bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Method for Monitoring the Treatment of Schizophrenics in the Community
Authors: Freeman Hugh , Cheadle A. J. , Korer J. R.
Published: August 2008

A trial was carried out over twelve months of a method for monitoring the care of a large number of schizophrenic patients in the community. The method has been demonstrated to be practical in use, economical of resources and potentially relevant to a number of chronic disorders.
Psychiatric Aspects of Urology
Authors: Dunlop Joyce L.
Published: August 2008

Psychiatric investigation of 342 patients attending a urological clinic during one year showed a wide spectrum of problems. Patients with lower urinary tract complaints scored higher on the Hamilton Scale than those with upper tract complaints.
Alcohol Withdrawal States and the Need for Treatment
Authors: Olbrich Robert
Published: August 2008

In an attempt to evaluate the clinical significance of alcohol withdrawal, the rate of symptoms and incidence of treatment were determined in 84 female alcoholics following abrupt withdrawal. Results indicated that abstinence symptoms of an emergency type (delirium tremens, convulsions) only rarely occur and require active treatment, whereas those physical and emotional disturbances frequently seen in alcohol withdrawal need very little medical help. This finding is in contradistinction to current clinical opinion.
Validity and Uses of a Screening Questionnaire (GHQ) in the Community
Authors: Tarnopolsky A. , Hand D. J. , McLean E. K. , Roberts Howard , Wiggins R. D.
Published: August 2008

The 30-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) has been validated against the criterion of a standardized psychiatric interview in the community. Used for screening, the GHQ misclassified 25 per cent of 105 respondents, being worse for men. Specificity and sensitivity were above.70. The alternative use of the GHQ as an estimator and as an indicator of morbidity in epidemiological surveys is described and discussed.
Depressive Classification and Prediction of Response to Phenelzine
Authors: Paykel E. S. , Parker R. R. , Penrose R. J. J. , Rassaby E. R.
Published: August 2008

A variety of depressive classifications were used to predict response to four weeks' treatment with phenelzine. Better response was found in outpatients rather than inpatients, in atypical depressives, in less severe depressives with a pattern of anxiety and other neurotic symptoms, and in groups characterized as hostile and agitated. The findings, although a little patchy, gave clear support to the concept of a specific clinical group responsive to MAO inhibitors.
Pre-Anaesthetic Assessment and the Prevention of Post-Ect Morbidity
Authors: Abramczuk J. A. , Rose N. M.
Published: August 2008

The introduction of anaesthesia and muscle relaxation has made ECT relatively safe. In a retrospective study of the case notes of 367 consecutive patients receiving ECT over a two year period, chest X-ray and full blood count added no significant information and were ineffective in predicting morbidity, in contrast to physical examination alone.
The Predictability of Thought Disordered Speech in Schizophrenic Patients
Authors: Manschreck Theo C. , Maher Brendan A. , Rucklos Mary E. , White Mitzi T.
Published: August 2008

Previous research has resulted in inconsistent findings regarding the predictability of schizophrenic speech samples. It was hypothesized that the predictability of schizophrenic speech varies as a function of clinically manifest thought disorder. In an experiment based on the Cloze procedure, raters were asked to predict ten passages of schizophrenic speech and eight passages of normal speech under conditions of fourth- and fifth-word deletion. Differences emerged between the samples only for the fifth-word deletion procedure. When the schizophrenic samples were grouped according to the presence of thought disorder, thought-disordered speech was significantly less predictable than normal and non-thought disordered schizophrenic speech. Furthermore, non-thought-disordered schizophrenic speech was no less predictable than normal speech. It is concluded that schizophrenia should be more carefully defined and that thought disorder should be routinely assessed in future investigations.
Relationship Between Cognitive Defect, Affect Response and Community Adjustment in Chronic Schizophrenics
Authors: Serban George , Gidynski Christina B.
Published: August 2008

The relationship between mental status and community adjustment has been examined in 100 outpatient chronic schizophrenics. Sixty-six per cent presented at least one of the signs of Schneiderian First Rank Symptoms, which, however, failed to discriminate the diagnostic subgroups. Total adjustment correlated with total mental status and appeared to differentiate the diagnostic subclassifications of schizophrenia. From the major components of mental status, anxiety and depression appear to be significantly correlated with the functioning and stress of the individual in community adjustment while primary symptoms are only peripherally correlated with adjustment.
A Comparison of Three Behaviour Therapies in the Treatment of Social Phobia
Authors: Shaw P. M.
Published: August 2008

This study examined the effects of desensitization, flooding and social skills training on social fears. The patients were 30 social phobics. All three treatments were associated with useful therapeutic gains during the period of treatment that were maintained over a six-month follow-up period. No differences were found between treatments.
Psychopharmacology
Authors: Silverstone Trevor
Published: August 2008

When asked by the book review editor to write an article discussing some ‘important, memorable, relevant, unusual or informative books (or articles)’ in the field of psychopharmacology, I was uncertain quite what was wanted.
Nottingham and the Hospital Plan: a Follow-up Study of Long-Stay In-patients
Authors: Howat John
Published: August 2008

The post-war development of psychiatric services in Nottingham, with their reduction in the number of beds and marked increase in in-patient turnover and day patient and out-patient attendances, represents a close approximation to the proposals of the 1962 Hospital Plan. These changes were achieved by redeployment of existing resources.

A fifteen-year attrition study of 1960 long-stay in-patients shows a high rate of discharge, especially for males.

The reasons for these findings and some implications are discussed.
Post-ECT Cognitive Defect and Elevation of Blood Pressure
Authors: Hamilton Max , Stocker Malcolm J. , Spencer Christopher M.
Published: August 2008

There is evidence that ECT causes a breakdown of the blood-brain barrier through the rise of blood pressure it induces. Using the Benton test of cognitive function the day before and three hours after ECT treatment in 27 depressed patients, impairment of function was highly correlated with the maximum rise of systolic BP during the treatment.
Male Delusional Depressed Patients: Response to Treatment
Authors: Moradi Salm R. , Muñiz Carlos E. , Belar Cynthia
Published: August 2008

In view of the previous finding that female deluded depressed patients do not respond to tricyclic antidepressants, a retrospective review of charts of thirteen male patients with primary depression accompanied by delusions was undertaken. None improved on tricyclics alone, whereas all those treated initially with neuroleptics improved. Twelve out of thirteen patients showed no improvement until neuroleptics were added to the treatment regimen. Implications for classification and treatment are discussed.
Classification of Personality Disorder
Authors: Tyrer Peter , Alexander John
Published: August 2008

An interview schedule was used to record the personality traits of 130 psychiatric patients, 65 with a primary clinical diagnosis of personality disorder and 65 with other diagnoses. The results were analysed by factor analysis and three types of cluster analysis. Factor analysis showed a similar structure of personality variables in both groups of patients, supporting the notion that personality disorders differ only in degree from the personalities of other psychiatric patients. Cluster analysis revealed five discrete categories; sociopathic, passive-dependent, anankastic, schizoid and a non-personality-disordered group. Of all the personality-disordered patients 63 per cent fell into the passive-dependent or sociopathic category. The results suggest that the current classification of personality disorder could be simplified.
Premenstrual Syndrome: A Double-Blind Controlled Trial of Progesterone and Placebo
Authors: Sampson Gwyneth A.
Published: August 2008

Patients with premenstrual syndrome recorded their symptoms daily using menstrual distress questionnaires. These were analysed by a least mean square method of fitting sine waves. After recording an untreated cycle, patients were given progesterone 200 mg b.d. and placebo in a double-blind crossover manner; 75 per cent of patients were then given progesterone 400 mg b.d. and placebo in a similar manner. Treated cycles were rated by both daily menstrual distress questionnaires and retrospective self-assessment. Both rating methods showed there was no significant difference between progesterone and placebo in reducing symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, and in the majority of cases placebo was more effective, although never significantly so.
Dichotic Perception: Evidence for Right Hemisphere Dysfunction in Affective Psychosis
Authors: Yozawitz Allan , Bruder Gerard , Sutton Samuel , Sharpe Lawrence , Gurland Barry , Fleiss Joseph , Costa Louis
Published: August 2008

The association between lateralized hemispheric dysfunction and psychiatric diagnosis was investigated with a measure of summation of dichotic clicks and with a dichotic competing message task. Ear asymmetries of affective psychotic patients were similar to those of right temporal lesioned controls and differed from those of schizophrenic patients and normal controls. In contrast, schizophrenic patients did not display abnormal auditory perceptual asymmetries.
Generations of Maltreated Children and Multiagency Care in One Kindred
Authors: Oliver J. E. , Buchanan A. H.
Published: August 2008

Rigorously collated information on 40 members of one kindred (not previously studied) and on their spouses and cohabitees, revealed that massive multiagency support had failed fully to ascertain and prevent extensive child abuse over at least three generations. Furthermore, five other large battering families have been closely associated (by cohabitation) with this kindred.

Severe behaviour disorder (starting with hyperactivity and uncontrollability) occurred in at least three-quarters of the children, and usually progressed to adult criminality. The second most common disorder was subnormal intelligence, which crucially incapacitated the rearing abilities of young mothers who were associating with antisocial cohabitees. Seven children died in infancy. The Welfare State has done little to help the plight of surviving children in this kindred.
Sheltered Accommodation in the Community Mental Health Service in the 13th Arrondissement of Paris
Authors: Chick Jonathan
Published: August 2008

The well-developed community psychiatric services in the 13th Arrondissement use a large number of places in sheltered accommodation. Reasons for this are explored. It may be that there are areas in the U.K. where the need for such accommodation is greater than the Department of Health and Social Security has estimated.
Nurse Therapists in Psychiatry: Developments, Controversies and Implications
Authors: Bird J. , Marks I. M. , Lindley P.
Published: August 2008

This paper concerns a new clinical role for psychiatric nurses—as case managers for selected adult neurotics with behaviour problems. The role involves unusual autonomy. The selection and training procedures are unusually rigorous and focus on general case-management as much as behavioural skills. The number of service posts offered these therapists is rising. These developments have wide implications for other personnel, particularly in respect of authority and responsibility boundaries, selection and training procedures, and team structure.
Statistical Errors in Papers in the British Journal of Psychiatry
Authors: White Susan J.
Published: August 2008

In the 12 months from July 1977 to June 1978, out of 168 papers in the British Journal of Psychiatry, 139 (83 per cent) presented numerical results. A total of 63 papers contained statistical errors and at least one drew unsupportable conclusions. In many cases the errors were not considered to be severe, but they were often sufficient to raise doubts about some inferences. It is suggested that more consultation of investigators with medical statisticians, a basic training in statistical methods in the preclinical years, and more extensive statistical refereeing are needed.
Familial Basal Ganglia Calcification and Schizophreniform Psychosis
Authors: Francis A. F.
Published: August 2008

Schizophreniform psychoses have long been associated with a wide variety of clinical conditions affecting the basal ganglia (Davison and Bagley, 1969); amongst such disorders have been post-encephalitic psychosis (Fairweather, 1947), hepato-lenticular degeneration (Beard, 1959) and Huntington's chorea (Heathfield, 1967). Kalamboukis and Molling (1962) reported calcification of the basal ganglia in a single male schizophrenic and paranoid hallucinatory psychoses have been noted in other cases of striopallidodentate calcification (Löwenthal and Bruyn, 1968); however, an association between familial basal ganglia calcification and schizophreniform symptomatology has not been recorded.
Hypercalcaemia-Induced Psychopathology in Malignant Diseases
Authors: Weizman A. , Eldar M. , Shoenfeld Y. , Hirschorn M. , Wijsenbeek H. , Pinkhas J.
Published: August 2008

Seven out of twelve patients with malignancy and hypercalcaemia had associated psychiatric symptoms. The mental aberrations disappeared when the calcium levels returned to normal after treatment.
The Therapeutic Community
Authors: Mandelbrote Bertram
Published: August 2008

Reading about therapeutic communities can be an exciting experience because of a sense of pioneering change and challenge in the face of establishment opposition. Survival is often difficult and administrative values of those who control the purse strings can threaten their very existence. There is also an aura of justice and freedom where injustice has prevailed. This air of excitement and enthusiasm permeates the writings of Martin (1962) in Adventure in Psychiatry and continues in Shoenberg's (1972) updating of the Claybury experience. It features in Wilmer's (1958) vivid account of practical achievements in the Oakland Naval Hospital Receiving Ward, Foudraine's (1974) conscientious efforts to change the social organization of a unit for schizophrenics receiving private treatment in a clinic in Virginia and Mandelbrote's (1958, 1964) descriptions of change in mental hospitals in Gloucester and Oxford. It also characterizes Maxwell Jones’ writings (1968) with their autobiographical flavour and ‘living learning experience’ and Clark's (1964, 1974) presentation of administrative and social therapy with its emphasis on patient freedom, activity and responsibility. Yet it is the very cult-like nature of the therapeutic community which can be its undoing, raising expectations and hampering the independence and difference which it aims to tolerate.
Neuroendocrine Effects of Apomorphine: Characterization of Response Patterns and Application to Schizophrenia Research
Authors: Rotrosen John , Angrist Burton , Gershon Samuel , Paquin Jeanne , Branchey Laura , Oleshansky Marvin , Halpern Frieda , Sachar Edward J.
Published: August 2008

Apomorphine, a direct-acting dopamine agonist, stimulates release of growth hormone (hGH) and suppresses release of prolactin (PRL) from the anterior pituitary. Previous studies comparing the magnitude of these responses in schizophrenics and controls suggest that many acute (and some chronic) schizophrenics have exaggerated hGH responses; many chronic schizophrenics (and patients with tardive dyskinesia) have blunted hGH responses to apomorphine, and possibly blunted PRL responses. The present studies extend and confirm these findings in chronic schizophrenics; in addition, several studies were undertaken to further characterize these apomorphine-induced endocrine responses. Studies in which apomorphine was given on 2 or 3 separate occasions to each of five subjects indicate that the hGH response is a highly reproducible individual index, but PRL suppression is a less satisfactory measure. hGH responses to apomorphine were consistently antagonized by pretreatment with haloperidol, supporting the concept that the hGH-releasing effect of apomorphine is mediated by its action on dopamine receptors. Cyproheptadine pretreatment was associated with erratic increases or decreases in the hGH response to apomorphine, but did not alter PRL levels or apomorphine-induced PRL suppression. The relationship of these findings to biological hypotheses of schizophrenia and to neuroleptic-induced receptor changes is discussed.
Psychiatric Implications of Endorphin Research
Authors: Mackay Angus V. P.
Published: August 2008

The revelation that opium-like substances are constitutional body elements is surely one of the major biological advances of the decade. The notion that the brain contains an inbuilt supply of opioid chemicals has been particularly seductive to the psychiatrist. It seems to offer a key to understanding, and therefore manipulating, the cerebral substrates for somatic pain, drug addiction and psychic discomfort. At a time when research effort in this area is increasing logarithmically, I present here a selective and personal view of certain aspects of endorphin research which have been claimed to be psychiatrically relevant. For detailed accounts of the background and breadth of endorphin research the reader is directed to other more extensive recent reviews (Kosterlitz and Hughes, 1977; Guillemin, 1978; Snyder, 1978; Watsonet al,1979; Hughes, 1979). The term endorphin will be used in the generic sense to include the specific Endorphins (such as β-Endorphin) and the enkephalins (Leu- and Met-)—see figure.
Postpartum Mania
Authors: Kadrmas Arnold , Winokur George , Crowe Raymond
Published: August 2008

Twenty-one patients with bipolar affective disorder (20 manic episodes, one depressive episode) during the postpartum period were evaluated. They were compared to an unselected group of women with bipolar histories, as well as to a matched control group. The postpartum group had significantly more Schneiderian symptoms and fewer recurrences of illness within the three-year period after the index admission. There was a notable trend toward postpartum patients having fewer affectively ill relatives than the controls. The practical significance of these findings with regards to lithium therapy is discussed, as is the theoretical significance in terms of heterogeneity of the bipolar syndrome.
Socio-Economic Status and Mental Morbidity in certain Tribes and Castes in India — a Cross-Cultural Study
Authors: Nandi D. N. , Mukherjee S. P. , Boral G. C. , Banerjee G. , Ghosh A. , Sarkar S. , Ajmany S.
Published: August 2008

The authors made a field-survey of mental morbidity in all the tribal and caste groups residing in a cluster of villages in West Bengal, India, and found that, in each group, higher socio-economic classes had higher rates of mental morbidity. Different groups having a similar cultural pattern showed no significant difference in their rates of morbidity. Groups having different cultural patterns differed significantly in their rates of morbidity. In the tribal groups some neurotic disorders were absent.
Cushing's Syndrome: A Psychiatric Study of 29 Patients
Authors: Cohen Samuel I.
Published: August 2008

Among a consecutive unselected series of 29 patients with Cushing's syndrome 21 had bilateral adrenal hyperplasia and 8 had tumours. Twenty-five (86 per cent) were significantly depressed; three of the tumour patients, but only one of the hyperplasia group were free of symptoms so that if there are no psychiatric symptoms there is a three in four chance that the patient has a tumour. There was a family history of depression or suicide or a history of early bereavement or separation in half the cases. In six of the hyperplasia patients a major emotional disturbance had preceded the onset, and in five this was a loss. The severity of the depression was not related to the level of circulating Cortisol. The depression was rapidly relieved when the tumour or hyperplastic glands were removed. Depression in Cushing's syndrome might result from a substance other than Cortisol produced by the adrenal under excessive pituitary and/or hypothalamic stimulation, which could play a part in the aetiology of depressive illness in general.
A Psychological Study of Patients Seeking Augmentation Mammaplasty
Authors: Beale Solveig , Lisper Hans-Olof , Palm Bodil
Published: August 2008

Data from interviews with 64 women who were to undergo or already had undergone an augmentation mammaplasty were compared with data from a control group of 28 women. Great differences existed between the groups, mainly with regard to personality test data and childhood milieu. The women operated on were in general less certain of themselves and felt less feminine. These factors seem to be a sufficient basis for the appearance of the problem. Cultural norms are obviously also important but seem to influence all women in the same way.
Clomipramine and Exposure for Compulsive Rituals: II. Plasma Levels, Side Effects and Outcome
Authors: Stern R. S. , Marks I. M. , Mawson D. , Luscombe D. K.
Published: August 2008

Forty obsessive-compulsive ritualizers received nightly placebo or clomipramine up to 225 mgs nocte for 8 months, and received behavioural treatment (exposure in vivo) from weeks 4 to 10. Plasma concentrations of clomipramine and its primary metabolite N-desmethylclomipramine steadily increased over the first 4 weeks of treatment after which they remained relatively steady. Plasma levels correlated significantly with dose and with outcome but not with side effects. Patients with plasma clomipramine levels in the range 100–250 ng/ml and N-desmethylclomipramine levels between 230–550 ng/ml were found to improve significantly more than patients outside these ranges, thus suggesting a therapeutic window for clomipramine and its primary metabolite.
Male Admissions to the English Special Hospitals — 1961–1965: A Demographic Survey
Authors: Tennent Gavin , Parker Elizabeth , McGrath Patrick G. , Street David
Published: August 2008

The social, criminal and psychiatric backgrounds of 878 male patients admitted for the first time to the three English Special Hospitals during the years 1961–1965 are examined and the implications of differences between them for research discussed. It is noted that only 35 per cent of the admission group have been discharged within a four year period. The need for long term follow-up studies is stressed.
Description and Evaluation of a Short-Stay Admission Ward
Authors: Kennedy Peter , Hird Fiona
Published: August 2008

Duration of stay for unselected admissions to an acute psychiatric ward was reduced to an average of 11 days. The clinical methods by which this was achieved are described. Comparing patients randomly allocated to this experimental ward and other admission wards: (i) the readmission rate to the experimental ward was higher but readmissions were briefer so that total in-patient experience per patient over the course of one year remained substantially lower; (ii) symptom levels and burden on the family had improved equally at three weeks and at four months after discharge; (iii) experimental ward patients made fewer demands on their general practitioners and reported fewer parasuicides. Beds can be released for other purposes in this way.
A Study of Violent Behaviour Among Patients in Psychiatric Hospitals
Authors: Fottrell Eamonn
Published: August 2008

This study of violent behaviour among psychiatric in-patients in three hospitals found that many incidents of petty violence occurred and serious violence was rare. Among the offending patients there were more females than males, more young than old and the most commonly represented diagnosis was schizophrenia. Nursing staff were by far the commonest victims. Most of the incidents occurred during the daytime and were perpetrated mainly by patients nursed on acute psychiatric wards. The vast majority of patients were nonviolent.
Computed Tomography in the Elderly: 1. the Normal Population
Authors: Jacoby Robin J. , Levy Raymond , Dawson John M.
Published: August 2008

Computed tomographic (CT) and brief psychometric findings on 50 psychiatrically and neurologically healthy community residents over 60 years old are presented. The need for normative CT data is emphasized, and the methodological problems in obtaining them are discussed. Measures of ventricular size were generally found to be greater than those reported by other workers, and variation with age was also found to be less marked than hitherto reported. A reciprocal relationship was found between a global rating of cortical atrophy and a test of memory and orientation. This communication forms the basis for comparison with groups of psychiatric patients to be presented in subsequent articles.
Complex Visual Hallucinations in Partial Blindness due to Eye Disease
Authors: White N. J.
Published: August 2008

Three patients experienced complex formed hallucinations during progressive visual failure from eye disease. The hallucinations began abruptly, were brightly coloured stereotyped figures, animals or objects, and appeared to be provoked by light.

As blindness progressed the clarity, frequency and duration of the hallucinations faded. The patients had no abnormalities other than their eye disease, which in two cases was macula degeneration, and choroideraemia in the third.
Nasal Spray ‘Addiction’ and Psychosis: A Case Report
Authors: Snow S. Steve , Logan Thomas P. , Hollender Marc H.
Published: August 2008

In an article entitled ‘The Nasal Drop Addict’, Jarvis (1969) wrote, “Every rhinologist from time to time sees patients who are using decongestant drops every few hours in an effort to obtain a clear nasal airway”. Yet few reports have appeared in the medical literature.
Life Events and Social Support in Puerperal Depression
Authors: Paykel E. S. , Emms E. M. , Fletcher J. , Rassaby E. S.
Published: August 2008

A 20 per cent prevalence of mild clinical depression was found in 120 women assessed at about six weeks postpartum. The strongest associated factor was occurrence of recent stressful life events. Previous history of psychiatric disorder, younger age, early postpartum blues, and a group of variables reflecting poor marital relationship and absence of social support were also notable. Poor marital support acted as a vulnerability factor, only producing an effect in presence of stressful life events. Previous psychiatric history produced a strong independent effect, both with and without life events. Postpartum blues were only associated with depression in the absence of life events, suggesting a small hormonal sub-group. Overall the findings indicate the importance of social stress in puerperal depression.
A Beta Adrenergic Stimulant (Salbutamol) versus Clomipramine in Depression: A Controlled Study
Authors: Lecrubier Y. , Puech A. J. , Jouvent R. , Simon P. , Widlocher D.
Published: August 2008

A controlled study comparing salbutamol (6 mg/day) to clomipramine (150 mg/day), both given by intravenous infusion, was performed on depressed inpatients (10 per group). The symptomatology was evaluated by two blind observers at days 0, 5 and 15 using the Hamilton Rating Scale. Both treatments were effective on the overall symptomatology but the onset of action of salbutamol was more rapid.
Handedness in Schizophrenia
Authors: Taylor Pamela J. , Dalton Rosemary , Fleminger J. J.
Published: August 2008

Handedness was assessed in 272 schizophrenics and compared with findings in normal controls. The schizophrenics differed significantly from the normal controls in their handedness patterns, having a higher proportion of fully right-handed subjects. Findings in brain-damaged and elderly schizophrenic patients are also reported. The lack of consistency of reporting of handedness in schizophrenic populations in previous studies is discussed. While it is probable that differences in the methods of study of handedness account for some of the variance, differences in the type of schizophrenic illness seem likely to be of greater importance.
Referrals to a Psychiatric Service from Old People's Homes
Authors: Margo J. L. , Robinson J. R. , Corea S.
Published: August 2008

One hundred consecutive referrals have been surveyed, the diagnostic and behavioural problems leading to referral considered and follow-up information obtained one year later. For most admission to hospital as in- or day-patients was unnecessary. Old people's homes do not make excessive demands on the psychiatric services, but deserve support, including help in developing a more tolerant and flexible approach to less conforming residents. This is becoming imperative now that old people's homes are dealing with increased numbers of disturbed residents.
Three Lectures on Schizophrenia
Authors: Ciompi Luc
Published: August 2008

It is well known that in some small European countries there exist especially favourable conditions for certain types of research which elsewhere meet enormous difficulties. This is exemplified in Denmark and other Scandinavian countries by the famous studies on the influence of genetic and environmental factors in schizophrenia, which were made possible by the exceptional availability of well organized national registers on twins, adoptees and psychotics.
Contradictory Issues in the Origin of Schizophrenia
Authors: Leonhard Karl
Published: August 2008

In research into the origin of schizophrenia discrepancies repeatedly arise through the habit of treating schizophrenia as an entity. If independent subforms are differentiated, many ambiguities can be cleared up. A special form of catatonia (periodic catatonia) seems to be transmitted by dominant inheritance, a special paraphrenia (affective paraphrenia) recessively. In a large group of schizophrenias (systematic schizophrenias) with a poor outcome family histories of psychosis were rarely found, but examination of twins suggested a psychosocial origin for the disorder. In cycloid psychoses with a benign outcome family histories of psychosis were also seldom found. Only by diagnostic separations can the discrepancies in the field of schizophrenia be solved.
Menstrual Respiratory Changes and Symptoms
Authors: Damas-Mora J. , Davies Lisa , Taylor Wendy , Jenner F. A.
Published: August 2008

The duration of standardised overbreathing required to produce slow wave activity in the EEG during different phases of the menstrual cycle has been studied, and changes in carbon dioxide sensitivity of the respiratory system. Normal subjects developed slow waves more quickly and had more sensitive CO2responses during the premenstrual/menstrual phases. This may be a factor contributing to premenstrual tension.
Changes in the Monoamine Containing Neurones of the Human Cns in Senile Dementia
Authors: Mann D. M. A. , Lincoln J. , Yates P. O. , Stamp J. E. , Toper S.
Published: August 2008

In thirteen cases of senile dementia of the Alzheimer type severe loss of nerve cells from the locus caeruleus was frequently seen together with reductions in nucleolar volume and cytoplasmic RNA in surviving cells, averaging 14 and 21 per cent respectively. These histological findings were matched in two cases by biochemical measurements of loss of noradrenaline from all brain regions examined, ranging from 10 per cent in temporal cortex to 53 per cent in hypothalamus. By contrast, neither nucleolar volume nor cytoplasmic RNA was altered in cells of the substantia nigra, nor was dopamine content significantly altered in most regions. In vascular dementia neither noradrenaline nor dopamine metabolism was changed except in regions of local circulatory deficiency. These findings provide evidence of a primary degeneration of the noradrenergic system in Alzheimer type dementia.
Hysterical Conversion: a Prognostic Study
Authors: Hafeiz H. B.
Published: August 2008

This is a study of the symptoms and treatment of 61 patients with hysterical conversion. The incidence rate is high and the clinical picture showed different qualities from that seen in other studies. Treatment by suggestion under various procedures produced favourable results. All symptoms were removed, and after twelve months follow-up only 12 patients relapsed. Symptom substitution was minimal. The prognosis is related, among other things, to the duration of the symptoms before treatment.
Manic-Depressive Psychosis and Schizophrenia: a Dermatoglyphic Study
Authors: Balgir R. S. , Murthy R. Srinivasa , Wig N. N.
Published: August 2008

The study analysed qualitative and quantitative dermatoglyphic features in schizophrenia and manic-depressive psychosis. Differences were found which support the view that these two psychoses are genetically distinct. A possible field for further study is discussed.
ECT: II: Patients who Complain
Authors: Freeman C. P. L. , Weeks D. , Kendell R. E.
Published: August 2008

Twenty-six subjects who complained of permanent unwanted effects following ECT were compared with two groups of control subjects on a battery of 19 cognitive tests. Many statistically significant differences were found in cognitive functioning, mostly attributable to the level of depression or medication in the complainers. However, after analysis of variance/co-variance some differences still remained, indicating impaired cognitive functioning in the ECT complaining group.
ECT: III: Enduring Cognitive Defecits?
Authors: Weeks D. , Freeman C. P. L. , Kendell R. E.
Published: August 2008

Cognitive function was compared in carefully matched groups of ECT and non-ECT treated depressives and in matched normal volunteer controls on admission, at 4 months and at 7 months. ECT caused little impairment at 4 months and no impairment at 7 months on a comprehensive cognitive test battery. Severity of depression had a marked effect on cognitive function. Within the ECT group bilateral ECT caused more impairment than unilateral ECT one week after a course but 3 months later the differences had disappeared. They were equally antidepressant.
Contextual Constraint and the Recall of Verbal Material in Schizophrenia: The Effect of Thought Disorder
Authors: Maher Brendan A. , Manschreck Theo C. , Rucklos Mary E.
Published: August 2008

Some research indicates that thought-disordered schizophrenics produce language utterances that are less predictable than those of non-thought-disordered schizophrenics and controls. We examined the hypothesis that thought-disordered schizophrenics would have a parallel deficiency in the ability to use the predictabilities provided by contextual constraint to improve recall of heard language passages. Subjects were seventeen schizophrenics, ten normal controls, and twelve psychiatric controls, evaluated by standardized psychiatric interview and diagnosed according to research criteria. The data obtained supported the hypothesis and non-thought-disordered schizophrenics performed similarly to controls in the experimental task.

Failure to classify schizophrenic subjects on the dimension of thought disorder may result in misleading comparisons of general samples of schizophrenics with controls on tasks requiring language perception and production.
Seasonality of Schizophrenic Births in Ireland
Authors: O'Hare Aileen , Walsh Dermot , Torrey E. Fuller
Published: August 2008

The seasonality of births was examined for 4,855 schizophrenic patients born in Ireland between 1921 and 1955. All general births for the same years were used as controls. Schizophrenic births were found to be significantly elevated in the second quarter of the year (P <.001). The excess was 11 per cent higher than for any European country examined to date.
Electrodermal Activity in Depression: Clinical and Biochemical Correlates
Authors: Mirkin A. M. , Coppen A.
Published: August 2008

Electrodermal activity was measured in a group of depressive patients and normal controls. Those patients classified as endogenous on the Newcastle Scale had significantly lower skin conductance levels than either the non-endogenous patients or controls. The endogenous depressives also contained significantly more non-responders to the experimental stimuli. The lack of responsivity to external stimulation in non-responders is associated with a significantly lower rate of blood platelet 5-hydroxytryptamine uptake, suggesting that endogenous depressives have biological characteristics that distinguish them from other depressive groups and that electrodermal measures may be useful in the classification of depressive illness.
Active and Passive Avoidance Learning in Controls and Schizophrenic Patients on Racemic Propranolol and Neuroleptics
Authors: Gruzelier John , Thornton Susan , Staniforth David , Zaki Saniha , Yorkston Neil
Published: August 2008

Normal controls and schizophrenic patients on propranolol as sole drug or combined with neuroleptics showed superior active and passive avoidance learning to schizophrenic patients who were medicated with conventional neuroleptics only. Active avoidance involved responding quickly, passive avoidance withholding a response to avoid an unpleasant noise and reacting to the appropriate stimulus. This may reflect an improvement brought about by propranolol in the limbic regulation of stimulus and response processes.
Depression in Chronic Paranoid Schizophrenia
Authors: Roy Alec
Published: August 2008

Amongst 100 chronic paranoid schizophrenics depression occurred in 30 per cent over a mean 6 years and was significantly associated with parental loss before 17 years.
The Reliability of a Survey Psychiatric Assessment Schedule for the Elderly
Authors: Bond John , Brooks Patrick , Carstairs Vera , Giles Louise
Published: August 2008

The Survey Psychiatric Assessment Schedule (SPAS) was used in a survey of elderly people living at home and in institutions to examine its reliability in determining mental state. A psychiatrist assessed the same subjects using the Geriatric Mental State Schedule (GMSS) and classified psychiatric disorder into three broad groups: organic disorders, schizophrenia and paranoid disorders, and affective disorders and psychoneuroses. The agreement between the psychiatrist's classification of mental state and the classification derived from SPAS was found to be satisfactory for organic disorders and less satisfactory for functional disorders. The limitations of this method of identifying psychiatric illness are examined.
Clinical Change as a Function of Brief Admission to Hospital in a Controlled Study Using the Present State Examination
Authors: Knights Angela , Hirsch S. R. , Platt S. D.
Published: August 2008

A randomized controlled trial of brief hospital admission failed to show any difference on clinical measures when compared with standard admission for all psychiatric patients admitted from a catchment area over one year. Psychotic and neurotic symptoms were examined separately and together, using the Present State Examination (PSE) a week after admission and three months later. Clinical outcome was not related to length of stay in hospital or psychiatric diagnosis. This study shows how the PSE can be used to measure change in clinical state for a heterogenous group of psychiatric patients.
Mental Illness among Polish and Russian Refugees in Bradford
Authors: Hitch P. J. , Rack P. H.
Published: August 2008

An epidemiological study of first admission to psychiatric hospitals in Bradford revealed that foreign-born people had substantially higher illness rates than native born. Comparing the major World War II refugee groups it was found that morbidity was higher among Poles than Ukrainians. It is suggested that the difference can be partly explained by the lower social cohesion of the former. The resulting marginal identity is insufficient protection against the normal crises and losses of later life.
A Neuroendocrine Study of the Mechanism of Action of ECT
Authors: Slade A. P. , Checkley S. A.
Published: August 2008

To test the possibility that the antidepressant action of ECT is due to an enhanced responsiveness to the stimulation of monoamine receptors, we have measured pituitary hormone responses to test doses of clonidine and methylamphetamine in depressed patients before and after a course of ECT.

There was no enhancement of the growth hormone response to either drug following a course of ECT. Cortisol responses to methylamphetamine were enhanced, but probably this was secondary to the partial or complete recovery of the patients. Further neuroendocrine studies of the mechanism of action of ECT in man are needed.
Prospective Trial of L-tryptophan in Maternity Blues
Authors: Harris Brian
Published: August 2008

Under double blind conditions 55 young, bottle feeding, multiparous women received L-tryptophan 3 g daily or placebo for ten days after delivery, and were also assessed daily for psychiatric symptoms. This treatment did not reduce ‘maternity blues', but the mothers' blues scores correlated significantly with the scores for anxiety, depression and hysteria on the Middlesex Hospital Questionnaire given in the eighth month of pregnancy.
Perceptions by Patients and Therapists of Therapeutic Factors in Group Psychotherapy
Authors: Bloch Sidney , Reibstein Janet
Published: August 2008

The comparative value of possible therapeutic factors in group psychotherapy was studied by submitting questionnaires regularly to patients and therapists of six long-term out-patient groups. Both patients and therapists attached most importance to self-understanding, self-disclosure and learning from interpersonal actions. They diverged, however, in their overall perception of which factors were important in therapy.
The Identification of Disease Entities and the Relationship between Schizophrenic and Affective Psychoses
Authors: Kendell R. E. , Brockington I. F.
Published: August 2008

A method is described for identifying a genuine boundary between related syndromes, if one exists, by demonstrating a non-linear relationship between symptomatology and outcome. The technique was applied to the putative boundary between schizophrenic and affective psychoses, but a non-linear relationship could not be demonstrated.
Noradrenergic Overactivity in Chronic Schizophrenia: Evidence Based on Cerebrospinal Fluid Noradrenaline and Cyclic Nucleotide Concentrations
Authors: Gomes U. C. R. , Shanley B. C. , Potgieter L. , Roux J. T.
Published: August 2008

Concentrations of noradrenaline (NA), homovanillic acid, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid and cyclic nucleotides were determined in lumbar cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from acute and chronic schizophrenics and various groups of psychiatric and non-psychiatric control subjects. Statistically significant increases in NA and cyclic adenosine monophosphate were found in CSF from chronic schizophrenics compared to all other groups. These results were shown by statistical analyses to be unrelated to medication. They may be interpreted as evidence for noradrenergic overactivity as a possible primary abnormality in chronic schizophrenia.
Differential use of Psychiatric Services by West Indians, West Africans and English in London
Authors: Rwegellera G. G. C.
Published: August 2008

Two hundred and ninety West Indian and 73 West African patients were identified and matched against 204 and 53 English patients respectively. Significantly more migrant patients were: not referred to hospital by their GPs, showed disturbed behaviour prior to psychiatric contact, and were admitted formally. Studying consecutive attendances or admissions to one hospital may lead to an unrepresentative sample.
The Peripheral Anticholinergic Activity of Tricyclic Antidepressants: Comparison of Amitriptyline and Desipramine in Human Volunteers
Authors: Szabadi E. , Gaszner P. , Bradshaw C. M.
Published: August 2008

The effects of three single oral doses (25 mg, 50 mg and 100 mg) of amitriptyline and desipramine, and of placebo, were compared on a range of cholinergic functions (resting pupil diameter, pilocarpine-evoked miosis, baseline-sweating, carbachol-evoked sweating, salivation, heart rate) in eight healthy volunteers. Three measures (pilocarpine-evoked miosis, carbachol-evoked sweating and salivation) reflected the antimuscarinic property of the antidepressants; in two tests (pilocarpine-evoked miosis and salivation) amitriptyline appeared to be more potent than desipramine. Resting pupil diameter was not affected by amitriptyline, whereas desipramine caused mydriasis, indicating that pupil size is not a reliable measure of anticholinergic activity in the case of drugs which also affect adrenergic mechanisms. Baseline-sweating and heart rate were not affected by the antidepressants.
Some Clinical and Metabolic Aspects of Propranolol in Chronic Schizophrenia
Authors: King D. J. , Turkson S. N. A. , Liddle J. , Kinney C. D.
Published: August 2008

No benefit attributable to propranolol (1000 mg/day) could be detected in a trial lasting at least 22 weeks, 6 weeks of which was double-blind placebo-controlled, in 5 chronic schizophrenic patients. The mean propranolol CSF/plasma ratio was 0.08, and there was good agreement between CSF and free plasma propranolol levels. Basal plasma prolactin was slightly but insignificantly reduced by propranolol, and metoclopramide-stimulated prolactin release was unaffected. Propranolol was associated with a significant temporary increase in HVA, a non-significant rise in 5-HIAA and a significant decrease in MHPG, in the lumbar cerebrospinal fluid of 4 patients.
Clinical State, Plasma Levels of Haloperidol and Prolactin: A Correlation Study in Chronic Schizophrenia
Authors: Rao V. A. Rama , Bishop Margaret , Coppen Alec
Published: August 2008

Chronic schizophrenic patients were maintained for six months on a dosage of haloperidol adjusted to give optimum clinical effect. A correlation was found between extrapyramidal symptoms and prolactin levels and also between plasma haloperidol concentration and plasma prolactin levels. Estimation of plasma prolactin would be a reliable measurement of patients' compliance with medication.
Controlled Trial of Sulpiride in Chronic Schizophrenic Patients
Authors: Edwards J. Guy , Alexander John R. , Alexander M. S. , Gordon Alan , Zutchi T.
Published: August 2008

In a double-blind comparative trial of sulpiride (600–1,800 mg/day) and trifluoperazine (15–45 mg/day) in 38 chronic schizophrenic patients, ratings of therapeutic results and unwanted effects were made at two-weekly interviews during the six weeks treatment period. The results show that sulpiride has neuroleptic properties and a spectrum of therapeutic activity similar to that of trifluoperazine. There was an association between plasma sulpiride levels and therapeutic response after four weeks' treatment.
Demographic and Social Characteristics of University Students Attending a Psychiatrist
Authors: O'Mahony Paul , O'Brien Sinead
Published: August 2008

A survey was made of demographic and social characteristics of patients referred to a Student Health psychiatrist over a two year period. These patients were compared with a group attending Student Health physicians. Significantly over-represented in the psychiatric group were: medical and dental students; students who had repeated an academic year; students over 30 years of age; Roman Catholic students; and students who were totally financially dependent on their parents. Findings by others suggesting that first-year and female students would be over-represented in the psychiatric group were not borne out.