bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Zuclopenthixol acetate in Viscoleo® ‐ a new drug formulation
Authors: Amdisen A. , Nielsen M.S. , Dencker S.J. , Fensbo C. , Ahlfors U.G. , Gravem A. , Baastrup P.C. , Bjerkenstedt L. , Gunby B. , Wiesel F‐A. , Lindholm H. , Rafaelsen O.J. , Fredslund‐Andersen K. , Thomsen N.J. , Rosell I. , Pakarinen P. , Harma P. , Amthor K.F. , Kastberg S. , Abelskov J.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— Eighty‐three acutely disturbed, psychotic patients were included in an open multicentre study. The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical effect of zuclopenthixol acetate in Viscoleo® (CPT‐A). Each patient received from one to four intramuscular injections of CPT‐A during the 6‐day study period. The duration of action after one injection was between 2 and 3 days and doses from 50 mg to 150 mg were sufficient for most patients.

Treatment with CPT‐A caused a pronounced and rapid reduction of the psychotic symptoms. At the end of the 6‐day test period the mean total score on BPRS in acute non‐manic and exacerbated chronic patients was reduced by more than 50 per cent. In acute manic patients the mean total score on BRMS was reduced by 57 per cent already 1 day after injection. Rapidly after the injection of CPT‐A a useful short‐acting sedation can be expected, but the risk for oversedation even after a second injection is low. The frequency of unwanted effects, including extrapyramidal reactions, was low and the severity of symptoms was most often mild. With a rapid onset of action, a duration of effect of 2 to 3 days, and few and mild side effects, CPT‐A offers advantages over the neuroleptic preparations conventionally used in the initial treatment of acutely disturbed, psychotic patients.
Cranial computed tomography findings in bulimia
Authors: Krieg J.‐C. , Backmund H. , Pirke K.‐M.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— In cranial computed tomography (CT), not only patients with anorexia nervosa but also patients suffering from bulimia, display enlarged external cerebrospinal fluid spaces. This was true for more than one third of the 28 bulimic patients studied, regardless of whether or not they had a past history of anorexia nervosa. As the bulimic patients had a near normal body weight, the observed structural changes cannot be attributed to underweight, as is commonly assumed to be the case in anorectic patients. These findings indicate that, in addition to underweight, other factors have to be considered as causing the morphological brain alterations present in patients with eating disorders.
Psychogenic pain: A study of marital adjustment
Authors: Hughes A.M. , Medley I. , Turner G.N. , Bond M.R.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— The marital adjustment of patients with psychogenic pain disorder was evaluated and compared with a matched group of patients with other neurotic disorders. Pain patients spouses were found to have better marital adjustment and less psychiatric morbidity than the spouses of neurotic patients. These findings are discussed in terms of the concepts of “sick role homeostasis” and “tertiary gain”.
The relationships of childhood socio‐demographic factors and early parental loss to major depression in adult life
Authors: Hällström T.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT—Sixty middle‐aged urban women with a major depressive episode (DSM‐III) diagnosed in a community survey were compared with those 400 participants of the study who had no history of major depression. There were no significant differences between groups regarding most childhood demographic variables such as grade of urbanization, social class, school education, size of sibship and ordinal position. The subjects with major depression and especially those with melancholia had experienced parental loss before age 17 significantly more often than had the controls. This difference dealt only with parental divorce and other separations but not with parental death. There were no significant differences regarding parental death between melancholics, non‐melancholic major depressives and controls.
A remarkable response of chronic severe obsessive‐compulsive neurosis to phenelzine
Authors: Mahgoub O. M.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— The author describes a 22‐year‐old male who suffered from chronic severe Obsessive‐Compulsive Neurosis (OCN) complicated by frequent depressive episodes. Administering the monoamine oxidase inhibitor phenelzine in high dosage led to complete alleviation of his depression in 10 weeks, and 3 weeks afterwards the OCN was markedly improved. The illness relapsed shortly after discontinuance of the drug.
Major depression, parental mental disorder and early family relationships
Authors: Hällström T.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— Sixty middle‐aged urban women with a major depressive episode diagnosed in a community survey were compared with those 400 participants of the study who had no history of major depression. The study design is retrospective.

The depressed women's parents had been in contact with psychiatric services twice as often as those of never depressed women. The rate of paternal alcoholism was however the same in both groups. As compared with the controls, women with major depression reported significantly more often frequent corporal punishment, poor relationship with mother, having been misunderstood by parents, and unhappy childhood.
Prognostic factors vs. outcome in male‐to‐female transsexualism
Authors: Lindemalm G. , Körlin D. , Uddenberg N.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— Thirteen male‐to‐female transsexuals were investigated 6 to 25 years after surgery. Thirty‐five prognostic items were compared with each of three outcome variables. Traumatic loss of both parents in infancy was connected with repentance at follow‐up. A childhood family of an overprotective mother and a distant father, on the other hand, was prognostically favourable. Contrary to most previous reports, high sexual activity and bisexual experience was associated with fair sexual adjustment and with non‐repentance after sex change. The repenting individuals, on the other hand, had been a‐sexual or hyposexual before surgery. Completed military service, a history of typically masculine, hard jobs, and a comparatively late (more than 30 years of age) first request for surgery, were found to be negative prognostic factors in sex‐reassignment evaluations. The phenomenon of ambivalence or hesitance during the trial period is discussed. Both too much and too little ambivalence may suggest a poor prognosis.
Prevalence of khat chewers among primary health clinic attenders in Kenya
Authors: Omolo O. E. , Dhadphale M.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— In a rural district hospital in Kenya, the authors screened 100 randomly selected outpatients for khat (miraa) chewing. A surprisingly high number of them admitted chewing khat leaves. The implications of this finding and the controversy about whether or not khat is a harmful drug are discussed.
Female alcoholics: III. Patterns of consumption 3‐10 years after treatment
Authors: Haver B.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— In a follow‐up study of 55 female alcoholics, 44 women (80%) were interviewed on an average of 6.5 years after treatment. According to the reported quantity and frequency of drinking the year prior to follow‐up, eight women (18%) were classified as abstainers, nine (20%) as light drinkers, ten (22%) as moderate drinkers, and 17 (39%) as heavy drinkers. In a longitudinal perspective, four main patterns of outcome could be discriminated: long‐term abstinence, short‐term abstinence intermingled with drinking, asymptomatic drinking and continuous heavy drinking. Most of the asymptomatic drinkers reported a consumption of very small amounts of alcohol, avoiding becoming intoxicated. Those women who reported consumption of more than 2/3 of a bottle of spirits on any single drinking day or consumed more than 7 liters of pure alcohol annually, usually satisfied the DSM‐III criteria for alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence.
On autoprotective efforts of schizophrenics, neurotics and controls
Authors: Brenner H. D. , Böker W. , Müller J. , Spichtig L. , Würgler S.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— Autoprotective efforts of schizophrenics have hardly been systematically investigated until now, although the role of coping processes in regard to numerous psychic disorders is increasingly recognized. The investigation of autoprotective efforts, however, is of special significance in view of the different current formulations of the vulnerability stress concept of schizophrenia. Thus the cognitive disorders in the sense of information processing deficits among schizophrenics deserve our special attention, since they are described consistently as vulnerability characteristics and as cause of a heightened susceptibility to stress, and since they can be considered an explanatory basis for a wide range of subjectively experienced basic disorders of schizophrenia. In the present study the two disorder dimensions and the corresponding autoprotective efforts were investigated among 60 schizophrenic patients, 30 neurotic patients and 30 healthy controls. The schizophrenic patients had both significantly more experimental psychologically operationalized dysfunctions in information processing and subjectively experienced basic disorders. However, we found no correlation between the two levels of investigation. This may mainly be attributed to the fact that on the level of subjective experience the primary disorder, the perception of the disorder and the individual response to the disorder cannot be differentiated unequivocally. All of the schizophrenic patients reported consciously performed autoprotective efforts in regard to basic disorders. In this connection it is of interest that the schizophrenic patients had a significantly higher percentage of problem solving oriented attempts in comparison with the two non‐schizophrenic comparison groups, and that this percentage even increased by a progressive amount of disorders. The schizophrenic patients experienced basic disorders with much more emotional tension and existential, ego‐threatening anxiety. They were interpreted by the schizophrenic patients as danger signals, by the neurotic patients, however, predominantly as concomitant symptoms of their neurosis, whereas healthy persons comprehended them within the framework of ordinary psychological explanatory models. The relevance of these results in regard to further research in autoprotective efforts of schizophrenic patients and in their possible therapeutic implications is discussed.
Midwinter insomnia in the subarctic region: Evening levels of serum melatonin and cortisol before and after treatment with bright artificial light
Authors: Hansen T. , Bratlid T. , Lingjärde O. , Brenn T.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— “Midwinter insomnia” (MI), mainly characterized by difficulties in falling asleep at night, is a common complaint during the period of obscuration or “dark period” north of the arctic circle. We hypothesize that MI is a result of a phase delay of the sleep‐wake cycle due to insufficient exposure to daylight. In the present study based on this hypothesis, we wanted to find out whether otherwise healthy subjects with MI show abnormalities in the endocrine markers melatonin and cortisol late in the the evening, and whether exposure to intensive light for one half hour in the morning for 5 days has any effect on the insomnia and on the endocrine variables. Nine subjects with typical MI were compared to eight controls. Before light exposure, the MI group had a significantly lower level of plasma melatonin in the evening than the controls, and a nonsignificant increase of plasma cortisol. After light exposure, the following results were seen in the MI group: sleep latency was moderately but significantly shortened, plasma melatonin increased to the same level as in the controls, and there was a nonsignificant increase of plasma cortisol. These results are largely in accordance with the predictions made from the phase delay hypothesis. However, other explanations cannot be ruled out.
Anorexia nervosa/bulimia in diabetes mellitus
Authors: Nielsen S. , Børner H. , Kabel M.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT—Review of recent litterature with emphasis on growth, development and epidemiology of eating disorders and diabetes reveals many common features of the conditions. Thus we hypothesize more concurrence than would occur by chance alone. At present epidemiological evidence is inconclusive, but prevalence of eating disorder seems increased in insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). Over a period of 25 years five cases (all female) of diabetes were found in a consecutive series of 242 patients with eating disorders treated at the Child Psychiatric and Psychiatric Clinics at Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark. This is a six‐fold increase in prevalence of IDDM. IDDM preceded eating disorder (anorexia nervosa (AN)/bulimia(B)) in four of the five cases, and contributed significantly to the psychopathology found: the more, the earlier the age at onset of IDDM. Treatment proved difficult and the outcome seems serious. At latest contact four cases had manifest eating disorders and three of these had unstable and complicated IDDM as well. The patients’ adaptation to IDDM seems crucial for the outcome.
The relation between drinking habits and neuroticism and weak ego among male and female alcoholic patients
Authors: Sandahl C. , Lindberg S. , Bergman H.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— The relationship between drinking habits and personality functioning was studied in a consecutive series of 300 alcoholic inpatients during treatment and 2 1/2 years later. The alcoholic sample showed more signs of neuroticism and lack of ego strength than the general population. Among the alcoholics there was a relationship between advanced drinking habits and more pathological personality functioning. However at the follow‐up improved drinking habits were connected only with improved self‐esteem, particularly among female patients.
Neuroleptic treatment and other factors modifying cancer risk in schizophrenic patients
Authors: Mortensen P. B.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— In a Danish cohort of schizophrenics consisting of 6,168 patients followed during 1957–1980, the incidence of certain types of cancer has been shown to be significantly decreased (5). From this cohort 30 males with lung cancer, 21 males with bladder cancer, 17 females with cancer of the uterine cervix and 40 females with breast cancer, were each matched to two “healthy” schizophrenic controls from the same cohort. A range of social, demographic and nosocomial factors were registered from the individual case files, and statistical analysis was carried out, using Cox's regression model. Neuroleptic treatment with various drugs other than reserpine reduced the risk of developing all four cancer types studied. In contrast reserpine treatment increased the risk of developing cancer of the breast and uterine cervix. Furthermore, cancer risk was found to be modified by other well‐known risk factors.
Prevalence of the Korsakoff syndrome in The Hague, The Netherlands
Authors: Blansjaar B. A. , Horjus M. C. , Nijhuis H. G. J.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— An epidemiological survey of the Korsakoff syndrome was made in The Hague, The Netherlands, by interviewing workers of all relevant health care organisations in that city. A prevalence of 4.8 per 10,000 inhabitants was found. The mean age of patients was 62 years. Seventy‐five percent of all patients had already been hospitalised for several years. Physical and mental health, as judged by other medical diagnoses, was poor.
Dexamethasone suppression test in severe schizophrenic illness: Effects of plasma dexamethasone and caffeine levels
Authors: Holsboer‐Trachsler E. , Buol C. , Wiedemann K. , Holsboer F.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— A dexamethasone suppression test (DST) was administered to 31 inpatients with a severe acute schizophrenic exacerbation 4 or 5 days following admission and repeated after 4 weeks or prior to discharge. We identified 15 patients (48%) who were nonsuppressors on the DST at the first test. To exclude major confounders of DST results we monitored weight constancy and plasma concentrations of dexamethasone. In a subgroup of patients also plasma caffeine contents were determined. Our results indicate that DST nonsuppression occurs frequently among patients with schizophrenic crisis. Since caffeine plasma levels were indistinguishable between suppressors and nonsuppressors we reject that excessive caffeine intake accounts for DST nonsuppression among individuals with schizophrenia. Nonsuppressors had lower plasma dexamethasone levels than suppressors and reversal of the DST status from nonsuppression to suppression was associated with an increase of plasma concentrations of the test drug.
CSF‐amine metabolites in depression, dementia and in controls
Authors: Gjerris A. , Werdelin L. , Gjerris F. , Sørensen P. S. , Rafaelsen O. J. , Alling C.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— Lumbar CSF concentration of 5‐HIAA, MHPG, and HVA were measured in patients with depression, dementia due to normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) and in controls. Moreover, ventricular concentrations of the metabolites were measured in patients with NPH. It was aimed to match patients and controls for age, sex, and body height. Non‐parametric statistics were used throughout the study. No differences in lumbar concentrations of CSF 5‐HIAA, MHPG and HVA were found between the different diagnostic groups. A ventriculolumbar gradient of 5‐HIAA and HVA being 4:1 and 5:1, respectively, was found in patients with NPH. No correlation between the difference in ventricular and lumbar concentrations and body height was found, suggesting that body height may be an inaccurate measure for the rostro‐caudal gradient. Moreover, no correlation between ventricular and lumbar levels of 5‐HIAA and HVA was seen.
Psychiatric morbidity in acromegaly
Authors: Abed R. T. , Clark J. , Elbadawy M. H. F. , Cliffe M. J.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— Previous reports on psychiatric morbidity in acromegaly have been unsystematic. This study examined 51 acromegalic patients for psychiatric morbidity using the General Health Questionnaire and a standard psychiatric interview, the Present State Examination. Although psychiatric morbidity was higher in the female than the male acromegalics, the study showed no increase in psychiatric morbidity in general, nor an increased incidence of depression, in comparison with general population and patient samples. No relationship was found between growth hormone levels and psychiatric morbidity. The results raise the question whether acromegalic patients show lower psychiatric morbidity than expected from patients with such an illness. The data suggest that previous reports of depression in acromegalic patients examplify the simple coincidence of a likely and an unlikely condition.
Canadian trends in mortality from mental disorders, 1965–1983
Authors: Newman S. C. , Bland R. C.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— This report describes trends in the death rate for all mental disorders, presenile and senile dementia, and alcoholic psychoses and alcohol abuse/dependence in Canada for the period 1965–1983. It is demonstrated that overall there has been an increase in the death rate for each of these causes of mortality, both for males and females, and that in the case of presenile and senile dementia the increase has been particularly rapid. The older age groups appear to be contributing most to the observed changes. Conjectures are made as to the underlying reasons for the observed trends.
The relationship between cognitive failures, psychoneurotic symptoms and sex
Authors: Hood B. M. , MacLachlan I. Malcolm , Fisher S.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— As Broadbent et al's (1) original analysis of the relationship between the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ) and the Middlesex Hospital Questionnaire (MHQ) was conducted on an altered version of the MHQ, the present study undertook this same analysis using the full MHQ. In addition, the relationship was examined to see if it was mediated by the differences in the scoring of males and females on each questionnaire. Our results support and strengthen Broadbent et al's conclusion that high rates of cognitive failure are associated with psychoneurotic symptoms. The sex difference on the CFQ is discussed in terms of vulnerability to stress to account for the higher incidence of psychoneurotic symptoms in females.
Anxiety disorders: A long‐term prospective and retrospective follow‐up study of former inpatients suffering from an anxiety neurosis or phobia
Authors: Krieg J.‐C. , Bronisch T. , Wittchen H.‐U. , von Zerssen D.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— Psychopathological status and psychosocial functioning of 40 former inpatients suffering from an anxiety neurosis (ICD 300.0) or phobia (ICD 300.2) were followed up over a period of 6–8 years using standardized instruments. In addition, the course of illness, the utilization of medical services and the periods of work disabilities were assessed. With regard to psychopathology, in more than half of the patients course and outcome could be regarded as chronic and severe; only one third of the patients were free of marked or severe psychopathological symptoms during the 12 months preceding the reexamination. Although on the psychosocial outcome level 67% of the 40 former inpatients showed marked or severe difficulties in most social role areas, especially in the field of personal interaction, the great majority of these patients seemed to have adapted somehow to their life situations. Only 13% could be regarded as severely impaired and in continuous need of supervision and guidance. Coping difficulties with everyday demands and dissatisfaction with their social functioning and their anxiety‐related restrictions were most prominent in all anxious patients. In contrast to some other long‐term follow‐up studies, most of which were carried out on outpatients, the results suggest a rather unfavourable course and outcome of anxiety disorders.
Patterns of outpatient consultation: A survey of outpatients attending a metropolitan psychiatric hospital
Authors: Wijesinghe C. P. , Clancy D. J. , Wink P. M. , Chopra H. D.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— A survey of all outpatients (n= 1135) attending a regional psychiatric hospital during a 3‐month period. Psychoses constituted 72% and non‐psychotic disorders 25%. Psychoses had a greater proportion of long‐term attenders while non‐psychotic disorders, though frequent (43%) among recent attenders, showed a high attrition rate. Demographic characteristics, patterns of attendance, selected clinical features, level of functioning and difficulties of management of the different diagnostic groups are presented and discussed. Reasons are adduced to explain why patients who were deemed suitable for transfer to other care had not been discharged from hospital. Steps taken to reduce the patient load and increase the efficiency of the services are described.
From unipolar depression to bipolar illness: 29 who changed
Authors: Winokur G. , Wesner R.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— We studied 29 patients who were admitted to a psychiatric hospital for depression, never had had a previous mania, and developed the mania in follow‐up. When compared to patients who were stable unipolars, the potential bipolars had a history of more episodes prior to their onset of mania, more hospital admissions, more marked self‐reproach and guilt; in follow‐up, they had more hospitalizations.
Who became revolving door patients?
Authors: Kastrup M.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— A cohort representing all first‐time admissions to Danish psychiatric institutions during the period April 1, 1970 to March 31, 1971 was followed for 10 years in the psychiatric register. The cohort comprised 5,881 males and 6,856 females aged 15 years or above. The revolving door population was delineated as (1) patients with minimum four admissions and no admission or discharge period lasting for more than one fourth of the observation period or (2) patients with minimum four admissions during the first one fourth of the observation period. The incidence rate was 3.14 males and 3.55 females per 1,000. Revolving door patients were younger than others, single or divorced, and lived in larger cities. They were more frequently referred to out‐patient aftercare and discharged to their own home. A male diagnostic profile of schizophrenia, demential or organic psychoses, personality disorders and abuse emerged together with a female profile of manic depressive and psychogenic psychosis and neurosis. Twenty‐one point nine percent of males and 13.0% of females had more than 10 admissions and 4.5% of males and 3.7% of females spent more than 5 years in hospital. High risk groups were 15–24 years old as 21% and 13% of young males respectively females became revolving door patients, and schizophrenics, as 46% of male and 30% of female schizophrenics became revolving door patients.
Patterns of coverage of psychiatric emergencies
Authors: Jee Adityan , Wig N. N. , Mohan D.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— A massive change in the detection of psychiatric cases in the emergency room was recorded when pattern of coverage was changed from “on‐call” basis to “continuous physical presence” of psychiatry residents in the emergency room.
Sleeping and dreams in learning‐disabled boys
Authors: Hilakivi L.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— Ten learning‐disabled (LD) boys were compared with eight control boys. The boys with learning difficulities reported shorter sleep latency but more frequent awakenings, longer nocturnal sleep, and increased complaints of daytime sleepiness than the controls. The dreams of the LD boys were less bizarre than those of the controls, and the LD boys used fewer words to describe their dreams. The findings may reflect a functional relation between experienced sleep‐related difficulties, some components of dreams, and learning disabilities in school children.
Is the dexamethasone suppression test predictive of response to specific antidepressant treatment in major depression?
Authors: Steardo L. , Barone P. , Monteleone P. , Iovino M. , Cardone G.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT: The authors attempt to correlate the response to dexamethasone suppression test (DST) with a clinical response to antidepressant drugs in 68 patients with major depression. Antidepressants that influence noradrenergic or serotonergic transmission with relative different potencies were selected and used in standard doses for 6 weeks. The response was evaluated weekly by raters blind to DST results and to antidepressant medications prescribed. The retrospective analysis failed to correlate DST response with outcome of treatment. Therefore the present results suggest that this laboratory test does not help to identify subgroups of depressed patients responding preferentially to various antidepressant drugs.
Early subjective reactions predicting the outcome of hospital treatment in depressive patients
Authors: Priebe S.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT: Early statements by 41 depressive inpatients about a subjective change in their condition and about their attitude to proposed treatment were examined. These statements, made on the day after admission, were found to correlate with the outcome of the treatment. It was found that early subjective reactions can indicate to some extent, not only the result of hospital treatment for depressive symptoms, but also the outcome measured by objective and subjective criteria, after a 3 to 4 month follow‐up.
Ventricular enlargement and neuropsychological testing in schizophrenia
Authors: Obiols J. E. , Marcos T. , Salamero M.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT: The Ventricular Brain Ratio was computed in a group of 42 young chronic schizophrenics (age range: 17–45). The patients also completed a battery of neuropsychological tests: four WAIS subscales, the Benton test and the Trail Making Test. Although patients as a whole showed the expected ventricular enlargement and neuropsychological impairment when compared to control groups, no correlation was found between the two measures. These results are inconsistent with previous work on the same topic that hypothesized the association of both parameters. Some tentative explanations for these conflicting results are given.
First‐admission rates and marital status of schizophrenics
Authors: Munk‐Jørgensen P.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT: All patients who were first‐admitted to Danish psychiatric institutions in the calendar years 1970, 1973, 1976, 1979, and 1982 and who were diagnosed as schizophrenics at least once within a 2‐year period of observation from the first day of the first admission are followed up by means of the nation‐wide Danish Psychiatric Register (totally 1,175 males and 665 females). Sex and age specific first‐admission rates of schizophrenia show that the difference between male and female rates especially appears in the age group 15–24 years. In this age group the peak incidence is found for both sexes, also if the patients only diagnosed as schizophrenics at a later admission are included. The ratio of male to female incidence rates are not changed by inclusion of the latter patients. A higher frequence of married or formerly married patients is found among the schizophrenics who were diagnosed late in the course of treatment than among those who were so at first‐admission. This might be a manifestation of a less severe symptomatology which could explain the tendency to hesitate in diagnosing patients as schizophrenics.
Disappearance of tardive dyskinesia during catatonic stupor
Authors: Assmann V. C. C. A. , van Woerkom T. C. A. M.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT: A 61‐year‐old man diagnosed as having catatonic schizophrenia was treated with neuroleptics for many years. From 1983 he showed tardive dyskinesia on trunk and limbs as well as orofacial dyskinesia. In September 1985 he displayed a catatonic stupor several times. With the outbreak of the stupor the dyskinesia disappeared and vice varsa. This finding induces the hypothesis that the dopaminergic system is suppressed during catatonic stupor in such a way that tardive dyskinesia is no longer visible.
An empirical comparison of three different borderline concepts
Authors: Kullgren G.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT: Forty‐six inpatients were independently diagnosed according to the DSM‐III concept of borderline personality disorder, the diagnostic interview for borderlines (DIB) and the concept of borderline personality organization, which is linked to Kernbergs structural interview. The interviews were videotaped. Satisfactory inter‐rater reliability was demonstrated for the DIB, which furthermore showed high sensitivity and specificity in identifying patients with a clinical DSM‐III diagnosis of borderline personality disorder from patients with other personality disorders or schizophrenic disorders. Discriminant features, demographic profile and earlier treatment history for the patients with a borderline personality disorder are described and discussed. The structural interviews were scored according to a specified format. Inter‐rater reliability was satisfactory but not too impressive. Borderline personality organization turned out to be a very broad concept and only half of the patients within this concept received a syndrome diagnosis of borderline personality disorder. A general conclusion was that borderline personality organization should not be considered as a diagnostic entity but rather as a different diagnostic dimension representing an intermediate level of personality structure.
Differences between alcoholic and non alcoholic female psychiatric patients
Authors: Vaglum S. , Vaglum P.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT: Sixty‐four consecutive DSM‐III alcoholic female psychiatric patients (A‐group) were compared with 65 non alcoholic women from the same psychiatric units. The A‐women more often had nervous sisters. They were younger at the first intercourse, had had more frequent intercourses during the last year, more often had a poor relationship with their children. They had had more heterosexual partners, living‐together relationships and divorces, and had more often a dependent adult relationship. The mean age of the first nervous symptoms and of coming to psychiatry was significantly lower in the A‐group, and they had more suicidal attempts and criminality. During childhood, adolescence and adult age, they reacted more often to losses with acting out and alcohol abuse. Nervous problems and close contact difficulties seem to have manifested themselves mostly before the alcohol abuse was established.
Electrodermal activity in relation to diagnostic subgroups and symptoms of depressive patients
Authors: Thorell L. H. , Kjellman B. F. , D'Elia G.
Published: August 2007

The electrodermal activity (EDA) in 59 depressive patients was investigated during stimulation with neutral tone stimuli. The patients were classified according to six dichotomies: 1) dysthymic disorder vs major depressive episode (DSM‐III); 2) melancholic vs nonmelancholic major depressive episode (DSM‐III); 3) endogenous vs nonendogenous (Newcastle scale); 4) high vs low inhibition; 5) psychomotor inhibition vs agitation; and, 6) indices of high vs low hypothalamic distrubance.

The low EDA usually found in depressive patients seems to be more pronounced in endogenous patients and in patients with symptoms of inhibition. Relationships between indices of hypothalamic dysfunction and low EDA were found, but lacked homogeneity. Early debute and long duration of current depression were related to small magnitude of the skin conductance response.
Patterns of response to neuroleptic treatment: Factors influencing the amelioration of individual symptoms in psychotic patients
Authors: Axelsson R. , Öhman R.
Published: August 2007

Fifty‐three patients with acute psychotic disorders (diagnosed according to DSM‐III) were treated with thioridazine alone and observed during periods of up to 2 months. The amelioration of paranoid ideas and hallucinations (target symptoms) and of concentration difficulties, disorientation, reduced appetite, and reduced sleep (additional symptoms) was studied by repeated psychopathology ratings (CPRS). The patients were classified as “fast, slow or partial responders” according to the therapeutic effect registered on each target symptom. Paranoid ideas disappeared completely after less than 3 weeks of treatment in 28% of the patients (fast responders) and after more than 3 weeks in 32% (slow responders). Hallucinations disappeared significantly faster than paranoid ideas; 47% of the patients were completely free from hallucinations after less than 2 weeks of treatment (fast responders) and 38% after more than 2 weeks (slow responders). The following factors were significantly correlated to positive treatment effects of thioridazine: 1) diagnosis involving a brief history of psychotic symptoms before admisson; 2) a low CPRS score for paranoid ideas on admission; 3) presence of disorientation on admission; 4) normal appetite on admission, and 5) rapidly reached optimal serum concentration of the drug.
Severe akathisia causing neuroleptic failure: An indication for lithium therapy in schizophrenia?
Authors: Shalev A. , Hermesh H. , Munitz H.
Published: August 2007

Several neuroleptics recurrently failed to ameliorate psychosis in three schizophrenic patients. Failures were caused by recurrent intractable akathisia, unresponsive to diazepam and trihexyphenidyl. Lacking this extrapyramidal side effect, lithium carbonate was tried and proved an effective antipsychotic. It is suggested that in schizophrenic psychosis lithium is a rational therapeutic option in cases of neuroleptic intolerance and failures due to akathisia.
Delusional depression and suicide
Authors: Wolfersdorf M. , Keller F. , Steiner B. , Hole G.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT: After a short survey of the relevant literature, the authors discuss the significance of delusional depression symptoms for suicidality, whereby they do not regard such symptoms alone as a sufficient condition for classifying a delusional patient as suicidal. In a comparison of delusional depressed patients with a non‐delusional control group (matched pairs), the former were adjudged to be significantly less suicidal than the control group and did not differ from the control group in regard to suicide frequency.
Comparison of depressed patients with and without suicide attempts in their past history
Authors: Bronisch T. , Hecht H.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT:Forty‐eight inpatients with the diagnosis of a Brief or Prolonged Depressive Reaction according to ICD‐9 who had attempted suicide just before the admission were compared to 24 inpatients with the same diagnosis but no history of previous suicide attempts. The variables investigated included sociodemographic characteristics, family history, life events within the year prior to admission, social functioning, social support, and personality factors. The comparison of these two groups revealed that alcoholism and suicide attempts in first degree relatives, and divorce or separation of the patients' parents predispose for a depressive reaction associated with the suicidal behavior. No differences between the two patient groups were found for personality factors, number and quality of life events in the year before index admission, social functioning, and social support during the last 4 weeks. Due to the small number of patients in both groups the conclusions drawn are preliminary.
Long‐term treatment with benzodiazepines: Theoretical, ideological and practical aspects
Authors: Nagy Adam
Published: August 2007

The prevalence of anxiety disorders in a psychiatric sense is 5–10%. If all available data are summed up, it seems evident that about half of these disorders have a prolonged, often chronic course, and thus require some form of long‐term or continuous treatment. Accomplishment of long‐term treatment will often be prevented by a general fear of dependence and abuse, risk factors that have been strongly emphasized. General restrictivity has also been urged regarding the dosage level, often resulting in a sub‐optimal treatment, more harmful than beneficial to the patient. The prescription figures for anxiolytics in relation to the prevalence and course of anxiety disorders do not suggest an unreasonably high prescription rate, on the contrary, the prescribed amount would not be sufficient for treating more than 2.5 % of the population.
Antidepressant drugs in anxiety disorders
Authors: Modigh Kjell
Published: August 2007

The efficacy of tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI) in the treatment of panic syndromes(panic disorder and agoraphobia with panic attacks) and obsessive‐compulsive disorders is reviewed. Imipramine has been reported as significantly more effective against panic attacks than placebo or other psychoactive drugs in 12 of 16 studies. Clomipramine has been found superior to placebo or other psychoactive drugs in 5 controlled studies. The effectivenessof these drugs is also reflected in a large number of open trials. The MAOUI phenelzine has been reported to be effectivein 5 controlled studies. Clomipramine is the best documented drug in the treatment of obsessive‐compulsive disorders. Itseffectiveness has been documented in 7 controlled studies. Most investigators consider the effects in panic syndromes as well as in obsessive‐compulsive disorders to be unrelated to the antidepressant effect.
Self‐help groups in West Germany Developments of the last decade.
Authors: Matzat Jürgen
Published: August 2007

Abstract The paper reports on the discussions currently going on in West Germany ‐ and in some neighbouring countries ‐ on self‐help groups, on their political and social background, on attempts to define them, and on theoretical considerations and practical experiences, especially with a model of cooperation which for some years has been tried out at the Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy in the University of Giessen. The Clinic has a psychoanalytical orientation and has a strong tradition in group psychotherapy, family therapy and social therapy.
Suicide in Scandinavia: An epidemiological analysis
Authors: Kolmos Lisbet
Published: August 2007

Suicide rates in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden for the past few years are presented. Despite the fact that the Nordic countries, both historically and at present, have many features in common, differences between the countries in the frequency of suicide are pronounced. These differences and the reliability of Nordic suicide statistics are discussed.
Plasma opioids in alcoholics after acute alcohol consumption and withdrawal
Authors: Brambilla F. , Zarattini F. , Gianelli A. , Bianchi M. , Panerai A.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— Beta‐endorphin (β‐EP) and beta‐lipotropin (β‐LPH) plasma concentrations were examined in ten chronic alcohol abusers, eight men and two women aged 25‐56 years with histories of continuously elevated ethanol consumption dating from 5‐30 years. Plasma levels of the two peptides were measured after acute alcohol consumption and then after 3, 6 and 9 days of forced abstinence, during chlordiazepoxide treatment. β‐EP and β‐LPH concentrations were normal on all four occasions. A reduced sensitivity of opioid receptors to acute alcohol administration due to chronic alcohol consumption is suggested.
Changes in the pituitary‐thyroid axis accompanying major affective disorders
Authors: Müller B. , Böning J.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— The reports tries to show the intercorrelations between the TRH‐test and the peripheric thyroid function during the course of affective disorders. The sample comprised 22 manic (15 follow‐up) and 24 depressive (13 follow‐up) patients. As parameters serum thyroxine, triiodothyronine, T3‐uptake, FT4‐index, T3/T4‐ratio, TSH basal and 30 min after 200 μg TRH i.v. were determined. In a smaller group of patients reverse‐T3 was measured, too. During acute mania and depression there is an increase of thyroxine. We observed a stronger conversion of T4 to rT3 with less inactivation of T4 to T3 in mania than in depression. Both groups show attenuated TSH response to TRH stimulation in florid psychoses. Comprehensing all results we come to the conclusion that the changes in the pituitary‐thyroid axis accompanying affective psychoses start from the thyroidea and not from the anterior pituitary gland.
Melatonin plasma response to MAO inhibitor: Influence on human pineal activity?
Authors: Oxenkrug G.F. , Balon R. , Jain A.K. , Mclntyre I.M.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— Strong negative correlation has been observed between nighttime (physiological) elevation of plasma melatonin and plasma melatonin increase induced by a single dose of MAO inhibitor, tranylcypromine. The possible use of acute plasma melatonin response to MAO inhibitor as a functional test for the evaluation of human pineal activity is discussed.
Psychiatrists and mental health in philately
Authors: van Alphen P. J. M.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— Can it be said that history's most outstanding psychiatrists and the various interrelated fields of mental health are to any extent realistically represented within the framework of thematic philately? With regard to the latter theme, five main categories can be distinguished: the mentally handicapped; psychiatric institutions, founders, nursing staff, etc.; prevention of alcohol and drug abuse; congresses and, finally, famous psychiatric patients. This article is a summary based on the brochure of the same name (32 pages in colour) published by CIBA‐GEIGY B.V., Arnhem, The Netherlands.
Evaluation of psychiatric consultations with suicide attempters
Authors: Hengeveld M.W. , Kerkhof A.J.F.M. , van der Wal J.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— Diagnosis, management and disposition were evaluated in 120 psychiatric consultations with patients referred to a university hospital following an attempted suicide. Data were registered by hospital nurses and psychiatric consultants, and the patients were extensively interviewed after discharge. Many patients (43%) had been admitted to a psychiatric hospital on previous occasions or at the time of the suicide attempt. In almost one third of the cases, the consultants did not take sufficient interest in the patients’ accounts of the last and previous suicide attempts. Their estimation of the reoccurrence of suicidal behaviour had a low predictive value (54%). One fourth to one half of the patients were negative about or not satisfied with the consultation. The compliance with the psychiatric consultants’ referrals, however, was very high (79%). Although a large group of patients received effective care, the consultants did not pay enough attention to the group of (former) in‐patients with recurrent suicidal behaviour. Possible causes and consequences of these findings are discussed.
Prevalence and treatment of psychiatric disorders in 3 to 14‐year‐old children: Results of a representative field study in the small town rural region of Traunstein, Upper Bavaria
Authors: Weyerer S. , Castell R. , Biener A. , Artner K. , Dilling H.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— In a representative sample (n= 358) 18.4% of the children aged 3 to 14 were classified as having psychiatric disorders, mostly special symptoms (13.4%) (ICD 307). Using the multiaxial classification of child psychiatric disorders developed by Rutter et al. (1). connections between a psychiatric diagnosis on the one hand and developmental delays, medical conditions and abnormal psychosocial circumstances on the other are pointed out. Finally, the situation regarding help for children with psychiatric disorders is discussed. Only 2.0% of the children were receiving treatment for such conditions.
A case of organic brain syndrome following head injury successfully treated with carbamazepine
Authors: Bouvy P.F. , van de Wetering B.J.M. , Meerwaldt J.D. , Bruijn J.B.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— A case of organic brain syndrome occurring in relation to psychological stress 2 years after a severe head injury is described. Treatment with haloperidol resulted only in slight improvement. A dramatic improvement was achieved with carbamazepine.
Adrenocorticotropin and cortisol response to lysine vasopressin in relation to the outcome of the dexamethasone suppression test in major depressive disorder
Authors: Akner G. , Ljunggren J.‐G. , Kjellman B.F. , Undén F. , Wetterberg L.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— The pathophysiology behind the abnormalities of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal cortex axis found in patients with major depressive disorder was studied by the use of the vasopressin test. The response of plasma adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and cortisol to the injection of 10 IU lysine‐vasopressin (LVP) was investigated in 18 patients meeting the DSM‐III criteria for major depressive episode. The response was correlated to the outcome of the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) with the use of two different cut‐off points, 139 nmol/1 and 200 nmol/1 respectively.

The results show that no significant difference was found in ACTH or cortisol response between patients having a normal or abnormal DST. The results do not seem to support the hypothesis that the abnormalities of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal cortex axis involve a hypersecretion of corticotropin‐releasing factor (CRF) and a subsequent desensitization of the corticotrophs to CRF‐stimulated ACTH release.
Multivariate study of sleep EEG in depression
Authors: Kerkhofs M. , Kempenaers C. , Linkowski P. , de Maertelaer V. , Mendlewicz J.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— The effects of four subtypes of major depressive disorder on four sleep EEG variables obtained in 153 depressed inpatients were analyzed taking into account the effects of age, gender. DST response and severity of depression. We have found that age significantly affected slow wave sleep. Sleep efficiency and total sleep time were shown to vary with age and severity of depression. Such effects were not detected for REM latency which was influenced by the endogenous subtype and the gender. Our data indicate that in depressed patients sleep EEG measures are influenced by multiple factors.