bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects on the regional cerebral blood flow of long‐term exposure to organic solvents
Authors: And J. Risberg , Hagstadius S.
Published: August 2007

Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF, 133Xe inhalation method) was measured in 50 male paint‐factory workers with a mean of 18 years of exposure to a mixture of organic solvents. A group of 50 workers in a sugar‐refinery, matched for age and eduction, served as controls. The measurements were made during resting and during activation by mental tasks (word‐pair learning). The results showed slightly lower mean flow level (4%; P < 0.05) in the exposed group. Largest differences were seen in frontotemporal areas. The difference between the exposed group and the controls increased at higher dose levels. The largest rCBF‐increases during mental activation were seen in the exposed group, especially in the highest exposed subjects. This finding might indicate mechanisms compensating for a somewhat defective brain function. Although the differences between the groups were generally small with considerable overlap, the results give some evidence of disturbances of brain blood flow and brain function likely related to the influence of organic solvents.
The Crichton Visual Analogue Scale for the assessment of behaviour in the elderly
Authors: Morrison D. P.
Published: August 2007

A visual analogue scale has been constructed to allow relatives and professionals to rate the behaviour of elderly patients. The scale has been shown to have good inter‐rater reliability, test‐retest reliability and validity. It is suggested that the scale can provide a quick and convenient initial assessment of the patient either at home or in hospital, and possibly also a measure of change.
Personality changes in the aged: A longitudinal study with the MNT‐scale
Authors: Nilsson L. V. , Persson G.
Published: August 2007

The three personality dimensions validity, solidity and stability according to Sjöbring were measured by means of the MNT scales in representative samples of 70‐year‐old men and women in Gothenburg, Sweden. They were followed up when 75 and 79. A longitudinal study was performed with regard to changes in means, standard deviations and sex differences. The means at 70 of the surviving subjects were compared with those of subjects who had died before the age of 79. The personality dimensions were, on the whole, unchanged between 70 and 79 except for a small increase in stability in men, implying a decrease in personal involvement, and a small decrease in validity in women implying lower levels of mental energy. There was also a decrease in solidity in men between 75 and 79 implying an increased tendency to dissociation. Variability and sex differences did not change. Men with low validity at 70 had an increased mortality. Cross‐sectional studies would have given misleading results of the personality development in these age groups.
Patterns of neuroleptic use among the institutionalised elderly
Authors: Gilleard C. J. , Morgan K. , Wade B. E.
Published: August 2007

A survey was conducted of neuroleptic use amongst the residents of Local Authority homes for the elderly, and elderly patients in geriatric, psychogeriatric and general hospital wards in one of the London boroughs. Some 13% of the residents and patients surveyed were found to have received neuroleptics in the 24 h preceding the survey. Marked variation between homes and between wards and hospitals was observed, although for the sample overall associations were observed between disturbed behaviour and mood and the likehood of receiving neuroleptics. Issues regarding the use of neuroleptics in the non‐psychotic elderly are discussed.
Predictors of the outcome of disability pension for alcohol abusers
Authors: Hörnquist J. O. , Elton M. , Östlund R.
Published: August 2007

A multi‐variate multiple regression analysis was carried out to screen the crucial characteristics of alcohol abusers immediately prior to pension in order to indicate their subsequent trends. Stepwise multiple regression analyses were performed in the younger and older subgroups, as well as in 56 first‐time pension applicants, in a region of the county of Östergötland in Sweden. In the analyses, changes, over a 2‐year interval, of composite scores on overall well‐being, psychiatric status, need satisfaction and intellectual capacity, together with changes in alcohol consumption and gamma‐GT‐value, functioned as dependent variables. Eighty‐five parameters of the abusers’ quality of life at pension served as independent variables. The features that were seen, in various constellations, to be significantly related to non‐improvement rather than to improvement were: an abrupt change‐over from a previously active life, longer education, middle age, tendencies to passivity and to social confinement, worse observed psychiatric status in contrast to less bad reported status, relatively better self‐rated well‐being, remaining intellectual resources, black‐outs, a lower current alcohol consumption, lower gamma‐GT, S‐NAP, S‐ALAT‐ and S‐protein‐values together with more elevated P‐IgA, P‐ALP‐, S‐creatinine‐ and S‐Ca‐corrected values. The results are discussed with reference to their general applicability, plausible mechanisms in a pension situation, previously launched hypotheses, and the methodological limitations of the study. It is concluded that a literal application of the results in practice must be made with caution.
A comparison of cerebral atrophy in CT scan findings among alcoholic groups
Authors: Ishii Tomoyuki
Published: August 2007

ABSRACT

Seventy‐five alcoholic patients and 94 control subjects were examined by CT scans and measured by 11 measurement items on CT. The alcoholics were classified and compared. Enlargement of ventricles was recognized in the alcoholics. The degree of enlargement of ventricles was extremely striking in alcoholic dementia. The increasing tendencies toward cerebral atrophy in a given age stratum were almost parallel in the controls and the alcoholics, with a difference in the degree of atrophy. It was suggested that the enlargement of the ventricular system in the alcoholics might be induced in the initial stage of alcohol dependence, and that physiological atrophy due to aging might progress thereafter. The results of multivariate canonical analysis of these CT items suggested that the CT indicators effective for evaluating alcoholic cerebral atrophy were the transverse diameter of the third ventricle. Ventricle index and Evans’ index.
Psychotherapy in Peptic Ulcer Disease
Authors: Sjödin Ingemar
Published: August 2007

Psychotherapy in Peptic Ulcer Disease. A controlled outcome study. By Ingemar Sjödin, Department o f Psychiatry, Sahlgren's Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden. Thesis defended 20th May 1983.

Problem. Although the peptic ulcer disease (PUD) has long had the post on of a psychosomatic disorder, the approach to treatment has been principally somatic. Many PUD‐patients are not helped sufficiently by medical treatment alone. The purpose was to study the significance of a psychosomatic mode of treatment in respect of effect, mechanisms of therapeutic action and prognostic variables.

Methods. Short‐term psychotherapy administrated in one‐hour weekly sessions with a limit of ten added to medical treatment was compared to medical treatment only by randomizing PUD‐outpatients into two treatment groups consisting of 50 and 53 patients respectively. Assessments were made by independent raters and self‐ratings before intake, after the three months treatment course and at follow up after 15 months. Changes in the severity of symptoms, social dysfunction and the mode of handling of problems focused in the therapy were the main criteria of outcome.

Results. There were only two droup‐outs. The patients in both groups improved somatically and mentally during treatment to a similar extent, except for pain, dyspepsia and self‐rated social maladjustment where the psychotherapy group was superior. At follow up there was a significant difference in favour of the psychotherapy group in most symptoms, coping ability, self‐confidence and belief in own capacity to resolve the problems. Globally rated, 42 per cent had improved in the psychotherapy group vs 28 per cent in the control group. The ability to cope with problems was improved in 58 per cent vs 28 per cent. Confounding factors such as use of drugs, smoking and drinking habits, treatment outside the programme and exposure to life events could not account for the different outcome. Due to alexithymic personality traits, in more than half of the patients the psychotherapy had to develop through phases of symptom‐orientation and support before conflicts could be focused, but in about one third the psychotherapy could be conflict‐oriented from the start.

Conclusions. The findings are in agreement with a psychosomatic approach according to which treatment is more effective if it covers both somatic and psychological aspects of a disorder. Psychsomatic treatment of PUD, of the type described in this study, may be given in primary care and be supervised by psychiatrists.
Acute memory impairment following electroconvulsive therapy
Authors: Daniel W. F. , Crovitz H. F.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT – The literature concerning acute changes in memory functions following electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) varying in stimulus electrode placement is reviewed. While it is clear that verbal memory deficits are greater following dominant unilateral (or bilateral) ECT than nondominant unilateral ECT, a definitive statement regarding nonverbal memory and electrode placement cannot be made due to methodological inadequacies of existing studies. The role of time before and after seizure induction is examined in relation to degree of retrograde amnesia, and possible causes of greater amnesia following bilateral than unilateral ECT are examined. Practical issues related to the choice of electrode placement are discussed.
Outcome of pregnancy in women treated at an alcohol clinic
Authors: Hollstedt C. , Dahlgren L. , Rydberg U.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT – The studies in man concerning foetal alcohol damage have mostly covered skid row female alcoholics, and no study has described the outcome of pregnancy of a larger group of women receiving inpatient care for alcoholism. In another study we have described the medical and social characteristics of such a group (n= 92) of women, as well as those of an age‐matched control group. This article reports retrospectively on the pregnancies and the infants of these women. The pregnancies and deliveries were normal in both groups. There was no significant difference in rate of stillbirths, neonatal mortality, perinatal asphyxia or neonatal distress. In infants born to alcoholic mothers after established regular alcohol consumption (n= 31), a significant reduction of mean placental weight, birth weight, length at birth and head circumference at birth, was found compared with control infants (n= 170). In the former group 12.9% of the infants were small for gestational age, in the latter 1.3%. Congenital malformations were significantly increased in the former group. Thus, in female inpatients at an alcohol clinic a history of increased risk for adverse neonatal outcome was found.
Drug careers in perspective
Authors: Andersson B. , Nilsson K. , Tunving K.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT – This paper reports the results of a 10‐year follow‐up of a pioneer group of 36 opiate addicts treated at a detoxification unit at St Lars Hospital in Lund in the years 1971–72. Sixteen of them are now ex‐addicts. Their way out of addiction is described. The results show that there exists a turning process during which some kind of therapeutic action could be of considerable value. The ex‐addicts go through a period in which they show signs of an identity conflict. During this period women seem more inclined to relapse than men. This stresses the importance of long‐term therapeutic strategies.
Depressive illness and dependency
Authors: Pilowsky I. , Katsikitis M.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT– The relationship has been examined in depressed in‐patients between type of depression (as categorised by the Levine‐Pilowsky Depression Questionnaire) and dependency (as measured by the Interpersonal Dependency Inventory) at time of discharge. No relationship could be demonstrated between dependency and depressive category.
Time estimation and time production in depressive patients
Authors: Kitamura T. , Kumar R.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT– Twenty‐three depressive inpatients and matched controls were studied three times at 2‐week intervals. Both patients and controls initially overestimated, and subsequently approximated to, the “short” time spans (5–240 sec) whilst both correctly estimated the “long” ones (15 and 30 min) over the three occasions (Time, Estimation Test, TED. There were no differences in the TET scores among the patients themselves, or between the patients and controls with the exception of one time span which the patients overestimated more than the controls. Among the depressive symptoms, only retardation was correlated with the TET scores. Similarly in the production of 30 sec (Time Production Test, TPT) there were no differences among the patients or between patients and controls. Again, only retardation was negatively correlated with the TPT score. Since the TET scores of the “short” time spans were negatively correlated with the TPT scores, it was speculated that both results derived from a single faculty, which was clinically manifested as retardation.
Clonidine‐induced growth hormone secretion in chronic schizophrenia
Authors: Lal S. , Nair N. P. V. , Thavundayil J. X. , Monks R. C. , Guyda H.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT– – Clonidine (0.15 mg intravenously), an alpha‐adrenergic receptor agonist, was administered to 13 male chronic schizophrenics, who had been withdrawn from chronic neuroleptic therapy, and to 18 normal male controls. There was no significant difference in growth hormone (GH) response between the two groups. There was no significant correlation between duration of psychosis, duration of neuroleptic therapy or length of neuroleptic withdrawal and GH response. These results suggest that postsynaptic alpha‐adrenergic receptor function in the hypothalamic‐pituitary axis is unaltered in chronic schizophrenia or by prior chronic neuroleptic therapy.
Nomifensine and amitriptyline in the treatment of depression
Authors: Wistedt B. , Ågren H. , Bjaring B. , Källström B. , Lund M. , Månsby J. , Peterson L.‐E. , Roos B.‐E.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT– Nomifensine, an antidepressive agent acting like a dopamine agonist, was investigated in a randomized double‐blind comparison with amitriptyline in 29 patients fulfilling the RDC criteria for major depression. The dosage was 150 mg daily in both treatment groups. Assessments were made at weekly intervals for 6 weeks with the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale. No significant difference could be demonstrated between the two drugs in overall therapeutic efficiency, and only one item, Fatiguability, differed significantly in favour of amitriptyline. Physical and laboratory variables showed no statistically significant differences. Neither drug elicited serious unwanted effects.
The Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale in patients with dementia of Alzheimer type and multiinfarct dementia
Authors: Bucht G. , Adolfsson R.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT– Eighteen patients with the clinical diagnosis dementia of Alzheimer type (AD/SDAT) and 20 patients with the clinical diagnosis multiinfarct dementia (MID) were interviewed using a subscale to the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale (CPRS), consisting of items measuring psychopathological symptoms and signs commonly seen in patients with dementia. The aim of the investigation was to evaluate whether a difference in psychopathology between AD/SDAT and MID could be observed during a semistructured psychiatric interview using the CPRS. In both groups the duration of illness was similar and the dementia mild to moderate. All patients were subjected to somatic, psychiatric, laboratory, neurophysiologic and neuroradiologic examinations in order to obtain the correct clinical diagnoses. The results show that patients with AD/SDAT have a more variable psychopathology than patients with MID. Patients with MID were rated lower on all items used, especially those concerning verbal and personal contact. This might explain the generally accepted opinion that patients with MID have better contact with their surroundings and better preservation of their personality, even though they have the same degree of dementia as patients with AD/SDAT.
Demographic characteristics of depressives in northern Nigeria
Authors: Ifabumuyi O. I.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT– That depressive illness is universal can not be argued but the severity, age of onset, manifestation, and the characteristics of those affected by the illness in different parts of the world, are issues yet to be properly resolved. This retrospective study from the northern part of Nigeria shows that 42% of all first contact patients received the diagnosis of depression. Depression was diagnosed more frequently in married women than single women.
Psychiatric study of 69‐year‐old health examinees in Stockholm Factors of possible importance for the mental health of the elderly
Authors: Enzell K.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT– In a follow‐up health control of 69‐year‐old persons in Stockholm, 589 were examined psychiatrically. Of these, 462 persons had responded affirmatively to symptoms indicating a depressive syndrome. Neurotic disorders were judged to be present in 258 persons, sleeping disturbances in 81, other types of psychiatric disorders in 10 whereas 113 persons were judged to be without psychiatric symptoms. In addition, 127 persons constituting a control group were examined. Of these 89 were judged to be without psychiatric symptoms while 38 had some form of psychiatric disturbance. The 258 persons in the group ‘neurotic disorders’ and the 81 in the group ‘sleeping disturbances’ were compared with the 89 persons in the control group judged to be without psychiatric symptoms. The comparisons included a number of variables of medical and social interest. Significantly more persons in the groups with neurotic disorders and sleeping disturbances than in the group without psychiatric symptoms reported impaired mobility and high blood pressure, worried about their health, took pain‐killing pills daily and had financial worries. Median income was lower for the group with financial worries than for the groups without. Women in the group ‘early onset neurosis’ claimed significantly more often than women in the group without psychiatric symptoms that a member of their immediate family had suffered from mental disorder. The group ‘late onset neurosis’ did not differ in this respect from the group without psychiatric symptoms. Bereavement was significantly more often claimed by women in the group ‘late onset neurosis’ versus women in the group ‘early onset neurosis’. Information on social group and level of education indicated that it was the better situated and better educated who took part in the health check‐up.
A psychotic episode following Erhard Seminars Training
Authors: Higgitt A. C. , Murray R. M.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT– A case of a psychotic episode following Erhard Seminars Training is reported. This is the first reported case of adverse psychological effects from this type of training in Great Britain but it closely resembles previous reports from the United States of America. The possibility of a distinct syndrome is tentatively raised. The apparent rarity of such episodes is noted.
Dysfunctional attitudes: measurement, significant constructs and links with depression
Authors: Parker G. , Bradshaw G. , Blignault I.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT– Equivalent forms of Weissman's Dysfunctional Attitude Scale were assessed in 251 Australian patients routinely attending their general practitioner. Normative scores were strikingly similar to those reported in North America. The influences of demographic variables on scale scores were examined, and factor analyses suggested four key attributional constructs. In a second study of 43 clinically depressed patients we assessed the degree to which higher Dysfunctional Attitude scores might be an antecedent to, or a consequence of, greater depressive severity and found support favouring the latter explanation.
Effects of four treatment methods on social phobic patients not suitable for insight‐oriented psychotherapy
Authors: Alström J. E. , Nordlund C. L. , Persson G. , Harding M. , Ljungqvist C.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT– Forty‐two social phobic men and women, rated unsuitable for insight‐oriented psychotherapy, received one of four randomly assigned types of treatment for 3 months. All patients received basal therapy (B) in the form of standardized information, self‐exposure instructions, and anxiolytic medication. One group received this treatment only, with monthly appointments. The others, in addition, received either therapist‐directed prolonged exposure in vivo, in some cases supplemented with exposure in imagination (PE), dynamically oriented supportive therapy (ST) or relaxation therapy (R). There was a 9 months’ follow‐up period. The phobia variables were more improved in the PE and ST groups than in the R and B groups at the termination of treatment. Although improvement had deteriorated somewhat in the PE group during follow‐up, the improvement in target phobia was better than in the other groups. There were almost no improvements in the R and B groups. ST and PE groups also showed improved social function while the global rating showed most improvement in the PE group. The B group was not improved at all and the R group only showed a short‐lived drop in muscular tension.
Long term course and outcome of the Agra cases in the International Pilot Study of Schizophrenia
Authors: Dube K. C. , Kumar N. , Dube S.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT– The course and outcome at a 13‐14‐year follow‐up of the Agra cases in the International Pilot Study of Schizophrenia (IPSS) was observed by two methods: i) through a mailed questionnaire to assess the key respondents own perception of their state, ii) by a thorough clinical examination and assessment using standard instruments. The results of these two methods were compared and no significant difference found. Based on the second method it was found that 46 % of schizophrenics and 43 % of manic‐depressives had one or two episodes during the first 5 years after inclusion and none in the subsequent period of S to 9 years (up to the present follow‐up). The results indicate that the illness loses its intensity over a period of years. Mortality among schizophrenics was higher than the expected rale in a general population. The suicide rate was similar to that reported in other studies.
The incidence of schizophrenia in New South Wales, Australia
Authors: Goldstein G. , Hall W. , Andrews G.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT– Age‐specific estimaies of the incidence of schizophrenia in NSW, Australia, have been made using two methods, one based on a psychiatric register and the other based on routinely collected hospital morbidity data. Similar results were obtained by both methods. The estimates lie towards the bottom of the range of incidence estimates of schizophrenia that have been published for some other countries, and are lower than estimates from a number of U.S. studies. The diagnostic criteria of schizophrenia employed by Australian psychiatrists conform closely to DSM‐III criteria.
Outcome of sex reassignment surgery
Authors: Lundström B. , Pauly I. , Wålinder J.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT– Three independent reviews of the world literature dealing with the outcome of sex reassignment surgery in transsexualism are presented. In 10‐15 % of the patients who undergo sex reassignment the results end up in a failure. There are as many failures in the female to male group as in the male to female group. Optimal results from the surgical procedures are important for a successful outcome. Relatively high age when first requesting sex reassignment may be regarded as a risk factor for poor outcome. Genuine transsexuals as a group seem to have a better prognosis for successful outcome of sex reassignment than a group of secondary transsexuals (i.e. transvestites and effeminate homosexuals). On the other hand, secondary transsexuals do better than genuine transsexuals when sex reassignment is refused. It is stressed that great importance should be given to the differential diagnosis when evaluating gender dysphoric patients for sex reassignment.
Thyroid stimulation test in healthy subjects and psychiatric patients
Authors: Banki C. M. , Arato M. , Papp Z.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT– Fifteen healthy women and 64 female psychiatric inpatients (major depression: 17, schizophrenia; 24, alcohol dependence: 9, and adjustment disorder; 14 cases) without identifiable thyroid dysfunction were investigated with the TRH test under comparable circumstances. Although all patient groups showed some tendency toward lower baseline TSH and smaller TRH‐induced TSH responses, only patients with major depression demonstrated marked, statistically significant differences from controls in both variables. Women with alcohol dependence (in the early withdrawal period) showed significantly decreased TSH responses to TRH but only a weak tendency to lower basal TSH levels. Intergroup differences in the TSH response remained significant after correction for basal TSH by analysis of covariance. Neither variables correlated significantly with age, weight or body height, but baseline TSH correlated with body surface. The TRH test, using only 0.2 mg TRH for stimulation, seemed to be useful for identifying major depression and showed that early withdrawal from alcohol may be a factor to be considered in similar studies.
Class drift and schizophrenia
Authors: Silverton L. , Mednick S.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT– This study is part of an ongoing analysis of 207 children with schizophrenic mothers (high‐risk subjects) and 104 low‐risk controls begun in 1962 by Mednick & Schulsinger. The purpose of this study was to examine class mobility in schizophrenics, using a prospective paradigm. In the present study, 14 high‐risk schizophrenics were matched with 14 high‐risk non‐schizophrenics and 14 low‐risk non‐schizophrenics on age, sex and social class origin. Groups were compared on highest class attainment and socio‐economic status in 1972. Results indicated that while high‐risk non‐schizophrenics were comparable in class attainment to low‐risk non‐schizophrenics, the high‐risk schizophrenics were downwardly mobile in comparison to their non‐schizophrenic high‐risk counterparts. The class drift hypothesis was thus supported.
Clinical investigations into antidepressive mechanisms
Authors: Beckmann H. , Holzmüller B. , Fleckenstein P.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT– This prospective study investigates the possibility of a central noradrenergic‐cholinergic imbalance in subgroups of depressed inpatients using the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) as one peripheral indicator. The DST was performed in 43 depressed inpatients. Subsequently, a group (n= 20) of DST suppressors (DST‐) and a group (n= 23) of DST nonsuppressors (DST+) were treated under double blind conditions with either nomifensine (NOM) a nor‐adrenaline potentiating drug, or amitriptyline (AMI) a noradrenaline potentiating and strong anticholinergic compound. DST+ depressives responded favorably to AMI, but not to NOM. Conversely, DST‐ depressives responded favorably to NOM but less well to AMI. Together with other biochemical findings this data suggests: 1) a hypo‐function of the noradrenergic system in DST‐ patients who may, from a clinical point of view, usually show minor or ‘neurotic’ depressions; 2) a hypofunction of the noradrenergic and a hyperfunction of the cholinergic system in DST+ patients who may present a more severe or ‘endogenous’ depression. These data suggest a biochemical heterogeneity of depression and offer an aid for a more specific antidepressive drug therapy.
Dexamethasone suppression test in depression: association with duration of illness
Authors: Sashidharan S. P. , Freeman C. P. , Loudon J. B. , Novosel S. , Beckett G. J. , Gray S.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT– Plasma cortisol response to 1 mg dexameihasone suppression test was investigated in 37 patients with primary major depressive illness. Non‐suppression of plasma cortisol was found in 14 of 37 (38 %) patients. Duration of the index episode of illness was significantly shorter in the non‐suppressors (11.1 ± 9.1 weeks) than in the suppressors (29.7 ± 25.6 weeks). The two groups were not distinguished by age, sex, polarity or severity of depressive symptoms. Eighty per cent of the non‐suppressors (4/5) and 57 % of the suppressors (8/14) had severe life events or major difficulties in the 6 months preceding the onset of illness, but this difference failed to reach statistical significance.
Plasma pattern of adrenocorticotropin and cortisol during electroconvulsive therapy in patients with major depressive illness
Authors: Aperia B. , Thorén M. , Zettergren M. , Wetterberg L.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT–Thirty‐three patients with major depressive illness were treated with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and plasma adrenocorticoptropin (ACTH), and cortisol levels were measured 30 min before and 1, 5, 15, 30 and 60 min after ECT. There was an immediate release of ACTH with a maximum after 5 min. The maximum cortisol plasma levels were measured 30 min after ECT. No change in ACTH and cortisol concentrations was seen in control experiments when the patients received only anaesthesia. ACTH release was seen in patients treated with ECT in the morning and in the evening. In 15 patients the levels were studied at the first and sixth (last) ECT. ACTH and cortisol levels were significantly higher after the first ECT as compared with the sixth. This alteration in ACTH release might reflect ECT‐induced changes in the central monoaminergic transmission with stimulation of beta‐adrenergic pathways leading to inhibition of ACTH‐release.
RBC‐choline: changes by lithium and relation to prophylactic response
Authors: Haag M. , Haag H. , Eisenried F. , Greil W.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT–Red blod cell (RBC)‐ and plasma‐choline levels were measured in patients on lithium (n= 96), antidepressants (n‐ 32) and nenroleptics (n= 51), and in 25 healthy drug‐free controls. Lithium patients exhibited highly increased RBC‐ and slightly increased plasma‐choline levels compared with controls (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively); the choline ratio (RBC‐/plasma‐choline) was elevated almost to the same extent as RBC‐choline (P < 0.001). With antidepressants RBC‐choline and choline ratios were slightly reduced (P < 0.05), whereas neuroleptics showed no effect on choline levels. 79 % of lithium patients were responders (reduction in hospitalizations with lithium), 21 % were non‐responders (no reduction or increase in hospitalizations]. Choline ratio exhibited a significant relation to prophylactic lithium response, but lithium ratio did not. The percentage of nori‐responders was significantly higher in patients with a choline ratio exceeding 100 than in patients with a choline ratio below this cut‐off (P < 0.01). Thus, the increase of RBC‐choline and choline ratios appears to be an effect specific for lithium and might be related to the outcome of lithium prophylaxis.
A cross‐cultural study of the frequencies of Schneider's first rank symptoms of schizophrenia
Authors: Ndetei D. M. , Vadher A.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT– The Syndrome Check List (SCL) as detailed by Wing et al. (1) was used on patients belonging to various cultural groups admitted to a London hospital. On the basis of combined Catego diagnosis of schizophrenia and paranoid schizophrenia the frequency of patients with first rank symptoms (FRS) for each group was calculated. It was found that the frequencies of FRS showed cultural difference and that these differences were less when groups were relatively culturally similar. These findings are compared with findings elsewhere. The clinical dilemma presented by these findings is discussed.
Perceived parental rearing practices in depressed patients in relation to social class
Authors: Eisemann M. , Perris C. , Perris H. , Knorring L. von
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT– The occurrence of possible differences in rearing practices related to social class has been investigated in a series of 125 depressed patients by means of a special intentory ‐ the EMBU ‐ con‐structured by our group. Three factors derived from the EMBU in the course of previous studies: “rejection”, “emotional warmth”, ”over‐protection” have been taken into account. The rearing practices experienced by subjects belonging to different social classes did not differ concerning “emotional warmth”. On the other hand, subjects belonging to the higher social classes scored their parents higher on the variables “rejection” and “overprotection”. Since “emotional warmth” proved in an earlier study to discriminate between depressives and healthy controls, it is concluded that the difference cannot have been biased by possible differences in social class.
Admission pattern and diagnostic stability among unipolar and bipolar manic‐depressive patients
Authors: Weeke A.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT– The instability of the diagnoses in a psychiatric register causes practical problems when groups of probands with specific diagnoses are selected for further studies. A cohort of 3,062 first admissions with at least one manic‐depressive admission was followed for 5‐7 years. 623 had at least one admission for mania and were considered bipolar. The percentage of patients who changed their diagnoses was highest at first readmission; at each later readmission about 10% of the bipolars and 25% of the unipolars changed from manic‐depressive psychosis and a similar number changed from other diagnoses to manic‐depressive psychosis. Compared with the diagnostic distribution of all register cases, reactive psychoses were more frequent than expected as former diagnoses and schizophrenia as later diagnosis. Neuroses and character deviations were frequent alternative diagnoses among unipolars, not among bipolars. The consequences of different selection criteria for the composition of proband groups are discussed.
Chronic low‐back pain and depression: an epidemiological survey
Authors: Magni G.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT– The author evaluated the presence of depression among 64 male workers at an engineering factory, suffering from chronic low‐back pain (19 organic cases and 45 idiopathic cases). Moreover, the frequency of depressive spectrum disorders was assessed among their first degree relatives. No significant differences emerged between organic and idiopathic cases.
Postmortem monoamine oxidase enzyme kinetics in the frontal cortex of suicide victims and controls
Authors: Mann J. J. , Stanley M.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT– Serotonin, a preferred monoamine oxidase (MAO) A substrate may be deficient centrally in suicide victims. In postmortem samples of frontal cortex from suicide victims we demonstrated receptor changes in the serotonergic system supportive of this hypothesis. These changes were not accompanied in this series of brain samples by alterations in either MAO A or B enzyme kinetics. Thus brain MAO A is not a useful indicator of altered serotonergic function in suicide victims. We did confirm an age‐related increase in cortical MAO B but not MAO A enzyme concentrations in both controls and suicide victims.
Diurnal variation of total plasma tryptophan in depressive patients
Authors: Dam H. , Mellerup E. T. , Rafaelsen O. J.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT– Total plasma tryptophan was analysed during a 24‐h period in 27 control persons and 42 patients with a diagnosis of endogenous depression. Total plasma tryptophan was unchanged in endogenously depressed patients compared with controls. The effect of one night's sleep reversal was investigated in control persons. During the following day, when the persons were asleep, plasma tryptophan concentration fell below control values. The normal diurnal variation with low values in the night and high values in the daytime disappeared when the persons were kept fasting.
Offspring of women with nonorganic psychosis: infant attachment to the mother at one year of age
Authors: Näslund B. , Persson‐Blennow I. , McNeil T. , Kaij L. , Malmquist‐Larsson A.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT– Attachment to the mother at 1 year of age was studied in 46 “high‐risk” offspring of index mothers with a history of non‐organic psychosis and in 80 demographically similar control offspring. Attachment was measured in the home in a standardized manner by a modified version of Ainsworth's Strange Situation procedure. Three different patterns, representing “secure attachment” (Type B), “anxiously avoidant attachment” (Type A) and “anxiously ambivalent attachment” (Type C), were defined. While no significant difference on attachment type was found between the total index versus control group, a significantly increased rate of anxious attachment (A + C) was found for offspring of schizophrenics but no other diagnostic group. Attachment type was unrelated to index mothers’ psychiatric hospitalization, psychotic status and known mental disturbance during the infants’ first year of life, as well as to the infants’ sex.
Side effects after disulfiram
Authors: Christensen J. K. , Rønsted P. , Vaag U. H.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT– A double‐blind, randomized study was carried out on the side effects of disulfiram in 241 men and women with alcohol abuse. Of the 158 patients completing the study, 83 received disulfiram and 75 placebo. Each patient was questioned on side effects after a 2‐week wash‐out period and thereafter once a week during the 6‐week treatment period. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups, apart from over‐representation of complaints of sexual problems in the placebo group. The patients who dropped out of the study were equally distributed between the two groups with regard to the number, diagnosis, and reasons for dropping out.
Prediction of outcome in schizophrenia
Authors: Jonsson H. , Nyman A. K.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT–Prediction of 5–8 year outcome from presenting symptoms and background data was attempted in a sample of 110 firstadmitted schizophrenics. Correlations between outcome criteria and single predictors as well as factor analytically derived clusters of predictors were studied. A rather consistent pattern of symptom variables as well as personality and social variables was found to be predictive of outcome. ‘Atypical’ symptoms were associated with good prognosis while longitudinal variables indicative of ‘high‐risk personality', or duration and severity of illness, were related to bad prognosis. Overt psychotic symptoms usually gave no correlations with outcome. A discriminant analytical approach was also used to predict outcome from combinations of predictor variables. When all variables were used to predict a combined outcome score, a high accuracy was achieved.
Life events and personality characteristics in depression
Authors: Perris H.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT– Evidence from many sources supports the view that stressful life events might be relevant for the onset and development of depression, but their pathogenic role is still only poorly understood. One approach in trying to elucidate the role of life events in depression, might be to study them from a multi‐factorial point of view, taking into account the vulnerability of the individual experiencing them. As part of such an investigation, 138 depressed patients with a mean age of 45 years have participated in a study of life events and personality traits. In particular, it was tested whether aspects of aggression might interact with the occurrence and perception of external stressful events. Patients who scored high on outward aggression had experienced more stressful events, and patients who scored high on inhibition of aggression had experienced fewer, but more negatively. It is concluded that a combined study of the occurrence of life events and the personality characteristics of the patients experiencing them might enhance our understanding of the pathogenic role of life events in depression.
Reactive hypoglycemic tendency among arsonists
Authors: Virkkunen M.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT– A reactive hypoglycemic tendency during the glucose tolerance test was connected with fire‐setting behavior. These hypoglycemic arsonists not only fulfilled the criteria for either intermittent explosive disorder or violent antisocial personality, but also those for borderline personality disorder. They seemed to differ from other arsonists in alcohol abuse and behavior during the fire‐setting acts, and, in personality profile in MMPI, also differed from classical violent offenders with intermittent explosive disorder.
Trihexyphenidyl dependence
Authors: McInnis M. , Petursson H.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT– Trihexyphenidyl, a synthetic anticholinergic, is frequently used concurrently with neuroleptics to control extrapyramidal side effects. We present two case reports of trihexyphenidyl abuse which concur with the increasing concern expressed regarding the abuse potential of trihexyphenidyl. In one of the cases a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled withdrawal was conducted and monitored on a number of physiological parameters and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale. A recognizable withdrawal syndrome followed discontinuation of the drug. In addition to the abuse potential it is suggested that dependence liability be considered in maintenance therapy with trihexyphenidyl and other antiparkinsonians.
Parental losses
Authors: Laajus S.
Published: August 2007

In a review article parental losses (PL) of children in different age and sex groups are psycho‐analytically examined from the view point of the triangular family relationship, cognitive development of the children and their ability to mourn, delinquency, schizophrenia and affective illnesses, and lastly the controversies about and objections to bereavement study findings. It is concluded that many methodological problems make it difficult to compare study findings. Some unchallengable laws have been found, but any single explanation of their aetiological meaning could not be shown. It is obvious that many psychosocial variables are involved in the interpretation of PL.
Effects of Sulpiride on Persistent Neuroleptic‐induced Dyskinesia in Monkeys
Authors: Häggström J‐E
Published: August 2007

Abstract Five Cebus apella monkeys with persistent neuroleptic‐induced dyskinesia were given a single dose of sulpiride (20 mg/kg i.m.). The dyskinesia was reduced in all five although four developed attacks of acute dystonia which had to be reversed by anticholinergic medication in three animals. In one monkey the administration of classic neuroleptics had earlier been shown to induce a typical sequence of events. First there was a similar reduction of dyskinesia as seen in the other monkeys, 1–2 days later there was noticed a rebound deterioration lasting for several days. Metoclopramide 0.5 mg/kg, caused such a rebound effect (for 2 days), whereas sulpiride did not.
Multiple Dopamine Receptors in Brain and the Pharmacological Action of Substituted Benzamide Drugs
Authors: Jenner P. , Marsden C D
Published: August 2007

Abstract Neuroleptic drugs are believed to control schizophrenia by blocking brain dopamine receptors, although most act also on a number of other neuronal systems in brain. Substituted benzamide drugs in general, are more specific for the dopamine system. Brain dopamine receptors, however, are not a single entity. They can be divided on the basis of their linkage to adenylate cyclase. Substituted benzamide drugs are selective antagonists of the adenylate cyclase independent dopamine receptor population. They may be selective antagonists of one sub‐population of these adenylate cyclase independent receptors, for unlike typical neuroleptics the receptor interaction of substituted benzamide drugs with brain dopamine receptors depends upon the presence of sodium ions.

The specificity of substituted benzamide drugs for brain dopamine receptors is reflected in their behavioural profile. Typical substituted benzamide drugs do not cause catalepsy and, in general, only weakly inhibit motor phenomena. This inability to act in vivo cannot be entirely explained by the poor penetration of these drugs into brain.

The unique properties of the substituted benzamide drugs might explain their clinical value in the treatment of schizophrenia and in the treatment of dyskinesias.
Antidepressive therapy in depressed clinical suicides
Authors: Modestin J.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT– A total of 61 clinical suicides, all of them fulfilling the Research Diagnostic Criteria for a depressive disorder, were examined with regard to the psycho pharmacological treatment they received at the time of their suicide. Scarcely half were treated with antidepressants, and only a small minority were optimally treated. One of the reasons for this therapeutic inadequacy lies in a discrepancy between the clinical and RDC diagnoses. An improvement in diagnostic practice, in the sense of paying more attention to the presence of a depressive syndrome, along with an improvement in psychopharmacological treatment, could contribute to a reduction in the clinical suicide rate, which has recently been observed to be increasing.
Long‐term lithium treatment
Authors: Smigan L.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT– The prophylactic effect of lithium was studied prospectively in 63 patients with recurrent affective disorders. Lithium treatment was started at recovery from a current episode of illness when the patients were able to participate in the decision to start long‐term treatment. The median treatment time was 23.7 months and the mean serum lithium concentration approx. 0.63 mmol/1. Comparison with equally long control periods before lithium showed that the treatment resulted in statistically significant reductions in number of episodes, number of months ill, and number of months hospitalized. There were 40 (63%) responders (frequency of episodes during lithium lower than before lithium) and 23 (37 %) non‐responders (frequency of episodes during lithium higher than or the same as before lithium). Females responded slightly better than males. Responders scored significantly higher than non‐responders in the psychasthenia and muscle tension subscales of the Karolinska Hospital Personality Inventory. Both responders and non‐responders showed falls in CPRS during lithium treatment, the fall was statistically significant in the responders. During the first 4 months of lithium treatment the responders showed a significant rise in serum calcium, while serum calcium remained unaltered in the non‐responders. These variables may be predictive of response to long‐term lithium treatment. The low numbers of patients who discontinued treatment and the even serum levels of lithium suggest that good compliance to treatment was achieved with the present approach.
Prophylactic efficacy of lithium and its effective plasma levels in Chinese bipolar patients
Authors: Yang Y. Y.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT– One hundred and one bipolar patients with at least two episodes during the 2 successive years prior to lithium received continuous lithium treatment for 2 years. The prophylactic efficacy of lithium increased from 60% to 73% when patients with individual standard deviations of plasma lithium of more than 0.2 mM/1 were excluded. Most of the good responders showed individual mean plasma lithium levels from 0.5 mM/1 to 0.79 mM/1.