bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Purchases of hypnotics, sedatives and minor tranquillizers anong 2,566 individuals in the country of Jämtland, Sweden
Authors: Boethius G. , Westerholm B.
Published: August 2007

Data from a continuous recording of drug prescriptions to 16,600 individuals in the county of Jäatland, Sweden, revealed that 2,566 patients (15.5%) obtained prescriptions for hyponotics, sedatives and minor tranquillizers in 1970. Occasional use (one pruchase only, Group A) was seen in 7.4% of the population, intermediate use (two to six purchases, Group B) in 6.9% whereas 1.2% were regular users (seven purchases or more, Group C). For each group as a whole there was 5 years later a highly significant intriandividual reduction in the purchases of these durgs as well as of other psychotropic durgs. In all groups 10–23% had increased their purchases, most of them insignificantly. Fifteen of 30 patients with a marked increase in consumption developed a regualr purchase pattern, but signs of oversuse or abuse were sen in only foru persons. During the studied period the benzodiazepines increased their share of the total from 45 to 60%. Anithistamines also increased in all groups while the proportion of barbiturates and combined preprations decreased markedly.
Psychic dependence? A different formulation of the problem with a view to the reorientation of therapy for chronic drug addiction
Authors: Cocchi R. , Tornati A.
Published: August 2007

Disputing the concept of “psychic dependence”, the authors review six motivations to use addictive drugs, four of which pertain to the moment of assumption of the habit, and two of which, identifiable with physical and psychic dependence, dependence, depend on breaking of the habit. While physical dependence is linked to withdrawal syndrome, psychic dependence, in the authors' opinion, is related to a long‐standing previous state of true or masked endogenous depression (in this case it would be well termed “neuropsychological dependence”), and the drug taking is only a maladaptive self‐medication. This thesis is substantiated by the literature reporting, in chronic drug addicts, the use of the whole series of antidepressants (i.e. tricyclics, doxepine, lithium, etc.) with noticeable therapeutical success. In accordance with other reports and with personal experience, the authors assign great importance to the drugs acting, directly or indirectly, on GABA, i.e. L‐glutamine, piracetam, and, particularly, N‐dipropylacetic acid.
Polypharmacy among psychiatric patients
Authors: Hemminki E.
Published: August 2007

The purpose of the present study is to determine the frequency of polypharmacy among psychiatric patients in Helsinki, and to ascertain whether this practice is supported by clinical trials. The drugs prescribed in 1 day to a sample of patients (n= 694) in mental hospitals and outpatient clinics in Helsinki were studied. 69 % of patients received more than one psychotropic drug in 1 day (61 % received “proper” psychotropic drugs). On the average there were 2.1 different psychotropic drugs per patient, and the maximum was 6. A review of controlled clinical trials on the simultaneous use of more than one proper psychotropic drug in psychiatric diseases (excluding fixed combinations) revealed 14 trials. In only thee trials was the combination better than its single components or placebo. Thus, there seems to be no evidence from clinical trials defending the frequent polypharmacy. A radical reduction in the number of psychotropic drugs prescribed for psychiatric patients is apparently desirable.
A repeated dose comparison of three benzodiazepine derivatives (nitrazepam, flurazepam and flunitrazepam) on subjective appraisals of sleep and measures of psychomotor performance the morning following night‐time medication
Authors: Hindmarch I.
Published: August 2007

Repeated doses of 5 mg nitrazepam, 15 mg flurazepam, and 1 mg flunitrazepam improved subjective assessments of the ease of getting to sleep and the perceived quality of induced sleep in a population of 30 healthy volunteers. The subjective reports of improved sleep inducement were related to a perceived difficulty in awakening from sleep the morning following medication. This subjectively reported “hangover” is also shown in the impairment of mental arithmetic abilities as measured on the serial subtraction of sevens technique. However, complex psychomotor performance is unaffected by repeated administration of these three benzodiazepine derivatives, although these later results are somewhat equivocal. Evidence of a “rebound phenomenon” following 4 nights' withdrawal of active medication is shown in both subjective and objective measures of sleep and early morning behaviour.
To be or not to be a Jew? A dilemma of Sigmund Freud?
Authors: Dor‐Shav N. Kohn
Published: August 2007

The paper presents the position that Freud was not torn by the conflict “To be or not to be a Jew” as some have contended, but, rather, that he had resolved upon “to be …”, and did not long to reject his Jewish identity. What is maintained here is that evidence cited in support of supposed ambivalence regarding Jewish identity is better interpreted in terms of Freud's life‐long ambivalence toward his father, his drive to denigrate and destroy him. Evidence is brought that it is his father, rather than himself, whom Freud identifies with the Moses figure ‐ and the consequences of his identification are used to explain both his obsession with the Moses theme and his seeming digressions into Bible‐analysis in “Moses and monotheism”. The latter, which Freud described as a sequel to “Totem and Taboo”, is seen as the acting out of the wish for parricide described in that work.
Mechanism of action of benzodiazepines—the GABA hypothesis
Authors: BERTILSSON L.
Published: August 2007

Benzodiazepines influence on a number of neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine, catecholamines, serotonin, glycine and gamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABA), but during recent years the major interest has been focused on the inhibitory transmitter GABA. This paper reviews the hypothesis that benzodiazepines act via GABA‐ergic mechanisms in the central nervous system.

At NIMH in Washington D. C. a novel method to measure the turnover rate of GABA in rat brain nuclei has been developed (Bertilsson et al., J. Pharmacol. Exp. Therap. 200: 277, 1977). The incorporation of 13C from glucose into glutamic acid and GABA was quantitated in stereomicroscopically isolated nuclei. Using this technique it was shown that the GABA agonist muscimol and diazepam have a similar action. Both drugs decreased the turnover rate of GABA in N. caudatus and accumbens, but not in globus pallidus (Mao et al., Biol. Psychiatry 12: 395, 1977). This gives further support to the theory that diazepam acts as a GABA‐mimetic drug.
The clinical activity of oxazepam
Authors: FOUKS L. , PINALIE B. , PORCHERON J. B. , CARDON A.
Published: August 2007

Over the years, oxazepam has distinguished itself clinically from other benzodiazepines by virtue of its excellent tolerance. Recent research suggests that this is due to metabolic and pharmacokinetic differences rather than an intrinsically more favourable toxic‐to‐therapeutic dosage ratio. Because of its excellent tolerance, dosage is very flexible, and it is, therefore, possible to utilize oxazepam in a wide spectrum of anxietyrelated disorders including the psychoses. The use of oxazepam in anxiety neurosis, depressive neurosis, psychotic disorders, alcoholism, and insomnia is discussed.
Oxazepam in the treatment of anxiety in children and the elderly
Authors: DEBERDT R.
Published: August 2007

The nature of anxiety, particularly in the young and the elderly, is described. The difficulty of treating anxiety occurring at the extremes of age is emphasized. Oxazepam is exceptionally well tolerated by these patients and is considered to be the benzodiazepine of choice for paediatric and geriatric anxiety. Metabolic and pharmacokinetic factors may account for this distinction.
The abuse potential of benzodiazepines with special reference to oxazepam
Authors: BLIDING ÅR.
Published: August 2007

Extensive use of oxazepam. particularly in the abuse‐prone population of alcoholic patients. has shown that the dependence‐producing potential ot this drug is remarkably low, only four cases of dependence having been encountered over many years. Even abrupt withdrawal of oxazcpam does not normally precipitate an abstinence syndrome. A computerized literature search retrieved 68 papers o n beivodiazepine abuse and/or dependence, only 4 (6 %) being concerned with oxazepam. Threc reasons are proposed to account for the exceptionally low abuse‐potential of oxazepam, the first bcing considered to be thc most important: its onset of central nervous system activity is gradual. so there is no sudden ‘intoxication’ effect; i t tends to causc dizziness at high dosage. discouraging the patient to increase the dose; and because it has a short half‐life and n o major active metabolites. intermittent therapy (which many patients nou practise with all benzodiazepines). periodically allows the completc elimination of thc drug from the body.
Cis(Z)‐clopenthixol and clopenthixol (Sordinol®) in chronic psychotic patients: A DOUBLE‐BLIND CLINICAL INVESTIGATION
Authors: Gravem A. , Engstrand E. , Guleng R. J.
Published: August 2007

The clinical effect of cis(Z)‐clopenthixol has been compared with that of clopenthixol, which is a mixture of the pharmacologically month double‐blind trial were included 57 psychotic patients, mainly schizophrenics. Ratings evaluating severity of illness, therapeutic effect, possible interference of side effects with the patient's functioning, as well as any individual side effects were done at months 0, 1, and 2.

The antipsychotic effect of cis(Z)‐clopenthixol was found equal to that of clopenthixol whereas the cis(Z)‐isomer on a mg/mg basis was twice as active as clopenthixol. Apart from the finding that the unspecific sedative effect appeared to be less marked with cis(Z)‐clopenthixol, the type, degree, and frequency of side effects were the same in the two groups of patients. More than half of the patients experienced no side effects.
Efficacy and side effects of flurazepam, fosazepam, and nitrazepam as sleeping aids in psychogeriatric patients
Authors: Viukari M. , Linnoila M. , Aalto U.
Published: August 2007

Efficacy and side effects of flurazepam 15 mg, fosazepam 60 mg, and nitrazepam 5 mg were studied in 17 psychogeriatric patients. The drugs were equipotent in maintaining sleep but nitrazepam had more side effects than the other hypnotics, and it induced a rebound insomnia after withdrawal. All hypnotics lost some of their efficacy towards the end of 7 days' administration. Patients with evident cerebrovascular disease were vulnerable to the side effects of the benzodiazepine hypnotics. The side effects did not correlate with the age of a patient. In addition, no correlations were found between the serum levels of fosazepam or its main metabolite and the side effects.
Effect of lithium on hypothalamic‐pituitary dopaminergic function
Authors: Lal S. , Nair N. P. V. , Guyda H.
Published: August 2007

The effect of lithium on apomorphine‐induced growth hormone secretion and haloperidol‐induced prolactin secretion was examined in eight male subjects without history of manic‐depressive illness. Lithium had no effect on baseline or drug‐induced changes in serum growth hormone or prolactin concentrations. These data suggest that lithium does not alter hypothalamic‐pituitary dopamine receptor function.
How schizophrenic patients change during 3 years' treatment with depot neuroleptics
Authors: Dencker S. J. , Frankenberg K. , Lepp M. , Lindberg D. , Malm U.
Published: August 2007

A group of patients, initially 67 individuals, with chronic schizophrenia were studied on repeated occasions during 1 year and followed up after 3 years. The patients were given depot neuroleptics, either fluphenazine decanoate or pipotiazine palmitate, at intervals of 1 month. The symptom scores from three rating scales were subjected to factor analysis. Four factors were found to explain the variance satisfactorily: one comprising psychopathological symptoms specific for schizophrenia, one relating to contact disturbances, one psychomotor activity and one representing neurotic symptoms. Analysis of these factors revealed certain differences between the treatment groups over time and demonstrated the effect of combination of psychotherapy and neuroleptic drugs in a subgroup of patients. This type of analysis of treatment results might contribute to improving our knowledge of rehabilitation of schizophrenic patients and help us to draw up guidelines for selection of suitable measures.
Rates and risks of depressive symptoms in a United States urban community
Authors: Weissman M. M. , Myers J. K.
Published: August 2007

The results of a U.S. urban community survey, conducted in 1967 and in 1969, show that 16–18 % of the population have depressive symptoms at any one time. Similar rates are reported in five other studies where self‐report depression symptom scales have been used. The relationship between depressive symptoms and the diagnosis of major depressive disorders still requires investigation since the presence of depressive symptoms does not necessarily indicate the diagnosis of a major or minor depressive disorder.
L‐Tryptophan and 5‐hydroxytryptophan in the treatment of depression
Authors: D'Elia G. , Hansonan L. , Raotma H.
Published: August 2007

Trial performed do not provide evidence for an antidepressant effect of 5‐HTP.

L‐TP, without interacting pharmaca, does not appear to be a well‐documented antidepressant. The only convincing evidence for L‐TP as an antidepressant is that L‐TP enhances the effect of MAOI.
Disturbed circadian variation of serum thyrotropin in patients with endogenous depression
Authors: Weeke A. , Weeke J.
Published: August 2007

The relationship between the degree of depression and the circadian variation of serum TSH, T3 and T4 was investigated in 19 endogenously depressed patients. The difference between the hormone concentrations at 2 p.m. and at 12 p.m. was taken as an estimate of the magnitude of circadian variation. It was found that the circadian variation in serum TSH was inversely related to the degree of endogenous depression. This was mainly due to a diminution or absence of the night increase of TSH in severely depressed patients. A circadian variation of serum free T3 was found in the less depressed patients whereas no diurnal change was found in serum free T4. In severely depressed patients there were no significant diurnal changes in free thyroid hormone concentrations. The results indicate a hypothalamic dysfunction in manic‐depressive psychosis.
Female alcoholics
Authors: Dahlgren L.
Published: August 2007

The study provides a social and psychiatric description of development, drinking pattern and concomitant psychiatric disturbances of 100 female alcoholics, admitted to the Department of Alcohol Diseases, Karolinska Hospital in Stockholm between 1963 and 1969. Comparisons are made between this group of women and 100 men of the same age, who were admitted during the same period. The criteria for selection were: 1) at least 7 days of in‐patient treatment; 2) early cases. The subjects were between 20 and 65 years of age with a mean age of 40. It is shown that the women started drinking alcohol at higher ages than the men. The episodic use of alcohol passed into regular use, which progressed into misuse at significantly higher ages. The duration of the development from the onset to an alcoholic drinking pattern was significantly shorter and so was the duration of abuse at the time of admission. Notably more women than men showed a lonely drinking pattern and cited a specific external cause of problem drinking. The women reported more nervous symptoms both in the growing ages and at admission, had received more psychiatric treatment both during childhood and in later life, and showed symptoms of other psychiatric disturbances in combination with alcoholism to a significantly higher degree than the men. Family history of alcoholism showed no differences between men and women, but the incidence of psychiatric illness was considerably higher for the first‐degree relatives

of the females.
Prevalence and pattern of drug use amongst college students
Authors: Dube K. C. , Kumar A. , Kumar N. , Gupta S. P.
Published: August 2007

This is a report on the study of the prevalence and pattern of the use of dependence‐producing drugs on 1,192 postgraduate students from the faculties of Arts, Science and Commerce and final year undergraduate medical students. The overall prevalence rate of drug use was 50.08 % (65.22 % in medical and 34.85 % in non‐medical students). The highest drug use (76.43 %) was among male medical students. Male students preferred to use alcohol and bhang while femala had a preference for meprobamate followed by alcohol. In the majority of cases, the age of initiation was in the “teens”. “Friends” were most responsible for suggesting drug use, although “more than one” influencing agents out‐numbered all the single influencing agents. Parents were found to have a significantly “tolerant” attitude towards drug use by their off‐spring. “Personal reasons” were not responsible for indulgence in or abstaining from drug use. L.S.D. users had the maximum number of after‐effects. The effects experienced in respect of most drugs were generally unpleasant and sometimes contrary to the expectations of users. Most “non‐users” and “infrequent users” did not favour self‐decision for drug indulgence though some “moderate” and “frequent” users were in favour of giving this freedom for some substances. Stringent measum against drug use among students were advocated by all drug users.

More males, particularly male medical students, than females reported drug experience. Among male users, religion, caste, earlier education, residence (both sexes), employment status, occupation of the father, parental education and family income (among females as well) were the variables found to be significantly associated with drug use.
Neuroendocrine disorders in depressions and their significance for the monoamine hypothesis of depression
Authors: Praag H. M. van
Published: August 2007

This article discusses the results of recent neuroendocrinological research in depressions. The abnormalities found in a given category of vital depressive patients ‐ cortisol hypersecretion, decreased growth hormone response to insulin hypoglycaemia and decreased luteinizing hormone secretion in menopause ‐ are believed to be due to deficient noradrenalin‐(NA)‐ergic activity in the hypothalamus. Thus explained, they support the so‐called MA (monoamine) hypothesis, which postulates that a functional NA deficiency in the brain plays a role in the pathogenesis of certain types of vital depression.

Disorders in certain central MA‐ergic systems are predictive of disorders in the hormone secretion of the anterior pituitary. Inversely, disorders in the hormone secretion of the anterior pituitary can be indicative of disorders in the MA‐ergic transmission in the hypothalamus. Consequently we can expect a convergence of transmitter research and neuroendocrinological research ‐ two lines of research which have so far been largely separated in studies of human individuals.
Double‐blind therapeutic evaluation of fluspirilene compared with fluphenazine decanoate in chronic schizophrenics
Authors: Frangos H. , Zissis N. P. , Leontopoulos I. , Diamantas N. , Tsitouridis S. , Gavriil I. , Tsolis K.
Published: August 2007

Fifty chronic schizophrenics were randomly assigned to a 16‐week treatment either with fluspirilene or with fluphenazine decanoate. The aim of the study was to compare the antipsychotic action and the side effects of the two neuroleptics. Fluphenazine decanoate caused more side effects and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant in the items tremor, severe extrapyramidal effects and parkinsonism. More patients in the fluspirilene group (nine patients) compared with only three in the fluphenazine decanoate group remained free of side effects during the whole trial. Judged from the BPRS fluspirilene proved an equally potent neuroleptic with fluphenazine decanoate although statistically significant improvement has been obtained in more items of the scale in the fluspirilene group. The improvement in the NOSIE‐30 was much more clear in the fluspirilene group. Although Clinical Global Impressions of the investigators and the nursing personnel favored fluspirilene, the differences between the two groups were not statistically significant.
Free‐thyroxine index in psychotic and neurotic depression
Authors: Rinteris P. M. , Christodoulou G. N. , Souvatzoglou A. M. , Koutras D. A. , Stefanis C. N.
Published: August 2007

The mean free‐thyroxine index value of a group of 25 psychotic depressive patients was found to be significantly lower than that of an age‐ and sex‐matched group of 20 neurotic depressives (P>0.01). These findings support the view that psychotic and neurotic expression, are differentiated not only with respect to their clinical expression, but also on account of their biological substrate.

Comparison of free‐thyroxine index values of each group of patients with a group of 240 euthyroid subjects hospitalized for various somatic illnesses revealed a lower mean free‐thyroxine index value in the group of psychotic depressives (P>0.001). The neurotic depressives were not differentiated from the group of euthyroid subjects.

The decreased thyroid activity in psychotic depression might be interpreted in the light of recent findings implicating catecholamines in both the release of hypothalamic hormones and the neurochemical mechanism of the affective disorders.
Psychomotor seizures, arterio‐venous malformation and the olfactory reference syndrome: A CASE REPORT
Authors: Toone B. K.
Published: August 2007

A case history is reported of a 44‐year‐old man with a 6‐year history of psychomotor seizures. For the past year he had described persistent olfactory hallucinations of an unpleasant nature which he referred to himself. In many respects these symptoms conform to the pattern observed in the olfactory reference syndrome, a recently described but apparently quite discrete psychiatric disorder; there were, however, certain atypical features. At a later stage unilateral anosmia was noted. Radiological examination then demonstrated an arterio‐venous malformation in the right frontal lobe. The relationship between the malformation and the psychomotor seizures, and the implications that each has for the development of an olfactory reference syndrome are fully discussed.
Delirium tremens
Authors: Kramp P. , Rafaelsen O. J.
Published: August 2007

The effect of diazepam and barbital in the treatment of delirium tremens and other acute conditions related to alcohol abuse was evaluated in a double‐blind trial. 91 patients participated in the study, 44 in the diazepam group, 47 in the barbital group. The choice of diazepam rather than chlordiazepoxide was motivated by its major anticonvulsive properties.

Barbital was given by the oral route, diazepam as intramuscular injections. Different ways of drug administration to patients with delirium tremens are discussed. It is concluded that the two different ways used in the study probably did not have a noteworthy influence on the results.

All patients were excluded who had taken psychoactive drugs before admission. Nevertheless a considerable part of the patients had diazepam, but not barbital, in the blood before treatment was initiated. This may give support to the use of barbital as a “special purpose drug” in the treatment of these conditions.

The patients were divided into three diagnostic categories, according to the severity of the clinical condition. No difference between the two drugs tested was found in the milder conditions, but barbital was found superior to diazepam in the treatment of fully developed delirium tremens.
A clinical study of 44 patients with juvenile amaurotic family idiocy
Authors: Birger Sørensen J. , Parnas J.
Published: August 2007

The material presented comprises 44 patients with juvenile amaurotic family idiocy. The disease is distinguished from other types of gangliosidoses, and earlier clinical descriptions are reviewed. The median age of the patients at the onset of the disease was 5.8 years and median duration of life was 18.8 years.

It appears probable that the disease takes two different courses. Besides the earlier described accompanying phenomena, dystonic attack with oculogyre crises have been found in some patients, as well as extreme cases of bradycardia. In 77 % of the patients psychotic manifestations have been found, chiefly in the form of frightening visual hallucinations. The pathogenesis and clinical observations of the psychoses are discussed and environmental factors are pointed out as contributing to the pathogenesis of the psychoses.
Monoamines and monoamine metabolites in brains from demented schizophrenics
Authors: Winblad B. , Bucht G. , Gottfries C. G. , Roos B.‐E.
Published: August 2007

The brains from 12 schizophrenic patients were investigated postmortem for their content of noradrenaline (NA), dopamine (DA), 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT), homovanillic acid (HVA), and 5‐hydroxyindolacetic acid (5‐HIAA). Six of the schizophrenics had been lobotomized 25–30 years prior to death. A control group matched for age was collected in the autopsy room. The concentrations of NA, DA, and HVA in different parts of the brain from the schizophrenic group did not differ from those of the controls. 5‐HT was determined in 11 nuclei or areas of the brain. The schizophrenic group had lower mean values compared with the controls, and in the hypothalamus, medulla oblongata, and hippocampus the difference was at a significant level. 5‐HIAA was determined in six areas of the brain but only in a few cases. There was a trend towards lower means of 5‐HIAA in the schizophrenics.

Cause of death, medication, food intake, age, time between death and autopsy, time the corpses have lain in room temperature, and dissection technique are discussed in relation to these findings. These variables have to be kept under careful control before changes can be claimed as having pathogenetic importance for schizophrenia or for the progressing dementia in this disease.
Parental contact in male and female transsexuals
Authors: Uddenberg N. , Wålinder J. , Höjerback T.
Published: August 2007

The parental contact reported by 12 biologically male and 12 biologically female transsexuals was compared with that reported by control subjects (109 conscripts in the Swedish Army; 101 pregnant nulliparous women). Parental contact was estimated for three different periods: 1) childhood, 2) adolescence, 3) the year before investigation.

Transsexual patients generally reported less satisfactory relations to both parents than same‐sexed control subjects. A pattern characterized by warm and intense contact with the cross‐sexed parent and poor contact with the same‐sexed one was observed in about half of the male transsexuals, but not in the female ones.

Our findings suggest that disturbed emotional relations to the parents may be one contributory cause in the development of trans‐sexualism and are in accordance with the hypothesis that gender identity grows out of an interaction of biological and environmental factors.
Family‐size and birth‐order in obsessional neurosis
Authors: Snowdon J.
Published: August 2007

Family size and birth‐order of 156 British‐born patients diagnosed as having obsessive‐compulsive neurosis were determined from case‐notes; these were compared with matched controls. Separate consideration was given to male and female patients.

Mean family size of obsessionals was found to be smaller than that of controls. An excess of first‐born was found among male obsessional patients.
Lithium effects on time estimation and mood in manic‐melancholic patients
Authors: Elsass P. , Mellerup E. T. , Rafaelsen O. J. , Theilgaard A.
Published: August 2007

Behavioural measurements of time experience and phenomenologi‐cal self‐ratings of mood‐variations (Beecher's Mood Scale) have been carried out at night and on the following morning in a group of lithium‐treated patients, in a group of psychiatric patients not given lithium, and in an untreated group of healthy subjects.

In all the groups investigated the internal “clock” was slower in the morning than in the night. The results indicated that the internal “clock” in lithium‐treated patients was slower than in the two other groups, but only at night.

Mood variations from night to morning were observed in all three groups. The group of lithium‐treated patients had fewer complaints as to self‐report of mood‐variations compared with the other groups.
Suicide and attempted suicide in Greenland
Authors: Grove O. , Lynge J.
Published: August 2007

Suicidal behaviour in Eskimo populations has changed in pattern and quantity over the last decades. Rates have more than quadrupled and performers now are mainly young persons with obscure motivation. In a study from Greenland's major township all cases of attempted or completed suicide among Greenlanders are analysed for social, emotional, somatic, and environmental predisposing factors in comparison with a non‐psychiatric, never‐suicidal, matching group.

Almost two per thousand of the adult population committed suicide yearly while attempts at suicide were five times as frequent. A quarrelsome, drinking, childhood home background was often found, at least as regards the attempters, who themselves frequently suffered from emotional conflicts with close contacts, alcohol affliction, criminality, and instability at work. Neither bereavement, cross‐cultural exposure, broken homes, nor meteorological factors seemed to exert a significant influence.

The results are discussed in relation to the social and cultural evolution of the Greenlandic society.
Lithium effects
Authors: Mellerup E. T. , Dam H. , Wildschioudtz G. , Rafaelsen O. J.
Published: August 2007

In a 24‐hour study, plasma peak lithium was determined in manicmelancholic patients who routinely had their entire lithium dose at night. A correlation analysis was undertaken of the relation of plasma peak level and the dose of lithium to a number of lithium induced changes: Increase in urine volume, weight gain, decrease in plasma phosphate, increase in plasma magnesium, decrease in plasma urea, increase in plasma alkaline phosphatase, increase in urinary pH. Only the changes in plasma phosphate and in urine pH were significantly correlated to the peak value of plasma lithium. The increase in urine volume was significantly correlated to the dose of lithium.
Psychotic symptoms in normal‐pressure hydrocephalus
Authors: Lying‐Tunell U.
Published: August 2007

Two patients with a psychiatric history of about 20 years, and clinical and neuroradiological signs of normal‐pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) are reported. One had a periodic psychosis subsequent to a tuberculous meningitis, and this overshadowed the slight classical symptoms of NPH. She had received at least 120 treatments with electro‐convulsive therapy. The second patient suffered from a paranoid psychosis; other signs of NPH were moderate though progressive. Both patients showed definite improvement of their NPH symptoms after ventriculo‐atrial shunting, and psychotic symptoms ceased totally. Follow‐up was 5 years for the patient with periodic psychoais. The other patient died from septicaemia 2.5 years after shunting.

A large‐scale screening of patients with psychiatric symptoms or dementia, particularly when combined with gait disturbance, should be done by using computerized tomography. Patients suspected of having NPH should then be referred for further examination with the aim of selecting patients suitable for shunting. These measures seem well motivated from humanitarian as well as economic points of view.
Female alcoholics: IV. MARITAL SITUATION AND HUSBANDS
Authors: Dahlgren L.
Published: August 2007

Little research on the husbands of alcoholic women has been reported. A few studies have shown that they often are alcoholics or are suffering from other psychiatric diseases. The present study describes 51 men, married to female alcoholics, as regards alcoholism, other psycho‐social disturbances and mortality, and accounts for the marital situation after an observation period of 6–12 years. A comparison is made with a control group of married male alcoholics.

About 50 % of the husbands were shown to be alcoholics, 14 % had been treated for psychiatric diseases and more than 10 % were disabled due to somatic diseases. At the end of the observation period, one‐third of both patient groups were still married, one half of the male and one‐third of the female patients were divorced. Twenty per cent of the marriages among the male patients and 35 % of those among the female patients had been terminated by death. Ten female alcoholics and 14 husbands died, which is a significant excess mortality for both sexes. Mortality among the husbands was higher than expected due to cirrhosis of the liver and diseases of the circulatory system.
Changes in learning, memory, and mood during lithium treatment
Authors: Kropf D. , Müller‐Oerlinghausen B.
Published: August 2007

In a double‐blind study the effects of a 14‐day lithium medication (dosage: 24 mval/day to 36 mval/day) were investigated. The subjects were 24 healthy male volunteers. The effect of lithium on their mood, ability to learn nouns, and memory of the words learnt was measured after 2 hours and 14 days. In spite of a relatively low mean plasma lithium level on the 14th day (0.54 ± 0.15 mmol/l), the lithium volunteers assessed themselves after 2 weeks of treatment as significantly less relaxed, less active, less socially involved, more bored, and more tired than the placebo group. As to learning, the lithium group showed only a slight impairment of performance compared with the placebo groups. As to memory, there was a significant difference in free recall over 2 weeks: the lithium group remembered fewer words than the placebo group. Additional motivation of free recall over 2 hours was ineffective. It is discussed whether lithium changes spontaneous initial action and thereby the will to act. This could be interpreted as a change in the production of the characteristics of experience* and behaviour.
Psychiatric examination of all eight adult males with thekaryotype 46, XX diagnosed in Denmark till 1976
Authors: Sørensen K. , Neilsen J. , Frøland A. , Johnsen S. G.
Published: August 2007

Psychiatric examination has been made in all eight adult males with teh karyotype 46, Xx diagnosed in Denmark till 1976. Apart from emotional immaturity inmost probands, no psychopathological traits were found, except in one who had neurotic symptoms. They were all of normal intelligence and socially well adjusted. All had male psychosexual orientation, but weak sexual libido and potency were found in the oldest probabds. In severakl respects males with 46, XX differ from Klinefleter males with the karyotype 47, XXY, and the reasons for this are discussed.
Depression and homicide
Authors: Hirose S.
Published: August 2007

Four examples of homicide followed by attempted suicide are presented based on the psychiatric examinations prepared for the use of the courts. Three cases were suffering from unbearable states of endogenous depression and the fourth showed a serious chronic neurotic depression following an acute grief reaction before and during homicide. The relationship between depression and homicide is discussed from the standpoint of clinical psychopathology. Criminal responsibility of these cases is also discussed.
Personality structure and adjustment pattern in bronchial asthma
Authors: Sharma S. , Nandkumar V. K.
Published: August 2007

A controlled study was conducted on 25 bronchial asthma patients in order to understand their personality structure, interpersonal relationships, conflicts and adjustment patterns. Psychometric evaluation was done by administering Rorschach's test, Eysenck's rating scale for anxiety and neurasthenic tendency, and sentence completion test. The results revealed that the asthmatics were intelligent but inhibited. They had covert aggression, neurotic constriction and marked affectional and dependency needs. They had considerable anxiety and were unable to use their energy for constructive work. Excessive dependency on the mother and sexual disturbance were prominently noticeable. They were possessed with irrational fears, guilt feelings and insecurity. Though high goals were set they were unable to achieve them. The present data suggest avenues for further research in the cross‐cultural field.
Factors related to increased risk of assaultive behavior in suicidal patients
Authors: Tardiff K. , Sweillam A.
Published: August 2007

This study compared suicidal patients with assaultive behavior to suicidal patients without assaultive behavior. Of 667 suicidal male patients admitted to psychiatric hospitals during the study period, 90 (14%) were assaultive at the time of or just prior to admission, while of the 893 female suicidal patients admitted, 60 (7%) were assaultive. Male assaultive suicidal patients were more likely than non‐assaultive males to be referred to hospitals by the law and mental health services, while female assaultive patients were more likely to be 34 years of age or younger and to have primary psychiatric diagnoses of paranoid schizophrenia, alcohol or drug abuse, or psychotic organic brain syndrome.

For both sexes, assaultive suicidal patients were more likely to have delusions, hallucinations, feelings of suspicion or persecution as well as anger, belligerence, agitation and anti‐social behavior. There was no significant difference between assaultive and non‐assaultive suicidal patients in regard to the frequency of depressive symptoms.
Intrafamilial correlations in Sjöbring's dimensions of personality
Authors: Essen‐Möller E.
Published: August 2007

This study attempts to ascertain whether intrafamilial correlations compatible with the assumption of a genetic background could be demonstrated for the variations in normal personality described by the Swedish psychiatrist H. Sjöbring. The sample consisted of the entire adult population of a circumscribed rural area in southern Sweden (the Lundby project). Certain methodological biases were considered, and heritabilities tentatively reported.
Life event ratings in relation to sex and marital status in a 70‐year‐old urban population
Authors: Persson G.
Published: August 2007

A subsample of 151 subjects from the population study “70‐year‐olds in Gothenburg” were given a questionnaire for life event ratings to be returned by mail. The 24 life events to be rated were events that are fairly common in advanced age. The ratings were in most cases similar for men and women. Some events, pertaining to children, were given more weight by the women, while “loss of sexual ability or interest” was given greater weight by the men. Single women gave less weight to events that could not happen to them. It thus seems that events that cannot happen to yourself are seen as less important than events that can. Married women who had never worked outside their homes attributed more weight to some events than married women who had worked outside their homes. Men and women attributed similar weight to the event “becoming mentally ill”, which event was given more weight than the event “becoming somatically ill”. The results do not explain the higher incidence of neurosis among the women in the population.
The WHO Depression Scale RELATIONSHIP TO THE NEWCASTLE SCALES
Authors: Bech P. , Gram L. F. , Reisby N. , Rafaelsen O. J.
Published: August 2007

The WHO (World Health Organization) Depression Scale is a new rating scale developed to evaluate the complete clinical history and description of depression. Items of the WHO scale were transformed to cover the items of the two Newcastle scales that are designed to differentiate between endogenous and non‐endogenous depressions. In 98 depressed inpatients examined prior to antidepressive therapy only moderate agreement between scores transformed to the two Newcastle scales was found. Also the distribution patterns of the scores on the two scales were different. In patients classified as endogenous on one or both scales a significant relationship between plasma levels of imipramine or clomipramine and antidepressive effect was found. In patients classified on both scales as doubtful – or non‐endogenous depressions – no such correlation could be identified. The initial severity of depression, as defined by the Hamilton Depression Scale, was the same in endogenous, doubtful and non‐endogenous depression according to the scores transformed to the two Newcastle scales.
Psychiatry in Kenya: yesterday, today and tomorrow AN OVERVIEW
Authors: Ndetei D. M.
Published: August 2007

The development of psychiatry in Kenya has passed through three stages with considerable overlap – primitive/non‐scientific, humanistic and scientific. These stages are similar to those in the development of psychiatry in the Western societies. The prevalence of psychiatric illness amongst those seeking medical help is no less than 20%. There is a need for a full range of the various psychiatric services, but the problems involved are immense and constitute major differences between the practice of psychiatry in Kenya and in Western countries. There is, however, a clearly evident move to solve these problems.
ACTH 4–10 and memory in ECT‐treated and untreated patients I. EFFECT ON CONSOLIDATION
Authors: D'Elia G. , Frederiksen S.‐O.
Published: August 2007

The aim of the study was to investigate the possible effect of a single dose of ACTH4–10 (30 mg subcutaneously) on memory as measured with a test battery appropriate for the study of “consolidation”.

Twenty depressive inpatients participated in the intraindividual double‐blind cross‐over comparison between ACTH4–10 and placebo in connection with the second and third treatment in the ECT series. ACTH4–10 (or placebo) was administered subcutaneously 30 min after unilateral ECT. Memory functions were examined 90 min before and 150 min after the administration of the drug.

A similar design was used in a study of 20 inpatients with neurotic depression not treated with ECT.

The results of both studies give no evidence of a positive influence of a single dose of ACTH4–10 on consolidation of memory. Possible sources of error are discussed.
Synaptic proteins after electroconvulsive stimulation: Reversibility and regional differences in the brain
Authors: Bolwig T. G. , Jørgensen O. S.
Published: August 2007

The pattern of changes in brain‐specific proteins mainly related to the synapses were studied in rats given electroconvulsive stimuli (ECS). One group was studied after three ECS per week for 4 weeks, another was further allowed a recovery period of 12 weeks. The experimental animals were compared with adequate controls. Brain‐specific proteins were analyzed using crossed immunoelectro‐phoresis. The changes in the protein pattern after 4 weeks of ECS differed in the regions studied and are interpreted as follows: in the hypothalamus the amount of synapses seem to have increased, in the forebrain synaptic remodelling is under way and in the occipital cortex a delay in the neuronal development has been induced. The results further indicate an overall increased preparedness to meet the glycolytic demands accompanying seizure. Following 12 weeks of recovery a partial reversion of the induced changes was observed. The implication of the findings in relation to newer concepts of the working action of electroconvulsive therapy is discussed.
Comparison of nitrazepam 5 mg with triazolam 0.5 mg in young psychiatric insomniac inpatients DOUBLE‐BLIND SINGLE NIGHT CROSS‐OVER STUDY
Authors: Blumenthal M. , Byring R. , Koivula K.
Published: August 2007

Sixty young male patients with insomniac disorders were treated with nitrazepam 5 mg or triazolam 0.5 mg in a double‐blind single night cross‐over study. The results were favourable for triazolam in all the sleep parameters assessed. The significance of an hypnotic with a short life and its use in clinical practice is discussed.
A comparison of inpatients with primary unipolar depression and depression secondary to anxiety
Authors: Davidson J. , Turnbull C. D. , Miller R. D.
Published: August 2007

Retrospective comparisons between primary unipolar depression and depression secondary to anxiety in 65 inpatients revealed a number of differences. Secondary depression was associated with a significantly higher incidence of neurotic traits in childhood, chronic unhappiness, and unsupportive family. Tricyclic antidepressants and ECT were both more effective in primary depression, and some secondary depressives became worse on ECT. When primary depression was sub‐divided into familial, nonfamilial and spectrum types, the greatest differences were noted between familial and secondary depressions. In the former group a more stable life style was noted. Secondary and spectrum types differed on only two variables and several similarities were noted. Platelet monoamine oxidase activity was significantly higher in secondary depression.
Factors affecting the distribution of psychologicl symptoms in urban areas of England
Authors: Cochrane R. , Stopes‐Roe M.
Published: August 2007

A study is reported in which a number of sociodemographic variables are examined separately for their influence on psychological symptom levels in a sample of 232 people living in English cities. Sex, employment, education and social mobility and household crowding are not. Interactions between sex and unemployment of the spouse are also noted. The variables studied are also combined in a multiple regression analysis which resultd in a mulitple correlationof 0.409. The implications of these findings for various hypotheses concerning the aetiology of variations in rates of psychological disturbance are considered.
Psychiatric morbidity through 25 years in a socially healthy population individually defined at the outset
Authors: Essen‐Möller E. , Hagnell O. , ÖJesjö L.
Published: August 2007

In 1947 a medicopsychological census was performed in a South Swedish rural population numbering 2550 inhabitants. Almost every inhabitant could be reached and subjected to a semistructured interview which was then supplemented by systematic outside information. Among other things, we tried to rate subjectively the personality of every individual, even those who were socially healthy. The results were published by Essen‐Möller et al. in 1956.

After ten and twenty‐five years, respectively, the surviving inhabitants were again interviewed by other psychiatrists (Hagnell & Öjesjö) irrespective of present domicile, and information was collected regarding those deceased. The meantime incidence of mental disorder was registered. The results from the first of these repetitions were published by Hagnell in 1966, and those from the second repetition are now under processing. Some probings for differential risks according to the classification of the outset are presented.
Client utilization of service in relation to mental illness in a population
Authors: Lavik N. J.
Published: August 2007

Psychiatry is confronted with an increasing demand for evaluation and service research, partly induced by the crisis in economy. The general problem about how the resources are used to give a comprehensive care to individuals suffering from mental disorder in a population is discussed within three sets of questions. These are true prevalence in relation to treated prevalence, factors which influence entrance to the service system and factors which determine utilization of service over a time period. The two first questions are discussed in the light of earlier research, the third one is illustrated by referring to an ongoing study in Oslo.