bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neurasthenic symptoms in workers occupationally exposed to jet fuel
Authors: Knave B. , Mindus P. , Struwe G.
Published: August 2007

Long‐term exposure to petroleum distillation products (e.g. jet fuel) has been suggested to cause chronic mental and neurological symptoms. In the present “cross‐sectional epidemiological study” the extent of neuropsychiatric ill‐health in 30 workers exposed to jet fuel was compared with that in 60 non‐exposed matched controls. Standardized medical interviews showed a higher occurrence of neurasthenic symptoms in exposed subjects (P < 0.001). The result was confirmed by examination of the medical records kept by the factory physician (P < 0.01). The prevalence of psychiatric symptoms was assessed with a rating scale of 37 items (a modified CPRS). Again, the exposed workers scored higher than the controls (P < 0.001), particularly regarding the neurasthenic symptoms, i.e. fatigue, anxiety, mood changes, memory difficulties, and various psychosomatic symptoms (P < 0.01). The results could neither be explained by observer's bias, nor by a greater susceptibility for mental disorders in the exposed subjects. We therefore conclude that occupational exposure to jet fuel vapours around the present threshold limit values may induce a neurasthenic syndrome.
Validity of some neuropsychological tests in the assessment of mental deterioration
Authors: Caltagirone C. , Gainotti G. , Masullo C. , Miceli G.
Published: August 2007

Eighty‐three control subjects and 200 patients suspected of diffuse cerebral damage were submitted to the Mental Deterioration Battery. Three independent judges evaluated each patient on the basis of all available data. Only 103 patients, unanimously classed as demented by the three judges were retained. On the basis of controls' performances, the scores obtained by each demented patient in the various tests were corrected for age and educational level. Both single tests and the Battery as a whole discriminated normal controls from demented patients at a very satisfactory level.
Psychiatric illness among adults adopted as infants
Authors: Bohman M. , Knorring A.‐L. Von
Published: August 2007

In an epidemiological study of 2,323 adopted adults, the registrations about sick‐leave, diagnoses and hospitalization (F‐cards) from the National Health Insurance were studied. There was a significantly higher frequency of psychiatric illness among the adoptees compared with non‐adopted controls. A classification into different diagnostic groups from the records of psychiatric hospitals showed an over‐representation due to alcohol and drug abuse and personality disorders in both male and female adoptee groups compared with non‐adopted controls. There was also an over‐representation in the male adoptee group due to neuroses.
First admissions for psychosis in Turku A TIME TREND STUDY
Authors: Salokangas R. K. R.
Published: August 2007

Patients over 15 years of age from Turku hospitalized for psychosis for the first time during the years 1949–50, 1959–60 or 1969–70 were investigated.

The incidence of hospitalized psychoses (per 100,000 inhabitants) was 115, 136 and 160, respectively. The increase in incidence was greater in women than in men. The incidence remained approximately the same in patients aged 30 to 59, but increased in the younger and older groups. The incidence of functional psychoses increased; in schizophrenia, however, it declined, while in paranoid and affective psychoses it increased. In organic psychoses, the admission frequency of psychoses of old age rose in the 1950's, but declined in some measure in the 1960's.

The incidence of psychosis increased for single persons. The ratio of the incidence between single and married persons rose in men, whereas in women it fell. This was particularly pronounced in schizophrenics. The incidence of psychosis was highest in unskilled laborers. The overrepresentation of schizophrenia and paranoid psychoses seemed to have become more pronounced in this occupational group.
Prediction of lithium response
Authors: Ananth J. , Engelsmann F. , Kiriakos R. , Kolivakis T.
Published: August 2007

Even though lithium has been established as an effective agent in the management of primary affective disorders, not ail manic‐depressive patients respond favourably to lithium therapy. There‐fore we attempted to delineate lithium responders from non‐responders in a group of 54 manic‐depressive patients on the basis of an assessment which included 64 variables and the results showed that only two thirds were pure responders. Females, patients with prior manic episodes, onset of the illness initially with a manie episode, and premorbid psychothymic personality were ail indicators of favourable long‐term lithium response. Patients with retarded depression, severe anxiety, thought disorder and those with higher scores on the Psychopathic Deviate and Paranoia scales of the MMPI were poor lithium responders. It should be noted, however, that only a few of the differences between responders and non‐responders were statistically signifleant. Our study suggests a number of predictive variables for the identification of lithium responders.
Delirium tremens: SOME CLINICAL FEATURES. PART II
Authors: Kramp P. , Hemmingsen R. , Rafaelsen O. J.
Published: August 2007

Twenty patients with delirium tremens (grade 3) and a less severe clinical state (grade 2) were investigated thoroughly from the time of admission until recovery from the acute state.

A lumbar puncture was performed in the majority of the patients immediately after admission and then repeated after recovery from the acute state. The cerebrospinal fluid was found to be both macroscopically and microscopically normal, as was the spinal fluid pressure.

The clinical course was without complications, none of the patients were severely dehydrated. All the patients were treated with barbital, a long acting barbiturate. The duration of the acute state and the total amount of drug necessary in the treatment were equal in the two groups of severity. However, patients with proper delirium tremens needed significantly fewer barbital doses during the first hours after treatment was initiated than did patients with a less severe clinical state. The opposite was seen about 12 hours later. These findings are discussed in relation to the high blood alcohol concentration seen at the time of admission in the majority of the patients with proper delirium tremens, but not in patients with grade 2. It is concluded that barbital exerts its effect due to cross‐dependence properties with alcohol.

The majority of the patients had moderately elevated blood pressure, pulse rate and rectal temperature at the time of admission; these variables were to a great extent normalized within 48 hours after admission. No differences in those physical signs were seen between patients with fully developed delirium tremens and patients with less severe clinical states.

The patients’condition during the acute state was followed by means of a delirium tremens rating scale. Physical symptoms were similar in various degrees of severity of the clinical condition. 18–24 hours after admission the differences in mental symptoms between patients with grade 3 and patients with grade 2 had disappeared, 48 hours after admission the patients’condition was to a large extent normalized. Methodological problems in using a rating scale in conditions as delirium tremens are discussed.

The results are discussed in relation to aetiology and pathogenesis of delirium tremens. It is concluded that it may be that a qualitative, and not only a quantitative, difference exists between a severe withdrawal reaction and fully developed delirium tremens, and a hypothesis about a “point of no return” is suggested.
Lithium treatment and kidney function A SURVEY OF 237 PATIENTS IN LONG‐TERM TREATMENT
Authors: Vestergaard P. , Amdisen A. , Hansen H. E. , Schou M.
Published: August 2007

Kidney function has been examined in 237 patients who in the autumn of 1977 were in lithium treatment at the Psychiatric Hospital in Risskov, most of them as outpatients. The average age was 42 years. The patients had been given lithium treatment for 0.5–17 years, mean duration 5 years. The mean lithium dosage was 33 mmol/day and the mean 12‐hour serum lithium concentration 0.85 mmol/1. Glomerular filtration rate was assessed through determination of 24‐hour creatinine clearance and serum creatinine, in some cases iothalamate clearance. Water excretion was assessed through determination of 24‐hour urine volume and in some cases urine osmolality after 26 hours of fluid deprivation. Creatinine clearances, serum creatinine concentrations, and urine volumes were subjected to multiple regression analysis with various clinically relevant predictor variables.

Affection of glomerular filtration rate was only moderate and progressed slowly. The data indicate that the risk of renal insufficiency and terminal azotemia is remote even when lithium is given for many years. A large number of the patients had altered water excretion with polyuria or lowered urine concentrating abiliy or both. Due to the extra fluid loss these patients are apt to develop dehydration, and they may then be in danger of lithium poisoning.

We hypothesize that lithium‐induced changes of kidney function may become less frequent and less pronounced if patients are maintained at serum lithium levels somewhat lower than those employed in the group studied here. We recommend careful monitoring of serum lithium levels, regular control of kidney function, and extra caution when physical illness or additional drug treatment may lead to disturbance of fluid and electrolyte balance.
Electrooculographic (EOG) findings in manic‐depressive illness
Authors: Economou S. G. , Stefanis C. N.
Published: August 2007

An electooculographic (EOG) study was carried out in 20 depressed (12 with retarded and eight with agitated depression) and in 12 manic patients. Compared with controls, EOG ratios obtained from our patients' groups deffered significantly and were low in depressive and high in manic patients. Appropriate treatment (tricylics to depressives and halogperidol to manics) Restored EOG ration values to contol levels. The observed EOG changes in manic depressive illness are discusssed in terms of their origin and the involvement of a neuroendocrine, dopamine‐controlled, mechanism is postulated.
Depressions: Factors related to 10‐year prognosis
Authors: Nystroum S.
Published: August 2007

The 10 years' course of a series of 83 moderately severe depressions is presented, as well as factors governing the clinical and work prognosis. Depression was the fundamental disturbance in 75 cases during the index period. The depression was endogenous in 67 cases, reactive in eight, and neurotic in six cases. In the follow‐up the drop‐out from personal examination was 6.4%.

Twenty per cent of the patients had been (almost) entirely free from symptoms of depression during the period of observation, 5% had been continuously depressive. There were no suicides. Twenty‐seven patients felt some decrease in working capacity during the depressions, but only seven were unable to continue their previous work and three had changed work to prevent relapses. Fourteen of the patients had been sick‐listed for more than 1 year of the observation period.

Favourable factors for long‐term course were: high intellectual capacity (for work prognosis, W), afraid of hurting others (W), white collar work (W), slight depression of mood during index period (for clinical course, C), favourable immediate outcome after index period (W).

Unfavourable factors for long‐term course were: low intellectual capacity (W), hysteroid personality (C), syntonic personality (W), asthenic personality, sensitivity to praise (C), tendency to feel under observation (W), and some symptoms during the index period: tendency to seclusion (C), ideas of reference (C), dryness of mouth (C), difficulty in falling asleep (C), dreamlike feeling (C), supplicating attitude (C).

The implications of the results for nosology, care, and prevention of depressive states are discussed.
The Bech‐Rafaelsen Mania Scale and the Hamilton Depression Scale
Authors: Bech, P. , Bolwig, T. G. , Kramp P. , Rafaelsen O. J.
Published: August 2007

In a study of 18 patients with manic symptomatology and 31 patients with melancholic symptomatology the Bech‐Rafaelsen Mania Scale (BRMS) and the Hamilton Depression Scale (HDS) have been compared. The results showed that the inter‐observer reliability of the BRMS was adequate compared with the HDS. Both scales are constructed for assessing the severity of manic or melancholic states, and no difference was found in the total BRMS or HDS score between the various diagnostic groups, when the patients were classified by an index of the course and symptomatology of their disorder, using the Multi‐axial Classification System for Affective Disorders (MULTI‐CLAD). The homogeneity of the BRMS seemed more adequate than that of the HDS, when each item was correlated to the corresponding total score. Although the homogeneity of the BRMS needs to be evaluated by other statistical models than correlation analysis, our results seem to indicate that the improvement in assessing manic‐melancholic states quantitatively is a matter of redefining items or incorporating new items in the melancholic rather than the manic part of these rating scales.
A double‐blind comparison of flupenthixol, nortriptyline and diazepam in neurotic depression
Authors: Jonhson D. A. W.
Published: August 2007

A double‐blind trial of flupenthixol, nortiptyline and diazepam in neurotic depresion using flexible dose schedules suggeted that each drug is an efficient treatment for this category of depression although the patterns of response and prevalence of side‐effects varied. No differences reaching a level of significance could be shown on rating scales of depression or anxiety, but trends favoured flupenthixol. However, clinical evaluation suggesetd flupenthixol to be more effective than diazepam on mental state examination (P < 0.05) and to have a greater overall therapeutic effect than nortriptyline (P < 0.05). It also had fewer side‐effets than nortriptyline (P < 0.05).
Gilles de la Tourette syndrome INTERACTIONS WITH OTHER NEUROPSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS
Authors: Yaryura‐Tobias J. A.
Published: August 2007

Gilles de la Tourette syndrome is a neuropsychiatric disease with a childhood onset below age 16, characterized by chronic involuntary movements, obsessions, compulsions, utterances, echolalia, coprolalia and aggressive behavior symptoms. Two unique case histories are described in this report, one with an intercurrent history of primary anorexia nervosa and the other with rheumatic encephalitis. They were successfully treated; the former with chlorimipramine, and the latter with combination of L‐tryptophan, nicotinic acid, and pyridoxine HCl. These two cases illustrate the possibility that one neuropsychiatric syndrome may induce another during its evolution when the same anatomo‐biochemical loci of the brain are involved.
Predictive scales for parasuicide repetition. Further results
Authors: Siani R. , Garzotto N. , Tansella C. Zimmermann , Tansella M.
Published: August 2007

A six‐item predictive scale for parasuicide repetition was retested on a second sample of Italian parasuicides. All the patients first‐ever admitted after a deliberate self‐harm to the psychiatric department of a general hospital during the period April 1973‐March 1976 were interviewed and followed‐up after an interval of 1 year. The scale showed the same predictive power found in the first sample (1970–73) and gave a range of probability of repetition within 1 year of 15 % at a score of 0 up to 44.8 % at the scores 3, 4, 5, and 6. Moreover it discriminated between repeaters and non‐repeaters at a significant level. Only two items (diagnosis of sociopathy and change of domicile in the last year) of the five items which discriminated repeaters from non‐repeaters in the first study were still significantly associated with repetition, while four additional items (previous in‐patient psychiatric treatment; previous parasuicide resulting in hospital admission; unemployment; criminal record) appeared as new discriminating factors. In spite of these changes the rate of repetition remained constant over the years at around 26 %.
Experience of father and later relations to men: A SYSTEMATIC STUDY OF WOMEN'S RELATIONS TO THEIR FATHER, THEIR PARTNER AND THEIR SON
Authors: Uddenberg N. , Englesson I. , Nettelbladt P.
Published: August 2007

Using data from a longitudinal, prospective study of 69 women, their partners and first‐born children, the woman's description of her parents was compared with her report about her relationships to her partner and child. Information was independently collected from partner and child. The woman's way of relating both to her partner and to her son was more strongly connected with her report about her early paternal than with her report about her early maternal contact. The woman's experience of her father was related to her way of interacting with her child in the case of a son but not in the case of a daughter. Thus, the specific importance of a woman's image of her father for her way of relating to other significant males was emphasized.
Influence of deaf‐mute parents on the character of their offspring
Authors: Halbreich U.
Published: August 2007

Hearing children raised by deaf‐mute parents suffer severe communication problems with their environment from the very moment of their birth. Later on feelings of alienation may ensue. Such conditions may influence the personality of offspring of deaf‐mute people. A detailed representative case report of a patient with borderline personality is reported. The patient was a daughter of a quite typical deaf‐mute couple. An attempt to relate some of her main characteristics and mechanisms of adaptation to factors in her early childhood is described.
Vitamin B12 concentrations in psychiatric patients
Authors: Elsborg L. , Hansen T. , Rafaelsen O. J.
Published: August 2007

In an attempt to evaluate the possible relationship between vitamin B12 deficiency and mental diseases, the blood content of vitamin B12 was investigated in 835 consecutive psychiatric patients. Low serum vitamin12 values were found in approximately 20 % of these patients, due to latent pernicious anaemina in one case, post‐gastrectomy in seven cases andsmall intestinal resection inone case. In the remaining 72 cases vitamin B12 deficiency was probably caused by nutritional insuffficiency.

After correction of the dietary defect there was a spontaneous increase in serum vitamin12 valued are secondary to mental illness leading to apathy and loss of appetite.

Most cases will recover without further vitamin B12 supplements. But some patients may need treatment because of severe mental and physical disabilities.
Elective mutism
Authors: Wergeland H.
Published: August 2007

Eleven children who had received a diagnosis of elective mutism upon admission to the children's psychiatric clinic, were followed up 8–18 years later. The average age upon admission was 9 1/2 years, and at the time of follow‐up, 23 years. Nine of the children came from homes with a strong familial shyness and reservation, and eight lived in social isolation. Six were particularly overprotected. Six came from discordant family constellations. All were diagnosed neurotic, eight specified as compulsion‐neurosis. All were of normal intelligence.

Six children received extensive individual psychotherapy (four upon admission to the clinic, two by way of out‐patient treatment). We were unable to offer similar treatment to the remaining five. During the course of treatment three of the admitted patients improved, the fourth and the two ambulatory patients remained unchanged after up to 4 years of therapy.

The follow‐up study showed the three unchanged patients and the five who had not received treatment, now were cured of the symptom; improvement took place in connection with a change of environment. The five who had not received treatment were better adjusted than those who had been separated from home for several years, at a vulnerable age.

The importance of early prophylactic intervention is emphasized.
Mental health in the middle‐aged population
Authors: Takala J. , Räkköläinen V. , Salminen J. , Sievers K.
Published: August 2007

In the general health screening carried out 9 September 1973–11 January 1974 in the municipality of Säkylä in Southwest Finland as part of the Säkylä‐Köyliö project, the current self‐perceived psychological symptomatology of the population between the ages of 40 and 64 years (a total of 2,431 persons) was measured by the questionnaire developed by Goldberg. With a participation rate of 93.3%, the study revealed that 21% of those who took part sufered from psychological symptoms. In the subjects 50 years old or over these symptoms were nearly twice as common as in those under 50 years. Mental symptoms occured most frequently in widowed and divorced persons as well as in pensioners and the unemployed. An increase in income and/or education appeared to be related to a decline in psychosymptomatology. In the municipality of Köyliö, with a less developed social organization, the frequency of psychological symptoms was 1.5 times that obtained for the more highly developed Säkylä.
Lithium treatment and glucose tolerance in manic‐melancholic patients
Authors: Vendsborg P. B.
Published: August 2007

Intravenous glucose tolerance was measured in manic‐melancholic patients given one daily lithium‐dose for relapse prevention. It was found that glucose tolerance was increased for some hours after each lithium administration. In the first week of treatment glucose disposal rate was increased up to 12 h after lithium ingestion. In long‐term treated patients glucose tolerance was increased 2 h after administration but not 12 h after.

Fasting glucose was increased 2 h after lithium administration in long‐term treated patients.

Concomitant changes in lactate triglycerides, free‐glycerol and electrolytes were measured in serum.
Single versus divided daily dosages of clomipramine
Authors: Dencker S. J. , Nagy A.
Published: August 2007

Sixteen depressed patients have been treated with a daily dose of 150 mg clomipramine for 20 days. Every patient received the total dose at night for 10 days and three times daily for 10 days according to a double‐blind, cross‐over design. No differences were noted between the two dose regimens, either regarding the clinical effect or the side effects. The plasma level ratio of parent drug to demethylated metabolite was higher on single than multiple doses.
Histocompatibility antigens and antibodies to viral and other antigens in Alzheimer pre‐senile dementia
Authors: Whalley L. J. , Urbaniak S. J. , Darg C. , Peutherer J. F. , Christie J. E.
Published: August 2007

Alzheimer's disease may arise from an interaction between a conventional infective agent and a particular disease susceptibility (related to the HLA‐A or B locus). HLA antigens and antibodies to conventional infective agents were examined in 14 patients with pre‐senile dementia. Most of the sample probably suffered Alzheimer's disease, though one subject may have had Pick's diseas. No particular HLA type or antibody was associated with the sample.
Multiaxial systems of classification: TYPES OF AXES
Authors: Helmchen H.
Published: August 2007

Introductory remarks in the pros and cons of psychiatric diagnosis and classification lead to the conclusion that these are necessary tools for adequate and effective therapy, care and counselling of the psychiacally ill individaul as well as for progress in research resulting in improvement of disease prevention or mental health care planning, etc. for all members of the community. The way to improve the tool of classification by multixial classification is illustrated by several existing systems and explanation of their underlying concepts. In discussing the various unsolved questions and difficulties one can conclude that mmultixial classification currently is at the very least a valuable tool of psychiatric education and training.
Development of a new inventory for assessing memories of parental rearing behaviour
Authors: Perris C. , Jacobsson L. , Linndström H. , von Knorring L. , Perris H.
Published: August 2007

A new inventory (EMBU) to assess the own memories of parental rearing behaviour was constructed. EMBU is comprised of 81 questions grouped in 15 subscales and two additional questions referring to consistency and strictness of parental rearing behaviour to be answered in a four‐step scale for the father and for the mother separately. The subscales cover such rearing practices as for example overinvolvement, affection, overprotectiveness, guilt engendering, rejection.

152 healthy subjects of both sexes (108 males and 44 females) completed the inventory. The item analysis showed that both parents attained similar scores in about half of the questions. Fathers scored higher in items referring to strictness, punishment and a low degree of involvement wheareas mothers scored higher in items referring to involvement and affection. A principal component factor analysis permitted the hypothesized subscales to be identified. An analysis of the internal consistency of the subscales revealed a high frequency of significant internal correlations. A principal component factor analysis of the total scores of the 15 subscales allowed three main dimensions of rearing behaviour to be identified quite close to those reported in similar studies in the literature where other scales had been used.
Psychosomatic disorder: A treatment problem more difficult than neurosis? A COMPARATIVE CLINICAL STUDY OF PSYCHOSOMATIC AND NEUROTIC PATIENTS OF THE PSYCHIATRIC POLICLINIC OF A GENERAL HOSPITAL
Authors: Salminen J. K. , Lehtinen V. , Jokinen K. , Jokinen M. , Talvitie A. , Salminen Jouko K.
Published: August 2007

Two patient groups from the psychiatric policlinic of a general hospital were compared, the first comprised 93 patients with severe psychosomatic disorders who were not diagnosed as neurotic, and the second, 133 neurotic patients without psychosomatic symptoms. The aim of the study was to clarify anamnestic and personality differences between the groups and investigate their treatment motivation.

The psychosomatic patients showed less motivation for psychiatric treatment, even though their psychiatric impairment was more severe than that of the neurotics and although the extent of their psychological symptoms was equally great. Compared with the neurotic patients, the ability to tolerate stress was poorer and the attitude toward the interview and the interviewer was more defensive in the psychosomatic patients.

Compared with the neurotics, medical services were utilized to a greater extent by the psychosomatic patients, and their childhood environment and background development were characterized by somewhat more psychological disturbance.
A model of the functional psychoses
Authors: Nunn C. M. H.
Published: August 2007

A model of the functional psychoses is described which accounts for their existence, answers certain questions about them and generates refutable predictions.
Premenstrual tension syndrome: The development of research diagnostic criteria and new rating scales
Authors: Steiner M. , Haskett R. F. , Carroll B. J.
Published: August 2007

Research diagnostic criteria for premenstrual tension syndrome (PMTS) are developed using data collected from a study of 42 women who were suffering from severe PMTS but were well at other times. Two specific scales are also devised for rating the severity of PMTS, a 36‐item self‐report questionnaire and a 10‐item scale for use by therapist/researcher. It is proposed that after further evaluation and validation, these instruments may permit more useful comparisons of data on the etiology and treatment of this disorder.
Treatment prevalence in psychiatric outpatient care in Finland A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF TWO AREAS
Authors: Lehtinen V. , Salokangas R. K. R. , Holm H. , Laakso J.
Published: August 2007

Psychiatric outpatients are surveyed in two separate areas, one (the city of Turku) with clearly above‐average provision of mental‐health services and the other (predominantly rural Eastern Satakunta) with services corresponding to the average for the country as a whole. The results show that in Turku 3.25% and in Eastern Satakunta 1.98% of the population aged 15 years or more had visited an outpatient treatment unit during the 4‐month observation period. Compared with Eastern Satakunta, the patients in Turku were relatively more often young persons, men (nearly as often as women), persons in the higher social classes and patients with psychiatric disorders other than psychosis. Treatment received by the patients in Turku was more intensive and included more psychotherapeutic elements. Particularly family‐type and group‐type therapies were more common in Turku than in Eastern Satakunta. The results are considered from the viewpoint of both epidemiologic research and health care policy.
Personality in unipolar and bipolar manic‐melancholic patients
Authors: Bech P. , Shapiro R. W. , Sihm F. , Nielsen B.‐M. , Sørensen B. , Rafaelsen O. J.
Published: August 2007

By use of standardized case‐recording criteria (MULTI‐CLAD) manic‐melancholic patients were classified as unipolar (n= 13) and bipolar (n= 23). Personality patterns were evaluated when patients were in a neutral mood (defined by low symptom rating scale scores).

Results showed that the similarities in the personality patterns of unipolars and bipolars were much more pronounced than the differences.

In general, the score patterns of the various scales in both groups of patients were found to be within the normal score range. However, this was indirectly expressed by high Lie (or denial) score levels on the Eysenck scale. The dynamic explanations of this form of symptom‐denial are discussed. Moreover, our findings are discussed in connection with lithium treatment which was the main therapy the patients had received.
Renal function in lithium and non‐lithium treated patients with affective disorders
Authors: Coppen A. , Bishop M. E. , Bailey J. E. , Cattell W. R. , Price R. G.
Published: August 2007

Renal function was examined in 101 patients maintained on sustained‐release lithium carbonate for periods ranging from 1 to 12.5 years. A control group of patients with affective disorders who had never been given lithium was also investigated as well as a control group of normal subjects of comparable age and sex.

Creatinine clearance, serum creatinine, maximum urine osmolality after DDAVP administration, urine and plasma β2‐micro‐globulin and the urinary excretion of N‐acetyl‐β‐glucosaminidase were not significantly different between patients on lithium and depressed patients never on lithium. Side effects that have been related to lithium therapy were not correlated with duration of lithium therapy.

It is concluded that there was little evidence of a serious renal functional impairment attributable to lithium therapy.
Influence of maternal distress during pregnancy on complications in pregnancy and delivery
Authors: Blomberg S.
Published: August 2007

Children of women whose applications for legal abortion in 1960 had been refused were compared with the next children born in the same delivery wards, whose mothers were of similar age, parity and social class. 133 pairs thus matched were studied concerning the incidence of complications during pregnancy, delivery and puerperium.

There were no statistically significant differences during either pregnancy, delivery or puerperium.

The conclusion is that children of unwanted pregnancies do not run a greater risk of damage during delivery than the controls and the hypothesis of a negative influence due to an initially unwanted pregnancy was not supported.
ACTH4–10 and memory in ECT‐treated patients and untreated controls II. EFFECT ON RETRIEVAL
Authors: D'Elia G. , Frederiksen S.‐O.
Published: August 2007

The aim of the investigation was to find whether a single dose of ACTH4–10 could alleviate the retrograde dysmnesic effects of unilateral ECT and improve retrieval.

Twenty depressive inpatients participated in the study, which was a double‐blind intraindividual cross‐over comparison between ACTH4–10 (30 mg subcutaneously) and placebo. The drug was administered 150 min after learning and 90 min after the second or third ECT unilateral treatment. Retrieval was tested 30 min after the administration of the drug.

An identical design was used in 20 unmedicated healthy female subjects.

The results of both studies give no support to the hypothesis that a single dose of ACTH4–10 facilitates memory retrieval.
Psychogenic needs in a 70‐year‐old urban population NORMS FOR THE CMPS AND SEX AND AGE RELATIONS
Authors: Persson G.
Published: August 2007

Psychogenic needs according to Murray were measured by means of the Cesarec‐Marke Personality Schedule on representative samples of men and women taking part in a health control in Gothenburg, Sweden. Means, standard deviations, stanine scores and a comparison with results from 50‐year‐old men and women and with 16‐year‐old boys and girls with regard to sex differences are presented. Men in all three agegroups scored higher than women on achievement and dominance, and women in all three age‐groups scored higher than men on nurturance and sociability. Seventy‐year‐old men and women scored lower than the 50‐year‐olds on exhibition and higher on order and acquiescence. The difference between the sexes was smaller in 70‐year‐olds than in 50‐year‐olds with regard to nurturance. The standard deviations were generally smaller in 70‐year‐olds than in 50‐year‐olds. Four out of the 11 subscales had distributions that were skewed in the 70‐year‐olds.
Clinical trial of hemodialysis in chronic schizophrenia
Authors: Sidorowicz S. , Firko M. , Wasik A. , Szewczyk Z. , Szepietowski T. , Weyde W.
Published: August 2007

The hemodialysis program was carried out in four male chronic schizophrenic patients hospitalized 3‐12 months in the Psychiatric Clinic, Medical University, Wroclaw. The diagnosis was made independently by three psychiatrists. The disease lasted 5 to 26 years. The clinical assessment of mental and physical state followed each dialysis. The BPRS, CGI and Wing's Ward Behavior Scale were filled. Eleven to 20 dialyses were conducted once a week (two patients) or twice weekly (two patients). Neuroleptics were withdrawn. A short period of slight, unspecific improvement was followed by a deterioration in all cases, which made it necessary to put the patients back on neuroleptics. At the end of the dialysis program none of the patients improved. Further research on the efficacy of dialysis in chronic schizophrenia should be made before the final assessment of its value.
A nation‐wide census of psychiatric out‐patients in Denmark
Authors: Kastrup M.
Published: August 2007

A nation‐wide census of Danish psychiatric out‐patient clinics has been undertaken with a two‐fold purpose, firstly to categorize psychiatric out‐patients, secondly to compare them with psychiatric in‐ and day‐patients.

On January 1st, 1977, Denmark had a population of 5,079,879, of which 3,947,383 were 15 years or older. On census day, a total of 3,161 patients, 1,366 males and 1,795 females corresponding to 0.89 males and 0.80 females respectively per 1,000 were in outpatient treatment. On April lst, 1976, 10,335 patients, 4,378 males and 5,947 females, corresponding to 2.26 males and 2.95 females respectively per 1,000 were psychiatric in‐patients and 1,624 patients, 874 males and 750 females corresponding to 0.43 males and 0.37 females, respectively per 1,OOO were psychiatric day‐patients.

The overall prevalence rate increased with increasing age in both sexes. Peak prevalence in out‐patients was between 25‐44 years in males and 45‐64 years in females. In males, schizophrenia was the prevailing diagnosis in all three therapeutic groups, accounting for 38.1%. In females no single diagnostic group was prevailing in all types of treatment, but in the total group schizophrenia was the most common diagnosis, amounting to 37.7%. Analysis of contact pattern showed that 74.4% of the patients were former in‐patients. Only 8% were referred from the general practitioner.
An objective study of relationships and discontinuities between paranoid schizophrenia and Kretschmer's syndrome of sensitive delusions of reference
Authors: Douglass A. B. , Hays P.
Published: August 2007

The nosological status of Kretschmer's syndrome of sensitive delusions of reference (Sensitiver Beziehungswahn) has been a matter of discussion over many years. In an attempt to resolve the matter, a series of 147 consecutive patients who had been diagnosed as schizophrenic were reviewed. A group of 13 patients met specified criteria for Kretschmer's syndrome of sensitive delusions of reference, and these patients were compared with the remainder in a variety of ways.

The patients with the syndrome of sensitive delusions of reference differed from the remainder in their antecedents (family history and premorbid personality), their EEG status, stresses at time of onset, and response to treatment.

The evidence offered here points to the separateness of this syndrome from the other schizophrenic illnesses displayed by the patients reviewed.
Paranoid states of middle life:FAMILIAL OCCURRENCE AND RELATIONSHIP TO SCHIZOPHRENIA
Authors: Watt J. A. G. , Hall D. J. , Olley P. C. , Hunter D. , Gardiner A. Quentin
Published: August 2007

Paranoid states beginning in middle life were selected from a case register. A search among the sibs of those probands uncovered no paranoid states and schizophrenia was no more common than in the general population. The implications for the asteiology of paranoid states and for the relationship between these and schizophrenia are discussed.
Antidepressant drugs in anergic schizophrenia: A DOUBLE‐BLIND CROSS‐OVER STUDY WITH MAPROTILINE AND PLACEBO
Authors: Waehrens J. , Gerlach J.
Published: August 2007

Seventeen out of 20 inactive and emotionally withdrawn schizophrenic patients under long‐term neuroleptic treatment completed a double‐blind cross‐over investigation of the possible activating effect of maprotiline, a relatively specific noradrenaline‐reuptake inhibitor, compared with that of placebo. Each treatment phase lasted 8 weeks. No significant differences with respect to either the level of activity of schizophrenic symptoms were found between maprotiline (mean dose 138 mg/day) and placebo. Maprotiline provoked a slight psychotic exacerbation in one patient and sedation in another, four patients developed orthostatic hypotension, and two patients had an epileptic seizure. In the light of this and other studies, it must be concluded that antidepressant drugs do not represent any therapeutic advance in the treatment of inactive schizophrenic patients receiving neuroleptics.
Neurophysiological aspects of distractability in schizophrenics: A THEORETICAL ANALYSIS
Authors: Flekkosy K.
Published: August 2007

The aim of the present study was to discuss distractability in schizophrenics in neurophysiological terms. A review of the literature strongly suggested that schizophrenics may be abnormally distractible; that is, show an increased tendency to react to irrelevant stimuli. The neuroanatomical structures most clearly implicated in signs of distractability by neurophysiological and behavioural evidence are the prefrontal (orbital) cortex, the nonspecific thalamocortical projection system, and inhibitory regions of the reticular formation. The disturbed functioning of these structures, it is suggested, could come about as a result of a lowered task‐related activation, primarily of the prefrontal cortices. Apparently, dopaminergic activity could influence the regions involved, suggesting adopaminergic component in distractability in schizophrenics. The regions in question may also be influenced by other biochemical systems, such as the serotonergic and noradrenergic systems.
Enzymes related to biogenic amine metabololism and personality charateristics in depressed patients
Authors: Perris C. , Jacobsson L. , VonKnorring L. , Oreland L. , Perris H. , Ross S. B.
Published: August 2007

Levels of the activity of enzyme systems involved in the synthesis and metabolism of biogenic amines have been linked in several reports in the literature with various psychopathological conditions and with variations in personality characteristics. In particular, significant negative correlations have been reported between levels of MAO‐activity and sensation seeking. In the present study levels of MA0 and DBH‐activity were investigated in a series of 30 depressed patients, admitted consecutively, who completed a new personality inventory, the KSP, assumed to measure relatively stable personality traits. Our findings appeared to be consistent with those of earlier authors in that the most pronounced significant (negative) correlation occurred between MAO‐activity levels and the monotony avoidance subscale of the KSP. This particular subscale is aimed precisely at measuring thrill‐seeking and bears a close relation to the Sensation Seeking Scale used by other authors. In addition a weak positive correlation was found between the same subscale and levels of DBH‐activity. Finally a weak negative correlation emerged between levels of MAO and the Guilt subscale of the KSP.
The truth about psychiatric morbidity?
Authors: Giel R.
Published: August 2007

One task of social psychiatry is to increase our knowledge about true morbidity for mental illness in the community, in order to direct the delivery of psychiatric care. There are, however, several possible sources of error in traditional methods used to estimate morbidity. Changing definitions of mental illness have rendered application and comparison of epidemiological findings of doubtful value. Changes in referral behaviour of general practitioners following changes in intake‐procedure of clinics can affect morbidity estimates. The illness behaviour on the part of the patient and the decision behaviour of the medical professional also can influence estimates of morbidity. Illness behaviour can be viewed from the perspective of the socio‐cultural definition of illness, from the perspective of illness behaviour as a coping response and from the perspective of illness behaviour as “secondary illness gain”. There is some evidence that medical professionals fail to distinguish sufficiently between illness proper, which may be a rather constant factor in the community, and illness behaviour, which appears to be on the increase. The decision‐behavioural problem of the doctor is discussed from Scheff's sociological viewpoint.
Prevalence of mental disorders. A 5‐year follow‐up study with questionnaires
Authors: Helgason T. , ÁSmundsson G.
Published: August 2007

In order to estimate the prevalence of mental disorders in the general population by commonly used health questionnaires it is necessary to add some questions related to alcohol abuse. Even if this is done, the estimates are probably too low as the group not responding to questionnaires probably contains a larger proportion of mentally ill persons.

In a 3.7% random sample of the population in Iceland aged 20–49 years the prevalence of mental disorders was estimated at approximately 20% by a health questionnaire with questions relating to alcohol abuse being added. The prevalence rate was highest in the youngest age group. The respondents in this sample have been approached again after a period of five years and asked to answer the same questionnaire. The overall prevalence rate was this time found to be similar, but slightly lower, while the prevalence rate in the youngest age group was significantly lower. The remission rate among the respondents in the follow‐up was 8.5% while the incidence over the five years was found to be 6.7%.
Psychic problems in children. Follow‐up of the “Preschool children study”
Authors: Kastrup M.
Published: August 2007

The prevalence of psychic problems in a random sample of children born in 1968 in the municipality of Aarhus and all children born in the same year on the island of Samsø was determined in 1974 and again four years later. Structured interviews of parents were used as the main source of information on the children's problems. A high prevalence of psychosomatic, behavioural and emotional symptoms was observed among the children on both occasions. Several symptoms occurred significantly more frequently in boys than in girls. Deviant behaviour was arbitrarily defined as a symptom that occurred in 10% or less of the children. The mental status of the children was assessed by the number of deviant symptoms, the opinions of the parents and the assessment of the investigator. Demographic and socio‐economic variables were analyzed and were related to the childrens’ mental health. Changes as well as persistence of symptoms are discussed.
Psychiatric illness and use of psychotropic drugs in the geographically delimited population of Samsø, Denmark
Authors: Nielsen J. Achton , Biørn‐Henriksen T. , Nielsen J.
Published: August 2007

The present investigation concerns the amount of psychotropic drugs prescribed in a 1‐year period from October 1976 to September 1977 for the population on the island of Samsø, Denmark. 19% of the females and 11% of the males living on the island received one or more psychotropic drugs. The amounts of psychotropic drugs prescribed averaged 18 defined daily doses (DDD) per male and 32 DDD per female. 52% of all the psychotropic drugs prescribed were given to patients with psychiatric illnesses, 18 % to patients who previously had a mental illness, and 31 % to people who had never been mentally ill. The amount of psychotropic drugs prescribed on Samsø was one‐half of that prescribed in the rest of Aarhus county, due to a lower prescription of minor tranquillizers, hypnotic and sedatives.
Case‐finding and characteristics of schizophrenic patients of recent onset in Mannheim
Authors: Schwarz R. , Biehl H. , Krumm B. , Schubart C.
Published: August 2007

This paper reports on first experiences with the WHO Collaborative Study on the Assessment and Reduction of Psychiatric Disability in schizophrenic patients in Mannheim and gives a description of the patient cohort.

Screening criteria and procedure of 70 new schizophrenic patients, who were included in our cohort between 1.1.1978 and 20.9.1978 are described. This patient group has so far been followed‐up twice in half‐year intervals with the described instruments, used in all participating centers.

First results of the initial assessment (diagnostic grouping, average length of stay, demographic data) and related hypotheses are presented.
Empirical measurement of social isolation in relation to mental disorders of the elderly
Authors: Sosna U.
Published: August 2007

An interview procedure for assessing social isolation is described, which is currently being used in a psychogeriatric field‐study in Mannheim. The interview generates scores corresponding to three main aspects of social isolation: (1) infrequency of social contacts; (2) lack of help and support provided by social relationships; (3) alienation from group norms. Two indices of social class, based on occupational prestige, are also used.

In an inter‐rater‐reliability study based on 42 joint‐interviews, high levels of reliability were found with respect to all these five indices. In a preliminary analysis of data from the current field‐study, inter‐correlation between the individual indices was found to be generally low. A first step towards validation of the three indices of social isolation yielded positive results. The findings are discussed in relation to the generic concept of “social isolation” and also to possible further applications of this research technique.