bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The use of oral benzodiazepines as premedications: the usefulness of temazepam
Authors: Kanto J.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT The primary aim of premedication is to relieve the patient's anxiety/restlessness before anaesthesia and to ensure optimum quantity and quality of sleep on the night preceding surgery. With these objectives in mind, oral benzodiazepines offer a good alternative to traditional parenteral premedicants, especially as the clear anxiolytic and sedative effects of the former are of great clinical value.

Oral temazepam has proven to be a valuable premedicant given on the evening before operation and/or the following morning, before surgery. Administered as a sedative in a single 20 mg oral dose the night before surgery, temazepam provided a good night's sleep in 77 percent of gynaecological surgical patients; patients slept for 7.6 hours and had no significant residual effects. As a premedicant, temazepam was as effective as parenteral diazepam or papaveretum. Temazepam's short duration of action facilitates rapid postoperative recovery in children, adults, and in the elderly. Thus, it is indicated especially for short operative procedures when rapid recovery and swift return to fitness are essential.
The DSM‐III diagnosis of alcohol use disorders in women: Findings from a follow‐up study of 44 female alcoholics
Authors: Haver Brit
Published: August 2007

In a long term follow‐up study of 44 young women with symptoms of alcohol dependence at index year, only 17 (38%) of the interviewed subjects fulfill the DSM‐III criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence the year prior to follow‐up according to the interview material. The reason for this is partly that there has been a change in drinking patterns for 24 women (54%), of which eight are abstainers, seven asymptomatic drinkers and nine having an increased tolerance as the only sign of a possibly pathological alcohol use. Partly, however, the lack of diagnosis can be attrbuted to client denial or substituting drugs for alcohol, and partly due to inadequate criteria. Some of the DSM‐III criteria are sex biased, probably leading to men having a diagnosis at an earlier stage of alcoholism. The concept of degree of alcohol dependece, an appropriate time limit for assessment of diagnosis and the difference between primary and secondary alcoholism, should be specified in future diagnostic criteria for alcohol use disorders.
A comparison af DSM‐III and ICD‐8 diagnoses for major affective disorders and the use of biological markers for depression
Authors: Malt U. , Pape‐Ellefsen E. , Vestergaard P.
Published: August 2007

The aims of the present study were (1) to investigate the value of adding DSM‐III diagnosis and Newcastle Scale Rating to the ICD‐8 diagnosis currently used and (2) to investigate the association between Dexamethason Suppression Test (DST) and the Thyrotropine Releasing Hormone‐Thyreoidea Stimulating Hormone (TRH‐TSH) test and the three classification systems for depression.

Twenty‐six depressed in‐patients were included, 17 women and 9 men, with a mean age of 51.5 years. Fourteen patients were psychotic depressed. DST and Newcastle Scale Rating were performed on 18 patients and TRH‐TSH test was performed on 16 patients.

The addition of DSM‐III diagnosis on the 4‐digit level did not have any value compared to the ICD‐8 diagnosis. However, DSM‐III diagnosis on the 5‐digit level added important clinical information which corresponded better to Newcastle Scale score and DST and TRH‐TSH test results than ICD‐8 diagnosis. The main advantage of the DSM‐III Classification of depression of the 5‐digit level compared to ICD‐8 concerns depression on the border between psychosis and neurosis.

In clinical practice there is a risk of underestimating the severity of a depression if ICD‐8/9 is used as the only criterion for severity. This may have tragic consequences for the patient. This study suggests that rating of the depression on the Newcastle Scale or provision of a DSM‐III diagnosis on the 5‐digit level are valuable assessment procedures of severity.
Some aspects of the DSM‐III personality disorders illustrated by a consecutive sample of hospitalized patients
Authors: Dahl Alv A.
Published: August 2007

The main innovations of DSM‐III concerning the personality disorders are the assignment of a separate axis and definitions of diagnostic criteria for these disorders. Even with these improvements, diagnosis of the personality disorders shows only moderate interrater reliability. Reasons for this are discussed. Data from a consecutive sample of hospitalized patients are used to illustrate the prevalence of the personality disorders, the coexistence of axis I disorders, and the overlap within the personality disorders. The method of conditional probabilities is presented as a way to get better separation of these disorders.
The influence of chlormethiazole on the neuroendocrine system in chronic alcoholics
Authors: Majumdar S. K.
Published: August 2007

‐ The neuro‐endocrine system is affected by chronic ethanol ingestion. Chlormethiazole is effective in the treatment of the ethanol withdrawal syndrome because of its tolerability, lack of hepatotoxicity, short plasma half‐life, lack of any long‐acting intermediate metabolites and lack of adverse effects on the neuro‐endocrine system in alcoholics.
A comparison of chlormethiazole and thioridazine in agitated confusional states of the elderly
Authors: Ather S. A. , Shaw S. H. , Stoker M. J.
Published: August 2007

‐ Chlormethiazole and thioridazine were found to be equally effective in the management of the agitational component of agitated confusional states in the elderly. Confusion and nocturnal awakening were found to be controlled more effectively with chlormethiazole than with thioridazine. Chlormethiazole treatment also resulted in significant reductions in physical disability as assessed by the Clifton Behaviour Rating Scale. A greater incidence of adverse effects was associated with thioridazine treatment.
A double‐blind comparison of chlormethiazole and temazepam in elderly patients with sleep disturbances
Authors: Pathy M. S. J. , Bayer A. J. , Stoker M. J.
Published: August 2007

The results of this double‐blind study showed that both chlormethiazole and temazepam are effective, in the correct dose, for the short‐term treatment of sleep disturbance in elderly patients. With chlormethiazole treatment there was no daytime drowsiness, whereas significant daytime drowsiness occurred with temazepam.
A double‐blind controlled study of chlormethiazole and triazolam as hypnotics in the elderly
Authors: Bayer A. J. , Bayer E. M. , Pathy M. S. J. , Stoker M. J.
Published: August 2007

This study compared the hypnotic efficacy and the psychometric effects of treatment with either chlormethiazole or triazolam for 9 weeks in elderly patients with sleep disturbance. Chlormethiazole and triazolam were found to be similarly effective in short‐term use. However, evidence of sustained hypnotic efficacy throughout the 9 weeks of treatment was obtained for chlormethiazole but not for triazolam. There were daytime withdrawal effects with triazolam, but none with chlormethiazole.
Experimental studies and clinical experiences on the dependency potential of chlormethiazole
Authors: Stille G.
Published: August 2007

The dependency protential of chlormethiazole has been assessed on the basis of animal studies (rat and monkey) and an extensive analysis of human cases reported in the international clinical literature covering a period of 17 years. The results of the animal studies do not show any major physical or psychological dependence on chlormethiazole. Clinical studies of case reports suggest that the evidence for “primary” dependence on chlormethiazole is weak, as most of the analysable cases had a previous history of alcohol and/or other drug abuse/dependence. Moreover, in a high proportion of these cases there was evidence of simulatneous alcohol and/or other drug abuse. It should be stressed that in this group of patients the dependence on chlormethiazole was invariably reported in connection with long‐term out‐patient medication, that is, in a way that was not in accordance with recommendations for use of the drug in “dried out” alcoholics and/or drug addicts. Reports of chlormethiazole abuse/dependence from the alcohol/drug addiction indication area may involve a population particularly prone to addiction and, therefore, be unrepresentative for general assessment.

Conversely, the findings in animal studies provide indirect support for the favourable clinical experiences with chlormethiazole in the geriatric, psychogeriatric and obstetric indication areas where chlormethiazole has been used extensively for more then a decade in a problem‐free manner. The risk which applies to long‐term use in alcoholics and/or drug addicts or the emotionally unstable, because of their “dependency proneness”, does not seem to apply to the treatment of conditions, such as insomnia and agitation, in the elderly in whom the drug has been found to be very useful by various investigators. Moreover, it should be appreciated that the daily doses employed in geriatrics for the management of insomnia are relatively small and this should imply an extremely low risk for dependence, a point which is supported by the animal studies.
Chlormethiazole in intensive care
Authors: Scott D. B.
Published: August 2007

Patients in the intensive care unit frequently require sedation. The advantages of using an intravenous infusion of chlormethiazole to produce sedation include the rapidity of sedation and recovery, and the lack of cardiovascular effects. Chlormethiazole is contraindicated in patients with hepatic failure or those in whom central nervous system functioning has to be assessed. Provided care is taken, chlormethiazole is a very valuable agent in treating patients in an intensive care unit.
Trends in depression and anxiety: men and women
Authors: Murphy J. M.
Published: August 2007

Abstract— Recent reports from four longitudinal studies indicate that the epidemiology of depression and anxiety in general populations may have changed over the third quarter of this century. In each of two studies in the United States, one in Canada, and one in Sweden, more women than men at mid‐century were found to have experienced depression and/or anxiety. By the end of the quarter, women and men in a few to several age groups were more equal in this regard than they had been earlier. In each study, interpretation was offered to the effect that social and historical changes may have contributed to these epidemiologic trends. The four studies are reviewed, and it is suggested that the findings deserve attention as generating hypotheses for further research.
Comparison between a serotonin and a noradrenaline reuptake blocker in the treatment of depressed outpatients Biochemical aspects
Authors: Nyström C. , Ross S. B. , Hällström T. , Kelder D.
Published: August 2007

Abstract— Seventy‐five outpatients with major depressive disorder (RDC) were randomly referred to treatment with a dominant 5‐HT reuptake blocker (zimeldine, 100 mg b.i.d.) or a dominant NA reuptake blocker (maprotiline 75 mg b.i.d.). Pretreatment biochemical, pharmacodynarnic and pharrnacokinetic variables were studied and related to the treatment outcome with the two drugs. Female responders to the dominant 5‐HT reuptake blocker were characterized by low pretreatment accumulation of 14C‐5‐HT in rat synaptosomes, when incubated in patient plasma. Among zimeldine responders there was a relationship between antidepressive effect and steady‐state concentrations of zimeldine and norzimeldine. These findings support the hypothesis of a subgroup of depression characterized by serotonin disturbance.
Psychopathological pattern of depression in affective disorders: A cluster analysis
Authors: Parnowski T.
Published: August 2007

Abstract— The psychopathological pattern of depression was assessed by means of the Puzynski Inventory Scale for Depression (ISD) in 79 patients with bipolar affective disorders, 45 with unipolar and 42 with undifferentiated type of affective disorders. Four groups of patients showing different psychopathological patterns were distinguished. In Group 1 the pattern was most similar to that of simple depression, in Group 2 to delusional depression, in Group 3 to retarded depression, and in Group 4 to anxiety depression. In the first three groups there was a preponderance of patients with bipolar affective disorder, while in Group 4 unipolar depression was diagnosed in more than half.
3H‐spiperone binding in platelet membranes: a possible biological marker for schizophrenia
Authors: Sethi B. B. , Kumar P. , Agarwal A. K. , Seth P. K. , Trivedi J. K.
Published: August 2007

Abstract— High‐affinity‐specific IH‐spiperone binding to platelet membranes was carried out in 30 schizophrenic patients, without prior antipsychotic medication, fulfilling the Research Diagnostic Criteria, and in 30 matched control subjects. The psychosis was rated on the Modified Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. Compared with healthy subjects, schizophrenic patients had significantly higher 3H‐spiperone binding due to a lower dissociation constant (38%), i.e. increased affinity. NO significant difference was observed in the maximum number of binding sites (Bmax) between the two groups. It is our contention that IH‐spiperone binding to platelets may be a biological marker for schizophrenia.
Offspring of women with nonorganic psychosis: mother‐infant interaction at one year of age
Authors: Persson‐Blennow I. , Naslund B. , McNeil T. F. , Kaij L.
Published: August 2007

Abstract—Mother‐infant interaction during feeding and in an unstructured play situation was studied in the home at 1 year of age in 46 index mother‐infant pairs in which the mother had a history of nonorganic psychosis and in 80 demographically similar control pairs. As was true at the five previous observation ages, some aspects of the interaction were significantly more negative in index than control pairs. Index mothers showed increased tension and uncertainty regarding the infant's needs, increased physical contact during feeding and a discrepancy between the intonation and content of the mother's verbal contact with the infant. Index infants did not differ from controls in behavior in interaction. Across the entire first year, the Cycloid and Schizophrenic mothers deviated most frequently from controls, while the Affectives' interaction was more negative than controls' for the first time at the 1‐year observation.
Clinical methods in psychiatric genetics: II. The high risk approach
Authors: Goldin L. R. , Nurnberger J. I. , Gershon E. S.
Published: August 2007

Abstract— The study of individuals at “high” risk for developing psychiatric disorders is useful in confirming that a biological trait marker identified in patient populations is also present in genetically susceptible individuals who have never been ill, and predicts the future onset of illness. We outline a systematic method for deciding which variables to choose and how many individuals are required in order for a study to have sufficient power. We demonstrate how these decisions depend on the assumptions that can be made with regard to 1) the mode of inheritance of the biological trait, 2) the relationship of the biological trait to illness, and 3) the magnitude of the mean difference observed between patients and controls. We also quantify the increased power of studying offspring of two affected parents rather than offspring of one affected parent.
Prevalence of dementia in a Japanese elderly population
Authors: Shibayama H. , Kasahara Y. , Kobayashi H.
Published: August 2007

Abstract— The geriatric community study was conducted by the Aichi Prefecture (Japan) Project. The psychiatric epidemiological survey was conducted using a stratified random sampling method. 3106 community residents over the age of 65 years, randomly selected from the whole Aichi Prefecture of Japan, were inter viewed; 476 had suspected dementia. The second interviews and the neurologic examinations were carried out by psychiatrists. The prevalence of dementia was estimated to be 5.8% (moderate and severe, 2.2%; mild 3.6%) of the aged population in the community. Cerebrovascular dementia (CVD) or multi‐infarct dementia (MID) was found in 2.8%, senile dementia of the Alzheimer type (SDAT) in 2.4%, and dementia due to other causes in 0.6%. CVD (MID) was diagnosed more frequently in men, and SDAT in women.
Significant rise in plasma insulin after electroconvulsive therapy
Authors: Berrios G. E. , Bulbena A. , Martinez A. R. , Gazo D. Ortega , Llorens J. M. Castellanos , Lozano C. D.
Published: August 2007

Abstract— The effect of ECT on insulin plasma levels was studied in 10 single treatments in five patients suffering from DSM III‐diagnosed schizophrenia. The treatments were chosen from early, middle and late ordinal positions. A significant rise was found 10, 20 and 30 min after an effective electrical stimulus. Values returned to normal in all cases at 60 min. The rise at 10 min occurred in all treatments, irrespective of ordinal position, but an incidental finding was that the higher the ordinal position of a given treatment, the higher the peak of insulin.
Cortical atrophy and white matter density in the brains of schizophrenics and clinical response to neuroleptics
Authors: Smith R. C. , Baumgartner R. , Ravichandran G. K. , Largen J. , Calderon M. , Burd A. , Mauldin M.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— The relationship between clinical response to neuroleptics and brain morphology as revealed by CT scans was evaluated in a sample of 39 patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective psychosis. Four measures of brain morphology previously shown to differ between schizophrenics and patients with headaches ‐ white matter density, asymmetry in brain white matter density, sulcal width and global cortical atrophy ‐ did not correlate with clinical improvement after 3 weeks treatment with constant doses of neuroleptics. These brain morphology measures also did not correlate with baseline psychopathology scores. The same results were found with scales or subscales reflecting primarily positive symptoms of schizophrenia as well as those reflecting primarily social withdrawal.
Morbidity and mortality in tardive dyskinesia: associations in chronic schizophrenia
Authors: Youssef H. A. , Waddington J. L.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— A population of 101 chronic schizophrenic inpatients were assessed for the presence or absence of tardive dyskinesia, and followed up 32 months later. At follow up, the mortality rates in 44 patients with and 57 patients without involuntary movements were 16% vs. 9% respectively; this difference widened when only the more prominent involuntary movements were considered. Of those surviving, patients with tardive dyskinesia were much more likely to contract an attack of respiratory tract infection, and to do so on multiple occasions, and tended to suffer from more cardiovascular disorders. They appeared more likely to show smoking‐related pathology. Chronic schizophrenic patients with tardive dyskinesia constitute a more biologically disadvantaged group, suggesting a broader disease concept of the syndrome.
Suicide patterns among physicians related to other academics as well as to the general population
Authors: Arnetz B.B. , Hörte L.G. , Hedberg A. , Theorell T. , Allander E. , Malker H.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— In the present study, we have followed a national cohort of physicians, academics and the general population (part of the compulsory census in 1960) for a period of 10 years and identified all cases of suicide during the period 1961 ‐ 1970. Furthermore, we have carried out a retrospective study of suicides among the four major medical specialist groups (general practioners, internists, psychiatrists and general surgeons) and compared these rates with other medical specialists.

Results show an elevated standardized mortality ratio (SMR) for suicide among female physicians compared to other academics as well as to the general population. Furthermore, male doctors exhibit an elevated suicide rate only when compared to other academics. Among the various specialists, general surgeons alone exhibited a significantly elevated suicide rate. The study clearly shows that female physicians are more prone to suicide than most other women, but that male physicians are also at risk compared to other male academics. Furthermore, at least in Sweden, general surgeons, not psychiatrists, have the highest suicide rate of all physicians.
Attitudes towards mental illness in the Athens area: Implications for community mental health intervention
Authors: Madianos M. G. , Madianou D. , Vlachonikolis J. , Stefanis C. N.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— Attitudes towards mental illness were measured in a probability sample of 1574 male and female adults, residents of two boroughs in the greater Athens area before the development of community mental health services in the area. The objective of this study was to identify the components of these attitudes, taking into account the fact that public opinions about mental illness influence the utilization of community mental health services and the level of reintegration of the mentally disabled into society.

The instrument used to measure attitudinal dimensions was the Cohen and Struening Opinion about Mental Illness (O.M.I.) scale. Factor analysis revealed five attitude dimensions: social discrimination, social restriction, social care, integration, and etiology.

Among the socio‐demographic variables age, education, occupational status and place of residence up to 18 years of age affected the factors mainly, reflecting social discrimination and restriction. O.M.I. factor scores underlying the need for social care and reintegration of the mentally ill into society were found to be socially invariant, implying the need for social care and more humane treatment methods for mental patients.

Certain population groups responded with rejection or suspicion and considerable fear of the mentally ill, indicating the necessity for the planning of appropriate community mental health intervention programs parallel to the development of community mental health services and psychiatric reforms in Greece.
The etiology of schizophrenia: A replication test of the social selection vs. the social causation hypotheses
Authors: Levav I. , Zilber N. , Danielovich E. , Aisenberg E. , Turetsky N.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— A quasi‐experimental design was used to test the social causation‐social selection hypotheses for the etiology of schizophrenic disorders. It was based on first admissions to psychiatric in‐patient facilities for Jerusalem Jewish residents aged 15 years and over. Data were extracted from hospital charts; diagnoses were made based on the NHSI, DSM III and RDC classificatory systems.

The results showed that among the lower class the ethnically advantaged had higher rates of schizophrenic disorders than the ethnically disadvantaged. The results were statistically significant when the ethnic contrast was maximized. Though the results support the social selection hypothesis, social stress factors are not entirely ruled out.
Left‐side preference in holding and carrying newborn infants
Authors: de Château P.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— Observation of maternal infant holding was made during the postnatal week. Among 264 observed mothers 37 were right‐holding and 35 could be traced 3 years later. They were matched with 35 left‐holding mothers. The right‐holding mothers had more contact with the district nurses and Child Health Centres during the 3‐year follow‐up period, although their children were equally healthy. Other between group differences were also found illustrating a greater need for support and more anxiety about their children among right‐holding mothers. Maternal parity seemed to have a stronger correlation to maternal anxiety about her child than did side preference for holding during the lying‐in period.
Platelet serotonin levels in panic disorder
Authors: Balon R. , Pohl R. , Yeragani V. , Rainey J. , Oxenkrug G. F.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— Platelet serotonin levels were examined in 18 patients with panic disorder and compared to platelet serotonin levels of eight healthy controls. There was no statistically significant difference in the platelet serotonin levels between the two groups.
Age at onset of affective disorders in Italian and Swedish patients
Authors: Smeraldi E. , Macciardi F. , Holmgren S. , Perris H. , von Knorring L. , Perris C.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT—Variability of age at onset in affective disorder is a complex event where several variables play a role, resulting in a detectable observed distribution which can be viewed as related to the structural mechanism of the disease. To confirm previous results on factors affecting the distribution of onset in affective disorders, we studied its distribution pattern in two different populations, Italian and Swedish, with an analytic approach that does not require specifications of anya priorihypothesis. The findings in this study, however, tend to confirm the biological nature of the age of onset phenomenon and to exclude cultural determinants. On the other hand, it does not exclude that other factors, not considered in this study, may be operating. This result is very important under the hypothesis of a genetic ethiopathogenesis of affective disorders, and some of its implications are discussed.
Seasons of birth and subtypes of schizophrenia
Authors: Hsieh H. H. , Khan M. H. , Atwal S. S. , Cheng S. C.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— Many studies show a higher rate of birth of schizophrenic patients during the winter and early spring months. This is particularly prominent in studies involving northern European countries and the northern part of the United States. The interpretations for this apparent seasonality remain highly speculative. We examined the seasons of birth of 472 patients carrying the diagnosis of schizophrenia. We also studied the gender and paranoid vs nonparanoid subtypes of this subject group. The total group does not show an excess of winter births. The same is true for total male (n= 193) and total female (n= 279) schizophrenic patients. The different subtypes of female patients show a homogenous distribution by seasons of birth; but the male paranoid schizophrenia group (n= 102) shows a significant increase of births during the first quarter of the year. The findings are interpreted according to the prevailing hypotheses of schizophrenia. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Schneiderian first rank symptoms: Reconfirmation of high specificity for schizophrenia
Authors: Tandon R. , Greden J. F.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— The prevalence of Schneiderian first‐rank symptoms (FRS) in 294 consecutive admissions to a research unit was evaluated with reference to their diagnostic distribution (SADS/RDC). Thirty‐five of 58 patients with schizophrenia had FRS, as compared to nine of 190 patients with major depressive disorder. All patients with two or more FRS received a diagnosis of schizophrenia. In the absence of organic or toxic etiology, the specificity of FRS for schizophrenia was 95% and their predictive value was 90%. These findings indicate that FRS should be regarded as strongly suggestive of schizophrenia in the absence of an organic syndrome.
Treatment resistant chronic psychopathology and CT scans in schizophrenia
Authors: Ota T. , Maeshiro H. , Ishido H. , Shimizu Y. , Uchida R. , Toyoshima R. , Ohshima H. , Takazawa A. , Motomura H. , Noguchi T.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— In order to examine the relationship between the neuroleptic resistant chronic psychopathology and CT findings in schizophrenia, 25 schizophrenics who had been treated well and were in a stable condition were assessed for positive and negative symptoms, CT findings, medication, and the clinical course of illness. Correlational analysis showed that there was a group of patients who had comparatively small ventricles and presented treatment resistant positive symptoms, and another group of patients who had larger ventricles and lacked positive symptoms. Negative symptoms showed a tendency toward positive correlation with atrophic CT changes of cortices. Literature on CT findings and symptomatology was critically reviewed. The importance of the more chronic positive symptoms correlating to CT findings in schizophrenia were discussed.
Comparison of the serum levels in primary non‐agitated depressed out‐patients treated with imipramine in combination with placebo, diazepam or dixyrazine
Authors: Feet P. O. , Larsen S. , Lillevold P. E. , Liden A. , Holm V. , Robak O. H.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— Sixty‐three non‐agitated depressed out‐patients were selected according to the Feighner‐Robins‐Guze criteria for primary depressions for a double‐blind, between‐patient randomized study for an 8 week duration. All the patients were treated with imipramine following a fixed dose schedule for the first 2 weeks and thereafter according to clinical response (100‐200 mg/day). This treatment was combined with either placebo, diazepam (10 mg/day) or dixyrazine (50 mg/day). The serum concentration of imipramine both at 2 weeks and later was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the group treated with dixyrazine than in the other two groups. In the group treated with diazepam, the serum levels of imipramine and desipramine were significantly lower than in the placebo group. The serum concentrations of diazepam, desmethyldiazepam and dixyrazine were almost unchanged during the study. No significant correlation was found between the dosage and the serum concentration of imipramine or desipramine. The change in mean CPRS‐score correlated neither with the imipramine nor with the desipramine serum levels, it did correlate but negatively with the degree of side effects. The degree of side effects correlated positively with the serum concentration of desipramine.
The time for suicide
Authors: Williams P. , Tansella M.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— Analysis of 25,987 suicides occurring in Italy during the years 1974‐1983 demonstrated a clear diurnal variation, death by suicide being most prevalent between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m. Reasons and implications are discussed with reference to earlier work on this topic.
Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging and single photon emission tomography with radio‐iodine labelled compounds in the diagnosis of dementia
Authors: Ebmeier K. P. , Besson J. A. O. , Crawford J. R. , Palin A. N. , Gemmel H. G. , Sharp P. F. , Cherryman G. R. , Smith F. W.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— White matter lesions and T1 changes were identified using NMR and then compared between groups of patients suffering from dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT), Multiple infarct dementia (MID) and normal controls. All DAT and MID patients were also imaged with a gamma camera using 123Iodo‐n‐isopropylamphetamine, a radiopharmaceutical whose uptake in the brain follows the regional blood flow. While NMR was not able to differentiate between DAT and MID, 19 out of 21 DAT patients compared to four out of 18 MID patients showed bilateral parietal lesions on IMP scans.
Problems in communication in transcultural psychiatry
Authors: Kortmann F.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— It is often difficult for people from different cultural backgrounds to understand one another. On the other hand, this article provides some information about the problems Ethiopians have in understanding the concepts of Western psychiatry. In this study, the Western concepts are contained specifically in the items of the Self‐Reporting Questionnaire, a psychiatric case‐finding instrument designed by the World Health Organization. On the other hand, this article illustrates how Western‐trained health workers often experience grave difficulties in understanding the – in their eyes, often bizarre – complaints of Ethopians seeking help. Western psychiatric jargon is culture‐bound, and needs adaptation before being exported to other cultures.
Depression and alcohol consumption in non alcoholic and alcoholic women
Authors: Vaglum S. , Vaglum P. , Larsen Ø.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— The relationship between level of depression and alcohol consumption was studied in 64 alcoholic women, 80 non alcoholic female psychiatric patients and 72 healthy women, using a clinical, semistructured interview, SADS, SSP and HSCL‐58. Among DSM‐III depressive women, the alcohol consumption was bimodally distributed. Among healthy women, there was an inverse relationship between depressive symptoms and alcohol consumption. Among non alcoholic women dysthymic patients consumed significantly more than major depressive, subclinically depressed and psychotic non depressive patients, and significantly less than healthy, non depressive women. Among alcoholic women, there was no difference in consumption between major depressives, dysthymics and the other diagnostic groups. The results show that there was no general dose‐response relationship between level of depression and alcohol consumption. Anxiety level and personality disorder may be more influential on the alcohol consumption than the level of depression among depressive women.
Inter‐episode major and subclinical symptoms in affective disorder
Authors: Goodnick P. J. , Fieve R. R. , Schlegel A. , Kaufman K.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— A prospective 1‐year study was conducted in 69 patients with affective disorder. Despite remission, there was a significant continued presence at each visit of major symptoms of mania and depression and of mean mood shift. Furthermore, sub‐clinical affective symptoms, as determined by General Behavior Inventory self‐rating scores completed at 4 month intervals, continued at a level throughout the entire year significantly higher in patients than in 14 normal controls. Finally, as expected, presence of subclinical symptoms on the GBI correlated significantly with presence of major symptoms and mood shift. Correlation varied from 0.55 to 0.61: all significances were less than 0.001.
Lithium level and inter‐episode symptoms in affective disorder
Authors: Goodnick P. J. , Fieve R. R. , Schlegel A. , Kaufman K.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— Forty‐two patients with a history of affective disorder on lithium prophylaxis alone participated in a prospective 1‐year study of inter‐episode symptoms. Despite expected significant differences in mean plasma lithium level in patients, those with mean levels above the median (0.82 ± 0.10 mEq/l) did not differ in incidence of major symptoms per visit, in mood shift per visit, or in rate of subclinical symptoms on the General Behavior Inventory from those patients with mean level below the median (0.52 ± 0.09 mEq/l).
Suicides among 523 persons in a Swedish county with and without contact with psychiatric care
Authors: Sundqvist‐Stensman U. B.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— Among 523 (350 males, 173 females) suicides in 1977–1984, subjects who had had contact with psychiatric care (PC) (63%) were compared with those who had never had such contact (NPC) (37%). The male: female ratios in the PC and NPC groups were 1.6 and 3.0, respectively. Intoxication with drugs and or alcohol was the main method of suicide among the PC subjects, and hanging and intoxication with carbon monoxide predominated among subjects of the NPC group. High percentages of divorces and widows/widowers were characteristic of both groups. Among men and women of the PC group the age groups in which the highest mean suicide rates per 100 000 were found were 45–54 and 55–64 years respectively. The corresponding age groups in the NPC group were ≥ 75 and ≥ 70 years. In the PC group the number of admissions to psychiatric hospitals was more than three in 55% of the subjects and more than eight in 25%. Seventy‐three percent had had psychiatric contact within 6 months before the suicide. About 40% in each group had had depressive syndromes. Somatic disease of relevance to the suicides was found among 10% of the PC subjects and 20% of the NPC. About 1/4 of the subjects in both groups had expressed serious suicidal intent shortly before the suicide. The importance of information and education about suicide problems among personnel and relatives is underlined.
Prolactin response to dexamethasone: A study on normal controls and depressed patients
Authors: Rupprecht R. , Barocka A. , Jecht E. , Noder M. , Pichl J. , Schwarz W.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT: Pre‐ and post‐dexamethasone prolactin and cortisol levels of 40 endogenous and non‐endogenous depressive patients and of 20 controls were studied. Dexamethasone had a suppressive effect on prolactin levels, which was expressed more in normal controls and in non‐endogenous depressive patients than in endogenous depression. A “prolactin suppression test” by dexamethasone was constructed and provided comparable results to the usual DST. However, it failed to be a specific marker for endogenous depression. There are close relationships between various endocrine axes, which might be altered in depression.
Evaluation of 294 psychiatric consultations involving in‐patients above 70 years of age in somatic departments in a university hospital
Authors: Pauser H. , Bergström B. , Wålinder J.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT: The integrated geropsychiatric service of the Psychiatric Department of the University Hospital in Linköping consists of an observation ward, a day unit and an out‐patient unit. One of the main tasks of the last‐mentioned unit is to provide geropsychiatric consultations for in‐patients in the non‐psychiatric departments of the hospital. During the first 2 years from October 1982 to October 1984 300 consultations were performed. The consultations included registration of social, medical and psychiatric data, a psychiatric examination, discussions with the staff and a psychiatric report. Out of the total number of 300 consultations 294 could be evaluated completely. They comprised 247 individuals. The evaluation was performed after the first 2 years by screening the patients’ psychiatric records and reports and by computer‐analysis of 89 variables covering medical as well as social data. The patients’ mean age was 78 years and 52% were treated in the Department of Internal Medicine. Fifty‐three percent had had previous psychiatric contacts. Many were suffering from serious somatic diseases and 22% from depressive states. Only 9% showed no signs of psychiatric disorders. Twenty‐three percent of the patients were transferred to the geropsychiatric observation ward or day unit and only 3% were recommended to be certified and transferred to a mental hospital. Pertinent findings are discussed in the light of international data on geropsychiatric consultations and liaison psychiatry. The study shows the importance of providing special geropsychiatric consultations for in‐patients in somatic departments as a part of an integrated geropsychiatric service.
Thyroid status in senile dementia of the Alzheimer type (SDAT)
Authors: Thomas D. R. , Hailwood R. , Harris B. , Williams P. A. , Scanlon M. F. , John R.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT: Thyroid function was investigated in a group of 21 patients with severe senile dementia of the Alzheimer type (SDAT) and in a group of 17 age and sex matched normal controls. Free thyroid hormone levels (triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) were measured, as were also the thyrotrophin (TSH), prolactin (PRL) and growth hormone (GH) responses to thyrotrophin releasing hormone (TRH)). When compared to controls, patients demonstrated a significantly lower free T3 value (but not free T4), a blunted TSH response to TRH, slightly elevated basal PRL and GH values and a small GH response to TRH. However, all differences were small in biological terms and were within the laboratory's normal range. This emphasizes the relative normality of neuroendocrine function, particularly thyroid status, in SDAT.
The maternity blues: Exploration of a psychological hypothesis
Authors: Condon J. T. , Watson T. L.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT: Previous studies of the maternity blues have failed to identify a consistent factor discriminating between the group of women who experienced the phenomenon and those who did not. The present study hypothesized that the maternity blues are a hormonally‐assisted grief reaction which will occur predominantly in women whose antenatal expectation of baby or delivery fails to be fulfilled by the reality events. The hypothesis was tested in a prospective study of 89 women. The phenomenology of the blues was not found to be associated with the hypothesized sense of disappointment or anti‐climax despite many womens’ experiences falling short of expectation. Rather, the most powerful predictor of the blues was a sense of “pessimism” in late pregnancy which was actually fulfilled by postpartum reality. In addition, the triad comprising of severity of pre‐menstrual tension, unplanned pregnancy and consideration given to elective termination in early pregnancy was associated with increased incidence of the blues.
Markers for vulnerability to psychopathology: Temperament traits associated with platelet MAO activity
Authors: Schalling D. , Åsberg M. , Edman G. , Oreland L.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT: The functional linkage between platelet MAO activity and psychopathology was explored by analyzing temperamental correlates in 40 male subjects by means of scales from the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ), the Zuckerman Sensation Seeking Inventory, and the Karolinska Scales of Personality (KSP). Linear correlations were found with two sensation seeking scales, replicating earlier findings. However, nonlinear correlations predominated. Subjects with intermediate platelet MAO activity had higher scores in conformity scales and lower scores in anxiety and hostility scales than low and high MAO subgroups. Low MAO subjects showed a pattern of higher scores in KSP Impulsiveness, EPQ Neuroticism, and KSP Somatic Anxiety and Irritability and lower scores in KSP Socialization, in line with personality profiles found in alcoholics, psychopaths, and suicide attempters who also tend to have low platelet MAO activity. High MAO subjects scored lower in sensation seeking and conformity scales and higher in KSP Psychasthenia, Muscular Tension and Suspicion scales, consistent with clinical links between high platelet MAO activity and anxiety and paranoia.
Lithium: Long‐term effects on the kidney
Authors: Hetmar O. , Rafaelsen O. J.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT: Renal lithium clearance was investigated in 44 patients treated with lithium for an average of 8 years as part of a functional‐morphological follow‐up study including a kidney biopsy. The average renal lithium clearance was 0.36 ml/s (= 21.6 ml/min). A significant correlation with age, sex and glomerular filtration rate was seen, whereas no significant relationship with urine volume, lithium treatment regimen and histopathological biopsy variables was found. The results were compared with the same renal functional tests obtained from a control group consisting of 26 patients with affective disorders never treated with lithium. The control group had a lower urine output, but no significant difference in lithium clearance was observed. In conclusion, renal lithium clearance is a specific investigation, which may provide valuable baseline information on glomerulo‐tubular function in patients before and during prophylactic lithium treatment.
Why do some psychiatric patients somatize?
Authors: de León J. , Saiz‐Ruiz J. , Chinchilla A. , Morales P.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT: A study was made of a series of 139 outpatients referred by the medical and surgical services of a general hospital for evaluation by the psychiatry unit. In accordance with established criteria, this population was divided into somatizers (56) and non‐somatizers (75), and the socio‐demographic and clinical characteristics of both groups were comparatively analyzed. The results show that the group of somatizers was younger, had more histrionic personality traits and more stress factors related with alterations in interpersonal relationships or death or disease of relatives. It is emphasized that somatization is poorly known by psychiatrists ‐ whose diagnostic criteria practically omit these aspects ‐ and by other physicians, in spite of its importance and frequence.
Acoustic analysis of speech variables during depression and after improvement
Authors: Nilsonne Å.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT: Speech recordings were made of 16 depressed patients during depression and after clinical improvement. The recordings were analyzed using a computer program which extracts acoustic parameters from the fundamental frequency contour of the voice. The percent pause time, the standard deviation of the voice fundamental frequency distribution, the standard deviation of the rate of change of the voice fundamental frequency and the average speed of voice change were found to correlate to the clinical state of the patient. The mean fundamental frequency, the total reading time and the average rate of change of the voice fundamental frequency did not differ between the depressed and the improved group. The acoustic measures were more strongly correlated to the clinical state of the patient as measured by global depression scores than to single depressive symptoms such as retardation or agitation.
Age and duration of illness as predictors of ventricular brain ratio (VBR) size in chronic schizophrenic patients
Authors: Rossi A. , Stratta P. , Casacchia M. , D'Albenzio L. , Schiazza G. , De Donatis M.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT: The CT scans of 18 chronic schizophrenic patients and 17 controls were evaluted for Ventricular Brain Ratio (VBR) size. A trend for the patient group to have larger VBR than controls was present but did not reach statistical significance at the 5% level. Age was found to be an important correlate of VBR within the patient group but not among controls. In a stepwise multiple‐regression model age, among other independent variables, can account for 47% of VBR variance in schizophrenic patients. Linear regression analysis did not reveal significant association between VBR and age in control subjects.
Measurement of ACTH and prolactin in the Dexamethasone Suppression Test
Authors: Risch S. C. , Janowsky D. S. , Judd L. L. , Gillin J. C. , Mott M. A. , Rausch J. L. , Huey L.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— Plasma concentrations of ACTH and prolactin were measured in psychiatric inpatients at 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. before and after the standard 1 mg overnight Dexamethasone Suppression Test (DST). Plasma concentrations of cortisol were measured at 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., and 11 p.m. before and after 1 mg dexamethasone. Dexamethasone suppressed plasma concentrations of ACTH, prolactin and cortisol in the subject group as a whole. “Cut Points” obtained using Fisher's Exact Test identified plasma ACTH values at 8 a.m. baseline, 4 p.m. baseline and 8 a.m. post‐dexamethasone and plasma prolactin values at all four times that significantly differentiated patients with bipolar depressive disorder and major depressive disorder from other psychiatric patients. There were no cut points found at any of the six times for plasma levels of cortisol that significantly differentiated between these two diagnostic groups. Of interest in this subject population, basal (pre‐dexamethasone) plasma concentrations were of more diagnostic information than post‐dexamethasone values. These pilot findings suggest that monitoring plasma prolactin and ACTH concentrations before and after dexamethasone might increase the sensitivity and specificity of this laboratory test for depression.