bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genetic Implications in Assortative Mating of Affective Disorders
Authors: Smeraldi Enrico , Negri Fiammetta , Melica Anna Maria , Zuliani Rosanna , Gasperini Mariangela , Macciardi F.
Published: August 2008

Psychiatric disorders in a sample of spouses of probands with recurrent Primary Affective Disorders (PAD) and in their first degree relatives were evaluated and compared with those in the spouses of control subjects without psychiatric illnesses. No differences were found in the risk for PAD, but spouses of PAD patients and their respective first degree relatives manifested a greater incidence of affective spectrum disorders.
HLA-A2 Antigen in Schizophrenic Patients with Reversed Cerebral Asymmetry
Authors: Luchins Daniel J. , Weinberger Daniel R. , Torrey E. Fuller , Johnson Armead , Rogentine Nicholas , Wyatt Richard Jed
Published: August 2008

The frequency of HLA-A2 was examined in 32 black and 22 white schizophrenic patients separated into two groups according to whether they had normal or reversed cerebral hemispheric asymmetries as determined by computed tomography. The black patients with reversed asymmetry had a significantly greater frequency of HLA-A2 as compared to black patients with normal asymmetry and a black normal control group. There were no significant differences for any other A, B or C antigens. These findings also held when only the 22 black patients without evidence of brain atrophy were studied. The results for the white patients were in the same direction but did not reach statistical significance. These findings suggest that, at least for black schizophrenic patients, reversed cerebral asymmetry is associated with an increased frequency of HLA-A2.
Lithium Induces Rapid Relief of Depression in Tricyclic Antidepressant Drug Non-Responders
Authors: Dé Montigny C. , Grunberg F. , Mayer A. , Deschenes J.-P.
Published: August 2008

Eight patients suffering from a major unipolar depression and having failed to respond to treatment for three weeks or more with tricyclic antidepressants were given lithium. All eight patients experienced a remarkable relief of their depression within 48 hours. This rapid antidepressant effect of lithium in ‘treatment-resistant’ patients might be due to the enhancement of the efficacy of the central serotoninergic system, unveiling the tricyclic antidepressant-induced sensitization of the serotoninergic postsynaptic receptors.
Great Books in Psychiatry
Authors: Hare Edward
Published: August 2008

Few people (and the present writer is not one of them) will know enough about psychiatric books to be able to declare which are the greatest. My own list is a sample biased by chance, ignorance and prejudice. But within these limitations I have worked to a plan and chosen those books which seem to me to represent or reflect important stages in the historical development of psychiatry.
Psychiatric Interviewing Techniques II. Naturalistic Study: Eliciting Factual Information
Authors: Cox A. , Hopkinson K. , Rutter M.
Published: August 2008

A naturalistic study was undertaken of 36 video and audio taped interviews made by 7 different psychiatric trainees. The interviews studied were those conducted in the ordinary course of clinic work for diagnostic and therapeutic planning purposes by trainees when first seeing the parent or parents of a child newly referred to a psychiatric clinic. It was found that a directive style with specific probes and requests for detailed descriptions was associated with the obtaining of better-quality factual information than that associated with a more free-style approach. Interviewers who talked less and who made more use of open questions and checks tended to have more talkative informants. Double questions were liable to result in ambiguous answers, but multiple-choice questions did not appear to cause distortion and in some circumstances might be helpful.
Age-Sex Trends of Phobic and Anxiety Symptoms in Adolescents
Authors: Abe K. , Masui T.
Published: August 2008

The prevalence of phobic and anxiety symptoms was investigated in school children and students aged 11–23 years by questionnaire to find age-sex trends of these symptoms.

Phobic symptoms were found more prevalent in girls except for fear of talking. Among symptoms which tended to appear in anxiety or under stress, frequency of micturition was more prevalent in boys and the remaining symptoms showed no persistent sex difference. Fear of going out of doors alone and feeling of impending death tended to decrease with age. Symptoms which peaked in adolescence (fear of blushing, fear of being looked at and most anxiety symptoms) occurred at an earlier age in girls than in boys.
A Sex Difference in the Seasonal Variation of Suicide Rate: A Single Cycle for Men, Two Cycles for Women
Authors: Meares Russell , Mendelsohn Frederick A. O. , Milgrom-Friedman Jeannette
Published: August 2008

The marked seasonal fluctuation in suicide rates observed by Durkheim appears to be diminishing, and in some cases, to have vanished. In this study, suicide data in Britain from 1958 to 1974 were studied by auto-correlational methods. A cyclical variation was found for both men and women. Men showed a single twelve monthly cycle whereas women showed two cycles. No explanation for this difference is immediately apparent.
The Burden on the Family of a Psychiatric Patient: Development of an Interview Schedule
Authors: Pai Shaila , Kapur R. L.
Published: August 2008

This paper describes the construction of a semi-structured interview schedule to assess the burden placed on families of psychiatric patients living in the community. The Indian population studied found their sick relatives most burdensome in respect of the effect of the illness on family finances, the disruption of normal family activities and the production of stress symptoms in family members other than the patient. The inter-investigator reliability of the interview schedule proved to be high.
Bimodality and the Nature of Depression
Authors: Everitt B. S.
Published: August 2008

Arguments concerning the nature of depressive disorders have involved as a central issue the question of the bimodality or otherwise of the distribution of some variable expressing variation in symptomatology. The implications of a particular type of frequency distribution along this dimension, whether uni- or bi-modal, have been misunderstood by a number of workers, and an attempt is made to clarify the situation.
What Happens to Patients Released from the Special Hospitals?
Authors: Bowden Paul
Published: August 2008

NHS consultants who are asked to accept Special Hospital patients can judge the prognosis, since the extent of both psychiatric and criminal histories provides the most accurate prediction of future behaviour. Patients discharged to the community have different outcomes from those transferred to NHS hospitals, but overall about one in five of those released are returned to a Special Hospital; up to one in two will subsequently be convicted, but the offences are mainly trivial and directed at property. Perhaps one in ten will be involved in serious or homicidal acts of violence.
The Assessment of the Symptoms of Premenstrual Syndrome and their Response to Therapy
Authors: Sampson Gwyneth A. , Prescott Philip
Published: August 2008

The symptoms of premenstrual syndrome should be rated daily, or at frequent intervals throughout the menstrual cycle. Self-rating is usually most feasible and separate rating of differing symptom groups is important, as symptoms differ in their response to therapy. Daily scores should be analysed to assess periodicity, either by subdividing the cycle into phases or by using the least mean square method of fitting sine waves. Standardized scores enable data to be compared across cycles. In a clinical trial it is important to include an untreated cycle to assess whether the subject has premenstrual syndrome and as a baseline with which to compare treated cycles. Allowance should be made for a carry-over effect and for high placebo response. One solution is to use a change-over design balanced for carry-over effects. The criteria used to define a patient should be stated.
Amphetamine-Induced Dysphoria in Postmenopausal Women
Authors: Halbreich Uriel , Asnis Gregory , Ross Donald , Endicott Jean
Published: August 2008

Dextroamphetamine (0.15 mg/kg) intravenously administered to a group of normal postmenopausal women induced a dysphoric reaction with drowsiness, annoyance, sadness and anger. Young normal men, receiving the same dosage, responded with elation of mood and alertness. It is suggested that age and hypoestrogenism may alter the behavioural response to amphetamine.
Some Electrophysiological Observations in Obsessional States
Authors: Ciesielski K. T. , Beech H. R. , Gordon P. K.
Published: August 2008

Averaged evoked potentials were recorded from a group of obsessional patients and matched normal controls for three types of visual stimulation: passive monitoring of a light flash, a pattern consisting of gratings and a cognitive task involving discrimination of two similar shapes. As the complexity of information processing required by the tasks increased, differences in the evoked potentials of obsessionals became more marked. The main finding was of faster latency and reduced amplitude of the component in the cognitive task. The relevance of this finding to a theory of obsessional disorder is discussed.
Contemporary Indications for Psychosurgery
Authors: Bartlett John , Bridges Paul , Kelly Desmond
Published: August 2008

The initial period of enthusiasm for the surgical treatment of certain psychiatric illnesses, has later given way to increasing rejection of this mode of therapy. But more recently there has been a reappraisal of the therapeutic possibilities of the modern refined operations, which are now receiving more objective assessment.
Judgement of Emotional Expression in Schizophrenics
Authors: Cutting J.
Published: August 2008

Acute schizophrenics, chronic schizophrenics, psychiatric controls and patients with a depressive illness were asked to judge which of two faces in photographs was the more friendly. Acute schizophrenics disagreed significantly with the other three groups of subjects whilst agreeing with them on a control task of perceptual judgement involving colours. In a second experiment a new group of acute schizophrenics disagreed with remitted psychotics and psychotic depressives in judging friendliness and meanness but agreed with these control groups in judging age of the faces. The findings are presented as a potentially fruitful area for research on psychological deficits in schizophrenia.
Psychiatric Interviewing Techniques V. Experimental Study: Eliciting Factual Information
Authors: Cox A. , Rutter M. , Holbrook D.
Published: August 2008

Four experimental interview styles, each recommended by experts in the field, were compared for their efficiency in eliciting factual information during the initial diagnostic interviews with the mothers of children referred to a psychiatric out-patient clinic. If encouraged to talk freely, mothers tended to mention most (but not all) key issues without the need for standardized questioning on a pre-determined range of topics. However, systematic questioning was essential in order to obtain good quality factual data. Better data were obtained when interviewers were sensitive and alert to factual cues and chose their probes with care. Clinically significant factual information, idiosyncratic to the family and outside the range of standard enquiry was common, but was obtained satisfactorily with all four styles. No one style was generally preferred by informants. The advantages of systematic questioning for obtaining factual information were not associated with any disadvantages with respect to the eliciting of emotions and feelings.
Identification of Features Associated with Flying Phobia in Aircrew
Authors: Aitken R. C. B. , Lister J. A. , Main C. J.
Published: August 2008

The psychological and physiological features of 20 aircrew consecutively referred for treatment of anxiety symptoms when flying were compared with a matched control group of uncomplaining aircrew. There were no significant differences between the two groups on psychometric tests of personality, though there were differences in skin conductance; the phobics had a higher rate of spontaneous fluctuation, and habituated less to a repeated auditory tone. More of the phobic group worried about their wives and acknowledged childhood and other adulthood phobias; more had a family history of an episode perhaps best described as flying trauma. Many were on an overseas posting when symptoms presented. These few features could correctly classify 85 per cent of the subjects into the phobic or control group. This type of ‘phobic aircrew index’ now requires to be validated prospectively for its predictive value.
Psychological Change in Neurotic Depression: A Repertory Grid and Personal Construct Theory Approach
Authors: Hewstone Miles , Hooper Douglas , Miller Keith
Published: August 2008

Personal construct theory and repertory grid methodology were applied to a study of psychological change experienced by a sample of ten neurotic depressives and their matched controls during short-term hospitalization. All subjects completed a repertory grid and the Zung depression scale on admission to hospital. Depressives were characterized by lower self-esteem, more negative social perception and higher scores on the Zung scale. Both measures were repeated at the time of discharge from hospital. Depressives showed a significant reduction in depressive mood, more positive social perception, and a change in the construing of the self; controls showed no changes. It is argued that the use of a quantitative assessment technique reinforced by a theoretical framework results in a more refined understanding of psychological change.
Psychiatry and Behavioural Psychotherapy
Authors: Marks Isaac
Published: August 2008

Although behavioural psychotherapy is a potent therapeutic technology which is now the approach of choice in perhaps 25 per cent of neurotic patients (12 per cent of adult psychiatric outpatients), many psychiatrists are still reluctant to use it as part of their armamentarium in the clinical management required in everyday practice. At least four factors contribute to this resistance.
A Trial of Propranolol in Chronic Schizophrenia
Authors: Myers D. H. , Campbell P. L. , Cocks N. M. , Flowerdew J. A. , Muir A.
Published: August 2008

A small (n = 20), double blind, controlled trial failed to show that propranolol has any beneficial effect in chronic schizophrenia.
The Effects of Varying Auditory Input on Schizophrenic Hallucinations
Authors: Margo A. , Hemsley D. R. , Slade P. D.
Published: August 2008

The present report is of the effect of variations of auditory input on hallucinatory experiences in seven schizophrenic patients. Nine experimental conditions, each of two minutes' duration, were compared with a control condition. At the end of each period subjects were required to rate the duration, loudness, and clarity of hallucinations during that time. Experimental conditions varied according to the amount of structure present in the material and in its attention-commanding properties. One condition required the active monitoring of material presented and resulted in the greatest decrease in hallucinatory experiences. For the passive conditions, findings were broadly consistent with predictions, indicating that it is not stimulation per se, but rather the extent to which structure is present and attended to, that is important in determining the occurrence of hallucinatory phenomena.
Psychiatric Interviewing Techniques VI. Experimental Study: Eliciting Feelings
Authors: Cox A. , Holbrook D. , Rutter M.
Published: August 2008

Four experimental interview styles, designed to differ in the extent of their use of active fact-oriented and active feeling-oriented techniques, were compared in relation to their use in the initial diagnostic interviews with the mothers of children referred to a psychiatric clinic. All four styles proved to be effective in eliciting emotions and feelings, but the findings suggested that each was effective for different reasons. It appeared that emotional expression could be encouraged by the interviewer's response to emotional cues, by a reflective style with little factual cross-questioning, by the use of direct requests for self-disclosures, by the optimal (but not necessarily maximal) use of interpretations and expressions of sympathy, and by direct requests for feelings.
Erythrocyte Transketolase Activity in the Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome
Authors: Leigh Denis , McBurney Alan , Mcllwain Henry
Published: August 2008

Erythrocyte transketolase activity and the effect of adding thiamine pyrophosphate (% TPP effect) were measured in subjects suffering from Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome both before and during treatment with thiamine and/or thiamine tetrahydrofurfuryldisulphide (TTFD). Transketolase activity was significantly lower in untreated patients than in healthy volunteers. Treatment with either thiamine or with TTFD restored enzyme levels to control values but TTFD produced a greater increase than thiamine in enzyme activity. In a group of seven patients there was no correlation between duration of TTFD therapy and either increase in erythrocyte transketolase activity or % decrease in the TPP effect. However, when three patients were followed at intervals during treatment with TTFD, their erythrocyte transketolase increased progressively. Neither thiamine nor TTFD produced clinical improvement in the mental symptoms of Wernicke-Korsakoff psychosis unless administered early in the course of the disease.
Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome in Monozygotic Twins: A Biochemical Peculiarity
Authors: Leigh Denis , Mcburney Alan , Mcllwain Henry
Published: August 2008

A pair of monozygotic twins, one suffering from the Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, verified at autopsy, and the other healthy, was studied biochemically. The erythrocyte transketolase of each twin showed abnormalities, though these differed in the two individuals. In the healthy twin, the basal transketolase was low, but responded normally to thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) addedin vitro.In the twin with the Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome the basal level of the enzyme and its responsein vitrowere normal, but a period of treatment with thiamine tetrahydrofurfuryldisulphide, led to loss of thein vitroresponse. It is suggested that, initially, an inborn error of metabolism may have been common to both twins.
Short Term Memory Deficit in a Patient with Cerebral Sarcoidosis
Authors: Thompson Christopher , Checkley Stuart
Published: August 2008

Sarcoidosis is defined by Scadding (1967) as “a disease which is characterized by the presence in all of several affected organs or tissues of epithelioid cell tubercles … proceeding either to resolution or to … (the formation of) fibrous tissue”. The organs which are most commonly involved are the lungs, skin, eyes, liver, spleen and joints. Clinical evidence of involvement of the central nervous system may be found in 5 per cent of all cases (Silverstein et al, 1965; Wiederholt and Siekert, 1965; Delaney, 1977). Typical lesions are cranial nerve palsies, intracranial space-occupying lesions, pituitary or hypothalamic lesions and, less frequently, lesions of the brainstem or spinal cord (Waldenstrom, 1937; Matthews, 1965; Wiederholt and Siekert, 1965; Scadding, 1967; Delaney, 1977).
A Case of Brain Fag in East Africa
Authors: Harris Brian
Published: August 2008

Opportunities exist for psychiatrists to spend a short term, from two weeks to four months, in underdeveloped countries under the auspices of the Inter University Council, (IUC, 1978). This is accepted as a desirable part of training and experience, as outlined in the Royal College of Psychiatrists Handbook for Inceptors and Trainees in Psychiatry (1980), and allows first-hand experience of symptom patterns and features peculiar to another culture. The present case showed a number of features characteristic of African psychiatry, including ‘brain fag’ syndrome (the syndrome which owes its name to the patient's explanation of his illness as being due to tiredness of the brain), a bizarre colourful presentation of the condition at the onset, and at one point a concern with witchcraft. Behind the illness lay family problems and significant life events which could be grasped by the outsider.
Institutionalization and the Defects of Schizophrenia
Authors: Johnstone Eve C. , Owens D. G. Cunningham , Gold Aviva , Crow T. J. , Macmillan J. Fiona
Published: August 2008

Patients conforming to the Feighner criteria for schizophrenia who had been discharged from hospital were traced after 5–9 years. They were assessed in terms of mental state and cognitive, behavioural and neurological functioning; the results of these assessments were related to information obtained from casenotes. The findings of this study of 120 discharged patients were compared with those of an earlier study of 510 in-patients with schizophrenia. When factors of age and duration of illness were taken into account there was no difference between the two groups in terms of positive or negative schizophrenic features or behavioural performance, although the in-patients performed less well on cognitive tests. This study indicates that the deficits of chronic schizophrenia are an integral feature of the disease: process, and that any effects of institutionalisation are relatively small.
Reinforcement of Vocal Correlates of Auditory Hallucinations by Auditory Feedback: A Case Study
Authors: Green Paul , Preston Martin
Published: August 2008

Although auditory hallucinations in schizophrenic patients are usually thought to be private events, several early writers observed vocalizations concurrent with hallucinations. The content of such vocalizations corresponded to what the voices were reported to have said. A schizophrenic patient is described whose whispers were increased to an intelligible level by the use of auditory feedback. This has implications for the self-control of hallucinations, and for neurological theories of verbal hallucinations.
The Short-Term Outcome of Neurotic Disorders in the Community: The Relation of Remission to Clinical Factors and to ‘Neutralizing’ Life Events
Authors: Tennant Christopher , Bebbington Paul , Hurry Jane
Published: August 2008

A longitudinal study of neurotic disorder in the community showed that half the cases identified at first interview had remitted one month later. Remission was significantly related to four variables: recency of onset and of peak of the disorder, the occurrence of recent threatening life events and the occurrence of subsequent ‘neutralizing’ life events. A neutralizing event was defined a priori as one which neutralized the impact of an earlier threatening life event or difficulty. One third of all remissions were caused by such an event. Remission of disorder was not significantly related to demographic variables, symptom severity, syndrome type, medical consultation or psychotropic drug prescription. The implications for neurotic disorder in the community are discussed, in particular its relation to life events and the favourable outcome in the absence of treatment.
The Incidence of Exhibitionism in Guatemala and the United States
Authors: Rhoads John M. , Borjes Enrique Padilla
Published: August 2008

Previous speculation based on a mail survey of psychiatrists suggested that exhibitionism is rare in Latin American countries. This survey of potential victims conducted in Guatemala and using a comparable United States facility as a control, shows the incidence in the two countries to be essentially the same. This suggests that the psychopathology of the exhibitionist has more to do with the act than does the culture in which it occurs.
Positive and Negative Schizophrenia Symptoms and the Role of Dopamine
Authors: Crow T. J.
Published: August 2008

Presumably one function of an hypothesis is to provoke further thought and observation. Therefore, I welcome the critical comments of Ashcroft and colleagues (Journal, March 1981, 138, 268–9) on my suggestion concerning the relationship between dopaminergic disturbances and the positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia (Crow, 1980a, b). However, I think they have misunderstood the proposal and have underestimated some of the relevant evidence. I believe the evidence for two processes is more compelling than they have conceded and I note that in their own hypothesis they have introduced two factors to account for phenomena that both Mackay (1980) and I regard as a problem for the simple dopamine theory.
Computed Tomography and the Outcome of Affective Disorder: A Follow-up Study of Elderly Patients
Authors: Jacoby Robin J. , Levy Raymond , Bird Jonathan M.
Published: August 2008

Forty-one subjects from an earlier study, who had undergone computed tomography (CT) during their in-patient care for affective disorder, were followed up clinically for a minimum of one year. Mortality at two years was also determined, and comparisons made with 50 age-matched controls. Those with affective disorder showed a higher mortality than controls, but the difference just failed to reach significance. Within the affective group, however, mortality was significantly higher in patients who had previously shown ventricular enlargement on CT, confirming our earlier suggestion that these patients might have constituted a distinct subgroup. Failure of the affective group to improve performance on a simple cognitive test at follow-up was related to persisting depression. These and other findings are discussed.
Mania Associated with Weaning
Authors: Joyce P. R. , Rogers J. R. M. , Anderson E. D.
Published: August 2008

This paper describes a patient who has had two episodes of mania, both of which occurred immediately after weaning. Although no recent reference to weaning as an aetiological factor in psychiatric disturbances could be found, it is suggested that weaning was an aetiological factor in this case.
Women, Marriage, Employment and Mental Health
Authors: Cochrane Raymond , Stopes-Roe Mary
Published: August 2008

This paper reviews explanations of sex differences in mental hospital admission rates, taking account of age and marital status effects. Six propositions derived from the review are tested on data from a nationwide community survey of 259 respondents, using a standardized symptom check list.

Women report more psychological symptoms than men, but this is unrelated to marital status. It is suggested that being married acts to keep a potential patient out of hospital rather than to reduce symptoms. Whether or not a woman is in paid employment outside the home is a major predictor of symptom levels, especially in depression. Women with unemployed husbands are also particularly likely to report high levels of depression. However, there is no reciprocal effect of wives' employment status on the psychological well-being of their husbands.
The Use of the Term ‘Borderline Patient’ by Scottish Psychiatrists: A Preliminary Survey
Authors: Macaskill Norman D. , Macaskill Ann
Published: August 2008

One hundred and sixty Scottish psychiatrists complete a questionnaire eliciting the extent of their use of the term ‘borderline patient’ and the factors affecting this. The term was used by 27.5 per cent, the majority of whom felt that it ought to be included in current diagnostic classification systems. There was, however, general dissatisfaction with the vagueness of current definitions of the term and a confusing use of numerous diagnostic labels.

Use of the term was not related to status, geographical location, or familiarity with American psychiatric literature. The practice of psychodynamically-oriented psychotherapy and extended working contact with psychiatry in North America were found significantly to increase its use.
Neuroendocrine Tests during Treatment with Neuroleptic Drugs. I. Plasma Prolactin Response to Haloperidol Challenge
Authors: Kolakowska Tamara , Braddock Louise , Wiles David , Franklin Michael , Gelder Michael
Published: August 2008

The plasma prolactin (PRL) response to haloperidol 2 or 4 mg i.m. was studied in 18 schizophrenic men during their routine treatment with neuroleptic drugs. A substantial rise of the PRL level above the treatment baseline occurred in all but four of the 20 tests showing that the PRL elevation induced by treatment was not maximal. The challenge was ineffective only in patients receiving very high daily doses of medication. The increment was inversely correlated to the daily dose of medication but unrelated to plasma haloperidol concentrations during the test. Chronic schizophrenics who were receiving long term treatment and had low basal PRL levels did not show tolerance to the prolactin stimulating effect of haloperidol. That prolactin rose during the test in patients who had improved during their current treatment indicates that the degree of dopamine receptor blockade required for therapeutic effects is below that which produces a maximal PRL response.
Delirium and Confusion in the 19th Century: A Conceptual History
Authors: Berrios G. E.
Published: August 2008

Delirium remained a stable psychiatric category until the early 19th century when it underwent aetiological and phenomenological redefinition, precipitating the transformation of the functional insanities into psychoses.

Confusion, introduced by French workers during the second half of the century, referred to a syndrome wider than (but including) delirium. It emphasized chaotic thinking and cognitive failure. The notion of clouding of consciousness (and temporo-spatial disorientation) established a common denominator for the two concepts, while Chaslin and Bonhoeffer redefined confusion and delirium as the stereotyped manifestations of acute brain failure.
Tardive Dyskinesia and Abnormal Tongue Movements
Authors: Pi Edmond H. , Simpson George M.
Published: August 2008

Forty-two subjects, 20 with and 22 without clinically diagnosed tardive dyskinesia (TD), were rated for TD on the scale of Simpson et al. They also performed a tongue protrusion test and had the presence of tongue movements within the buccal cavity observed. Fifty per cent of the severe or definite TD subjects as classified by rating scale were unable to maintain tongue protrusion for a minimum of 30 seconds, and 85 per cent of them had abnormal tongue movements. In 45 per cent of the possible TDs and in 9 per cent of the doubtful subjects, the movement test was also positive.
On the Psychopathology of Persecutory Delusions
Authors: Freeman Thomas
Published: August 2008

Jaspers' (1963) concept of delusions proper is founded on the fact that patients suffering from schizophrenic and paranoiac psychoses experience these mental events as ego alien and completely unlike previous modes of thinking, feeling and perceiving. This disruption in the continuity and quality of mental life has been taken to indicate that, in contrast to delusion-like ideas, delusions proper do not have psychological antecedents. Such a view has never been acceptable to psychiatrists who favour a developmental approach to mental pathology. According to Minkowski (1927), Katan (1954) and Ey (1969), whose writings are based on Jackson (1894), Freud (1911) and Ribot (1920), it is possible to understand and resolve this disturbance in the continuity of the content of the mental life of those who succumb to schizophrenic and paranoiac psychoses.
The Relation between Contextual and Reported Threat due to Life Events: A Controlled Study
Authors: Ndetei David M. , Vadher Atul
Published: August 2008

Following the method of Brown and Harris 30 Kenyan patients suffering from depression and 40 community non-psychiatrically-disturbed controls were studied for contextual and reported threat due to short-term and long-term life events. It was found that the patients did not over-rate threat due to events (in ‘search for the meaning’) nor did the controls under-rate the threat of life events. Some theoretical issues on the ‘contextual threat’ of life events are raised.
Propranolol in Experimentally Induced Stress
Authors: Taylor Elizabeth A. , Turner Paul , Harrison Jean
Published: August 2008

The influence of beta-adrenoceptor antagonism on the effects of a simple experimental stress was investigated in 12 healthy volunteers, using a double-blind protocol. A single oral dose of 80 mg propranolol reduced the stress-induced increase in heart rate and systolic blood pressure to 49.9 per cent and 8.3 per cent respectively compared to 61.0 per cent and 17.4 per cent with placebo. The rise in diastolic blood pressure was small and unaffected by beta-adrenoceptor blockade. The rise in temperature of the skin of the trunk was significantly reduced by propranolol. The self-rating of anxiety, alertness and concentration by the subjects was unaffected by propranolol.
Identical Triplets: Non-Identical Psychosis?
Authors: McGuffin Peter , Reveley Adrianne , Holland Anthony
Published: August 2008

In contrast to all previous reports of psychoses in genetically identical siblings, identical triplets aged 28 were discordant by major Kraepelinian type of psychosis. Two of them had been diagnosed schizophrenic while the third was diagnosed manic depressive. Re-evaluation of their illnesses using standardized methods and diagnosis by blind raters suggested that the discordance was not due to simple misdiagnosis or different diagnostic bias between psychiatrists. These triplets illustrate some of the shortcomings of a strictly applied Kraepelinian dichotomy and show that a genetic perspective is important in attempting to resolve the classificatory problems of atypical psychoses.
Clinical Trial of a Test Stick to Control Patient Compliance under Nomifensine Treatment
Authors: Linden M. , Schüssler G. , Müller-Oerlinghausen B.
Published: August 2008

A reliable and rapid way of assessing patient compliance is the use of a semi-quantitative drug determination in the urine. Almost all urines were positive to a microchromatographic test stick 2–6 hours after 25 or 100 mg nomifensine was taken orally by healthy normal volunteers. The test reliability between different observers varied between 76 and 100 per cent. False positive results were regularly observed with carbamazepine and triamterene, and false negatives or weakened reactions with lithium.

The test is reliable and highly ‘time-specific‘. Its applicability is, therefore, restricted to very specific questions.
The Suicide Rate in Schizophrenia
Authors: Wilkinson D. G.
Published: August 2008

Three of 39 first-admission schizophrenics committed suicide during the 10 to 15 year follow-up period of a retrospective, case-register based inquiry. Schizophrenic patients often talk about and attempt suicide. However, there is little reliable knowledge about the clinical characteristics of those who are likely to kill themselves.
Neuronal Lipofuscin Accumulation in Ageing and Alzheimer Dementia: A Pathogenic Mechanism?
Authors: Dowson J. H.
Published: August 2008

The amount of intraneuronal lipofuscin in the parietal cortex and in the inferior olivary nucleus was measured in post-mortem tissue affected by Alzheimer dementia and in specimens from non-demented individuals. The results indicate that there is a linear relationship between the accumulation of cell body lipofuscin and advancing age, both in neuronal populations of the non-demented group, and in the olivary neurones of the demented group. However, in the demented group, the lipofuscin fluorescence intensity of the parietal neurones was not significantly correlated with age. The estimated amount of lipofuscin in the olivary neurones in the demented group was significantly higher than in the non-demented group, when age has been taken into account (P <0.01). The possible pathogenic role of lipofuscin accumulation in ageing and Alzheimer dementia is discussed.
Differences between Two Studies of Hand Preference in Psychiatric Patients
Authors: Taylor Pamela J. , Dalton Rosemary , Fleminger J. J. , Lishman W. A.
Published: August 2008

Significant differences in handedness patterns between groups of psychiatric patients and normal controls were identified in two recent British studies, with substantial disagreement in some important findings. Most of the discrepancies were attributable to the different application of a simple classification of handedness data, and the remainder to differences in sample size. Diagnosis, sex and age were then found to have a similar effect on handedness in both studies. Neurotic patients were similar to controls regardless of classification, whereas mixed handedness in personality disorder depended on it. There was no overall excess of left-handedness among schizophrenics, but trends towards excess sinistrality in men and full dextrality in women approached significance.
Unusual Mood Stability in Patients Taking Lithium
Authors: Folstein M. F. , Depaulo J. R. , Trepp K.
Published: August 2008

The Visual Analogue Mood Scale (VAMS) was completed for 30 consecutive days by 124 psychiatric patients and 36 non-patient control subjects. The 65 euthymic manic-depressive patients on chronic lithium therapy had similar mean mood ratings to the non-patient controls, but had lower mood variability as measured either by standard deviation of the mood rating or by a measure of the mean successive differences between consecutive mood ratings (delta squared). This unusual mood stability appears to be an effect of lithium therapy. This study thus offers some empirical support for the ‘mood stabilizer’ psychological model of lithium's effects in patients. It is also noted that this effect may be perceived in well patients as an undesirable effect of lithium treatment.
Dysmorphophobia in Adolescence: A Case Report
Authors: Braddock Louise Elaine
Published: August 2008

A distinction is made(British Medical Journal, 1978; Munro, 1980) between an excessive preoccupation with minor bodily defect, dysmorphophobia, and monosymptomatic psychosis in which a delusion of bodily change may be the sole symptom of an underlying schizophrenic or depressive illness. Hay (1981) has argued for careful distinction between the over-valued idea of dysmorphophobia and the delusion of depressive or schizophrenic illness. But in the absence of any features suggesting psychosis, scrutiny of the abnormal belief in isolation may fail to detect which sort it is. Riding and Munro (1975) hold the distinction to depend upon assessment of the abnormal belief as being of ‘neurotic’ versus ‘delusional’ intensity and of the degree of personality involvement. Andreasen and Bardach (1977) have proposed formal diagnostic criteria incorporating similar features: the dysmorphophobic symptom of excessive concern with appearance, the desire for surgery or underlying presence of personality disorder, and the absence of psychotic symptomatology. However, judgements of ‘neurotic’ versus ‘delusional’ intensity, of absence of psychotic symptomatology and of personality involvement may be particularly difficult against a background of developing personality and in adolescence the problem may be further compounded by the cumulative and recursive effects upon personality development of psychological disturbance.
The Effect of Treatment on the Melancholias (Depressions)
Authors: Hamilton Max
Published: August 2008

The results described are based on data from 47 male and 83 female patients randomly assigned to treatment with imipramine or phenelzine in an open trial. All were fresh (untreated) cases diagnosed as suffering from depressive illness (melancholia). They were rated before treatment and 2 and four months later. Imipramine did not give results which were significantly better than phenelzine. With both drugs it was found that patients had done either very well or very poorly at follow-up, i.e. the distribution of scores was U-shaped (or bimodal at the least).

The 55 men and 90 women who were unsuitable for treatment with drugs or who had failed to respond to such treatment were given a course of ECT and followed-up at corresponding intervals. The improvement after ECT was better than with drugs and the distribution of scores is quite different. An earlier series of male patients treated with ECT in the pre-drug days did not show as good a response to the treatment.
Prediction of Outcome in Senile Dementia—A Computed Tomography Study
Authors: Naguib Mohsen , Levy Raymond
Published: August 2008

Forty patients suffering from senile dementia who had been subjected to detailed clinical and psychological assessment and computed tomography (CT) were followed up for a mean period of 28.78 months. All but one were traced. The deceased (27) were compared with the survivors (12). All males had died at follow-up. The mean age was not statistically significant but the survivors differed significantly from the deceased in having performed better on a number of clinical and psychological tests, particularly those involving speech functions and constructoinal ability. Measures of ventricular size and cortical atrophy were not of predictive value, but a new technique of measuring radiological density showed that this was significantly lower in the right parietal region in the original CT scans of those who subsequently died. The study confirms that clinical involvement of the parietal lobes is an indication of poor prognosis and reports the first radiological support for this view. It also suggests that a more directly quantitative approach to computed tomography may yield results which are more useful than those obtained from visual reconstructions.
Once Weekly Pimozide versus Fluphenazine Decanoate as Maintenance Therapy in Chronic Schizophrenia
Authors: Mccreadie R. , Mackie M. , Morrison D. , Kidd J.
Published: August 2008

In a double blind trial, 28 male chronic schizophrenic in-patients received either pimozide, given once weekly, or fluphenazine decanoate, given mostly once fortnightly. There was no difference in relapse rates over nine months. However, three-quarters of the patients on pimozide who completed the trial developed at least mild tardive dyskinesia. All patients on pimozide lost weight, the average loss being 5.4 kg (12 lbs). Plasma pimozide levels suggested satisfactory drug compliance. Plasma prolactin levels confirmed that in the pimozide group there was fluctuating dopamine receptor antagonism, while in the fluphenazine group average plasma prolactin levels throughout most of the interval between injections were at the upper limit of normal.
Unfavourable Left-Right Asymmetries of the Brain and Autism: A Question of Methodology
Authors: Tsai Luke , Jacoby Charles G. , Stewart Mark A. , Beisler Jean M.
Published: August 2008

Thirty-six patients with infantile autism and various neurological disorders underwent computerized tomographic (CT) scanning of the brain. All CT scans were assessed blindly and independently by a diagnostic radiologist. Two techniques modified from two previous studies were used for measuring parieto-occipital asymmetry. The frequency of reversed asymmetry in autistic patients was the same as that in patients with various neurological disorders, and there was no significant association between reversed asymmetry and delayed language development. The study does not support the concept that unfavourable morphological asymmetries of the brain near the posterior language zone may contribute to the difficulties autistic children experience in acquiring language. Methodological difficulties and the design of new studies are discussed.
Hysterectomy and Psychiatric Disorder: I. Levels of Psychiatric Morbidity before and after Hysterectomy
Authors: Gath Dennis , Cooper Peter , Day Ann
Published: August 2008

One hundred and fifty-six women with menorrhagia of benign origin were interviewed before hysterectomy, and re-interviewed six months post-operatively (n = 147), and again 18 months post-operatively (n = 148). Levels of psychiatric morbidity were significantly higher before the operation than after. On the Present State Examination, 58 per cent of patients were psychiatric cases before surgery, as against 29 per cent at the 18-month follow-up. Similar post-operative improvements were found on measures of mood (POMS), and of psychosexual and social functioning. Most of these improvements had occurred within three to six months after the operation. Both before and after hysterectomy, levels of psychiatric morbidity were high by comparison with women in the general population, but lower than in psychiatric patients. The pre-operative psychiatric morbidity had been mainly of long duration.
II. Demographic Psychiatric and Physical Factors in Relation to Psychiatric Outcome
Authors: Gath Dennis , Cooper Peter , Day Ann , Bond Alison , Edmonds Gillian
Published: August 2008

One hundred and fifty-six patients with monorrhagia of benign origin were interviewed before hysterectomy, and again six months (n = 147) and 18 months (n = 148) after the operation. Psychiatric outcome, measured in terms of PSE cases detected at 18 months, was strongly associated with pre-operative mental state, neuroticism, previous psychiatric history, and family psychiatric history. No association was found with organic pathology in the uterus, bilateral oophorectomy or demographic variables.
Children Who Set Fires: the Clinical Picture and a Follow-Up
Authors: Stewart Mark A. , Culver Kenneth W.
Published: August 2008

The study concerns 46 children who had set at least one fire and had been admitted to a psychiatric ward. Their firesetting behaviour has been related to variables such as age, IQ, and psychiatric disorder in parents, and to the distinction between children who present with firesetting as their chief problem and those in whom it is a secondary complaint. Thirty subjects were followed up after one to five years. Seven, all boys and all less than 13 years old, were still setting fires, but these were less serious than the ones set before treatment. The persistent firesetters may have come from less stable homes and they tended to be more antisocial at follow-up than children who no longer set fires.
Twelve Blood Markers and Measures of Temperament
Authors: Harburg Ernest , Gleibermann Lillian , Gershowitz Henry , Ozgoren Feridun , Kulik Chen-Lin
Published: August 2008

This project tested the association of 12 blood marker systems with the Eysenck Extraversion-Introversion/Neuroticism forms and the Buss-Plomin Temperament forms. The sample was about 400 males and 470 females who were given medical examinations during the Tecumseh Community Health Study (Michigan). ANOVA and Scheffe tests were used to test for significant differences; personality traits were adjusted for age. The Lewis red blood cell phenotypes were significantly associated with Anger and Impulsivity for males and Sensation-seeking (a subscale of Impulsivity) for females. It is suggested that these temperament factors merit further exploration.
Depression ‘Revealed’ in Schizophrenia
Authors: Hirsch Steven R.
Published: August 2008

Since Helmchen and Hippius (1967) noted that half a sample of 120 schizophrenics had depressive symptoms at the time of admission, more than 30 papers have appeared associating depressive symptoms in schizophrenics with neuroleptic medication (Ananth and Chadirian, 1980). Many authors and clinicians in fact think that a causal relationship has been proven, and the term ‘pharmacogenic depression’ and the associated concept ‘akinetic depression’ have come into use. The assumptions underlying these concepts and the evidence to support them need critical examination. They will be considered with the results of more recent studies which answer some of the outstanding questions, but in turn raise new ones about the relationship of schizophrenia and depression to their underlying pathophysiology.
The Present Status of First-Rank Symptoms
Authors: Mellor C. S.
Published: August 2008

Kurt Schneider asserted that certain symptoms which he termed ‘first-rank’ invariably distinguished between schizophrenia and manic-depressive psychosis. This assertion, which has attracted considerable critical attention during the past ten years, will be examined in the light of these recent investigations.