bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Validity of the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale
Authors: Biggs John T. , Wylie Laurence T. , Ziegler Vincent E.
Published: August 2008

The Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (ZSDS) correlated well (0·69) with the treating physician's global rating in 26 depressed out-patients during the six weeks of treatment with a tricyclic antidepressant. In a larger sample of 41 patients, a high correlation was found between the ZSDS and the Hamilton Rating Scale. The sensitivity of the ZSDS was found to be adequate. The scale was able to differentiate, at the 0·05 level, four severity groups classified on the basis of the global rating. The importance of the direct relationship between the range of severity studied and the value of the correlation coefficient was discussed. Previous investigations and the results of this study indicate that the ZSDS is a valid and sensitive measure of clinical severity in depressed patients and support its continued use as a research instrument.
Social Deviance in a Day Hospital
Authors: Watts Fraser N. , Bennett D. H.
Published: August 2008

A search was made of records available for 65 non-psychotic patients referred to a psychiatric day hospital. Assessments were made of whether they had shown various specified types of deviant social conduct, such detailed objective surveys of social conduct being regarded as superior to the use of concepts such as ‘psychopathic personality’. The correlational structures of the areas of deviance produced four factors, i.e. deviant family roles, poor social integration, violence, and a more heterogeneous antisocial behaviour factor.

The relationship was examined between areas of deviance and indices of the course and outcome of day hospital admission. The prognostic significance of social deviance was different for men and women; for example, only men showed a correlation between the number of areas of social deviance and the outcome of day hospital admissions. Violence and poor social integration showed no relation to outcome at all. It is suggested that there is no basis for excluding such patients from day hospitals on the assumption that they are less likely to be helped than other non-psychotic patients.
The Effects of Methadone Maintenance with Opioid Takers: A Review and Some Findings from One British City
Authors: Paxton Roger , Mullin Patrick , Beattie Jack
Published: August 2008

Various benefits claimed for methadone maintenance in the treatment of opioid drug takers are reviewed. It is said to stop illicit drug use, maintain treatment contact, reduce morbidity, mortality and crime, and improve social adjustment. Little firm evidence is found to support these claims. Results are reported comparing 26 drug takers on methadone prescriptions with 16 illicit opioid takers. The measures used are Stimson's (1972) ‘Patterns of Behaviour’ questionnaire, and direct behavioural measures of social functioning. The groups are found not to differ in terms of treatment contact, work status and involvement with other drug takers. There is some evidence that the methadone group is involved in less criminal activity. However, no association is found between amounts of drugs prescribed and numbers of local pharmacy thefts. It is concluded that the benefits of methadone maintenance have been exaggerated.
An Evaluation of Hospital In-patient Treatment in Adolescent School Phobia
Authors: Berg Ian , Fielding Dorothy
Published: August 2008

Thirty-two school-phobic youngsters of mean age 13 years were randomly allocated to two treatment groups after stratifying for sex. Length of in-patient management in a psychiatric hospital unit for young adolescents was evaluated. One group was admitted for three months and the other for six. Care was taken to ensure that cases had been fairly distributed between the groups by comparing them on a variety of clinical features. Follow-up assessments were carried out in a reliable fashion at six months, one year and two years after discharge. Outcome, overall, was similar to that found in a previous follow-up study for the same unit, in that symptoms of emotional disturbance and social impairment tended to persist in a considerable proportion of cases over the period of review. Length of stay in hospital did not affect outcome as far as the boys were concerned; the findings in relation to the girls was less certain and it seems likely that longer in-patient treatment improves outcome in school-phobic girls.
Attempted Suicide and Suicide Among Oxford University Students
Authors: Hawton Keith , Crowle Judith , Simkin Susan , Bancroft John
Published: August 2008

A lower incidence of attempted suicide was found for Oxford University students than for other persons of the same age in Oxford City. This may be due to social class differences. Characteristics of the student attempters are reported. On the other hand, the rates for completed suicides of students, over a recent ten-year period, were in excess of those for the rest of their age group.
Epileptic Homicide: A Case Report
Authors: Gunn John
Published: August 2008

This case report augments a paper published in 1971 (Gunn and Fenton) in which it was indicated that automatic behaviour is a rare explanation for the crimes of epileptic patients. It was claimed that although two possible ‘automatic’ crimes were committed by two epileptic patients among the 46 male epileptics at Broadmoor there were no such crimes committed by any of the 158 male epileptic prisoners who came into a national sample. Since then it has become clear that one man serving life imprisonment, excluded from the epileptic prisoner sample in 1967 because of a doubt about his diagnosis, is definitely epileptic and probably killed his wife during an epileptic attack or its immediate sequela.
Platelet and Plasma Amine Oxidase Activity in Alcoholic Individuals
Authors: Major Leslie F. , Murphy Dennis L.
Published: August 2008

Platelet and plasma amine oxidase activity was determined in a group of 99 healthy male (active duty military) alcoholics referred for hospital treatment who had been abstinent from alcohol for 2–10 days, and compared with that of a control military group. Platelet MAO activity was slightly but significantly lower in the alcoholic group. Both groups were significantly lower in MAO activity compared to a group of 42 non-military controls. In the alcoholic group there was no correlation between platelet MAO and severity or chronicity of drinking, nor was there evidence of iron deficiency to account for the lowered MAO activity. When the alcoholic and military control groups were split at the median, the first degree relatives of both the ‘low’ MAO alcoholics and the ‘low’ MAO military controls had a higher incidence of alcoholism than did the relatives of both ‘high’ MAO subgroups. No personal or family history data of alcohol-related problems were available on the non-military control group.
A Controlled Trial of L-Tryptophan in Mania
Authors: Chambers C. A. , Naylor G. J.
Published: August 2008

A double-blind placebo-controlled trial of L-tryptophan, with pyridoxine and ascorbic acid, was carried out in 10 female patients suffering from mania.

In contrast to earlier studies led by Prange and Murphy, L-tryptophan was found to be no better than placebo.
Dysmorphophobia—A Long-term Study
Authors: Connolly Francis Hugh , Gipson Michael
Published: August 2008

This study examines the mental health of 187 patients who had a rhinoplasty fifteen years earlier. Of 101 who had the operation following disease or injury 9 are now severely neurotic and one schizophrenic; of 86 who had the operation for aesthetic reasons 32 are now severely neurotic and 6 schizophrenic. The differences between the two groups are significant, and show that dysmorphophobia is an ominous symptom.
Insanity in Bar of Trial in Scotland: A State Hospital Study
Authors: Chiswick Derek
Published: August 2008

Legal findings of unfitness to stand trial are returned ten times more frequently in Scotland than in England and Wales. Sixty-five patients in the State Hospital who had been found insane in bar of trial were compared with a control group of 64 offender patients. They showed a significantly greater incidence of homicidal crimes and diagnoses of psychotic disorders, 19 per cent of which later proved to be unstable. They had also been detained longer at the State Hospital. These findings are discussed and particular reference is made to the tendency for psychotic offenders to be almost automatically regarded as unfit to plead. A brief comparison is made with the situation in England, and some modifications in forensic psychiatric procedure are suggested.
Abuse of Indigenous Psilocybin Mushrooms: A New Fashion and Some Psychiatric Complications
Authors: Hyde C. , Glancy G. , Omerod P. , Hall D. , Taylor G. S.
Published: August 2008

The use for hallucinogenic purposes of an indigenous mushroom, Psilocybe semilanceata indigenous to Britain is reported in three patients. Typical psychedelic, transient psychotic and more prolonged schizophrenia-like states were seen, with sympathomimetic signs noted in two cases, in one being prolonged. Enquiry about such mushroom abuse should be considered in individuals presenting to medical or psychiatric emergency clinics.
A Neglected Source-book on Homosexuality
Authors: Zuger Bernard
Published: August 2008

George W. Henry's Sex Variants, published in 1941, presents the frustrating problem of having a valuable body of data which is inaccessible because it is not extracted statistically. It was originally brought out in two volumes and contained close to two hundred pages. It consisted of extensive case histories on 40 male and 40 female homosexuals carefully studied psychiatrically and medically. Each history was accompanied by a chart of the family pedigree. The individuals comprising the study were volunteers, mostly from the professional classes, and in age varied from 20 to about 40 years. Interviews were open-ended as well as by questionnaire and were repeated two years later for validation.
Serum Calcium and Magnesium in Schizophrenia: Relationship to Clinical Phenomena and Neuroleptic Treatment
Authors: Alexander Paul E. , van Kammen Daniel P. , Bunney William E.
Published: August 2008

Serum calcium and magnesium were studied in drug-free and neuroleptic-treated schizophrenic patients. Calcium and magnesium were not significantly different in 31 unmedicated schizophrenic patients compared with normal controls. Serum calcium was altered, however, in two subgroups: (1) Patients who remitted after neuroleptic withdrawal were significantly lower in calcium than those who did not remit; (2) catatonic schizophrenic patients appeared to have an increased calcium at the onset of catatonic stupor.

Patients treated with pimozide were found to have a significant decrease in both calcium and magnesium compared with their drug-free values. These same patients showed a similar decrease in both electrolytes during treatment with fluphenazine, a structurally different neuroleptic drug.
Clinical Laboratory Abnormalities and their Follow-up in a Mental Hygiene Clinic
Authors: Shatin Leo , Kymissis Pavlos , Brown William
Published: August 2008

In a retrospective study, there were clearly abnormal laboratory findings in 4.8 per cent of 4,994 adults who attended for psychiatric evaluation at a mental hygiene clinic. In particular high fasting blood sugars, abnormal blood counts, eosinophilia, VDRL and abnormalities of chest X-ray or urinalysis were found. Just under half of these abnormalities led to further medical follow-up. Old and young, schizophrenic and neurotic were equally likely to be followed up, but tests which were clinically not alarming might be ignored. The implications are discussed.
Token Economy, Pimozide and Chronic Schizophrenia
Authors: McCreadie Robin G. , Main Christopher J. , Dunlop Rosalyn A.
Published: August 2008

Response to a token economy was assessed in male chronic schizophrenic in-patients who were given, in a double-blind cross-over trial, pimozide (up to 20 mg daily) or chlorpromazine (up to 1,000 mg daily), each for three months. After six months there was little change in the patients' mental state, but general ward behaviour and token-rewarded target behaviours improved significantly. There were no statistically significant between-drug differences, but the trend was that general ward behaviour, but not token-rewarded behaviour, improved more on pimozide. The patients who showed initiative and cooperated best with staff were those whose token-rewarded behaviour was most satisfactory.
Obsessive Thoughts: The Problem of Therapy
Authors: Stern R. S.
Published: August 2008

Eleven patients with obsessive thoughts were treated in two pilot studies. In the first of these patients were given thought-stopping, and this was contrasted with relaxation therapy. In the second study patients were treated by a technique described here as ‘satiation’, and this was followed by thought-stopping and finally a course of amitriptyline. The overall results were poor, but one type of obsessive thought responded well to satiation.
Thyrotoxicosis and the Course of Manic-Depressive Illness
Authors: Checkley S. A.
Published: August 2008

The effect of thyrotoxicosis upon the recurrence of manic-depressive psychoses has been studied by the use of a routine follow-up system. In this system 267 patients had three or more affective illnesses. Five of these patients had eight well-documented episodes of thyrotoxicosis. Only three of these eight episodes coincided with an affective illness, and in each case an alternative explanation for the association was available. These findings suggest that thyrotoxicosis has little effect upon the occurrence of a manic-depressive episode.
Central Actions of Benzodiazepines: General Introduction
Authors: Haefely W. E.
Published: August 2008

After a brief review of the characteristic somatic and psychotropic effects of benzodiazepines evidence is presented which supports a specific facilitatory action of these drugs on GABA ergic synapses within the mammalian central nervous system. Benzodiazepines enhance presynaptic inhibition in the spinal cord and dorsal column nuclei as well as postsynaptic inhibition in dorsal column nuclei, hippocampus, hypothalamus, cerebral cortex, cerebellar cortex, which are all examples of recurrent and collateral inhibition mediated by GABA ergic intrinsic neurones. In addition, the compounds also enhance the inhibitory effect of GABA ergic long projection neurones in the substantia nigra and the lateral vestibular nucleus of Deiters. Several problems remain to be solved, such as the exact site at which benzodiazepines initiate their action (pre-synaptically at GABA ergic nerve endings or postsynaptically at the target cells) and the possible existence of endogenous ligands for the benzodiazepine receptor. Some suspected implications which studies on benzodiazepine binding sites could have for a deeper understanding of the mode of action of these drugs are discussed.
Brain Specific Benzodiazepine Receptors
Authors: Bræstrup Claus , Squires Richard F.
Published: August 2008

Brain membranes from rat and human contain a single class of brain specific binding sites for pharmacologically and clinically active benzodiazepines. There is good correlation between the pharmacological effects of benzodiazepines and the affinity for the 3H-diazepam binding site.

Benzodiazepine binding sites are not present on glial cells. Selective neuronal degeneration experiments in rats indicate a neuronal localization. 3H-Flunitrazepam is a very suitable ligand for affinity binding and it binds to the same class of binding sites as 3H-diazepam.

Our results indicate that the in vitro3H-diazepam and 3H-flunitrazepam binding sites are the receptors which in vivo mediate various pharmacological and clinical effects of benzodiazepines.
Clinical Research upon Mentally Ill Subjects Who Cannot Give Informed Consent
Authors: Pryce I. G.
Published: August 2008

The Problem

Over the last two decades increasing attention has been paid to the rights and safety of the subjects of clinical research. A key safeguard against any abuse has been the requirement to obtain the subject's informed, valid or true consent, which has been defined by the Medical Research Council as ‘consent freely given with proper understanding of the nature and consequences of what is proposed’ (M.R.C., 1962–3). However, it has been recognized by the M.R.C. that it may not be possible to obtain such consent from, among others, some subjects who are mentally ill. Whether or not a research project should be carried out on such subjects should depend, they say, on whether or not ‘there are reasonable grounds for believing that a particular new procedure will contribute to the benefit of that particular patient…’, and further, ‘when true consent cannot be obtained, procedures which are of no direct benefit and which might carry a risk of harm to the subject should not be undertaken’ (M.R.C., 1962–3).
A New Distinction between the Euphoric and the Anti-Depressant Effects of Methylamphetamine
Authors: Checkley S. A.
Published: August 2008

The psychological effects of an injection of methylamphetamine have been measured in 22 drug-free patients with endogenous depressive illness and in 9 patients with other psychiatric illness. A new distinction between the time course of the euphoric and anti-depressant effects is described. The euphoric effects were seen in the first hour after the injection, but the anti-depressant effects were delayed for 1–3 hours and then lasted for as long as 36 hours. These findings are at variance with the noradrenaline depletion hypothesis of depressive illness which (in its simplest form) predicts an immediate alleviation of depression as a result of an immediate rise in the concentration of noradrenaline at central receptor sites.
Cognitive Functions in Manic-Depressives: Effects of Lithium and Physostigmine
Authors: Telford Rosemary , Worrall Ernest P.
Published: August 2008

Cognitive functions were investigated in seven manic-depressive patients while on lithium, after two weeks off lithium, and after a subcutaneous injection of physostigmine while on lithium. Test performance was unaffected by lithium, but after physostigmine the I.Q. score of a shortened version of the WAIS was significantly increased.
A Rating Scale for Mania: Reliability, Validity and Sensitivity
Authors: Young R. C. , Biggs J. T. , Ziegler V. E. , Meyer D. A.
Published: August 2008

An eleven item clinician-administered Mania Rating Scale (MRS) is introduced, and its reliability, validity and sensitivity are examined. There was a high correlation between the scores of two independent clinicians on both the total score (0.93) and the individual item scores (0.66 to 0.92). The MRS score correlated highly with an independent global rating, and with scores of two other mania rating scales administered concurrently. The score also correlated with the number of days of subsequent stay in hospital. It was able to differentiate statistically patients before and after two weeks of treatment and to distinguish levels of severity based on the global rating.
Lithium Accumulation in Erythrocytes of Manic-Depressive Patients: Anin vivoTwin Study
Authors: Mendlewicz Julien , Verbanck Paul , Linkowski Paul , Wilmotte Jean
Published: August 2008

Genetic factors play an important role in drug metabolism and drug response. In order to investigate genetic variables in lithium prophylaxis and lithium distribution across the erythrocyte in manic-depression, we have examined forty-two pairs of twins monozygotic (n = 25) and dizygotic (n = 17) with manic-depression. Concordant twins as a group show better lithium prophylaxis than do discordant twins. These results are consistent with previously published family studies of affective illness suggesting a positive relationship between genetic background and success of lithium prophylaxis.

Lithium distribution across the red blood cell (RBC) was assessed by estimating lithium RBC/plasma ratios. The lithium ratio's intrapair differences in both groups of twins were minimal with a high heritability index suggesting that genetic factors play a role in lithium ion distribution. A high linear correlation was found between lithium ratio and plasma lithium and there was no difference in lithium ratios according to sex, affective state and response to lithium. The distribution of lithium ratios was homogenous in the lithium responders' population but this was not the case in the non-responders, suggesting biological heterogeneity of lithium distribution in lithium failures. The implications of these results are discussed as they relate to the genetic determinates of lithium prophylaxis in manic-depressive illness.

These results indicate that lithium ratios are of limited value in lithium maintenance therapy. Our lithium kinetic data, however, are consistent with the concept of a lithium extrusion mechanism from red blood cells.
Disease Associations in Linked Records: Schizophrenia and Accidental Injury
Authors: Baldwin J. A. , Wing J. K.
Published: August 2008

The investigation to be reported in this paper was undertaken following a query concerning the relationship between road accidents and the use of psychotropic drugs. One aspect of this problem could be studied easily by using the file of linked records of the Oxford Record Linkage Study (Acheson, 1967; Baldwin, 1973). Statistical methods have been developed to estimate the degree of association between conditions occurring in time-ordered sequences (Baldwin et al, 1978). The existing file of linked hospital discharge and death records in the Oxford Record Linkage Study was therefore searched and relevant material analysed to test the hypothesis that admission to hospital for schizophrenia was followed by an increased risk of accident or injury. (The present data do not allow the more specific question of phenothiazine treatment to be investigated). The statistical procedures simultaneously provide data on the converse situation, namely where injury occurs prior to hospital admission with schizophrenia, and this was studied also.
A Psychiatric Clinic in a Probation Office
Authors: Bowden Paul
Published: August 2008

A weekly clinic was held for one year in a London probation office with 41 probation officers. Only 23 cases were referred but the clinic was found to be a valuable forum for discussion of problems with the officers, 10 per cent of whose clients were estimated to be receiving psychiatric treatment elsewhere. Suggestions are made to improve collaboration between psychiatrists and probation officers.
Rehearsal Relief of a Nightmare
Authors: Marks Isaac
Published: August 2008

A recurrent nightmare of 14 years' duration rapidly disappeared after it was rehearsed repeatedly in treatment. The nightmare was independent of co-existing compulsive rituals and sexual problems, but was related to co-existing depression.
Lithium Treatment of Chronic Cluster Headaches
Authors: Lieb Julian , Zeff Arnold
Published: August 2008

On the basis of reports of reduced MAO activity in migraine and cluster headaches and on a report that lithium carbonate activates MAO, the authors administered lithium carbonate to two patients whose cluster headaches had brought them to the point of contemplating suicide. Both patients responded quite dramatically. Case 1 has now been virtually free of headaches for over two years and Case 2 has been in remission for over twelve months.
Changes in Self-Rating of Symptoms: A Comparison of Questionnaire Graphic Scales with Test Cards
Authors: Bedford A. , Edington A. , Kellner R.
Published: August 2008

Forty-five in-patients, with primary diagnoses of neurosis or personality disorder, completed the test cards and booklet versions of the Symptom Rating Test—Day (SRT). In order to facilitate retroactive interference the Manifest Anxiety Scale (MAS) and the Maudsley Personality Inventory (MPI) were administered between the two forms of the SRT. On the next day the patients were given the SRT (Week). The initial SRT, MAS and MPI testing was repeated one week later.

On the assumption that positional set is an important consideration predictions were made as to the expected differences between the test cards and booklet modes of SRT administration.

The results add support to the practical use of the SRT in its more recent standardized format.
Suicide in Prison
Authors: Topp D. O.
Published: August 2008

Records of 186 suicides among male prisoners in England between 1958 and 1971 emphasize the differences between the prison population and the population at large. The suicide rate may well be three times greater. The records show that sentence of more than 18 months' duration, whether anticipated or actually received, is associated with a greater risk of suicide than shorter sentence, and that suicide is most likely to be committed during the first few weeks in custody.
Psychotic and Neurotic Depression: 2. Clinical Characteristics
Authors: Bhrolcháin Máire Ní , Brown G. W. , Harris T. O.
Published: August 2008

A series of discriminant function analyses based only on clinical symptomatology suggests that psychotic and neurotic depressives do not differ globally but at a fairly specific level and that the principal, if not only, clinical difference between the groups is one of severity. This interpretation is reinforced by the fact that there are few symptoms more common in the neurotic group. There is suggestive evidence that symptoms generally thought to characterize neurotic depression may conduce to referral to psychiatric services. The neurotic depressive syndrome as classically conceived may therefore be an artificial one, created by selective factors bringing patients with particular symptoms into hospital populations.
Diagnostic Accuracy in Presenile Dementia
Authors: Ron M. A. , Toone B. K. , Garralda M. E. , Lishman W. A.
Published: August 2008

A follow-up study of patients diagnosed as suffering from presenile dementia has revealed a high incidence of erroneous diagnoses. Of 52 patients discharged from hospital with this diagnosis, information was obtained 5–15 years later on 51. Eighteen were alive and the diagnosis was rejected in 16 (31 per cent). Possible reasons for the mistaken diagnoses are discussed.
Raised Parental Age in Psychiatric Patients: Evidence for the Constitutional Hypothesis
Authors: Hare E. H. , Moran P. A. P.
Published: August 2008

In two series of psychiatric patients (numbering about 6,000 and 2,000 respectively), the mean age of the mothers at the time of the patients' birth was found to be very significantly above expectation from the general population, and this was so for each of the major diagnostic groups. In the second series, the age of the fathers was also found to be very significantly above that expected from a sample survey of the general population, and this was so for each diagnostic group. Fathers' age was raised more than mothers', and was highest for schizophrenia. The raised parental age could not be explained in terms of the patient's year of birth or his father's social class. The raised mothers' age could largely be accounted for by regression on the raised fathers' age. The present findings, and those of previous studies, seem best explained on the hypothesis of a constitutional parental trait leading to delayed marriage.
Conversations With Chronic Schizophrenic Patients
Authors: Morgan Roger
Published: August 2008

An account is given of some of the topics discussed during a small informal weekly open group meeting of chronic schizophrenic patients, based on occasional notes compiled over eleven years. The main feature of the patients' condition as displayed was poverty—clinical, social, behavioural, material and financial—and certain features suggested an organic aetiology. Reasons are given for considering that the patients' condition was predominantly caused by schizophrenia rather than by institutionalism.
A Method for the Study of Therapeutic Factors in Group Psychotherapy
Authors: Bloch Sidney , Reibstein Janet , Crouch Eric , Holroyd Pauline , Themen Judith
Published: August 2008

A method is described for the study of therapeutic factors in group therapy in which patients and their therapists prepare brief reports at regular intervals about those events in treatment which they regard as important; these reports are then assigned by independent judges to a classification of therapeutic factors which has been specifically devised for this purpose. The feasibility, validity and reliability of the method are discussed and its potential application to group therapy research and training briefly mentioned.
Deviancy, Delinquency and Drug Use
Authors: Bell D. S. , Champion R. A.
Published: August 2008

A system for monitoring drug use was based on the data from annual surveys of two contrasting population groups, a general cross-section of young people and a cross-section of antisocial deviants. Correlation of deviancy and drug use established that drug use, both licit and illicit, was more extensive among those who suffered parental deprivation, whose parents were divorced or separated, who had psychiatric illness and particularly those who had committed antisocial acts. The degree of antisocial deviancy correlated with the extent of drug use.
EEG Abnormalities and Transsexualism
Authors: Hoenig J. , Kenna J. C.
Published: August 2008

A consecutive series of 46 transsexuals, 35 men and 11 women, showed EEG abnormalities in 48 per cent and borderline abnormalities in another 24 per cent. Women showed the abnormalities in a significantly higher proportion than men. Those with the EEG abnormalities were slightly younger at inception, suggesting that they sought help at an earlier age, and their transsexualism became obvious to their families earlier. Those with personality disorders had EEG abnormalities more frequently, but not significantly so. This group of transsexual patients seemed to have a low sex drive, and those with abnormal EEGs even more so, but again the differences were not significant.

The possible significance of these findings for the understanding of transsexualism is discussed.
Monoamine Oxidase (Mao) of Platelets, Plasma, Lymphocytes and Granulocytes in Schizophrenia
Authors: Bond Peter A. , Cundall Richard L. , Falloon Ian R. H.
Published: August 2008

Monoamine oxidase (MAO) levels in plasma, platelets, lymphocytes and granulocytes have been compared in schizophrenics and controls using three substrates. No significant difference was found between MAO levels in controls and the schizophrenic group as a whole, but platelets and lymphocytes of the latter (tyramine or benzylamine substrate) showed greater variation and in some cases higher values than controls, irrespective of treatment. Schizophrenics who experienced auditory hallucinations had significantly lower MAO levels in lymphocytes and platelets than those who did not.
Platelet Monoamine Oxidase Activity in Schizophrenia
Authors: Mann John , Thomas K. M.
Published: August 2008

A study was made of platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity in non-medicated, newly-admitted schizophrenics and institutionalized chronic schizophrenics both on and off medication. These patients were compared to two control groups: normal subjects and brain-damaged institutionalized patients. No relationship was found between platelet MAO activity and the severity or duration of illness, duration of psychotropic medication, presence of auditory hallucinations or institutionalization. Mean platelet MAO activity did not differ significantly between the schizophrenic subgroups and control groups. Thirty-one patients studied before and after treatment with phenothiazines showed no significant change in platelet MAO activity. The findings did not indicate a relationship between schizophrenia, its treatment or outcome and platelet MAO activity.
Platelet Mao Activity and Evoked Potentials in the Identification of Subjects Biologically at Risk for Psychiatric Disorders
Authors: Coursey R. D. , Buchsbaum M. S. , Murphy D. L.
Published: August 2008

Individuals potentially at risk for psychiatric disorders were identified by screening 375 college student volunteers for low platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity levels. The lower and upper 10 per cent in MAO activity were administered a personal and family history interview, psychological tests and average evoked response (AER) electroencephalographic procedures. Results indicated that low MAO males and females were socially more active, had more psychiatric contact, and had relatives who were psychiatric-ally more disturbed than high MAO subjects. Low MAO males had more convictions, experimented more with illegal drugs and had elevated scores on the MMPI. AER criteria further defined a high risk group of low MAO-AER augmenters which had more suicides among their relatives and higher scores on the schizophrenia scale of the MMPI.
Use of Hospital Services by Chronic Schizophrenics in the Community
Authors: Freeman Hugh , Cheadle A. J. , Korer J. R.
Published: August 2008

A sample of chronic schizophrenic patients from an urban community, living outside hospital, were reassessed on the Present State Examination one year after a first examination. During this time their use of psychiatric hospital services was recorded. One hundred and two patients had satisfactory interviews on both occasions. These could be divided into Heavy, Medium and Light users of services, the numbers being 8, 14 and 63 respectively, while 17 only saw their general practitioners or had no treatment. A ranking of the sample in terms of severity showed no correlation with use of these services; second PSE scores were not significantly different from the first. Heavy and Medium users of hospital services were in contact with Social Services to a significantly greater extent than other patients.
Prediction of Successful Rehabilitation by Nurse Rating Scale
Authors: Philip Alistair E.
Published: August 2008

The predictive value of the NOSIE, a ward behaviour rating scale, was investigated in a group of long-stay patients. After a follow-up period of 3 ½ years, it was found that all NOSIE scales differentiated continuing in-patients from those discharged. Regression analysis showed that age and florid psychoticism carried most predictive weight. These findings and the value of reliable rating scales for rehabilitation purposes are discussed.
High-Dose Propranolol in Schizophrenia
Authors: Sheppard Graham P.
Published: August 2008

Eight male schizophrenics were treated in an open study with d.l. propranolol. The dose was increased by 160 mg/day until a maximum of 2,400 mg/day was achieved on day 15, and this remained constant until day 21. Seven patients showed significant clinical evidence of psychiatric improvement, while the incidence of toxic side-effects was low. There was wide inter-patient variation in plasma levels of propranolol. Despite a significant increase of plasma propranolol between day 15 and day 21 of the study, there was no significant change in serum prolactin.
Lithium Side Effects in a Routine Lithium Clinic
Authors: Johnston B. B. , Dick E. G. , Naylor G. J. , Dick D. A. T.
Published: August 2008

Approximately two thirds of a group of bipolar patients attending the routine lithium clinic suffered side effects. These patients tended to have a lower plasma and erythrocyte lithium concentration and a lower erythrocyte/plasma lithium ratio than those who had no side effects. Explanations of this unexpected finding are discussed.
Havelock Ellis and his ‘Studies in the Psychology of Sex’
Authors: Johnson John
Published: August 2008

The life of Havelock Ellis is described; his personality and life experiences are related to the writing of his major work. Important sections of the ‘Studies' are summarized and their relevance to contemporary sexology is emphasized.
Liaison Psychiatry
Authors: Lipowski Z. J.
Published: August 2008

In 1929, George W. Henry published a paper on ‘Some Modern Aspects of Psychiatry in General Hospital Practice’ and thus became the founder of what later came to be known as liaison psychiatry. He described his work as a psychiatric consultant at Cornell Medical School and advised that ‘On the staff of every general hospital there should be a psychiatrist who would make regular visits to the wards, who would direct a psychiatric out-patient clinic, who would continue the instruction and organize the psychiatric work of interns and who would attend staff conferences so that there might be a mutual exchange of medical experience and a frank discussion of the more complicated cases'. This quotation spells out the essence of psychiatric liaison with medicine. The work of Henry and a few other pioneers bore fruit: psychiatry was at last brought into general hospitals and the mainstream of twentieth century medicine. This was a development of far-reaching consequence for both clinical disciplines, and a major landmark in the history of modern psychiatry.
The Course and Determinants of Reactions to Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Mayou Richard
Published: August 2008

The growth of speculative theories about response to physical illness has not been backed by quantitative information. The introduction of standardized measures of psychological and social adjustment has allowed description and analysis of disability for 100 patients and their spouses two and twelve months after a first myocardial infarction. (1) Global measures of social outcome were found to be inadequate and misleading and therefore work, leisure, marriage and family relationships, sex and compliance were separately examined. (2) There was considerable continuity in individual reactions throughout convalescence and it was possible (3) to identify factors in the premorbid psychosocial state predictive of outcome and (4) to describe characteristic patterns of coping. (5) Outcome for spouses can be similarly described and understood. The findings have clinical applications for diagnosis, prophylaxis, treatment and the evaluation of medical care. The conclusion also extend our understanding of the basic principles underlying response to physical illness.
An Extension of the Random Error Coefficient of Agreement to N x N Tables
Authors: Janes Cynthia L.
Published: August 2008

Maxwell has proposed the Random Error Coefficient of Agreement (RE), as a measure of agreement for the binary case based upon the assumption of random distribution of questionable cases. The present paper presents a more general formula for RE's computation and shows how the new form is applicable to cases with more than two response categories.
Chlormethiazole Abuse
Authors: Gregg Elizabeth , Akhter Iftikhar
Published: August 2008

This report describes 17 cases of chlormethiazole abuse or dependence. These include one case with symptoms and signs of withdrawal and two other similar cases where undoubted dependence was combined with excessive alcohol intake. Seven other patients with alcoholism who indulged in drug-seeking behaviour involving chlormethiazole are also reported, together with a further seven abusers of various other drugs who were also discovered to be taking chlormethiazole.
The Psychiatrist in the Terminal Care Unit
Authors: Stedeford Averil , Bloch Sidney
Published: August 2008

The types of problems of 49 patients referred to a psychiatrist in a terminal care unit are reported and their management reviewed. The findings suggest that a psychiatrist can play a useful role in such a unit, particularly in supervising medical and nursing staff in the psychological care of patients and in helping more directly in the management of psychiatrically complicated cases.
Psychologically Stressful Events in the Precipitation of Manic Episodes
Authors: Ambelas A.
Published: August 2008

The case notes of all 67 manic patients admitted to the psychiatric wing of a District General Hospital over a period of two years were screened for evidence of independent life events during a four week period prior to admission. The nature of such events and of the underlying stresses was examined and the data obtained were compared with data from a control group of acute surgical admissions. Four times as many manic patients had an independent life event closely preceding their admission. It is concluded that stress in the form of loss or threat is a common precipitant of mania. Some surprising findings are focused upon and discussed.
Renal Function in Patients on Lithium Treatment
Authors: Hällgren R. , Alm P. O. , Hellsing K.
Published: August 2008

A cross-sectional study was performed on 66 lithium-treated patients to investigate a possibly changed kidney function, using [51Cr]-EDTA clearance, and urinary excretions of albumin and β2-microglobulin. Thirteen patients showed abnormal test results: seven had decreased glomerular filtration rate, four had increased albumin excretion and four had increased excretion of β2-microglobulin. There was no correlation between length of treatment with lithium or hypothyroidism (10 patients) and impaired renal function. Four patients had already manifested signs of renal dysfunction before lithium treatment. The high prevalence of impaired renal function among our patients is unexplained but lithium could be one possible cause.
Evaluation of a Detoxification Service for Habitual Drunken Offenders
Authors: Hamilton John R.
Published: August 2008

The progress of 52 chronic alcoholic habitual drunken offenders who were offered a detoxification, assessment and referral service as an alternative to penal management for their public drunkenness was compared over a year with 48 control subjects, and each group's progress in the experimental year was compared with that in the previous year. The ‘detoxification’ patients were found not to have benefited as regards their alcoholism or episodes of drunkenness, though their periods of abstinence were longer. There were significant improvements in their accommodation and self-reported quality of life, and it is likely that their physical and perhaps mental health improved.
Psychotherapy of the Dying Patient
Authors: Stedeford Averil
Published: August 2008

The psychotherapeutic aspects of the care of the 49 terminally ill patients described in the preceding paper are discussed. Their differing ways of coping with the stress of dying and the range of psychotherapeutic strategies used in treatment are described. The work suggests that the therapist's use of psychological insights can improve his understanding of the emotional pain of terminal illness, and well-aimed psychotherapy can contribute to its relief.
Amitriptyline: Comparison of Three Different Dosage Schedules in Neurotic Depression
Authors: De Maio Domenico , Levi-Minzi Alessandro
Published: August 2008

Three groups of neurotic depressed patients were treated with amitriptyline, one group receiving the customary three daily doses, another a single dose in the morning, and the third a single dose at night. All three groups showed significant decrements of total scores on the Hamilton Scale for Depression and the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale without significant differences. Patients taking the drug at night showed a lower incidence of side effects.
The Psychiatric Patient: a Voice to be Heard
Authors: Gordon D. , Alexander D. A. , Dietzan J.
Published: August 2008

Patients' view of psychiatric care and its implications is a neglected area of inquiry, partly due to ideological factors as well as structural aspects of the National Health Service. It is acknowledged that patient satisfaction per se cannot be the major goal of the Health Services, but the path to improved welfare and treatment may be facilitated by patient satisfaction or at least by an awareness of patient opinion. Further exploration of this area is recommended.
An Holistic Developmental View of Neural and Psychological Processes: a Neurobiologic-Psychoanalytic Integration
Authors: Meyersburg H. A. , Post R. M.
Published: August 2008

The authors attempt to integrate several psychoanalytical and more recent neurobiological concepts regarding the development of the organism and emergence of psychopathology. They highlight the rough temporal correspondence of neurodevelopmental myelination cycles with stages of psychosocial development. They discuss concepts of critical periods and unique times of vulnerability to psychosocial insult and recurrence of critical stresses, gleaned from a multidisciplinary point of view, in relation to the occurrence of psychic aberrations. They suggest that it may be fruitful to explore further psychological constructs such as fixation and regression, as well as unconscious mental processes, in relation to their biochemical, physiological, and anatomical representations in the brain.
Reliability of a Schedule for Rating Personality Disorders
Authors: Tyrer P. , Alexander M. S. , Cicchetti D. , Cohen M. S. , Remington Marina
Published: August 2008

The inter-situational, inter-rater and temporal reliability of a schedule for rating personality disorders is described. In an initial study with a simplified form of the schedule in patients from different wards of a psychiatric hospital inter-situational reliability between raters was higher for patients with personality disorders than with no personality disorder. Using the full schedule, inter-rater reliability, using audiotaped and separate interviews, and temporal reliability at interviews conducted a mean of 12.5 months apart all reached a satisfactory level, suggesting that the schedule may be a useful instrument for measuring deviant personality traits. The interview may be used with a subject or an informant but agreement between ratings made with informants and psychiatric patients during illness was low, and the schedule is not recommended for use with patients alone during acute episodes of illness.
Changes in the Brain Catecholamines in Patients with Dementia of Alzheimer Type
Authors: Adolfsson R. , Gottfries C. G. , Roos B. E. , Winblad B.
Published: August 2008

Brain monoamine concentrations were determined post mortem in 19 patients with dementia of Alzheimer type. Samples were taken from 10 parts of the brain and compared with an age-matched control group.

There were lower mean concentrations of dopamine in the demented group of patients in seven regions of the brain, and two of these were at a significant level. There were also significantly lower concentrations of homovanillic acid in the nucleus caudatus and in the putamen. The means of the concentrations of noradrenaline were also lower, and in the putamen and the cortex gyrus frontalis significant differences were observed. The 5-hydroxytryptamine concentrations were slightly lower in the demented group but the differences did not reach significance. The degree of intellectual deterioration was negatively correlated with the noradrenaline concentrations in the hypothalamus and the cortex gyrus cinguli.
The Use of Schneider's Typology for the Diagnosis of Personality Disorders—An Examination of Reliability
Authors: Standage K. F. , Standage K. F.
Published: August 2008

Schneider's typology of the personality disorders is described briefly. Three psychiatrists made diagnoses on two sets of patients, both of which contained one example of each type. The diagnoses were made with the help of a glossary and based upon the examination of clinical summaries and audio-recordings.

Values of two reliability coefficients showed considerable variation between types. High reliability was found for Schneider's asthenic, explosive, depressive and affectionless types. Low reliability was found for the fanatic, labile and hyperthymic types. The insecure and attention-seeking types were overused. Some possible causes of this variation are discussed.