R criteria) under the age of 35, 23 of whom were cannabis abusers in the past year. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of cannabis on positive and negative schizophrenic symptoms, evaluated using Andreasen's Scales for the Assessment of Positive and Negative Symptoms (SAPS and SANS). There were no statistically significant differences between the groups on the SAPS; the group of cannabis abusers had higher scores except for the delusions subscale. On the SANS nonabusers scored higher, with a significant difference on the alogia subscale. The results suggest that the consumption of cannabis by schizophrenic patients could attenuate negative symptoms, which would support the self‐medication hypothesis of cannabis abuse.
The psychiatrist in American cartoons, 1941–1990
Authors: Walter G.
Published: August 2007

The portrayal of psychiatrists in cartoons from the United States was examined. A total of 404 cartoons from 1941 to 1990 were obtained and arranged chronologically. The appearance, behaviour, treatment methods and efficacy of the cartoon psychiatrist were assessed. It was found that there has been little change in these parameters over the past 50 years. This finding is partly explained by the constraints of the cartoon medium and by the workings of humour and stereotyping. Psychiatric cartoons from other countries and those drawn by psychiatrists themselves do not depart from the American pattern. The differences between the representation of psychiatrists in the cartoon and in other media, such as the film, are highlighted. It is postulated that the cartoon serves to stabilize the more mutable portrayals of psychiatrists in other media. Further studies are suggested.
Treatment resistance of depression after head injury: a preliminary study of amitriptyline response
Authors: Dinan T. G. , Mobayed M.
Published: August 2007

Thirteen patients with depression following minor head injury were matched with 13 functional depressives. Both groups were indistinguishable psychopathologically. Five of the functional group had a family history of affective disorder and none of the head‐injury group had such a history. Both groups were treated with amitriptyline, beginning with 100 mg daily, increasing to a maximum of 250 mg/d. There were significant differences in response between the 2 groups, with only 4 of the head‐injury patients improving. Our preliminary results suggest that this condition is relatively resistant to tricyclic therapy.
Specific skills and social competence in schizophrenia
Authors: Appelo M. T. , Woonings F. M. J. , van Nieuwenhuizen C. J. , Emmelkamp P. M. G. , Slooff C. J. , Louwerens J. W.
Published: August 2007

Generalization of skills is a major problem in social skills training for schizophrenic patients. Assessment of skills is mostly not based on objective indices of specific skill deficits. The results of this study show that global competence of schizophrenics can be differentiated from specific competence. Global competence was found to be related to symptoms, whereas specific competence was not. No support was found for the assumption that social dysfunctions are caused by negative symptoms. Social perception and positive symptoms did explain a substantial part of the variance of global competence. It is therefore concluded that neither global incompetence nor negative symptoms should be used as an indication for social skills training.