bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aetiology of anxiety and depressive disorders in an inner-city population. 2. Comorbidity and adversity
Authors: Brown G. W. , Harris T. O. , Eales M. J.
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

An earlier paper documented that adverse experiences in childhood and adolescence considerably raise risk of both depressive and anxiety conditions (with the exception of mild agoraphobia and simple phobia) in adult life. This paper deals with the same inner-city women with children at home. Consideration of adverse experiences throughout adulthood as a whole (excluding the period just before onset) particularly involving major prior losses suggests that rather different aetiological processes may be involved. Depression appears to be often linked to experiences of major loss in adulthood as a whole and to be particularly susceptible to shortcomings in the quality of ongoing social support. For anxiety only early adverse experiences appeared to be critical. (However, the onset of both conditions is often provoked by a severely threatening event in the most recent period – particularly ‘loss’ in depression, and ‘danger’ in anxiety.) Finally the critical role of early experience for both anxiety and depression explains to a considerable extent why they so often occur together; and social factors not studied in the present enquiry may account for some of the remaining unexplained comorbidity.
Specific cognitive flexibility rehabilitation in schizophrenia
Authors: Delahunty Ann , Morice Rodney , Frost Barry
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

A Cognitive Shift neurocognitive training module was developed in the attempt to ameliorate cognitive flexibility deficits in chronic schizophrenic patients. A procedural training approach hypothesized the exercise of specific neural network processes, identified from theories of frontal and prefrontal lobe functioning. Three male patients who underwent the intensive program demonstrated significant gains in Wisconsin Card Sorting Test performance, gains that were maintained at a six month reassessment. Expanded Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (a measure of symptomatology) and Life Skills Profile (a measure of daily functioning) measures showed smaller improvements. The ability to improve cognitive flexibility could have important implications for the treatment of schizophrenia.
Manic patients with schizophrenic or paranoid symptoms
Authors: Brockington I. F. , Wainwright S. , Kendell R. E.
Published: July 2009

SYNOPSIS

A study of 32 patients meeting criteria for ‘schizomanic’ psychosis is described. These psychoses account for about 1 % of hospital admissions. Very few first-degree relatives had either schizophrenia or mania. Lithium seemed an effective treatment. Twenty-four patients made a full recovery, and the series as a whole was closer to manic depressive psychosis than schizophrenia on all outcome measures. Some diagnostic clues are suggested to help the clinician to recognize the patients with a poor prognosis.

These findings are in line with other studies, and suggest that most of these patients should be regarded as manic. This conclusion should lead to some revision of present ideas on the incidence and diagnosis of mania.
Schizoid personality in childhood: a controlled follow-up study
Authors: Wolff Sula , Chick Jonathan
Published: July 2009

Syonpsis

Twenty-two boys with schizoid personality were followed-up some 10 years later and compared with a matched control group with other diagnoses who had been referred to the same child psychiatry department. The diagnostic category is shown to have predictive validity. A start has been made towards an operational definition of the syndrome.
Case definition and case identification in psychiatric epidemiology: review and assessment
Authors: Williams Paul , Tarnopolsky Alex , Hand David
Published: July 2009

SYNOPSIS

Psychiatric epidemiology has advanced considerably since early studies of hospital populations. The direction of this advance has been away from the study of populations of hospital psychiatric patients towards the study of psychiatric disorder in general practice and the community as a whole. Just as the populations under study have different defining characteristics, so have the individuals who comprise them. Psychosis becomes less and less common at greater distances from the hospital patient, and in the community the epidemiologist is faced with large numbers of respondents who present with fewer, minor and non-specific symptoms.

In this review, we present evidence to indicate that concepts of case definition and case identification are insufficiently advanced so far, and are still rooted in ideas derived from hospital psychiatry. Foremost among these is an exclusive preoccupation with diagnosis and symptoms. We suggest that this may be inadequate for the study of non-psychotic disturbance in the community, and discuss other models of case definition, encompassing personality and social functioning as well as psychiatric symptomatology.
Psychiatric screening on a neurological ward
Authors: DePaulo J. Raymond , Folstein Marshal F. , Gordon Barry
Published: July 2009

SYNOPSIS

Two psychiatric screening instruments, the Mini-Mental State (MMS), a test for cognitive disturbance, and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), were administered to 197 neurological in-patients. The results suggest a high rate of psychiatric disturbance. The highest rate of cognitive disturbance detected by the MMS was found in patients with Parkinson's disease. The highest rates of emotional disturbance indicated by GHQ scores were found in patients with myasthenia gravis and multiple sclerosis. MMS scores but not GHQ scores were related to standardtests of cognition, the diagnosis of cerebral pathology, and CAT scan abnormality. The results also demonstrate that the GHQ does not adequately detect patients with cognitive impairment. It is concluded that in populations at high risk for cognitive impairment a tandem screening procedure utilizing tests for both cognitive and emotional disorders is needed.
Auditory sensitivity in psychiatric patients and non-patients: monotic click detection
Authors: Bruder Gerard , Spring Bonnie , Yozawitz Allan , Sutton Samuel
Published: July 2009

SYNOPSIS

The sensitivity in detecting a click was measured separately for the right and left ear of psychiatric patients and non-patient controls using a three-interval forced-choice staircase procedure. Patients with affective disorders showed reduced right ear sensitivity, while schizophrenic patients did not show reduced sensitivity. Lower sensitivity correlated with higher structured-interview ratings of speech retardation.
Psychological aspects of rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Gardiner B. M.
Published: July 2009

SYNOPSIS

This study had 3 aims: to determine whether rheumatoid arthritics had certain personality traits; to examine the relationship between psychological factors and the presence of rheumatoid factor in blood serum; and to explore the prognostic significance of psychological factors in the management of rheumatoid arthritis. Within a few days of discharge, 129 in-patient rheumatoid arthritics were clinically and psychologically assessed and allocated at random to 1 of 3 forms of follow-up care. The psychological assessment included measures of personality, non-psychotic psychiatric disturbance, and attitudes and beliefs. A year later all patients were reassessed. It was found that rheumatoid arthritics were more neurotic in personality, more likely to give socially desirable responses, and more prone to psychiatric disturbance, than the general population. Seropositive patients were less susceptible to psychiatric disturbance than seronegative patients. None of the psychological variables predicted disease activity, but those patients who rated themselves as ‘slow, dependent, and weak’ lost more time off work in the subsequent year.
Awareness of cardiac function in anxious, phobic and hypochondriacal patients
Authors: Tyrer Peter , Lee Ian , Alexander John
Published: July 2009

SYNOPSIS

Awareness of pulse rate was tested in 60 psychiatric out-patients with anxiety, phobic or hypochondriacal neuroses by asking them to record how fast their hearts were beating during exposure to short film sequences. Correlations between subjective and objective heart rate (ECG) were significantly higher in anxious and hypochondriacal patients than in phobic ones. The results suggest that somatic symptoms in hypochondriacal and anxiety neurosis reflect increased awareness of bodily function.
Paranoia and paranoid: a historical perspective
Authors: Lewis Aubrey
Published: July 2009

The history of the words paranoia and paranoid is traced from the Greeks to the present day and their fluctuations of usage and concept are explored.
A historical note on the ascending reticular formation of the brain-stem
Authors: Meyer Alfred
Published: July 2009

Early work on the reticular formation has been largely overlooked, and this article traces back to the beginning of the 19th century the roots of modern developments in this field.
Neuropsychiatric illness and neuropathological findings in a case of Klinefelter's syndrome
Authors: Jablensky A. , Janota I. , Shepherd Michael
Published: July 2009

A case of Klinefelter's syndrome with XXY karyotype and a dementing neuropsychiatric illness associated with a diffuse degeneration of the deep cerebral white matter and adrenal cortical atrophy is presented. The possible relationships between genetic abnormalities and disordered function and structure of the brain are discussed in the light of the clinical and pathological observations.
Disturbances in the regulation of body temperature in anorexia nervosa
Authors: Wakeling A. , Russell G. F. M.
Published: July 2009

The regulation of body temperature was investigated in 11 patients with anorexia nervosa, initially while they were in a malnourished state and again after refeeding when they had reached a near normal weight. The results suggest that there may be a primary defect of temperature regulation in anorexia nervosa which is linked in some way with the feeding disorder characteristic of this illness.
The Leyton Obsessional Inventory
Authors: Cooper John
Published: July 2009

The construction and development of an inventory of 69 questions dealing with the subjective assessment of obsessional traits and symptoms is described. A card-sorting procedure requiring supervision is used, which gives rise to information about feelings of resistance and interference with other activities, in addition to the straightforward answers to the questions. The resulting scores are shown to differentiate well between a group of selected obsessional patients and normals. The problem of to what extent replies to apparently specific questions in inventories and questionnaires can be interpreted as having only general significance is discussed.
Controlled observations on patterns of activity, attention, and impulsivity in brain-damaged and psychiatrically disturbed boys
Authors: Shaffer D. , McNamara Nancy , Pincus J. H.
Published: July 2009

SYNOPSIS

Objective measurements taken from boys with and without a conduct disorder and with and without associated brain injury suggest that overactivity is a function of psychiatric disturbance rather than of an abnormality of the central nervous System. Very few of the children studied were consistently overactive or inattentive. Mothers' reports of overactivity tallied with a measure of conduct disturbance but not with objective measurements of activity or attention.
Averaged evoked response in patients with psychogenic pain
Authors: Mushin Joan , Levy Raymond
Published: July 2009

SYNOPSIS

Cortical somatosensory evoked responses to stimuli of various intensities were recorded in a group of patients with a diagnosis of ‘psychogenic pain’ and in three separate control groups. Differences emerged in the relationship between stimulus intensity and response amplitude. It is suggested that patients with psychogenic pain tended to deal with small stimuli in the way in which the other groups of patients dealt with large stimuli.
Personality factors in analgesic nephropathy
Authors: Murray Robin M.
Published: July 2009

SYNOPSIS

Forty-five patients with analgesic nephropathy showed a trend towards introversion and neuroticism on the Eysenck Personality Inventory. Other analgesic abusers without renal impairment also showed these traits, while controls with renal disease not due to analgesie abuse were significantly less introverted and neurotic. It is suggested that these personality traits predisposed the patients to analgesie abuse and therefore to renal damage.
Selective factors in memory. Part 1: age, sex and personality attributes
Authors: Lishman W. A.
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

Material with pleasurable affective connotations has been found to be better recalled to a significant extent than material with unpleasant connotations in healthy volunteer subjects. Age, neuroticism and extraversion, but not sex, have proved to be associated with the variability which different subjects show in this regard. The implications of these results are discussed in relation to various theoretical constructs which seek to explain the interaction between personality variables and cognitive performance.
Comparative study of psychiatric patients with Klinefelter's syndrome and hypogonadism
Authors: Wakeling A.
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

Eleven psychiatric patients with Klinefelter's syndrome are described and compared with nine patients in whom psychiatric illness was associated with hypogonadism due to causes other than chromosomal abnormality. The possible role of endocrine factors in the psychopathology of Klinefelter's syndrome is discussed in the light of the clinical and physical findings.
A clinical and survey study of latah in Sarawak, Malaysia
Authors: Chiu T. L. , Tong J. E. , Schmidt K. E.
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

During a psychiatric survey in Sarawak, subjects demonstrating latah were examined separately, both clinically and with a questionnaire. Latah occurred only in females, mainly Malays, occasionally Ibans, and never Chinese. Fifty latah subjects were examined, seven were firmly diagnosed as being mentally ill, and another 13 demonstrated mild psychiatric disorders. Dream content indicated an overt sexual component.
Child guidance and delinquency in a London borough
Authors: Gath Dennis , Cooper Brian , Gattoni F. E. G.
Published: July 2009

SYNOPSIS

Patterns of child guidance referral and of juvenile delinquency in a metropolitan borough were examined in relation to neighbourhood and school. The two sets of rates showed similar trends among 20 electoral wards, both being related to socioeconomic indices. They also varied widely among the 100 schools in the borough, being higher for schools of low privilege in the educational system. The school rates appeared to vary independently of neighbourhood effects.
The Addiction Research Unit of the Institute of Psychiatry, London
Authors: Edwards Griffith
Published: July 2009

What sort of animal is a ‘research unit’ supposed to be? At one extreme it can see itself as a collection of workers each pursuing his own bent, and who just happen to lodge in the same building. The opposite would be a unit dedicated to rigidly programmed research.
The natural history of depression in general practice: stochastic models
Authors: Dunn Graham , Skuse David
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

Three statistical models are presented to describe different aspects of the natural history of depression (as recognized by a general practitioner) during a 20-year study of a single general practice. After controlling for age, the prevalence of recognized depression in men increased during the 20 years of the study (1957–76), but there was little change in women. In any given year, however, women are both more likely to become depressed than men, and are less likely to recover. The changes in prevalence are shown to be due to changes in observed incidence and recovery rates. Taking into account attendances over the previous 5 years at which a diagnosis of depression was made, the models enable one to predict, for example, incidence rates for ‘first episodes’ of recognized depression, and recovery rates for ‘chronic’ patients. In all situations there is a significant sex difference (women always being more likely to be recognized as depressed), but this difference is smaller at the end than at the beginning of the 20 years.
Psychiatric admissions and aircraft noise from London Airport: four-year, three-hospitals' study
Authors: Jenkins Linda , Tarnopolsky Alex , Hand David
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

Nine thousand persons admitted to three large psychiatric hospitals, over a period of four years, were classified according to the aircraft noise exposure of their home address, using the Noise and Number Index. The analysis searched first for simple associations between exposure and admission rates, then for complex interactions with socio-economic characteristics of the area of residence. There was no common pattern of admissions across the three hospitals: in one case the rates decreased with aircraft noise; in the other two the rates increased with noise exposure. However, since in all cases the trends could be attributed to non-noise factors characteristic of the population, it was concluded that the effects of noise, if any, could only be small, weakly influencing other causal variables but not overriding them. Further analyses showed that positive associations between noise and admissions occurred in some groups and in some districts. People 45 years old and over exhibited higher admission rates than expected in the highest noise zone in one hospital. The districts where a positive trend between noise and admissions was evident were those with a higher proportion of one-person households, a higher proportion of immigrants, or a higher proportion of professionals and managers; however, these results were only found in one hospital with counterexamples in others. No strong, significant noise effect could be found. Limitations of the hospital records and specific difficulties in setting up the data for these studies are discussed.
A prospective study of life events and psychological symptoms
Authors: Andrews Gavin
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

Subjects who were initially free of psychological symptoms completed life event and symptom measures on 3 subsequent occasions 4 months apart. As expected, an association was found between symptoms and life events reported as occurring in the previous 4 months. A path analysis model was then constructed. The association between symptoms and events of the previous 4 months remained, but in neither panel did events reported as occurring more than 4 months previously predict symptoms.
Compulsory admissions in a London borough: II. Circumstances surrounding admission: service implications
Authors: Szmukler G. I.
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

The circumstances immediately surrounding compulsory admissions are examined. These circumstances can be seen largely to derive from the long-term psychiatric and social difficulties of patients described in Part I. A constellation of factors is identified which often limits any alternative to a compulsory admission. A number of recommendations are made based on these findings which are designed to diminish the need for compulsion in the future.
Voice pitch measurements in schizophrenia and depression
Authors: Leff Julian , Abberton Evelyn
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

A monotonous voice is produced by schizophrenic patients whose expression of emotion is damped down and by patients with a severe degree of depression. Clinically, the distinction between these two diagnostic entities is virtually impossible to establish auditorily on the basis of voice quality alone. The laryngograph has been developed recently to record laryngeal activity. It was used to study voice pitch in a series of emotionally blunted and non-blunted schizophrenics, and retarded and non-retarded depressives. The frequency distributions of the laryngographic recordings were analysed to yield kurtosis scores. The group of retarded depressives had a significantly higher kurtosis score than the group of blunted schizophrenics. Hence this technique allows an objective distinction to be made between two kinds of monotonous voice produced by psychiatric patients. Furthermore, blunted schizophrenics had a higher mean kurtosis score than non-blunted schizophrenics, indicating that this measure can also be used as an objective index of blunting of affect in schizophrenia.
Screening for psychiatric disorder
Authors: Eastwood M. R.
Published: July 2009

SYNOPSIS

The concept of screening, and in particular multiphasic screening, is being introduced into medical practice. The subject is controversial and doubts have been expressed as to ils present applicability. This article is concerned with whether screening is appropriate for psychiatric disorder and is subdivided into a review of screening in general, the distribution of psychiatric disorder, psychiatric screening instruments, an outline of a psychiatric screening survey, and, finally, the evaluation of psychiatric screening.
Personality deviance and personal symptomatology
Authors: Foulds G. A.
Published: July 2009

SYNOPSIS

It is argued that personality deviance and personal symptomatology fall within different universes of discourse and that any individual may belong to either, neither, or both classes. In order to develop suitable measurements, distinctions are drawn between symptoms, states, deviant and normal traits, which have implications for the distributions of scores and for their stability or change over time. Measures likely to meet the criteria are illustrated. A classification is developed which incorporates those with and without the ability to cope with personal symptomatology and/or personality deviance. Some uses of the classificatory scheme and the measurements are suggested.
Effect of lithium administration on RNA metabolism in rat brain
Authors: Dewar A. J. , Reading H. W.
Published: July 2009

SYNOPSIS

An attempt has been made to explain the changes in uric acid levels observed in the phase of manic depressive illness by suggesting that they may be a reflection of changes in brain RNA metabolism. The effect of prolonged lithium administration on RNA synthesis in rat brain and liver has been studied. Differences in the rate of turnover of brain RNA between the lithium-treated and saline control animals have been observed.
Psychopathic personality: a most elusive category
Authors: Lewis Aubrey
Published: July 2009

SYSNOPSIS

For 150 years the diagnostic concept at first called ‘moral insanity’ has been troubling psychiatric nosologists. Initially emphasis was laid on the affective disturbance in this condition, which was unaccompanied by intellectual impairment. Then its conformity to the idea of a degenerative process became prominent. At various times its relation to epilepsy, hereditary disease, and vice and crime has held the stage. Latterly little advantage has been taken of the information provided about personality by the investigations of psychologists.
Personality disorder and the International Classification of Diseases
Authors: Shepherd Michael , Sartorius Norman
Published: July 2009

SYSNOPSIS

Despite diagnostic imprecision and terminological confusion, the concept of personality disorder remains indispensable to clinical psychiatric practice. In relation to the International Classification of Diseases the problems were examined at a seminar which formed part of the World Health Organization's programme on Psychiatric Diagnosis, Classification, and Statistics. The conclusions of the seminar are presented in this paper.
Long-term treatment of endogenous depression with nortriptyline with control of plasma levels
Authors: Kragh-Sørensen Per , Hansen Christian Eggert , Larsen Niels-Erik , Næstoft Jørgen , Hvidberg Eigill F.
Published: July 2009

SYSNOPSIS

The study was undertaken in order to clarify the clinical pharmacological basis for a correct design of controlled trials of the prophylactic effect of tricyclic antidepressants. Twenty-two patients, successfully treated with nortriptyline (NT) in hospital for endogenous depression, continued the treatment for up to five months in the outpatient clinic. Plasma levels of NT were checked, and ratings were performed regularly. Depressive relapses, all related to low plasma levels of NT, were seen in three patients. The gas Chromatographic method, described in detail, has proved suitable for clinical routine and the results demonstrate the value of monitoring plasma levels in achieving therapeutic control.
Psychiatric inpatients in 1982: how many beds?
Authors: Fryers T.
Published: July 2009

SYSNOPSIS

Using data collected by the Salford Psychiatric Case Register from 1 January 1968 to 1 January 1972, the current use of psychiatric inpatient beds is presented and trends discussed. Estimates are given for the likely occupancy at 1 January 1982, for short and medium stay (under one year), and long-stay (one year or more) beds. Three methods of projecting the accumulation of new long-stay patients are described and discussed. The total occupancy by 1982 is likely to be about 2·3 beds/1,000 total population, about 1·7/1,000 for long-stay patients.
History in the study of suicide
Authors: Rosen George
Published: July 2009

SYNOPSIS

Historical analysis can contribute to the study of suicide as a form of human behaviour by providing perspective. Examining suicide in relation to changing social conditions, value systems, institutions and ideologies at different periods and in various societies may suggest ways of looking at suicide in our society. Materials presented here also indicate possibilities for further investigation.
Depressive syndromes and the classification of patients
Authors: Garside R. K. , Kay D. W. K. , Wilson I. C. , Deaton I. D. , Roth M.
Published: July 2009

SYNOPSIS

The scores of 269 depressed patients on the Depressive Category-Type Scale were analysed. The distributions of component and total scores were found to be bimodal, indicating that most depressed patients can be divided into an endogenous group and another characterized by the presence of neurotic features and the absence of endogenous ones. These findings were discussed in relation to those of other investigators. The relationship between the differentiation of syndromes and the classification of patients into corresponding diagnostic groups was considered. Finally, it was suggested that it should be interesting to try to estimate, from published data, the correlation between endogenous and neurotic depression in the general population.
Addendum: Pharmacology and psychiatry
Authors: Marley E.
Published: July 2009

Interest has recently focused on the possibility that the efficacy of drugs used in schizophrenia depends on their ability to alter disposition of cerebral dopamine. Thus, Phenothiazines and butyrophenones elevate dopamine turnover in the brain. (Andén, Roos, and Werdinius, 1964; Laverty and sharman, 1965; Sharman, 1966; Andén, Butcher, Corrodi, Fuxe, and Ungerstedt, 1970); Compounds which are clinically the most potent are those with greatest effect on dopamine turnover (Laverty and Sharman, 1965; O'Keeffe, Sharman, and Vogt, 1970). Augmented turnover is thought to be a consequence of the blockade of central dopamine receptors by these drugs. X-ray crystallography has revealed a similarity of the dopamine conformation to part of the chlorpromazine structure, suggesting that of the chlorpromazine structure, suggesting that phenothiazines can occupy dopamine receptors (Horn and snyder, 1971). More conclusively, in cats, dogs, and rabbits, chlorpromazine antagonized vascular effects of dopamine (Rossum, 1966; Yeh, McNay, and Goldberg, 1969; Brotzu, 1970); and haloperidol considerably diminished motor effects evoked by dopamine infused into the brain of cats and fowls (Cools and Rossum, 1970; Marley and Nistico, 1972).
‘Psychogenic’: a word and its mutations
Authors: Lewis Aubrey
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

The word ‘psychogenic’ was introduced into psychiatry in 1894 by Robert Sommer. Many attempts have been made to clarify the concept it denotes and apply it to clinical purposes. These attempts have been bedevilled by unsettled philosophical problems. It is suggested that the word should be decently buried.
Salivation in affective disorders
Authors: Bolwig Tom G. , Rafaelsen Ole J.
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

Spontaneous and metacholine-stimulated salivation rates were measured in endogenous depression, symptomatic depression, mania, and healthy controls. In manic-depressive patients concentrations of salivary electrolytes were measured. Salivation rates were decreased in untreated endogenous depression and mania. After remission by ECT but not by drug treatment flow rates increased towards normal values. Estimations of electrolytes revealed no specific pattern of excretion in manic-depressive patients.
Chlormethiazole, sleep, and drug withdrawal
Authors: Evans J. I. , Lewis S. A. , Tinker M.
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

The hypothesis that drug withdrawal delirium was related to a gross disturbance of sleep and a marked excess of REM sleep, suggested that drugs used to treat delirium should depress REM sleep. Chlormethiazole in doses over l g was found to be effective in depressing REM sleep and in blocking the REM sleep rebound when sodium amylobarbitone (400 mg) was stopped abruptly.
Psycholinguistics of schizophrenic language
Authors: Silverman Gerald
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

Cloze procedures using fifth and fourth word deletions were compared for schizophrenic and non-schizophrenic speech transcripts. Both methods distinguished between the schizophrenic and non-schizophrenic speech. Fourth word deletion gave lower scores overall and this effect was significantly greater for the more disorganized schizophrenic speech. An encoding deficit involving inappropriate repetition is discussed as a possible explanation for the findings.
Motivation for drinking among men: survey of a London suburb
Authors: Edwards Griffith , Hensman Celia , Chandler Jane , Peto Julian
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

Three hundred and six male subjects in a community survey reported on their ‘motivation for drinking’. Factor analysis revealed three major factors. Factor 1 relates to N (neuroticism) score, more extreme drinking, and likelihood of drink-related trouble. Factor 2 is associated with more privileged and factor 3 with less privileged class status.
Change in psychotherapy: a single case study
Authors: Shapiro D. A. , Hobson R. F.
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

In a single case study of changes during psychotherapy, the patient reported more subjective distress after interviews than before, despite evidence of improvement over six months of a treatment apparently low in ‘therapeutic conditions’. The implications of findings from this and related studies for the psychotherapeutic process are discussed.
Perception of hunger and satiety in anorexia nervosa
Authors: Garfinkel Paul E.
Published: July 2009

SYSNOPSIS

Eleven patients with anorexia and 11 matched controls were given questionnaires on hunger and satiety before and after a standard meal in order to evaluate the way in which patients with anorexia nervosa consciously recognize and describe their sensations of hunger and satiety. The findings showed that the patients perceived hunger in a manner similar to the controls, but they were more preoccupied with thoughts of food, had a stronger urge to eat, and were more anxious when hungry. The patients, unlike the controls, frequently did not describe satiety in terms of gastric fullness. The disordered perception of satiety, however, was not related to clinical outcome. These findings are discussed in terms of their implications for treating anorexia nervosa.
Rehabilitation of chronic psychotic patients
Authors: Griffiths R. David
Published: July 2009

SYSNOPSIS

This investigation was concerned with the description, treatment, and follow-up of a group of patients selected by age (18–55 years), diagnosis (psychotic), and the presence of work problems (unemployed for more than 12 months). The patients were of below average intelligence, and substantial numbers were characterized by low drive to return to work, unrealistic attitudes, a lack of self-confidence, and adverse attitudes towards the existence and extent of handicap. An evaluative and experimental study subsequently indicated that a rehabilitation programme was unsuccessful in changing attitudes and returning patients to industrial roles in the community. Aspects of outcome such as work status were predicted by earlier assessments of motivation, self-confidence, and patients' view of the presence and extent of handicap; outcome was not predicted by the initial assessments of work level, length of unemployment, intellectual level, and the realism of attitudes.
Steady-state plasma concentrations during single and multiple dosage schedules of amitriptyline
Authors: Braithwaite R. A. , Nakra B. R. S. , Gaind R.
Published: July 2009

SYSNOPSIS

Plasma amitriptyline and nortriptyline concentrations were measured in a group of five adult subjects who each received two different dosage regimes of amitriptyline (Tryptizol) for 14 day periods—namely, 25 mg three times daily and 75 mg once nightly. Mean steady-state plasma concentrations during the two dosage regimes were in close accord. The daily variation in drugplasma concentrations were only minimal during the thrice daily dosage regime but during the once nightly dosage regime there was an average decline in total drug plasma concentrations (amitriptyline plus nortriptyline) of about 30%. It was concluded that antidepressant medication with amitriptyline using a single nightly dose schedule might be more reliably taken by patients without there being any significant reduction in therapeutic efficacy.
Disturbed voluntary motor activity in schizophrenic disorder
Authors: Manschreck Theo C. , Maher Brendan A. , Rucklos Mary E. , Vereen Donald R.
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

Although motor features associated with schizophrenic disorders have been reported often, they have never been well understood and, since the introduction of neuroleptic drugs, they have been largely neglected. We report that disturbed voluntary motor activity occurs frequently among schizophrenics, is especially associated with features of formal thought disorder, but also with affective blunting, neurologic ‘soft’ signs. Certain motor and thinking abnormalities in schizophrenics may have a common pathogenetic basis.
Food antibodies in schizophrenia
Authors: Kinnell H. G. , Kirkwood E. , Lewis Catriona
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

This study investigates the validity of the suggestion that food allergy is relevant to the manifestation of schizophrenic illness. Antibodies to oats, wheat, gluten, chicken, calf and milk protein were measured in 98 schizophrenics and in 90 unaffected close blood relatives. The majority of patients were male out-patients, and most were on neuroleptic medication. Antibodies were detected in only a minority of patients.
Transient psychoses in anorexia nervosa: a report of 7 cases
Authors: Grounds Adrian
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

Seven cases of anorexia nervosa associated with a brief psychotic episode are described. The psychoses all resolved completely and were similar in their atypical form. In 5 cases an organic cause could not be established, but psychological stress may have been an aetiological factor.
Depression in anorexia nervosa
Authors: Eckert Elke D. , Goldberg Solomon C. , Halmi Katherine A. , Casper Regina C. , Davis John M.
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

In three collaborating institutions 105 hospitalized female anorexia nervosa patients were assessed for depressive symptomatology periodically during treatment. As a whole, patients were mildly to moderately depressed, being as depressed as anxious neurotics and less depressed than depressed neurotics. The more depressed patients showed a variety of characteristics, many of which have previously been shown to be indicators of poor prognosis. Over the course of treatment patients became less depressed. Weight gain was correlated with a decrease in depression.
Return to the family and its consequence for rehospitalization among recently discharged mental patients
Authors: Blumenthal Richard , Kreisman Dolores , O'Connor Patricia A.
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

This study examined the contribution that living arrangements made to the rehospitalization rates of mental patients discharged to the community during the first 7 months they spent there. Over 20000 mental patients discharged from psychiatric facilities in the state of New York were categorized on the basis of the living arrangements to which they were discharged. These included living alone, parental, marital, other relatives or friends, and domiciliary settings. The sample was divided in half and results of the analysis of the first sample were replicated on the second sample. Analysis of covariance and multiple regression techniques revealed that patients discharged to marital settings were rehospitalized less than those discharged to other settings, and that there were no differences in the return rates among the remaining settings. The major predictor of rehospitalization was the number of previous hospitalizations. The implications of these findings for further research on supportive as well as stressful parameters of community and family settings are discussed.
The admission of the elderly to places of care: a socio-psychiatric community survey
Authors: Gillis L. S. , Elk R. , Trichard L. , Le Fevre K. , Zabow A. , Joffe H. , Van Schalkwyk D. J.
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

Elderly persons over the age of 60 who were admitted for psychiatric care were compared with a random sample of persons living in the same community in respect of psychiatric, medical and socio-economic variables. The group admitted to hospital for psychiatric reasons was very similar to the latter in general characteristics. However, those people admitted to old age homes, which are the other major resource for psychiatric illness, constitute a distinctly separate population, being older and having considerably more physical illnesses and socio-economic problems. Factors predicting admission to an old age home were largely irremediable age-related conditions (dementia, physical infirmity, etc.), but there were also adverse social circumstances, including marked isolation and a lack of social and emotional support. A comparative analysis of the many psychiatric, social and medical factors is presented, with particular reference to reasons for referral and prevention of admission.
A longitudinal study of psychotropic drug prescription
Authors: Williams P. , Murray J. , Clare A.
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

While many of the characteristics of psychotropic drug consumers have been established by means of cross-sectional studies, little is known about new consumers and the factors which predispose to long-term treatment. We report on a longitudinal study of 153 general practice patients beginning a new course of psychotropic drug treatment and characterized by extensive physical and psychological morbidity. About 1 in 5 were still receiving psychotropic drugs 6 months later and this prolonged treatment was associated with increased age, previous psychotropic drug-use, higher levels of psychological morbidity at the inception of treatment and, for the women only, social problems as perceived by the general practitioners.
Mental disorders in primary health care: a study of their frequency and diagnosis in four developing countries
Authors: Harding T. W. , De Arango V. , Baltazar J. , Climent C. E. , Ibrahim H. H. A. , Ladrido-Ignacio L. , Wig N. N.
Published: July 2009

SYNOPSIS

1624 patients who were attending primary health facilities in 4 developing countries were examined to determine how many were suffering from mental disorder. Using stringent criteria to establish the presence of psychiatric morbidity, 225 cases were found, indicating an overall frequency of 13·9 %. The great majority of cases were suffering from neurotic illnesses and for most the presenting complaint was of a physical symptom, such as headache, abdominal pain, cough or weakness. The health workers following their normal procedure correctly detected one third of the psychiatric cases.
A multiple criterion screen for identifying secondary school children with psychiatric disorder: Characteristics and efficiency of screen
Authors: Macmillan A. , Kolvin I. , Garside R. F. , Nicol A. R. , Leitch I. M.
Published: July 2009

SYNOPSIS

A multiple criterion screen was developed as part of a study which was designed to assess different types of intervention for school children with psychiatric disorder. The foremost requirement was that false positives be kept to a minimum, with selected children being unequivocally disturbed. Children were identified for treatment by the following measures: (a) teacher rating on the Rutter B2 Scale, giving a total score and subscores for neurotic and antisocial behaviour; (b) peer ratings on a sociometric measure, yielding isolation and rejection scores; and (c) self ratings on the Junior Eysenck Personality Inventory, specifically the neuroticism dimension. A weighting system was developed so that children could be selected on the basis of extreme scores on either teacher or self-rating measures alone, or by a combination of less extreme scores on more than one measure. The results are presented and discussed.
Ward rating scales for long-stay patients: a review
Authors: hall John N.
Published: July 2009

SYNOPSIS

Twenty-nine published ward rating scales for long-stay psychiatric patients are reviewed according to a standard set of criteria. Attention is paid to details of the rating setting, the rating procedure, and scale construction and evaluation, and some detailed recommendations are made. Only 4 scales meet a subset of 5 minimal criteria.
Relationship between pre-operative anxiety and post-operative state
Authors: Johnston Marie , Carpenter Lucy
Published: July 2009

SYNOPSIS

Janis (1958) has proposed a curvilinear relationship between pre-operative anxiety and post-operative emotional state. While other hypotheses share the prediction of a poor outcome for patients with pre-operative high anxiety, Janis' theory is unique in predicting a poor outcome for those with low anxiety. Subsequent research has failed to confirm Janis' hypotheses, perhaps because the designs have been insensitive to the predictions for low anxiety patients.

The current study tests the hypothesis more directly and finds some support for a linear relationship between pre-operative anxiety and post-operative negative affect, with no support for Janis' curvilinear hypothesis. On the whole, pre-operative anxiety was a poor predictor of other measures of recovery but, on one measure, patients with low anxiety showed a slower recovery than those with moderate anxiety, i.e. supporting the prediction of a poor outcome for low anxiety patients.

The implications of these results for pre-operative preparation of surgical patients and the development of theories of anxiety are discussed.
Effect of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) on plasma tryptophan
Authors: Whalley L. J. , Yates C. M. , Christie J. E.
Published: July 2009

SYNOPSIS

The concentrations of total and free plasma tryptophan were measured in 12 unipolar depressed patients before and after a course of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and before and after single ECTs during the course of treatment. Eleven patients undergoing diagnostic cystoscopy served as controls to examine the acute effect of anaesthesia. Total and free plasma tryptophan concentrations in the depressed patients were not significantly different from control values and were not changed by the course of ECT. Free plasma tryptophan varied considerably within individual patients. Total plasma tryptophan was reduced acutely by ECT/anaesthesia in the depressed patients (P< 0·05) and by anaesthesia in the cystoscopy controls (P< 0·01). Free plasma tryptophan was not significantly altered. This reduction in total plasma tryptophan could be secondary to an effect of thiopentone on albumin binding of tryptophan.
Part 1. A logical analysis of the medico-psychological concept of disease
Authors: Taylor F. Kräupl
Published: July 2009

SYNOPSIS

Theories of symbolic logic are used in an attempt to clarify the medico-psychological concept of disease. It is argued that the class concept of diseased persons has as its extension the universal class of patients, and as its intension the attribute concept of patienthood (or disease in general). It is proposed that the diagnosis of patienthood has as its sufficient and necessary condition the experience of therapeutic concern by a person for himself and/or the arousal of therapeutic concern for him in his social environment. The experience of therapeutic concern has as its necessary condition, and also as its specific psychological cause, the observation of clinical symptoms and/or other pathological manifestations. The general domain of patients and its various subdivisions are empirical classes which are logically inexact—that is, contain neutral members in the form of dubious patients—and are polythetically characterized—that is, by a loose cluster of pathological attributes of which only a substantial proportion need be exhibited by a class member. The division of the domain of patients (and therefore the classification of patients) is commonly achieved by the addition to the intension of the domain of pathological attributes. These must, of course, be attributes which are not universally or predominantly shared by the domain members. Endopathological and exopathological abnormalities have proved themselves as the most useful classifying criteria. Their addition to the intension of the domain of patients separates particular classes from the rest of the domain. The intensions of these classes correspond to particular diseases, and list all the relevant clinical, endopathological, and exopathological data, if available. When a particular endopathological abnormality is by definition established as the specific cause of its clinical symptoms, then the intension in question corresponds to an aetiologically homogeneous disease entity.
Drinking problems among recidivist prisoners
Authors: Edwards Griffith , Hensman Celia , Peto Julian
Published: July 2009

SYNOPSIS

The general relationship between alcohol and crime is reviewed, and five central methodological problems are identified relevant to prison population ‘alcoholism prevalence surveys’ as a prelude to a report of an investigation of 500 recidivist prisoners. The prevalence rate is shown to be highly dependent on the particular definition of ‘alcoholism’ which is employed. Long-term and short-term prisoner subgroups are compared, and similarities with a population of non-prisoner homeless men discussed. A ‘dependence score’ derived from an operant conditioning model of alcoholism correlates significantly with various measures of social instability.
Part 1. Improvement criteria in drug trials with neurotic patients
Authors: Kellner Robert
Published: July 2009

SYNOPSIS

Published drug trials with neurotic patients are surveyed and rating scales and other improvement criteria are tabulated and related to outcome. These findings are compared with the results of studies which were designed to evaluate the effectiveness of various improvement criteria. The principles of the construction of distress scales and the method of testing reliability and validity of scales which purport to measure changes are discussed.