bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An 11‐year follow‐up study of 110 depressed patients
Authors: Lehmann H. E. , Fenton F. R. , Deutsch M. , Feldman S. , Engelsmann F.
Published: August 2007

In 1972 the World Health Organization organized a cross‐cultural five‐centre study of depressive disorders. This report is concerned with data collected, after an 11‐year follow‐up period, in the sample of 110 depressed patients in Montreal, Canada. Eighty‐five percent were traced and 59% were interviewed. Of 93 patients, 20 were dead at the follow‐up date, 11 by suicide. Fifty‐two percent of patients were receiving psychiatric treatment at follow‐up, but there was no relation between psychiatric morbidity and treatment‐seeking. Moderate or severe impairment of social functioning was present in 32%; in women, a trend linking the presence of social impairment and the time spent in episodes was observed. Of the episodes of psychiatric illness recorded after the index episode, 86% were diagnosed as depressive, 14% as unspecified affective disorder. The mean durations of the index and four subsequent episodes were 10, 11, 7, 11, and 2 months respectively. At least one recurrence after the index episode was reported by 78%, at least four recurrences by 19%. Episodes lasted at least one year in 5%, 4%, 6%, and 6% in the first, second, third and fourth episodes respectively. Sixteen percent were depressed for at least one year and 31% for at least 2 years. There was a marked trend from inpatient to outpatient treatment and from ECT to drug therapy over time. Twenty‐two percent reported either moderate or severe problems with alcohol or substance abuse. There was a statistically significant association between the amount of time patients spent in depressive episodes and the number of life events they reported. Many more depressed patients in the “neurotic” diagnostic group than in the “endogenous” group lived alone; patients in the “neurotic” group also reported more life events. On the other hand, more “endogenous” patients were receiving psychiatric treatment at follow‐up.
Sleep in the premenstrual phase: a self‐report study of PMS patients and normal controls
Authors: Mauri M. , Reid R. L. , MacLean A. W.
Published: August 2007

Sleep disturbances commonly occur in the premenstruum in both Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) patients and in women from the general population. Reports on the Post‐Sleep Inventory were obtained from a clinic sample of PMS patients and samples from the general population dichotomized into a non‐clinic group with and without premenstrual disturbance on the basis of their scores on the Premenstrual Tension Syndrome Self Rating Scale. The patients reported degrees of disturbance that were consistently higher than either or both the other two groups. PMS patients reported unpleasant dreams, awakenings, failure to wake at the expected time and tiredness in the morning, and heightened mental activity during the night and upon awakening. The three groups could be reliably discriminated on this basis with an overall accuracy of 82%. Sleep disturbances form an important component of premenstrual disturbance and merit specific clinical intervention and more detailed investigation.
Psychopathology and personality characteristics of epileptic patients: epilepsy, psychopathology and personality
Authors: Garyfallos G. , Manos N. , Adamopoulou A.
Published: August 2007

The psychiatric investigation of a sample of 101 epileptic patients (65 temporal lobe epileptics (TLE) and 36 non‐TLE) through various methods of evaluation, showed that only a minority of TLE with DSM‐III diagnoses of Organic Brain Syndromes had severe psychopathology and manifested some personality traits. Thus, these patients seem to be differentiated from the rest of epileptics, TLE and non‐TLE, who had quite “benign” psychological problems, if at all. It is quite probable that this sub‐group of TLE could be the main instigators and perpetrators of the “bad image” of epileptics. The findings are discussed in relation to the pertinent literature and some hypotheses are offered for their explanation.
Hypothalamic‐pituitary‐gonadal axis in major depressive disorders
Authors: Undén F. , Ljunggren J. G. , Beck‐Friis J. , Kjellman B. F. , Wetterberg L.
Published: August 2007

The baseline LH, FSH and testosterone levels and the LH and FSH response to TRH‐LHRH administration (ΔLH, ΔFSH) were investigated in 28 patients meeting the RDC criteria for an acute major depressive disorder, and in 20 healthy persons. Twenty‐two patients were also reinvestigated in a state of complete or partial clinical remission. Cross‐sectional and longitudinal comparisons were made between the groups divided according to sex and menopausal status. After mathematical correction for age differences, the depressed males with an abnormal DST response showed significantly (P < 0.03) higher ΔFSH in the acute state compared to the controls. No relation could be established between the HPG axis hormone levels and the nocturnal serum melatonin levels or the PRL or TSH response to TRH‐LHRH administration. In the longitudinal part of the study, the depressed males with an abnormal DST response showed decreased (P < 0.03) testosterone levels and increased ΔFSH (n.s.) in the acute state compared to remission, in contrast to the males with a normal DST. The present results do not support a hypothesis regarding a stimulus‐induced down‐regulation of the pituitary LHRH receptors in our patients. The possible mechanisms by which HPA axis activation (as revealed by an abnormal DST response) could influence the HPG axis in depressed patients remain to be elucidated.
Post‐influenzal psychiatric disorder in adolescents
Authors: Meijer A. , Zakay‐Rones Z. , Morag A.
Published: August 2007

The association between influenza and psychiatric disorder in adolescents was studied at a time when both were highly prevalent concurrently. First 505 secondary school pupils aged 15–18 completed questionnaires, including a symptom inventory derived from the SCL‐90‐R. Subsequently, 113 blood samples were examined for influenza antibody titers of five virus strains. Statistical analysis showed that adolescents who had been ill with influenza in the previous six months had significantly more psychiatric disorder than those who had not been ill with influenza in that period.
Ego functions in epilepsy
Authors: Sørensen A. S. , Hansen H. , Høgenhaven H. , Bolwig T. G.
Published: August 2007

Two groups of epilepsy patients (28 patients with temporal lobe epilepsy and 15 patients with primary generalized epilepsy) entered a study of personality traits related to epilepsy, based on a modification of Bellak's semistructured interview for assessment of ego strength. Two groups of subjects served as controls: 15 patients with a non‐neurological but relapsing disorder, psoriasis, and 15 healthy volunteers. Compared with the group of healthy volunteers, a decreased adaptive level of ego functioning was found in the epilepsy groups, regardless of seizure types and EEG findings, and, to a lesser extent, compared with the psoriasis group. Areas of ego functioning most affected were “reality testing”, “cognitive functioning”, “integrative functioning” and “regulation and control of drives”. Patients with more than one type of seizure were the most affected, as were patients who were younger than 15 years when the disease began. The number of anticonvulsants administered did not influence the results. No difference on adaptive level of ego functioning was found between the group with primary generalized epilepsy and the group with temporal lobe epilepsy. Similarly, the temporal lobe epilepsy group with predominantly right‐sided and left‐sided EEG changes, respectively, showed similar adaptive levels of ego functioning.
Electrodermal activity in depressive patients in remission and in matched healthy subjects
Authors: Thorell L.‐H. , D'Elia G.
Published: August 2007

Electrodermal activity (EDA) was investigated in 28 patients when depressive and when in remission and in 28 matched and 59 unmatched healthy subjects. The follow‐up period ranged from 3 to 37 months (median two years). All the EDA variables were significantly elevated at follow‐up and did not differ significantly from the EDA of the matched healthy subjects. However, in patients with extremely low electrodermal responsivity (EDR) when depressed, including suicide attempters, EDA was significantly elevated, but did not reach the levels of the healthy subjects, except for one EDA variable. Further, patients with major depressive episode and a history of recurrent depression did not reach the EDR levels found in the healthy subjects. The results are interpretated as an indication that normalization of EDA does not parallel clinical recovery and may be extended for several months (perhaps years for the EDR), possibly indicating vulnerability to relapse. The data may also be interpreted that persons who are normally electroder‐mally hyporesponsive, may, when depressive, develop a state of extreme hyporespon‐sivity that seems to be linked to the ability to carry out a suicide attempt.
The risk factors for Alzheimer's disease: a review and a hypothesis
Authors: Henderson A. S.
Published: August 2007

More than 20 risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD) have been proposed in the literature. The evidence for them is examined in this review. Amongst those that appear likely to be true risk factors, an attempt is made to identify a common mechanism to which they might contribute. There is some support for a hypothesis that the formation of amyloid plaques is due to the activity of free oxygen radicals. This would be consistent with the association between AD and late age, a family history of Down's syndrome, vascular dementia, head injury, and exposure to phenacetin, organic solvents or vibrating tools. This hypothesis provides a theory‐driven lead in the search for further risk factors; if upheld, it would suggest a strategy for treatment and for prevention.
The 24‐hour pattern of urinary MHPG excretion in depressives and normals
Authors: Van Bemmel A. L. , Smeets E. H. J. , Van Diest R.
Published: August 2007

The 24‐h pattern of urinary 3‐methoxy‐4‐hydroxy‐phenylglycol (MHPG) was studied in 15 depressives and 15 healthy controls. MHPG was measured at 3‐h intervals over two consecutive 24‐h periods. The shape of the MHPG excretion pattern of the depressed group was different from that of the control group. However, both the consistency and shape of the individual 24‐h MHPG patterns exhibited a high interindividual variability. Therefore it is difficult to speculate on a circadian phase difference between depressives and healthy controls. Major factors that may have influenced our results are discussed.
Adrenoceptor and imipramine receptor binding during the menstrual cycle
Authors: Stowell L. I. , Mclntosh C. J. , Cooke R. , Ellis P. M.
Published: August 2007

The binding characteristics of platelet α2‐adrenoceptors, lymphocyte β2‐adrenoceptors and platelet imipramine receptors were studied in five women during their menstrual cycle. A significant cyclic variation in the number of β2‐adrenoceptor sites on intact lymphocytes was found during the menstrual cycle, while binding to α2‐adrenoceptors and imipramine receptors remained unchanged.
Life satisfaction and adjustment in lithium‐treated affective patients in remission
Authors: Lepkifker E. , Horesh N. , Floru S.
Published: August 2007

The aim of this study was to assess life satisfaction and adjustment of lithium‐treated affective patients in remission. Scores of life satisfaction and adjustment in four areas were obtained for two experimental groups of 50 unipolars and 50 bipolars and for two control groups of 50 healthy individuals and 50 patients with personality disorders. Subjects’ self‐assessments and psychiatrists’ evaluations were rated using a modification of Cantril's ladder device. No significant differences were found between affective patients and healthy controls regarding life satisfaction and adjustment, whereas psychiatric controls scored significantly less on most indices. Moreover, the treating psychiatrists rated affective patients significantly higher than psychiatric controls and perceived them as actualizing their potential to a greater degree. Thus, it is concluded that neither the affective illness nor lithium as a prophylactic agent interfered with the patients’ feelings of satisfaction or with manifest functioning while in remission.
Eating Disorder Inventory in Sweden: description, cross‐cultural comparison, and clinical utility
Authors: Norring C. , Sohlberg S.
Published: August 2007

The Eating Disorder Inventory is one of very few tests for anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa that measures not only symptoms but also psychological characteristics believed to be central in these disorders. This study of 425 patients and control subjects showed that patients had markedly higher scores than controls and recovered patients on all eight scales. Individuals with bulimia nervosa scored higher on a few of the scales than those with anorexia nervosa, as did binge eaters at all weights compared with those who only restricted eating. Comparison with Canadian subjects showed several differences in normal controls. Since the technical properties of our Swedish version of the EDI were excellent, these differences may be meaningful rather than artifacts of the translation. Finally, the analyses indicated that the EDI may be useful for purposes of screening for eating disorders, and possibly for differential diagnosis.
Fat consumption and schizophrenia
Authors: Christensen O. , Christensen E.
Published: August 2007

This report describes the statistical association between the average ratings of course and outcome of schizophrenia in 8 national centres participating in the World Health Organization international 2‐year follow‐up study (1) and the amount of fat in the average national diets as published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2). Highly significant correlations were found between favourable ratings of course and outcome of schizophrenia and a low percentage of total fat (r= 0.80–0.90; P<0.05) and of fat from land animals and birds (composed mainly of saturated fat) (r= 0.91–0.95; P<0.01). High percentage of fat from vegetables, fish and seafood (having a relatively high content of unsaturated fatty acids) tended to be associated with a favourable course and outcome (r= 0.23–0.50; P>0.10). A multivariate analysis revealed that 97% (P= 0.0002) of the variation in the overall outcome of schizophrenia between the national centres could be explained by the combined variation in the percentages of fat from land animals and birds and from vegetables, fish and seafood, respectively, in the national diets. These results suggest that the course and outcome of schizophrenia may be influenced through diet. They should encourage investigators to perform controlled clinical trials of low‐fat diets with a sufficient amount of essential fatty acids.
Procedures in evaluating dementia ‐ a study of conjoint application of two rating scales (SCAG and BCRS) and psychometric tests
Authors: Lolk A. , Nielsen H. , Kragh‐Sørensen P.
Published: August 2007

Fifty‐seven patients with dementia (mean age 74 years) were treated for 16 weeks with 2 different doses of a test drug or placebo. On day 0 no significant differences (Kruskal‐Wallis H test) were found between the 3 treatment groups on psychometric test scores or the total scores on 3 rating scales (Modified Crichton Geriatric Behaviour Rating Scale, Sandoz Clinical Assessment ‐ Geriatric (SCAG) scale and Brief Cognitive Rating Scale (BCRS)). The score differences (the total scores on day 112 minus the total scores on day 0) on SCAG, BCRS and psychometric tests were subjected to a series of one‐way analyses of variance. As no significant difference was found between the groups, they were combined into a single group. In this group the relationship between total scores on SCAG and BCRS and psychometric test scores was analysed. Setwise multiple regression analyses (with the psychometric test scores as the independent variables) showed that at most 34% and 45% (respectively) of the variance in the SCAG ratings was accounted for by the results from a small subgroup of tests (dealing with visuo‐motor speed and verbal memory) on day 0 and day 112. The results of a somewhat bigger subgroup of tests (dealing with visuo‐motor speed, verbal memory and general intelligence) explained 58% of the variance in the BCRS ratings both on day 0 and after 16 weeks. Canonical correlation analysis using scores on the 2 rating scales and the psychometric test results was applied complementarily to make the inferences as valid as possible. This analysis yielded r= 0.76 on day 0 and r= 0.80 on day 112, with the BCRS score having greater influence than the SCAG score. These results questioned the validity of the SCAG as an assessment instrument in psychopharmacological treatment of cognitive decline. BCRS seems to be more valid.
Examining for links between expressed emotion and EPI personality variables: Can low EE be faked?
Authors: Parker G. , Johnston P.
Published: August 2007

We investigated whether links exist between scores on the EPI personality measure (with its component neuroticism, extroversion and lie scales) and scores on the expressed emotion (EE) measure, the Camberwell Family Interview (CFI). CFI scale scores were not associated with scores on the EPI neuroticism and extroversion scales. By contrast, mothers who were designated “low EE” scored significantly higher on the EPI lie scale, suggesting that some may have “faked good” during EE family assessment. The capacity for response biases to influence the CFI and subsequent EE assignment is explored, and it is suggested that corrective strategies may be required to deal with such biases in predictive studies using the EE measure.
Brain and CSF somatostatin concentrations in patients with psychiatric or neurological illness An overview
Authors: Vecsei L. , Widerlöv E.
Published: August 2007

Somatostatin was originally isolated as a 14‐amino‐acid peptide from the ovine hypothalamus. The peptide has a widespread regional distribution within the central and peripheral nervous systems, as well as in peripheral organs. Preservation of the chemical structure over a wide range of vertebral species indicates important functional roles of the peptide. Recent results about the role of somatostatin and related peptides in different psychiatric (depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease) and neurological (Huntington's disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease) diseases, and the effects on the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal axis are summarized. Also, the influence of some psychotropic drugs (haloperidol, carbamazepine) on somatostatin levels in cerebrospinal fluid is discussed.
Dexamethasone suppression test, schizophrenia and movement disorder
Authors: Aleem A. , Kulkarni A. , Yeragani V.K.
Published: August 2007

The dexamethasone suppression test (DST) was administered to 20 patients with schizophrenic illness. Ten of these patients also had tardive dyskinesia (TD). The scores on TD and parkinsonism scales were significantly higher in DST nonsuppressors. There was also a significant positive correlation between the post‐dexamethasone cortisol level and the movement disorder scales.
Erythrocyte electrolytes in psychiatric illness
Authors: Esche I. , Joffe R.T. , Blank D.W.
Published: August 2007

Erythrocyte sodium and potassium were measured in 71 patients with a variety of psychiatric disorders and 39 normal controls. Alterations in red cell sodium and potassium occurred in association with changes with mood state in affective illness. However, alterations in erythrocyte potassium may be a non‐specific finding in all psychiatric illness. The methodological limitations of our study are discussed. Our data suggest that further study is required to clarify the role of intracellular electrolyte disturbances in psychiatric illness, particularly affective disorders.
Does family history of schizophrenia influence age at onset of schizophrenia?
Authors: Shimizu A. , Kurachi M. , Yamaguchi N. , Torii H. , Isaki K.
Published: August 2007

The relation between age at onset of schizophrenia diagnosed using DSM‐III criteria and the presence or absence of this illness among first‐degree relatives was investigated in 2417 patients. The mean age at onset among those with a family history of schizophrenia was slightly and nonsignificantly earlier than that of schizophrenic patients without a positive family history. The former developed their illness before the age of 25 years more frequently than did the latter.
Platelet MAO‐B activity and the psychopathology of Parkinson's disease, senile dementia and multi‐infarct dementia
Authors: Danielczyk W. , Streifler M. , Konradi C. , Riederer P. , Moll G.
Published: August 2007

Monoamine oxidase‐B (MAO‐B) activity of platelets of an age‐ and sex‐matched group of controls was compared with several groups of inpatients having non‐familial dementia of Alzheimer type (DAT), Parkinson's disease (PD), multi‐infarct dementia (MID), mixed types of these 3 diseases and a group of other central nervous system (CNS) organic disorders. All patients were subjected to several psychometric tests, including the Sandoz Clinical Assessment ‐ Geriatric Scale, Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, Mini‐Mental State Examination and the Organic Mental Disorder Scale (OMDS). A statistically significant enhancement of MAO‐B activity could be observed in DAT patients and in PD patients, whereas the MID group showed a mean activity similar to that of the control group and the group with other organic CNS disorders. In DAT patients the degree of dementia in the OMDS test and the enhancement of MAO activity were positively correlated, but PD did not show such a correlation. It is concluded that the increase of MAO activity in PD and in DAT might be due to a disease‐related enhanced affinity to oxygen and to such oxygen‐derived radicals as superoxide or hydroxyl radicals. However, a possible drug‐induced enhancement of MAO activity in PD cannot be excluded. Furthermore, the MAO‐B activity values in platelets of individual patients or controls are not indicative of diagnosis or prognosis of any of these diseases and are of no disease‐related specificity.
Lithium therapy: from clinical trials to practical management
Authors: Coppen A. , Abou‐Saleh M.T.
Published: August 2007

Controlled trials have shown that lithium significantly reduces the morbidity of recurrent affective disorders. We descibe here the ongoing affective morbidity in unipolar, bipolar and schizoaffective illness treated primarily by low dosage, once daily lithium, supplemented as necessary by antidepressant or neuroleptic medication. Seventy‐eight percent of unipolar patients and 73% of bipolar and schizoaffective patients had no or only slight morbidity during the study year. The treatment was equally effective for both older (age > 70 years) and younger patients. Unipolar patients rated as endogenous on the Newcastle Scale had significantly lower morbidity than the nonendogenous patients. Subjective side effects were minimal. These patients, whose untreated morbidity is known to be high, derive considerable benefit from regular supervision in an affective disorder clinic.
LIFETIME PREVALENCE OF PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS IN EDMONTON
Authors: Bland R. C. , Orn H. , Newman S. C.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT‐

3,258 randomly selected adult household residents of Edmonton were interviewed by trained lay interviewers using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS). Lifetime prevalence for 16 DIS/DSM III diagnoses are given. Overall 33.8% of the population had one or more diagnoses and, excluding substance use disorders, one fifth of the population had a diagnosis. The most common lifetime diagnosis was alcohol abuse/dependence, followed by phobia and major depressive episode. Men were more likely to have had substance use disorders and antisocial personality disorder and women more likely to have had major depressive episode, dysthymia, agoraphobia and simple phobia. Those who were married had generally lower lifetime prevalences. Those over age 65 had the lowest prevalence of any age groups.
PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS AND UNEMPLOYMENT IN EDMONTON
Authors: Bland R. C. , Stebelsky G. , Orn H. , Newman S. C.
Published: August 2007

Significant reltionships were found between unemployment in the last five years and a lifetime history of psychiatric disorder. These results are based on interviews of 3,258 randomly selected non‐institutionalized adult residents of Edmonton, conducted by trained lay interviewers using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS) and the Goldberg General Health Questionnaire (GHQ, 30‐item). Having a lifetime history of a psychiatric disorder increased the odds of being unemployed 2.8 times. Disorders carrying the highest risk for unemployment were anorexia, antisocial perssonality disorder, schizophrenia, and substance use disorders. GHQ results indicated that those experiencing periods of unemployment are also likely to have higher current symptom and stress levels than those who are employed.
Past and present strategies of research on the HPA‐axis in psychiatry.
Authors: Berger M. , Krieg C. , Bossert S. , Schreiber W. , von Zerssen D.
Published: August 2007

Hypercortisolism in depression has been extensively studied during the last three decades. The main hypothesis regarding origin and clinical relevance of this phenomenon, however, has changed significantly. Up to the mid‐seventies hypercortisolism was conceived as consequence of stress modified by the degree of unconscious defense mechanisms in different forms of depressive or non‐depressive psychiatric disorders.

At the end of the seventies this point of view changed considerably. Hypercortisolism was regarded as a biological statemarker of the endogenous subtype of depression with clinical differential‐diagnostic relevance. An abnormal dexamethasone suppression test (DST) was assumed to be the best indication of increased activation of the cortisol system.

These conslusions turned out to be wrong. DST results are not specific for melancholia and the test seems to be of limited value for measuring the function of the HPA‐axis. Intervening variables, such as weight loss, drug and alcohol withdrawal or situational stress, influence the test results significantly, independent of the nosological classification. Additionally, interindividual differences in the susceptibility of the HPA‐axis may decisvely influence the activation of the HPA‐axis as well in healthy subjects under stress as in psychiatric patients.
Behavioral disorders in children from different cultures
Authors: Cederblad Marine
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT Behaviour disorders in children of different ages have been studied in three different countries, Sweden, Sudan and Nigeria. In each country both urban and rural areas were included. The same methods and procedures were applied. The similarities of frequencies of behaviourally disturbed children were more striking than the differences. Rural children generally had less behaviour problems than urban ones. The frequencies of various stress factors known to co‐vary with behaviour problems in children in the different localities could not alone explain the results. Specific stress‐reducing, supportive factors in the cultures of the two African areas were discussed.
The early family situation of Hungarian depressed patients.
Authors: Gaszner P. , Perris C. , Eisemann M. , Perris H.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT In a series of fifty depressed patients and 258 controls possible differences in the early family situation as concerns parental rearing practices have been investigated by means of the Swedish EMBU inventory. The results show that the depressives experienced their parents as more “rejecting”, more “overprotecting” and less “emotionally warm” as compared to their normal counterparts.
Psychotropic drug use in a representative community sample: the Upper Bavarian study
Authors: Fichter M.M. , Witzke W. , Leibl K. , Hippius H.
Published: August 2007

A sample of 1979 community residents aged 15 years and above was assessed in a major survey of health status and consumption of psychotropic medication. Interviews were conducted in the subjects’ home by a psychiatrically trained physician, who actually inspected the subjects’ medical supplies. Of all subjects 6.9% (4.3% of the males and 9.0% of the females) had used a drug containing a benzodiazepine at least once in the 4 weeks preceding the interview. In the same period 3.6% had taken a medication containing a barbiturate, 2.2% a medicine containing an opioid (mainly codeine), 1.8% had taken a neuroleptic drug, 1.5% an antidepressant, 0.8% a carbamine‐acid derivative and 0.1% lithium. High use of psychotropic medication was associated with higher age, female sex, higher psychiatric morbidity, higher somatic morbidity, reduced work capacity and higher neuroticism but not with social class and not with the personality factor extra‐ or introversion.
Sulpiride and perphenazine in schizophrenia
Authors: Lepola U. , Koskinen T. , Rimón R. , Salo H. , Gordin A.
Published: August 2007

Seventeen patients with acute schizophrenia and 30 with chronic schizophrenia were included in a randomized, double‐blind parallel‐group trial comparing sulpiride and perphenazine. Patients were evaluated using the 16‐item Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) prior to the onset of treatment and 1 and 2 weeks, and 1, 2, 3, and 4 months thereafter. In patients with acute schizophrenia, total BPRS scores declined significantly at the end of the trial compared with pretreatment values in sulpiride‐treated patients but not in schizophrenics treated with perphenazine. Differences in response between the groups did not reach statistical significance, however. For patients suffering from chronic schizophrenia, a statistically significant decline was observed in total BPRS scores at 4 months compared with pretreatment scores in both sulpiride and perphenazine groups. There was no significant difference in the treatment response between the groups. Sulpiride appeared to be somewhat more effective than perphenazine for treatment of acute schizophrenia. Efficacy of both compounds was less marked in chronic forms of schizophrenia.
Quality of life perspectives in long‐term care: staff and patient perceptions
Authors: Thapa K. , Rowland L. A.
Published: August 2007

In the rehabilitation of chronically mentally ill patients, social impairments and multiple disabilities necessitate the use of comprehensive and complex services encompassing many areas of life. It is suggested that quality of life (QoL) can be used as an organizing framework for long‐term care. Subjects in the present study included staff and patients from a rehabilitation unit that offers individualized long‐term care, day services, inpatient and outreach facilities. Using subjective indices, staff and patient perceptions of QoL were compared across several life domains. Significant differences between the 2 groups were found in several areas, including leisure activities, law and safety, and health. The implications of these findings for long‐term care are discussed.
A comparison of self‐injury and self‐poisoning from the Regional Poisoning Treatment Centre, Edinburgh
Authors: Robinson A. D. T. , Duffy J. C.
Published: August 2007

Injury and poisoning episodes at the Regional Poisoning Treatment Centre, Edinburgh, were compared for the years 1980–1986. Injury was more likely to be associated with youth, male sex and single status. When these demographic differences were controlled for, injury was found to be associated with the following clinical variables: personality disorder, previous psychiatric inpatient status, use of alcohol at the time of parasuicide and alcohol problems, and the social variables ‐violence against others and received from relatives in the preceding 5 years, criminal record and unemployment. These have been consistently associated with repetition of parasuicide. A history of injury as a putative marker of repetition and the clinical implication of its association with alcohol problems are discussed.
Monitoring the competence of dynamic psychotherapists: a practical demonstration
Authors: Svartberg O. M.
Published: August 2007

The topic of monitoring the competence of psychotherapists is introduced. Systematic procedures for monitoring dynamic therapists are demonstrated by analysing one particular treatment course in detail‐ Implications of these procedures for the supervision of trainees and for research studies are discussed.
An epidemiologic study of alcohol use as a predictor of psychiatric distress over time
Authors: Dryman A. , Anthony J. C.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— This longitudinal epidemiologic study examined how levels of psychiatric distress over one year may be influenced by both concurrent levels of alcohol use and by prior drinking levels. The study's data were gathered during the 1981–1982 Eastern Baltimore Mental Health Survey (EBMHS), as part of the 5‐site National Institute of Mental Health Epidemiologic Catchment Area (NIMH‐ECA) Program. The 2091 respondents (18–64 years of age) reinterviewed after one year were initially selected by means of multistage probability sampling of adult household residents in eastern Baltimore, Maryland. The findings for men and women indicated that both high psychiatric distress at baseline interview and concurrent heavy alcohol use were associated with higher levels of psychiatric distress at one‐year follow‐up. Differences across population subgroups were also noted. Among women, the results further suggested that prior heavy alcohol use was an additional predictor of psychiatric distress levels after one year; this was not found for men.
Patients in child and adolescent psychiatric care: psychopathology and background factors
Authors: Östman O.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— All 142 consecutive patients born between January 1, 1947 and February 28, 1949 who were cared for at the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at General Hospital in Uppsala are described. The patients” symptoms, family situation, early development, CNS dysfunction and social situation are presented. The negative factors were numerous; 78% of patients had some form of family affliction, 60% had minimal brain dysfunction (MBD) factors which, while not associated with a clinical diagnosis of MBD, included hyperaetivity, motor handicap, reading and writing difficulties, poor fine muscle activity and pathological EEG, and 58% had negative factors in their home environment. The majority were judged as having been subjected to negative parental attitudes. When psychotic symptoms were present, there was a high prevalence of psychotic illness in the family. A negative social situation in the home environment was most common for maladjusted patients. The presence of MBD factors was associated with disturbances in the child's early development. Nevertheless, many background factors continually affected one another and contributed to the mental disorder.
Mental disability among elderly men in Finland: prevalence, predictors and correlates
Authors: Lamtni U.‐K. , Kivelä S.‐L. , Nissinen A. , Punsar S. , Puska P. , Karvonen M.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— Mental disability, variables associated with it and predictors of mental disability in late life were studied in 716 men from eastern and southwestern Finland in connection with the 25‐year follow‐up of the east‐west study, which formed the Finnish part of the seven‐countries study. The examinations were carried out in autumn 1984, when the men were 65–84 years of age. According to a 10‐item mental status questionnaire, 95% of the men had normal mental capacities. There were no differences between the 2 areas. Old age, low educational level, low functional capacity, low body mass index, low serum cholesterol, low diastolic blood pressure, low alcohol or coffee consumption, low hemoglobin, low serum calcium, low serum triiodothyronine, high scores on the Zung Self‐rating Depression Scale, and presence of transient ischemia or stroke were associated with mental disability in 1984. In the prospective analysis, low forced vital capacity, low forced expiratory volume in 0.75 s and high blood pressure in middle age predicted mental disability in old age.
Calcium and magnesium concentrations in affective disorder: difference between plasma and serum in relation to symptoms
Authors: Linder J. , Brismar K. , Beck‐Friis J. , Saaf J. , Wetterberg L.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— Morning (0800) plasma and. serum and mean diurnal (24‐h) serum calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) concentrations were investigated in 56 depressed patients, 32 with acute major depression, 26 of these restudied in remission, 24 patients with longstanding depression, mainly treated with lithium, and in 27 healthy controls. All subjects were rated with the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale (CPRS). Significant differences between the groups were found for 0800 and 24‐h serum Ca and Mg, 0800 plasma Mg, but not for 0800 plasma Ca. Elevations of serum Ca and Mg, plasma Mg but not plasma Ca were noted in the lithium‐treated patients. Sex differences for plasma but not serum levels were seen in remission and in the controls. Depressive symptoms were negatively correlated to 0800 plasma Ca in the acute state and positively to 0800 and 24‐h serum Ca and Mg in remission and longstanding depression. This difference between plasma and serum in relation to symptoms could reflect a change in a calcium binding factor present in plasma but not in serum, connected with biological factors of affective disease.
Two regimens of lithium prophylaxis and renal function
Authors: Muir A. , Davidson R. , Silverstone T. , Dawnay A. , Forsling M. L.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— Two regimens of lithium prophylaxis with different pharmacokinetic characteristics were compared under double‐blind conditions in 25 bipolar patients in remission already stabilized on lithium, to determine the relative effects of each regimen on renal function. Once‐daily lithium carbonate (Priadal), which gives a peak lithium plasma level 2–3 h post‐administration with a low level 24 h later, was compared with twice‐daily lithium citrate (Litarex), which maintains a steadier 24 h plasma level. Patients were allocated randomly to one of the 2 regimens. They were seen monthly for clinical ratings over the course of 12 months. A comprehensive battery of renal function tests was undertaken at the start of the trial, between 6–9 months after the start and again after 1 year. No significant differences were observed in clinical outcome, side effects or renal function between the 2 regimens.
Personality characteristics and epilepsy
Authors: Sørensen A. S. , Hansen H. , Andersen R. , Hegenhaven H. , Allerup P. , Bolwig T. G.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT—Patients with a long history of temporal lobe epilepsy or primary generalized epilepsy entered a questionnaire study of personality characteristics, based on a modification of the Bear‐Fedio inventory for temporal lobe behavioural syndrome. Psoriasis patients and healthy volunteers served as controls. Four clinical meaningful dimensions of included personality traits were identified: ixoide, ideational, obsessive‐compulsive and affective features. Analyses based on the Rasch model approved of all dimensions except for affective features. The epilepsy group obtained the highest scores on all 3 dimensions, healthy volunteers the lowest, while the psoriasis group repeatedly held an intermediate position in all sets of assessment (subjects, interviewers and relatives). A logistic regression analysis showed ixoide features being most important when the entire epilepsy group was compared with other study groups, while the dimension ideational features was significant when the temporal lobe epilepsy group was entered as target group and opposed to primary generalized epilepsy. The intermediate position of the psoriasis group, however, suggests that in addition to the presence of a cerebral dysfunction in the epilepsy group, the mere presence of a chronic disorder with potential social stigmatization influences personality.
Lack of seasonal variation in pediatric lumbar cerebrospinal fluid neurotransmitter metabolite concentrations
Authors: Swedo S. E. , Kruesi M. J. P. , Leonard H. L. , Hamburger S. D. , Cheslow D. L , Stipetic M. , Potter W. Z.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— Seasonal variation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) monoamines, particularly 5‐hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5‐HIAA) and homovanillic acid (HVA) has been reported for psychiatrically ill and normal adults. Circannual variability was examined for a group of 72 children (mean age = 159.4 ± 40.3 (SD), range 77–238 months), with a primary diagnosis of obsessive‐compulsive disorder (OCD) or disruptive behavior disorder (DBD) (attention deficit disorder, oppositional disorder and/or conduct disorder), from whom CSF had been obtained systematically. There were no seasonal differences in mean concentrations of 3‐methoxy‐4‐hydroxyphe‐nylglycol (MHPG), HVA, or 5‐HIAA, either for the group as a whole, for the separate diagnostic (OCD vs DBD) categories or for the pre‐pubertal subgroup. Log‐corrected HVA concentrations For the Tanner IV and V subgroup differed by season with summer concentrations less than those of fall (P = 0.06) and winter (P = 0.005). The results suggest that pubertal changes may play a role in any expression of circannual variability.
Spatial concentration of the incidence of treated psychiatric disorders in Mannheim
Authors: Maylaih E. , Weyerer S. , Hafner H.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— The spatial concentration of the incidence of treated psychiatric disorders in Mannheim was determined in 2 ways. The first, the classical zone model according to Neller (1), distinguishes an inner, intermediate and outer zone. This concept was applied to data from an ecological study conducted by Hafner et al. (2) in 1965 and to those derived from the Cumulative Psychiatric Case Register for the years 1974–1980. For the second period of time we developed, in addition, a factor ecological concept. The 23 districts of Mannheim were divided into 5 areas that were as homogeneous as possible in terms of segregation and density. There was a marked increase in the concentration index for schizophrenia in the inner zone, as well as for neuroses and personality disorders between 1974–1980 as compared with 1965. There were strong concentrations in the inner zone during both periods of study for the diagnosis of alcoholism and drug addiction. Although in 1965 there was a visible concentration trend in the inner zone for affective psychoses, it had almost vanished between 1974–1980. Using the factor ecological classification we demonstrated that, with the exception of affective psychoses and neurotic depression, all diseases concentrate in the city areas that, besides being centrally located, are characterized by high population density, poor housing conditions, low social status of the residents and where foreign nationals were segregated in the 1970s.
Economic motivation for smoking cessation in chronic psychotic patients
Authors: Leong G. B. , Horn M.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— For many chronic psychotic patients the sole motivation to discontinue tobacco smoking may involve economic reasons. As institutions increasingly adopt no‐smoking policies, economic motives for smoking cessation may take on added importance in assisting this population with smoking cessation.
Melperone and clozapine: neuroendocrine effects of atypical neuroleptic drugs
Authors: Meltzer Herbert Y. , Koenig James I. , Nash J. Frank , Gudelsky Gary A.
Published: August 2007

The effects of atypical neuroleptics within the neuroendocrine axis of rodents can be distinguished from those of typical neuroleptics by the production of: 1) a shortlived increase in serum PRL concentrations, 2) an acute increase in the activity of TIDA neurons, and 3) a marked increase in serum corticosterone concentrations. It is of interest to specculate that the pharmacological properties of atypical neuroleptics which mediate the unique neuroendocrine responses are of relevance to an understanding of the mechanisms which underlie the clinical profile of these antipsychotic agents.
Melperone in the treatment of schizophrenia
Authors: Bjerkenstedt L.
Published: August 2007

Eighty‐one women with psychosis of schizophrenic or paranoid type participated in a double‐blind comparison of melperone (300 mg daily) and thiothixene (30 mg daily). The purpose of the study was to analyse clinical and biochemical effects of the drugs. Both treatments were associated with significant reductions in psychotic morbidity. No significant difference in the clinical ratings was found between the drugs. However, there were more extrapyramidal side effects in the thiothixene as compared to the melperone group. Biochemically, the dopaminergic variables HVA in CSF and prolactin in plasma and CSF showed significantly greater elevations in the thiothixene group.
A clinical comparison of melperone and placebo in schizophrenic women on a milieu therapeutic ward
Authors: Härnyd C. , Bjerkenstedt L. , Gullberg B.
Published: August 2007

Twenty schizophrenic women participated in a double‐blind comparison of melperone (300 mg daily) and placebo lasting 4 weeks. All the patients received milieu treatment. Two patients in the melperone and four in the placebo group were removed from the study due to unsatisfactory therapeutic response. In the melperone group, there were significant reductions in psychotic morbidity. In the placebo group, there were occasional significant redutions of psychotic morbidity during but not at the end of treatment. The melperone‐treated patients exhibited significantly lower morbidity scores than the placebo group after treatment for two and four weeks. The melperone group demonstrated significantly more adverse reactions than placebo‐treated patients at the end of the study. The results support the view that melperone exerts an antipsychotic effect. The study is consistent with the opinion that milieu therapy should be combined with neuroleptics to achieve an optimal result in the treatment of an acute phase of schizophrenia.
Paroxetine: pharmacokinetic and antidepressant effect in the elderly
Authors: Lundmark J. , Thomsen I.Scheel , Fjord‐Larsen T. , Manniche P.M. , Mengel H. , Møller‐Nielsen E.M. , Pauser H. , Wålinder J.
Published: August 2007

To evaluate the pharmacokinetic properties, efficacy, and tolerability of paroxetine in elderly depressed patients, a clinical study was set up ‐ initially at Aalborg Psychiatric Hospital in Denmark, and subsequently at the University Hospital in Linköping, Sweden. A total of 21 patients with a median age of 72 years were included in the study. After a single dose of 20 or 30mg of paroxetine followed by two drug‐free days, treatment continued with 20 or 30mg daily for seven weeks. The majority of patients showed a continuous reduction in their HAMD scores, starting in the second week of treatment. Paroxetine was well tolerated at the doses given, and side‐effects were mostly mild and transient. Steady‐state, pre‐dose plasma levels of paroxetine showed considerable variability, and the median steady‐state concentration was higher in elderly patients compared with data from a previous study in young volunteers. Elimination half‐lives also showed variability between these elderly patients, but tended to be longer after cessation of multiple dosing than after a single dose. They also tended to be longer than in the young volunteers. The results of this study do not advocate reduced doses of paroxetine in the elderly, but further studies are warranted.