bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electrocardiogram Changes and Therapeutic Desipramine and 2-Hydroxy-Desipramine Concentrations in Elderly Depressives
Authors: Kutcher S. P. , Reid K. , Dubbin J. D. , Shulman K. I.
Published: August 2008

ECG parameters in elderly depressed in-patients were assessed during routine despramine treatment. Significant changes (prolonged PR and PRS intervals and a decreased QTc interval) were found, related only to steady state concentrations of desipramine's major metabolite—2-hydroxy-desipramine. Potentially clinically significant changes developed in 40% of the patients. All serum drug concentrations were within therapeutic limits. Previous assurances about despiramines's cardiac safety in the elderly may need to be re-evaluated.
Ethnic Differences in Self-poisoning: A Comparison of Asian and White Groups
Authors: Merrill John , Owens John
Published: August 2008

The characteristics of Asian patients admitted to a Birmingham hospital following deliberate self-poisoning were compared with those of British-born white self-poisoners. Asian patients were more likely to be young, female, and married. They were less likely to have previously self-poisoned, received previous psychiatric treatment, be diagnosed psychiatrically ill, or suffer from a personality disorder. Culture conflict was common among the Asian patients and was present in the majority of unmarried Asian females. The rate of self-poisoning for Asian females was higher than for white females, but for Asian males was lower than for white males.
Clovoxamine and Doxepin in Major Depressive Disorder: A Double-Blind Controlled Trial
Authors: Lodge G. J. , Freeman Hugh L.
Published: August 2008

Clovoxamine, an inhibitor of neuronal uptake of both serotin and noradrenaline, was compared with doxepin in depressed patients over four weeks. Antidepressant efficacy was comparable for both drugs, but clovoxamine might have a special degree of efficacy for patients with more severe depressive illnesses.
Prolactin Response Induced by ECT and TRH
Authors: Papakostas Yiannis , Markianos Manolis , Papadimitriou George , Stefanis Costas
Published: August 2008

The prolactin response after ECT in ten female melancholic patients correlated significantly to their prolactin response to i.v. TRH. These findings may suggest an underlying common mechanism between TRH and ECT regarding their PRL releasing properties.
Comparison of the Prophylactic Action of Flupenthixol with Placebo in Lithium Treated Manic-Depressive Patients
Authors: Esparon J. , Kolloori J. , Naylor G. J. , McHarg A. M. , Smith A. H. W. , Hopwood S. E.
Published: August 2008

A double-blind cross-over trial of depot flupenthixol in recurrent manic depressive psychosis was carried out. Ail patients continued on lithium. Eleven patients completed the two-year trial. Flupenthixol appeared to have no prophylactic effect.
Locus of Control in Short and Long Sleepers
Authors: Kumar Dr Anand , Vaidya A. K.
Published: August 2008

Behavioural scientists are currently attempting to correlate individuals' usual duration of sleep with personality traits as well as with personality profiles. Studies using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and Cornell Medical Index have suggested that differences between “short sleepers” and “long sleepers” show up in such traits as self-control, anxiety, extroversion, aggression and ambition (Hartmann et al, 1972; Spinweber & Hartmann, 1976), although Webb & Friel (1970, 1971) found no such differences. Glaubmann & Orbach (1977) observed short sleepers to be efficient, energetic, ambitious, self-content and socially well adjusted.
A Follow-Up and Family Study of Briquet's Syndrome
Authors: Guze Samuel B. , Cloninger C. Robert , Martin Ronald L. , Clayton Paula J.
Published: August 2008

For many years we and other colleagues in the Department of Psychiatry at Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, Missouri have been concerned with the need to develop widely accepted, valid diagnostic criteria for psychiatric disorders. The aim has been to identify patient groups as homogeneous as possible. Diagnostic criteria, such as those used in this study, were therefore developed with the goal of maximising specificity (i.e. reducing false positives) while keeping sensitivity as high as possible (i.e. keeping false negatives low).
Epilepsy and Hysteria
Authors: Fenton George W.
Published: August 2008

Charcot's term ‘hysteroepilepsy’ implies brain mechanisms in common between epilepsy and hysteria. No such direct link between these two conditions exists. Nevertheless, there are a number of indirect associations between epilepsy and hysteria that can lead to confusion in the differential diagnosis and management of the patient with seizures.
Abnormal Illness Behaviour and Anxiety in Acute Non-Organic Abdominal Pain
Authors: Joyce P. R. , Bushnell J. A. , Walshe J. W. B. , Morton J. B.
Published: August 2008

Of 105 patients admitted to a surgical ward with acute abdominal pain, 18 were considered to be without evidence of any organic aetiology for this symptom. These ‘non-organic’ patients were almost all female and differed from the ‘organic’ patients in state anxiety and in the illness behaviour questionnaire scales of psychological versus somatic perception, denial and affective disturbance. The two groups of patients could be differentiated on the basis of scores derived from the Illness Behaviour Questionnaire, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory.
The Relationship of Anxiety and Depression: A Review of the Literature
Authors: Stavrakaki Chrissoula , Vargo Beverley
Published: August 2008

The nature of the relationship between anxiety and depression has been much debated. The research in the past 15 years is reviewed in the context of three conceptual models: (a) anxiety and depression differ quantitatively; (b) anxiety and depression differ qualitatively; and (c) combined anxiety and depression syndromes (anxious depressions) differ both quantitatively and qualitatively from either pure anxiety or pure depression. The major areas of research—phenomenological, treatment, course and outcome—are considered and findings in support of each position reviewed.
Maintenance Treatment of Erectile Impotence by Cavernosal Unstriated Muscle Relaxant Injection
Authors: Brindley G. S.
Published: August 2008

Intracavernosal injection of phenoxybenzamine or papaverine has been tried on 127 men suffering from erectile impotence. In 113 of them it caused an erection which should have sufficed for coitus. Seventy-three men have used such injections, given at home by themselves or their wives, fortnightly or less often, to make coitus possible after each injection; 54 of them still do so.
Temporary Urinary Incontinence in the Acute Psychiatric Patient Without Delirium or Dementia
Authors: Berrios G. E.
Published: August 2008

In a prospective study of the 295 admissions in one year to an acute psychiatric ward, 14 subjects without delirium or dementia were found to have developed temporary urinary incontinence. When compared with matched controls (n = 56) the incontinent patients were found to be suffering from psychosis (P < 0.0002) and to have a history of childhood enuresis (P < 0.01). Compared with psychotic controls (n = 22), the incontinent patients were older (P < 0.05), they had been exposed to a greater variety of treatments (P < 0.01), and they had received more thioridazine (P < 0.04).
A Study of Violent Behaviour Among In-Patients in a Psychiatric Hospital
Authors: Pearson Mark , Wilmot Elizabeth , Padi Madhu
Published: August 2008

A retrospective analysis of the violent incident forms returned over a one year period in a psychiatric hospital recorded 283 incidents involving 144 patients. Almost all were of a petty nature, none leading to lasting injuries. Compared with the average daily in-patient population, offending patients were more likely to be male, to be less than 45 years old, and to have a diagnosis of schizophrenia.
The Influence of Psychological Factors on the Opiate Withdrawal Syndrome
Authors: Phillips Grania T. , Gossop Michael , Bradley Brendan
Published: August 2008

Psychological and drug-related variables and their effect on the severity of withdrawal symptoms were examined in a group of addicts being withdrawn from opiates on an in-patient drug dependence unit. Two psychological factors—neuroticism and the degree of distress expected by the patient—were related to subsequent severity of symptoms. Both are anxiety-related, and may serve to amplify withdrawal symptoms. Surprisingly, drug dose was unrelated to symptom severity.
Depression in Mentally Handicapped Patients: Diagnostic and Neuroendocrine Evaluation
Authors: Sireling Lester
Published: August 2008

The dexamethasone suppression test was administered to 12 mentally handicapped depressed patients. One of the four patients with major depressive disorder, but none of those with other diagnoses, failed to suppress Cortisol production. The International Classification of Diseases and the Newcastle Diagnostic Index were found to be unreliable for use with severely mentally handicapped patients. Modifications are proposed which would allow the Research Diagnostic Criteria and Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression to be applied to patients with any degree of mental handicap.
Patients Who Break Their Fast Before ECT
Authors: Berrios G. E. , Sage Geoff
Published: August 2008

Of 81 patients receiving ECT during a period of 24 months, 21 ate or drank something, against medical advice, shortly before ECT was due. Compared with controls, the fast-breakers were less often married; were more likely to be detained under a section of the Mental Health Act; had an unfavourable view of ECT; and had often not given consent for ECT. Fast-breaking was more likely to occur after four or more ECTs. Amongst the fast-breakers there was a significant correlation between age and (a) number of previous ECTs; (b) treatment at which the fast-break occurred. The more drugs the patient was taking the more likely it was that the fast would be broken early in the course of ECT.
Psychosocial Effects of Mastectomy: is it Due to Mastectomy or to the Diagnosis of Malignancy?
Authors: Alagaratnam T. T. , Kung N. Y. T.
Published: August 2008

Twenty-three consecutive married and sexually active Chinese women treated for breast cancer were compared with a randomly selected group of 34 female patients suffering from different kinds of malignancies. A structured interview was used to study both groups. The breast cancer group were found to be less depressed and more emotionally stable than those suffering from other malignancies, suggesting that the diagnosis of malignancy was the more important factor in the psychosocial morbidity of these patients.
Neurological Factors in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Authors: Kettl P. A. , Marks I. M.
Published: August 2008

Two patients are described in whom an obsessive-compulsive disorder began just after the onset of epilepsy. Neurological factors in OCD are then reviewed, and clinical reports of patients with OCD and co-existing brain pathology, EEG abnormalities, CT scan changes and electrical stimulation of the brain discussed. It is concluded that neurological factors are present in only a minority of cases of OCD. Successful behavioural treatment is independent of such factors.
Changes in Mood, Appetite and Psychomotor Retardation in Depressed Patients Given ECT
Authors: Browning S. M. , Cowen P. J.
Published: August 2008

Clinical experience suggests that treatment with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) produces an early improvement in psychomotor retardation. Warnings have been given of the increased risk of suicide when ECT-treated patients recover motor activity before their depressed mood is alleviated (Slater & Roth, 1977).
Parasuicide and Unemployment
Authors: Platt S.
Published: August 2008

The current economic recession in Europe and North America has led to a renewal of interest in the possible consequences of mass unemployment for the nation's health. This annotation assesses the relationship between unemployment and one indicator of morbidity: parasuicide (non-fatal deliberate self-harm). A previously published review of the literature is supplemented by more recent research, particularly from Edinburgh and Oxford.
Significance of Positive and Negative Syndromes in Chronic Schizophrenia
Authors: Kay S. R. , Opler L. A. , Fiszbein A.
Published: August 2008

Positive and negative syndromes were studied in relation to demographic, historical, genealogical, clinical, psychometric, extrapyramidal, and follow-up measures of 101 chronic schizophrenic patients. The criterion scales proved to be reliable, normally distributed, and strongly correlated with general psychopathology, but otherwise inversely related to one another. Multiple regression analysis identified sets of 4–6 independent variables that explained 74%-81 % of the scales' variance. A positive syndrome was associated chiefly with productive features, family history of sociopathy, more previous hospital admissions, and longer in-patient stay during the 30-month follow-up period. A negative syndrome correlated with deficits in cognitive, affective, social, and motor spheres, higher incidence of major psychiatric illness but less affective disorder among relatives, lower education, and greater cognitive developmental impairment. The results underscore the importance of genetic and biodevelopmental variables for understanding schizophrenic syndromes.
Delineating Social Phobia
Authors: Solyom L. , Ledwidge B. , Solyom C.
Published: August 2008

The natural history-including psychiatric symptoms, precipitating factors, onset and course of illness, and personality characteristics-of 47 social phobics, 80 agoraphobics, and 72 simple phobics was examined. The social phobia group differed from the agoraphobia group by having a lower mean age, fewer females and married members, and a higher educational and occupational status. They were less fearful generally, less obsessive, and less likely to follow a fluctuating or phasic course. There was overlap between the two groups with regard to main phobias, and they were similar with regard to adjacent symptomatology. Both the social and agoraphobia groups differed in similar and significant ways from simple phobics.
Is There a Lithium Withdrawal Syndrome?
Authors: Mander A. J.
Published: August 2008

Patients who discontinued lithium after a mean of 29 ± 21 months prophylaxis were compared with a similar group who were not taking the drug; all had only been in hospital once, and satisfied DSM-III criteria for mania. During the first three months following withdrawal of lithium, significantly more patients relapsed than in the control group; after this period, the rate was identical. These findings suggest that lithium withdrawal exists as a clinical phenomenon and that a period of lithium treatment does not improve the long-term prognosis, once the drug has been stopped.
Identical Twins Discordant for Presenile Dementia of the Alzheimer Type
Authors: Renvoize E. B. , Mindham R. H. S. , Stewart M. , McDonald R. , Wallace D. R. D.
Published: August 2008

In genetically proven identical female twins, discordant for presenile dementia of the Alzheimer type, the affected twin began to dement at the age of 49, and died 15 years later; the diagnosis was confirmed at post-mortem. The surviving twin remains clinically unaffected 20 years after the onset of dementia in her sister. Environmental aetiological factors are postulated to account for this discordance.
Art Group Psychotherapy in a Psychiatric Day Unit
Authors: Lund Charles , Ormerod Evelyn , George Kuruvilla
Published: August 2008

The use of art in the context of a therapy group in a day hospital setting is described, and the literature on art and factors influencing such groups discussed.
Lithium Treatment: A Refresher Course
Authors: Schou M.
Published: August 2008

Updated guidelines are presented for the safe and effective use of lithium; covering indications, treatment management, duration of prophylactic treatment, side-effects and their prevention, overdosage, interactions, and contraindications. Alternatives to lithium and patient-doctor co-operation are discussed.
Some Relationships Between Psychiatry and the Social Sciences
Authors: Mechanic D.
Published: August 2008

Beyond assuring biological survival, every society must have structures that nurture the young, prepare them for social roles and responsibilities, and that successfully integrate them with a reasonable level of motivation into ongoing patterns of activity. Societies must also have institutions that reinforce a sense of personal commitment to everyday affairs: the lack of a stake in social processes contributes to personal demoralisation and deviant behaviour. Deviance may also occur because of biological vulnerability or handicap, because socialisation fails, because demands exceed capacities, or as a result of sub-group identification being in conflict with dominant values. Psychiatric disorders are a sub-set of deviant behaviour.
Exposure to Parental Alcoholism During Childhood and Outcome in Adulthood: A Prospective Longitudinal Study
Authors: Beardslee W. R. , Son L. , Vaillant G. E.
Published: August 2008

The effects of children's exposure to parental alcoholism was assessed using records from an existing prospective 40-year longitudinal study of working-class families: 176 men who had grown up with an alcoholic parent or parents were compared with 230 men without such exposure. Degree of exposure to alcoholism in the childhood family environment was highly correlated in later life with alcohol use, alcoholism, time in jail, sociopathy, and death, but not with increased rates of unemployment, poor physical health, or measures of adult ego functioning. Most of the impairments observed occurred in those subjects who actually developed alcoholism. Exposure to alcoholism in the family environment and family history of alcoholism independently contributed to the later development of alcoholism.
Prevalence of Schizophrenia in an Urban Population
Authors: Freeman H. , Alpert M.
Published: August 2008

The treated one-year prevalence and point-prevalence of schizophrenia, schizoaffective psychosis, and paranoid state in the city of Salford were derived from the Salford Psychiatric Case Register. The high rates found are attributed primarily to the effects of selective migration from the area. A breakdown of the use of health services in the area by patients with these diagnoses is given; hospital care was found to be the major form of treatment.
Reduction in Hypochondriasis with Treatment of Panic Disorder
Authors: Noyes R. , Reich J. , Clancy J. , O'Gorman T. W.
Published: August 2008

Hypochondriasis was assessed in 60 patients with panic disorder and agoraphobia using the Illness Behavior Questionnaire. Before treatment, IBQ hypochondriasis scores were similar to those of a group of hypochondriacal psychiatric patients. In patients who improved with treatment, significant reductions in somatic preoccupation, disease phobia, and disease conviction occurred. Hypochondriasis appears to be a prominent feature of panic disorder and agoraphobia, and responds to treatment of the primary conditions. Our findings underscore the importance of providing adequate treatment and thereby avoiding wasteful use of medical resources and alienation of patients from doctors.
Psychogenic Skin Disease: A Review of35Cases
Authors: Sheppard N. P. , O'Loughlin S. , Malone J. P.
Published: August 2008

In three years of clinical practice, the authors saw 35 cases of dermatological disorders of strictly psychological origin-8 patients withdermatitis artefacta, 8 with delusional parasitosis, and 19 who presented with skin complaints but showed no dermatological pathology (‘dermatological non-disease’). All but two initially presented for dermatological opinion rather than psychiatric assessment, and 12 refused psychiatric referral. Demographic and clinical details of all 35 cases are given, including possible related factors, course, treatment, and outcome, and the cases are discussed in the context of the existing literature. Liaison between dermatologists and psychiatrists is strongly advocated.
Treatment of Depression in Huntington's Disease with Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors
Authors: Ford M. F.
Published: August 2008

Depression is common in Huntington's disease. It is customary to treat such patients with tricyclic antidepressants, although there is disagreement about their effectiveness. The use of monomine oxidase inhibitors for depression in HD has not previously been reported; three cases are described here. MAOIs appear to be of value in the management of depression in HD.
Cognitive Functioning in Parkinson's Disease: in Relation to Prevalence of Dementia and Psychiatric Diagnosis
Authors: Oyebode J. R. , Barker W. A. , Blessed G. , Dick D. J. , Britton P. G.
Published: August 2008

Forty-three neurologically and psychiatrically assessed patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) underwent detailed cognitive assessment. Cognitive deficits typical of senile dementia of Alzheimer's type (SDAT) were found in 7% but the majority showed definite impairments not typical of SDAT. Cognitive impairment was significantly more likely in those with more severe PD symptoms. There was substantial agreement between psychiatric diagnosis and psychological picture of SDAT and some links were found between other diagnostic categories and nature of cognitive functioning. However, cognitive deficits were also found In two-thirds of patients with no psychiatric diagnosis.
Interactions between Procyclidine and Neuroleptic Drugs
Authors: Bamrah J. S. , Kumar V. , Krska J. , Soni S. D.
Published: August 2008

Procyclidine was administered to 25 chronic psychotic inpatients, stabilised on chlorpromazine, haloperidol or fluphenazine decanoate injection. We observed a significant reduction in mean serum levels of all three neuroleptic drugs which was reversed on stopping procyclidine and was Inversely correlated with mean serum procyclidine levels. No significant alterations occurred on the BPRS scores or in serum prolactin levels throughout the study In any of the three groups. Possible mechanisms of this interaction and its clinical relevance are discussed.
Comparison of the Nutritional State of New and Long-term Patients in a Psychogeriatric Unit
Authors: Greer A. , McBride D. H. , Shenkin A.
Published: August 2008

Nutritional deficiencies have been implicated in the pathophysiology of various mental disorders. Life in institutions has been associated with development of nutritional deficiencies, the elderly being most at risk especially those with senile dementia. In this study nutritional status, particularly vitamin and essential mineral status was assessed in a group of 64 new admissions to a psychogeriatric unit and 49 long-term patients.

The results indicated that psychogeriatric patients were at risk of experiencing nutritional deficiencies and those with senile dementia were likely to have more abnormalities than those with functional illnesses. Those patients in long-term care would appear to have a better nutritional state than those on admission.
Koro and Schizophrenia in Singapore
Authors: Devan G. S. , Hong Ong Seng
Published: August 2008

A case of Koro is described in an elderly person with associated inguinal hernia and schizophrenia. Its aetiology and origin are traced in Chinese culture, to the Chin Dynasty. A nosology for the classification of Koro Syndrome is proposed.
Genetic Markers in Late Paraphrenia: A Study of HLA Antigens
Authors: Naguib Mohsen , McGuffm Peter , Levy Raymond , Festenstein Hilliard , Alonso Antonio
Published: August 2008

Patients with late paraphrenia were typed for HLA-A, -B and -C. Increased frequencies of BW55 (P= 0.036), B37 (P= 0.008) and CW6 (P=0.056) were found relative to controls. Unlike findings in paranoid schizophrenia, there was no HLAA9 association, suggesting that paraphrenics may be genetically distinct from schizophrenics. The primary association seems to be with B37, which has the lowest corrected P value and highest relative risk; if this were replicated, it would make possession of this antigen a strong risk factor for developing the disorder.
Physical and Psychological Characteristics of Five Male Bulimics
Authors: Henderson Michael , Turnbull Jane Dunkeld , Freeman Cristopher P. L. , Barry Fiona , Annandale A.
Published: August 2008

The case histories of five men who met DSM-lll criteria for bulimia and details of their physical characteristics are given. Various eating disorder questionnaires were administered and the results indicated that most of these instruments would not have identified the men as suffering from an eating disorder. The necessity of caution in asserting the prevalence of bulimia using these measures is emphasised.
The Relative Stability of Positive and Negative Features in Chronic Schizophrenia
Authors: Johnstone E. C. , Owens D. G. C. , Frith C. D. , Crow T. J.
Published: August 2008

The mental states of 92 inpatients with chronic schizophrenia were assessed on two occasions 4 years apart. The relationship between the two ratings was examined in the 84 patients who were either consistently on or consistently off neuroleptics. Negative features were more stable than positive, but were not irreversible. Every feature examined was shown to resolve in some cases.
Assessing the Benefits of Psychotherapy
Authors: McGrath G. , Lowson K.
Published: August 2008

Recent debate about the place of psychotherapy in the National Health Service, while emphasising the importance of economic evaluation, has concentrated almost exclusively on issues of clinical outcome. This paper argues that the debate has focussed on too narrow a definition of psychotherapy and too limited a view of the possible effects of psychotherapy, both good and bad. It reviews evidence concerning the demand and need for psychotherapy services in a number of clinical settings, and discusses the economic implications of the provision of such services. Economic studies of psychotherapy are reviewed and a conclusion drawn that it might be possible to justify the provision of psychotherapy services on economic grounds, but that considerably more research needs to be done in this area. The directions such future research might take are outlined.
The Impact of a Liaison Psychiatry Service on Patterns of Referral in a General Hospital
Authors: Brown A. , Cooper A. F.
Published: August 2008

A retrospective study of psychiatric referrals from a general hospital inpatient population was carried out for three separate years, 1973, 1976 and 1979. Reorganisation of the liaison service to the responsibility of one consultant team was associated with changes in referral rate and disposal. In particular, there was a significant increase in the referral rate of patients from medical and surgical wards who were not involved in acts of deliberate self-harm.
The Persistence of Prescribing Habits
Authors: Clark A. F. , Holden N. L.
Published: August 2008

This study describes a survey of prescribing to psychiatric patients on iong-stay wards, together with a follow-up survey carried out after a 2-year period. Our findings show that there had been no significant improvement in polypharmacy and overprescribing of psychotropic drugs over that period, 1983–1985. Guidelines for improvement are suggested.
Manic Depressive Psychosis with Mental Retardation and Flexion Deformities
Authors: Reid A. H. , Swanson A. J. G. , Jain A. S. , Spowart G. , Wright A. F.
Published: August 2008

Five mentally handicapped patients are described in whom a bipolar manic depressive psychosis was associated with flexion deformities, involving principally the fingers. The effect of increasing degrees of retardation on the clinical presentation of the affective psychosis is discussed. Surgical treatment of the flexion deformity brought about considerable improvement in one patient. These five patients were further investigated cytogenetically using high resolution banding techniques. The results obtained were interesting but inconclusive. There would seem to be a definite place for further cytogenetic investigations of some of the more distinctive psychotic disorders using this technique.
Tiapride in the Long-term Management of Alcoholics of Anxious or Depressive Temperament
Authors: Shaw G. K. , Majumdar S. K. , Waller S. , MacGarvie J. , Dunn G.
Published: August 2008

Thirty-two chemically dependent alcoholics with significant levels of anxiety or depression were admitted to a double-blind randomised study in which the effect of the substituted benzamide tiapride was compared with that of placebo over a 6-month period. Twenty patients completed the study. Assessments included relevant biochemical and haematological tests, drinking levels and associated behaviour, expressed satisfaction with various areas of life, the Crown-Crisp Experiential Index of neurotic symptoms and questionnaires on self-esteem and alcohol dependence. The results indicated that in comparison with the placebo group, patients treated with tiapride drank less and had longer periods of abstinence. This was associated with improvements in laboratory tests, reduction in neurotic symptoms, gains in self-esteem and increased levels of expressed satisfaction with life situation. The drug was well tolerated and no deleterious effects were noted, suggesting its potential usefulness for this patient group.
A Long-term Retrospective Follow-up Study of Patients Treated with Prophylactic Lithium Carbonate
Authors: Page C. , Benaim S. , Lappin F.
Published: August 2008

Patients suffering from unipolar and bipolar affective illness, who began treatment with prophylactic lithium carbonate during a 5-year period, were followed up and 59 out of 101 interviewed. Most had been taking lithium for at least 13 years: 49% had a complete remission, 41% a partial but significant response, and 10% no response. No specific individual or illness factor was found to correlate with favourable outcome, and no correlation between average serum lithium level and outcome. No side-effects could be associated specifically with the long-term use of lithium, but there was a surprisingly high incidence of clinical hypothyroidism.
The Present State Examination Change Rating Scale
Authors: Tress K. H. , Bellenis C. , Brownlow J. M. , Livingston G. , Leff J. P.
Published: August 2008

The development and use of a new psychiatric symptom change scale based on the Present State Examination (PSE) - the PSE Change Rating Scale - is described. The advantages of the PSE are retained (the extensive glossary, the diagnostic facility and the standardised interview technique) while improving its sensitivity to change and decreasing its administration time. The scale has been designed to prevent feedback of results and ‘halo’ effects: it has proved highly reliable in use across raters with different backgrounds and experience. The scale has been used to monitor drug effects on clinical state across a variety of diagnoses and examples of its use are given.
Reliability of the Psychosocial Axes of DSM-III in an Adolescent Population
Authors: Rey J. M. , Plapp J. M. , Stewart G. , Richards I. , Bashir M.
Published: August 2008

Three psychosocial variables were rated independently by two clinicians for 140 adolescent referrals to a psychiatric unit. Overall, intraclass correlations for DSM-III Axis IV, Axis V and a psychosocial adversity index (PSAI) were respectively 0.44, 0.58 and 0.68. The main source of unreliability is probably the operational definitions, rather than their application by clinicians; indices similar to the PSAI may be preferable.
Khat-induced Paranoid Psychosis
Authors: Critchlow Stephen , Seifert Ruth
Published: August 2008

For many hundreds of years the fresh leavesof the Khat shrub have been used for their stimulant properties. Several miffion people in East Africa Cathinone is considered the most active ingredient and has been recently isolated and synthesised (United Nations Document, 1975). The effects of cathinone closely resemble those of amphetamine (Halbach, 1972), to which it is chemically related. Regarding the beneficial effects of Khat, Carothers wrote in 1945: The chewing of this weed induces a happy and mellow friendliness and an increased intellectual vigour and acuity, thought tends to rise to a high plane, desire for war and women ceases, and conversation tends to concern itself with ‘the afairs of God’ and the accumulation of wealth by peaceful trade.
Down's Syndrome with Mania
Authors: Cook Edwin H. , Leventhal Bennett L.
Published: August 2008

Sovner et al (1985) proposed that the presence of Down's Syndrome (DS) precludes the possibility of concomitant mama, and this is not a new claim, since Earl (1961) had stated that neither cyclothymia nor manic-depressive psychosis occurred in the mentally retarded. While Sovner et al conceded that cases of mania in individuals with DS may simply have gone unrecognised or unpublished, they felt this to be unlikely. However, lest this suggestion enter the canon, we present a previously unreported case of a young adult with both DS and recurrent mania.
Capgras Syndrome in a Patient with Dementia
Authors: Kumar Vinod
Published: August 2008

The Capgras syndrome was first described as an ‘illusionf doubles' in 1923 by two French psychiatrists, Capgras and Reboul-Lachaux. Since then, a number of cases have been reported of this syndrome co-existing with functional as well as organic disorders. Enoch & Trethowen (1979) regarded the syndrome as purely functional – a manifestation of schizophrenia. Recently, there have been case reports describing the occurrence of Capgras syndrome with diabetes (MacCallum, 1973), hypothyroidism (Madakursira & Hall, 1981), hepatic encaphalopathy (Pies, 1982; Cummings, 1985), pseudo-hypoparathyroidism (Hay et al, 1974), temporal lobe epilepsy (Chawla & Virmani, 1977) and vitamin B12 deficiency (Zucker et al, 1981).

The following report discusses the presence of Capgras syndrome in a patient with dementia.
A Pilot Study of Phenelzine in the Treatment of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Authors: Davidson Jonathan , Walker J. Ingram , Kilts Clinton
Published: August 2008

In recent years, there has been renewed appreciation of the morbidity which can result from unusual or overwhelming stress and while many situations can give rise to post-traumatic disorder, the most frequently studied of these is probably military combat. Psychiatric disorder pursuant to combat experience can not only become chronic, but may intensify with advancing age, decades after the original trauma (Archibald & Tuddenbaum, 1965; Wilmer, 1982). Moreover, a high percentage of combat veterans are believed ultimately to develop chronic psychiatric morbidity (Walker & Cavenar, 1982). The drug treatment of such post-traumatic states remains an important question, largely over looked until the last 2 years but recent case reports suggest that doxepin and imipramine (White, 1983; Burstein, 1984) are beneficial in treating post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which may be either combat or non-combat related. Hogben & Cornfield (1981) described five veterans whose PTSD improved when treated with phenelzine, while Van der Kolk (1983) has described beneficial results with antidepressants, lithium, benzodiazepines, beta blockers, and neuroleptics in uncontrolled studies of PTSD.
Delusion Parasitosis: Successful Non-pharmacological Treatment of a Folie-à-deux
Authors: Macaskill Norman D.
Published: August 2008

Delusional parasitosis, originally described by Ekbom in 1938, is an illness in which the individual believes small animals such as insects, lice, vermin, or maggots are living in or thriving on his/her skin. The delusion is not secondary to another psychiatric ill ness, and in general the personality remains otherwise preserved. Munro (1980) classifies delusional parasi tosis as a subtype of monosymptomatic hypochon driacal psychosis, and has shown that a substantial proportion of patients with MHP respond to pimozide. Prior to the introduction of that drug, the prognosis of the condition was held to be very poor.
The Mental Health of Elderly Couples I. The Effects of a Cognitively Impaired Spouse
Authors: Eagles J. M. , Beattie J. A. G. , Blackwood G. W. , Restall D. B. , Ashcroft G. W.
Published: August 2008

In a general practice population, 274 elderly married couples completed the Mental Status Questionnaire (MSQ), the 60-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and the Leeds General Scales for the Self-assessment of Depression and Anxiety. The only relationship detected between cognitive impairment on the MSQ and psychiatric morbidity in the partner was a fairly weak negative correlation between the wives' MSQ and the Leeds Depression score of their husbands. These findings differ from those of previous studies, which have found high rates of psychiatric morbidity in the relatives of demented patients, and the possible reasons for these differences are discussed. Most importantly, other studies have involved the relatives of patients referred to psychiatric services, and these families may be quite different from those in which the demented relative is not referred to a psychiatrist.
The Mental Health of Elderly Couples II. Concordance for Psychiatric Morbidity in Spouses
Authors: Eagles J. M. , Walker L. G. , Blackwood G. W. , Beattie J. A. G. , Restall D. B.
Published: August 2008

A community sample of elderly married couples completed the 60-item General Health Questionnaire and the Leeds General Scales for the Self-Assessment of Depression and Anxiety. Significant concordance was demonstrated between the spouses' scores on these scales. Concordance was higher for depression than for anxiety. There was little to support previous findings that wives are more likely than husbands to be concordant with an ill spouse. The spouse concordance rates for psychiatric morbidity were similar to those found in studies of younger married couples.
Influence of Husbands on the Outcome of their Agoraphobic Wives' Therapy
Authors: Oatley K. , Hodgson D.
Published: August 2008

Of 30 agoraphobic married women undertaking home-based behaviour therapy, 15 each had a female friend as co-therapist and 15 had their own husband as co-therapist. At 12 months follow-up, women spent a mean of approximately 40 minutes a day more outside the home alone than at baseline. Women assisted by female friends made somewhat more behavioural gains than those assisted by husbands. Women in both groups whose husbands had been more depressed 2 months after the beginning of therapy did less well at 6 months. Husbands who become more depressed may retard their wives' progress in therapy, but the effect was small, and was outweighed by other considerations.
Case Report: Severe Depressive Illness in the Context of Hypervitaminosis D
Authors: Keddie Kenneth M. G.
Published: August 2008

Hypercalcaemia, whether due to undiagnosed hyperparathyroidism or some other cause, can lead to clinical depression. The patient described here developed a severe depressive illness in the setting of hypervitaminosis D after 15 years of inappropriate therapy with calcium gluconate and strong calciferol. The importance of monitoring serum calcium levels in anyone on vitamin D therapy is stressed.
Tuberous Sclerosis and the Autistic Syndrome
Authors: Lawlor B. A. , Maurer R. G.
Published: August 2008

A case of tuberous sclerosis presenting with autistic behaviour is described. Although tuberous sclerosis is a rare cause of the autistic syndrome, it should be more strongly suspected when autistic behaviour is associated with seizures in a young child.
The Compulsory Detention of Males of Different Ethnic Groups, with Special Reference to Offender Patients
Authors: McGovern D. , Cope R.
Published: August 2008

Compulsory detention rates of white, West Indian and Asian males under Part IV and Part V (offenders) of the 1959 Mental Health Act were compared: British-born West Indians and Asians were differentiated from migrants. Rates for Asians were similar to those for whites, but West Indians were significantly over-represented amongst compulsory detentions, especially as offender patients. A high total number of admissions and diagnostic differences accounted for the excess of West Indians admitted under Part IV, but not Part V.
An American Validation Study of the Newcastle Diagnostic Scale
Authors: Zimmerman M. , Coryell W. , Pfohl B. , Stangl D.
Published: August 2008

We completed the Newcastle Diagnostic Scale on 152 unipolar depressed in-patients: its validity was supported by the findings that endogenous depressives were, in contrast to neurotic depressives, older, more severely depressed, with better social support, fewer life events, less personality disorder, and a lower morbid risk of alcoholism and antisocial personality in their first-degree relatives. The relationship between Newcastle scores and the morbid risk for alcoholism was non-linear, such that a cut-off score of 4, rather than 5, maximised the difference between the endogenous and neurotic groups with respect to familial alcoholism rates as well as other validating variables.
The Effect of Sodium Valproate on Tardive Dyskinesia - Revisited
Authors: Fisk G. G. , York S. M.
Published: August 2008

As a treatment for tardive dyskinesia, sodium valproate was tested in a double-blind placebo-controlled parallel group trial, with 6-week base-line observation period followed by 6 weeks of treatment. Sodium valproate was not found to be an effective treatment for either tardive dyskinesia or drug-induced Parkinsonism, and did not affect mental state or behaviour.
Cousin Marriages and Schizophrenia in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Chaleby Kutaiba , Tuma T. A.
Published: August 2008

The rate and degree of consanguinity in the parents of 143 schizophrenics who satisfied the DSM-III diagnostic criteria, was compared in the same number of controls matched for age, sex and socioeconomic class. A family history of disorders suggestive of schizophrenia in the offspring of consanguineous parents who were schizophrenic, was compared with the incidence of a similar history in the schizophrenic offspring of non-consanguineous parents. There was no statistically significant difference in the former, but there was in the latter. This finding supports the theory of a familial tendency towards schizophrenia and the possibility of recessive or a multigene pattern of inheritance.
‘Imposed Psychosis’
Authors: Cawthra R. , O'Brien G. , Hassanyeh F.
Published: August 2008

In 1969 Barton & Whithead described the Gaslight Phenomenon. In this condition a presentation of mental illness is found, on further enquiry, to a hospital. Previous reports have highlighted the malicious intent of the exploiter (Barton & Whitehead, 1969; Smith & Sinanan, 1972; Tyndal, 1973; Lund & Gardiner, 1977).
Prevalence Studies in Schizophrenia
Authors: Torrey E. Fuller
Published: August 2008

Over 70 prevalence studies of schizophrenia published since 1948 are reviewed. Despite problems of method, the studies suggest that there may be significant differences in prevalence among different populations and that prevalence may change over time. Further research is needed on how much differences in diagnosis or the course of schizophrenia contribute to the variable prevalence rates. The paper suggests the following as areas for additional enquiry: a possible north-south gradient, special populations (e.g. American Hutterites, northern Swedes, western Irish, castes in India) and ongoing case registers in areas of suspected high and low prevalence.
Tics and Heredity
Authors: Zausmer D. M. , Dewey M. E.
Published: August 2008

The limited literature on the pedigrees of tiqueurs, including those with Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome, is reviewed. Most statistical analyses have been restricted to affected family members without specifying the unaffected ones. The present statistical analysis of a series of child tiqueurs, including 91 probands and 1293 first- and second-degree relatives, 46 of whom were tiqueurs, predicts the odds on being a tiqueur for individuals, and establishes how those odds are affected by certain explanatory variables using log-linear models. The data do not confirm a familial pattern beyond reasonable doubt, but if the suggested prevalence of tics in the population is 10% then the figure for parents is large enough to support a familial hypothesis. The pedigrees do not indicate a simple mode of genetic transmission. Further research is needed to confirm that there is a connection between childhood tics and Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome, to establish that the predisposition to tics is familial, and, if so, whether there is a complex genetic mechanism involved, or some other environmental aetiology so far undisclosed.
The Nithsdale Schizophrenia Survey
Authors: McCreadie R. G. , Robinson A. D. T.
Published: August 2008

A review of all known schizophrenics (n = 142) in Nithsdale, Scotland, found 50% were living with relatives or friends. Of these, 32% had high contact with a relative showing high expressed emotion (EE); put another way, 87% of all Nithsdale schizophrenics were not living in a high contact/high EE family. Parents were more critical than spouses, and more showed emotional over-involvement. A retrospective review showed a trend, not of statistical significance, towards a higher admission rate to in-patient care in patients from high EE homes. Of relatives believed by a consultant psychiatrist to be neither critical nor hostile, 80% fell into the low EE category, but only 44% thought hostile or critical belonged to the high EE category; that is, the clinician had a wider view of high EE than the Camberwell Family Interview. Relatives' scores on a short patient-rejection scale were higher in high EE than in low EE relatives, but the wide scatter of scores suggested the scale could not be used to identify an individual relative with high EE.
Further Studies of Vanadium in Depressive Psychosis
Authors: Naylor G. J. , Corrigan F. M. , Smith A. H. W. , Connelly P. , Ward N. I.
Published: August 2008

Three studies are reported. In study 1, vanadium concentration was estimated by neutron activation analysis in hair, whole blood, serum and urine from 13 patients suffering from depressive psychosis and then when on recovery- Vanadium concentration of hair, whole blood and serum decreased significantly with recovery, but there was no significant change in 24-h urinary excretion or in renal clearance of vanadium. In study 2, vanadium concentration was estimated by neutron activation analysis in serum and urine of 31 patients with depressive psychosis and of 27 normal controls. Mean renal clearance of vanadium was significantly lower and mean serum vanadium concentration significantly higher in depressed patients than in controls. Mean 24-h excretion of vanadium did not differ between the two groups. Vanadium excretion did not correlate with urine volume, with serum concentration or with age. In study 3, erythrocyte Na-K ATPase activity and serum vanadium concentrations were estimated in 58 patients. There was a strong negative correlation between the two, supporting the suggestion that changes in tissue vanadium concentration may explain the changes in sodium transport which occur in depressive psychosis.