bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genetic epidemiological study of schizophrenia: reproduction behaviour
Authors: Ritsner M. , Sherina O. , Ginath Y.
Published: August 2007

Data from the Tomsk Epidemiological Register and epidemiological family sample were used to study the relationship between schizophrenics’ reproductive behaviour (marital status and fertility rate), severity of ICD‐9 schizophrenia and risk of illness among relatives of probands. The results are interpreted in terms of multifactorial threshold and single monolocus models. Their importance for the interpretation of epidemiological data (a change of prevalence rate, cohort effect and clinical polymorphism) is discussed.
Neuropsychological and clinical correlates of temporal lobe anatomy in schizophrenia
Authors: Michele V. Di , Rossi A. , Stratta P. , Schiazza G. , Bolino F. , Giordano L. , Casacchia M.
Published: August 2007

Twenty‐five DSM‐III schizophrenic patients were assessed neuromorphologically and neuropsychologically. Reduced temporal lobes were found through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluation. In addition, in order to look for the neuropsychological correlates of temporal anatomy in schizophrenia, patients were divided into cognitive normal and abnormal schizophrenics, according to their Luria Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery profile. The latter group had statistically significant temporal lobe abnormalities as assessed by MRI, irrespective of medication, clinical picture or any other relevant variables. The implication of such findings in the light of the diaschisis model is discussed.
Detecting psychopathology in young adults: the Young Adult Self Report, the General Health Questionnaire and the Symptom Checklist as screening instruments
Authors: Wiznitzer M. , Verhulst F. C. , van den Brink W. , Koeter M. , van der Ende J. , Giel R. , Koot H. M.
Published: August 2007

This study compares the screening capacity of an age‐adjusted child‐oriented questionnaire, the Young Adult Self Report (YASR) with two adult‐oriented questionnaires, the General Health Questionnaire‐28 (GHQ‐28) and Symptom Checklist‐90 (SCL‐90) in a sample of young adults (18–25 years). The YASR performed just as well as the SCL‐90 and both performed better than the GHQ‐28. The relatively poor performance of the GHQ‐28 compared with the YASR and SCL‐90 could not be attributed to instrument characteristics or to the use of referral status as indicator of psychopathology. In assessing psychopathology in young adults an age‐adjusted child‐oriented instrument might be a good alternative to the existing adult‐oriented instruments, especially when one takes into account the problem of data comparability over time in longitudinal studies in which children are followed into adulthood.
The thyrotropin response to thyrotropin‐releasing hormone as a predictor of response to treatment in depressed outpatients
Authors: Fava M. , Rosenbaum J. F. , Birnbaum R. , Kelly K. , Otto M. W. , MacLaughlin R.
Published: August 2007

We evaluated the predictive value of the thyrotropin (TSH) response to thyrotropin‐releasing hormone (TRH) in 32 depressed outpatients completing a double‐blind placebo‐controlled trial of s‐adenosyl‐l‐methionine (SAMe), which failed to show any significant difference between SAMe and placebo. Treatment response was defined as the change in Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD‐24) score between baseline and the end of the six‐week trial. Subjects with TSH response outside the normal range (7–25 uU/ml) had a significantly greater response than patients with a normal response. There was also a significant correlation between absolute deviations from the mean TSH response (16 uU/ml) and changes in HRSD‐24 scores.
Suicidal acts on metro systems: an international perspective
Authors: O'Donnell I. , Farmer R. D. T.
Published: August 2007

Suicide is a problem experienced by railway networks worldwide. The epidemiology of this method of suicide has not been described in any detail. To investigate the characteristic features of railway suicide, data were gathered from 23 metro systems around the world. The similarities in the nature of this problem across systems were striking. Universally the victims were young (aged less than 40 years); most incidents involved men; case fatality was generally less than 60%; there was no consistent seasonal variation in incidence; the peak time of day for incidents was 1000–1200; proximity to psychiatric institutions was possibly a risk factor. This method of suicide may be prevented by environmental modification of the railway system. Strategies for reducing the opportunities for suicide on railways are discussed.
Therapeutic sleep deprivation in a depressed patient: prolongation of response with concurrent thyroxine
Authors: Southmayd S. E. , Kasurak P. , MacDonald B. , Waldron J.
Published: August 2007

A 53‐year‐old woman with major depression was studied throughout 7 trials of therapeutic sleep deprivation (SD). Under conditions where the patients was either medication‐free or receiving antidepressant therapy, improvement with SD was followed by full relapse on returning to sleep. Four SD sessions conducted while the patient was receiving thyroxine each resulted in remission, sustained for several days. These results suggest that the beneficial effects of SD may be mediated by thyroid hormones, or associated activity in the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal axis.
Ecological structure and incidence rates of schizophrenia in Nagasaki City*
Authors: Ohta Y. , Nakane Y. , Nishihara J. , Takemoto T.
Published: August 2007

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between incidence rates of schizophrenia and residential features in Nagasaki City, Japan. Social features of residents in 259 areas in the Nagasaki City ecological structure were determined using the results of the 1980 national census. Six residential factors ‐ employment status, occupational and academic career, household status, length of residence, housing tenure and young male predominance ‐ were selected as factors that clearly reflect residential differentiation of residents. Contrary to the findings of many other studies conducted in Western cities, no statistically significant differences were observed, although it seemed that incidence rates were comparatively higher in the lower social classes. These results possibly reflect differences in cultural and social values and structures.
5‐HT2 receptor antagonism and slow‐wave sleep in major depression
Authors: Staner L. , Kempenaers C. , Simonnet M.‐P. , Fransolet L. , Mendlewicz J.
Published: August 2007

Specific sleep disturbances such as reduced slow‐wave sleep (SWS) and decreased serotonergic (5‐HT) activity have been observed in depressive disorders. Ritanserin, a specific 5‐HT2 receptor antagonist, has been shown to increase SWS in healthy subjects. This study explored the effects of a single dose or ritanserin (5 mg) on sleep electroencephalography in 18 major depressed patients and in 10 control subjects. Ritanserin affected SWS differently in the two groups. Although stage 3 increased significantly in the groups, in contrast to controls, there was no significant effect of ritanserin on stage 4 in depressed patients. In the depressed group, irritability and DSM‐III‐R melancholic type predicted 40% or the variance of stage 4 increment after ritanserin, as assessed by stepwise multiple regression. These results are in agreement with a potential 5‐HT disturbance, particularly at the 5‐HT2 receptor level, in some clinical forms of depression.
The course of alcohol amnestic disorder: a three‐year follow‐up study of clinical signs and social disabilities
Authors: Blansjaar B. A. , Takens H. , Zwinderman A. H.
Published: August 2007

Forty‐four patients with alcohol amnestic disorder were prospectively studied from 1987 to 1990. The cognitive impairment, social disability and mental symptoms of patients under different conditions were compared. Thirty‐three patients (75%) had no symptoms of Wernicke's disease nor a medical history to suggest its existence. The course of mean cognitive impairment of patients in different settings was stable. Change in intelligence quotient correlated with alcohol consumption during the study. The development of social disability differed remarkably in different settings. Patients in a large nursing home deteriorated and patients in small‐scale sheltered accommodation improved.
Extent and determinants of burden among families of patients with affective disorders
Authors: Chakrabarti S. , Kulhara P. , Verma S. K.
Published: August 2007

The burden of care experienced by family members of 90 patients with major affective disorder was evaluated. The extent of burden in these families was considerable. The burden was significantly more among families of bipolar patients than those of major depression. Prolonged illness and high levels of dysfunction among patients correlated consistently with severity of burden. Severity of illness, higher age of the patient and number of episodes of the illness also influenced the extent of burden. Variables such as gender of the patient, religion, education, occupation, family type and size and the locus of control of both patients and relatives did not influence the extent of burden significantly. These results have substantial implications for the planning of intervention strategies.
Utilization and patterns of care in comprehensive psychiatric care organizations
Authors: Hansson L. , Sandlund M.
Published: August 2007

This articles reviews and analyzes studies on the utilization of care and patterns of care in psychiatric care organizations with a defined catchment area responsibility. Eight studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The main results of the studies were reviewed with regard to distribution of utilization, typical patterns of care, sociodemographic characteristics, clinical characteristics and, when appropriate, organizational characteristics related to utilization. The results show that a small proportion of patients use a large proportion of resources. Sociodemographic factors such as living alone or having no occupation in some of the studies predicted a higher utilization. Only one study reported sex differences, men being more common among heavy users. In most of the studies a psychosis diagnosis predicted a higher utilization. A history of prior contacts with psychiatric care predicted a higher utilization in 2 studies. It is concluded that future studies should make efforts to develop standardized models of classification of patterns of care to enhance possibilities of comparisons. Cost, as a common unit for summarizing and comparing resource utilization, has not been used, but is viewed as a highly relevant measure. Furthermore, measures of utilization should be separated from evaluations of outcome or quality of care. However, the latter is a neglected area that should also be promoted in studies of utilization of psychiatric care to create knowledge of the relationship of utilization to outcome.
The effects of alcohol and benzodiazepines on the severity of ski accidents
Authors: Barnas C. , Miller C. H. , Sperner G. , Sperner‐Unterweger B. , Beck E. , Hinterhuber H. , Fleischhacker W. W.
Published: August 2007

Urine sample from 402 victims of ski accidents were analyzed for the presence of benzodiazepines (BZD) and alcohol. Eighty‐one (20%) samples were positive for alcohol; BZD were detected in 34 (8.5%) cases. Ten of the samples (2.5%) were found to be positive for both alcohol and BZD. Subjects who were positive for either alcohol or BZD or both were older than the other persons examined. The prevalence of alcohol was significantly higher among male accident victims. BZD intake could be demonstrated to have a significant influence on the severity of injuries. Besides an increased awareness of the need for skier education regarding drug use, heightened attention of medical caregivers is warranted to inform their patients about potential accident hazards in sport activities when BZD are prescribed.
Psychiatric service use: a cohort study of first attenders
Authors: Hobbs P. , Deavoll B. , Abernethy P.
Published: August 2007

A retrospective cohort study was undertaken of all 1047 first‐ever psychiatric service attenders to Christchurch general psychiatric services in 1981. All episodes of care were examined to the end of 1989. Only 24% of contacts were as an inpatient. Long‐term contacts and frequent presenters formed only 15% of the sample. Nearly all cases not immediately discharged remained within the adult general service. Demographic and clinical variables and patterns of resource use are discussed.
Multivariate modelling and the Defence Mechanism Test: a comparative study of defensive structures in borderline, other personality disorders and schizophrenic disorder
Authors: Sundbom E. , Kullgren G.
Published: August 2007

The study aims at discerning discriminating patterns in the perceptual responses according to the projective percept‐genetic method Defence Mechanism Test (DMT) among 45 subjects with the diagnoses borderline personality disorder (BPD), other personality disorders (OPD), schizophrenic disorder (SD) and a non‐patient group. The overall results show that, by means of partial least squares (PLS) discriminant analysis of 130 DMT variables. it is possible to separate these groups. Patients with a BPD or a SD diagnosis and the non‐patient group are clearly separated, whereas the OPD group shows a less homogeneous pattern. The findings support both the validity of the DMT as a method to measure personality features and the psychodynamic validity of BPD. The most characteristic properties of the BPD group are responses of emotional expressions, especially introaggression and frequent distortions of the stimulus picture. Regarding the SD OPD group, a pattern of high threshold values for perception emerges as a discriminating feature as well as different variants of introjection. The non‐patients are characterized by very few DMT distortions and consequently show a good reality orientation. The conclusion is that the DMT and the PLS discriminant analysis are powerful methods in the assessment of personality pathology.
A double‐blind comparison of raclopride and haloperidol in the acute phase of schizophrenia
Authors: The British Isles Raclopride Study Group
Published: August 2007

This is the first comparative double‐blind study of raclopride. Ninety‐one patients with acute schizophrenia received either raclopride 2‐8 mg twice daily or haloperidol 5‐20 mg twice daily for 4 weeks. Both neuroleptics produced clinical improvements. There were no significant between‐drug differences in overall efficacy measurements as assessed by the schizophrenia change sub‐scale of the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale and the Krawiecka (Manchester) Rating Scale. Assessment by the Clinical Global Impression scale found haloperidol to be more effective. There were significantly fewer extrapyramidal symptoms with raclopride and a significantly lower incidence of acute dystonia. The results suggest that raclopride has an antipsychotic effect with a low incidence of extrapyramidal side effects.
Immune disorders in depression: higher T helper/T suppressor‐cytotoxic cell ratio
Authors: Maes M. , Stevens W. , DeClerck L. , Bridts C. , Peeters D. , Schotte C. , Cosyns P.
Published: August 2007

This study investigated the leukocyte T helper and T suppressor‐cytotoxic cell (sub)set profile of minor, simple major and melancholic depressives versus normal controls. Using both monoclonal antibody staining and flow cytometry, we determined the absolute numbers and percentages of the following T cell immune subsets: T helper (CD4+), T virgin (CD4+ CD45+), T memory (CD4 + CD45‐), T suppressor/cytotoxic (CD8 +), CD8 + T suppressor (CD8 + CD57 ‐) and CD8 + T cytotoxic (CD8 + CD57 +) cells. After computing the CD4+/CD8 + ratio, we detected a significantly increased ratio in depressed patients as compared with healthy controls. Depression per se is characterized by a higher percentage of CD4+ and a lower percentage of CD8+CD57‐ cells. Melancholic depressed subjects exhibit a significantly increased number of CD4+ and CD4+ CD45‐ cells. The combined use of various percentages of CD4+ and CD8+ (sub)sets yields a high degree of marker positivity for melancholia: through cumulative evaluation of those percentages, the marker positivity increases to 68% (sensitivity) and the specificity is 95%. These results together with our previous reports may refer to a depression‐related state of T cell activation.
The Meta‐Contrast Technique ‐ a projective test predicting suicide
Authors: Fribergh H. , Träskman‐Bendz L. , Øjehagen A. , Regnéll G.
Published: August 2007

Sixty‐nine inpatients who had attempted suicide were studied by means of the Meta‐Contrast Technique (MCT), a projective test measuring personality factors, especially defensive strategies. The patients were divided into 3 subgroups, one of which was defined as stereotypy only, which denotes stereotypy (perceptual retardation) without any other coded defenses. At follow‐up 7 of 8 completed suicides belonged to this subgroup and they matched various main diagnoses according to DSM‐III‐R. When the MCT findings of all patients were compared with 99 depressed inpatients from a previous study, the latter group more often had mature defensive strategies. In both investigations most completed suicides were found in the stereotypy only group. Our findings indicate that, regardless of psychiatric diagnosis, stereotypy without other defenses in MCT predicts suicide.
Influence of alcohol on several physiological functions and its reversibility: a surgical view
Authors: Tennesen H.
Published: August 2007

Alcohol intake influences several physiological functions, including the haemostatic system, the cellular immune defence and the cardiac function, but to a different degree depending on the drinking habits.

Restoration of these functions after withdrawal seems time related. The haemostatic imbalance normalizes within two or three weeks of soberness while the immune system requires about two months to recover.

Recent studies have showed very increased postoperative morbidity after surgery in alcohol abusers, which may be explained by alcohol‐induced physiological dysfunctions.

Theoretically, two months of abstinence before a surgical procedure would diminish the increased postoperative morbidity among alcohol abusers. However, further investigation is necessary to establish a clinical effect of preoperative withdrawal from alcohol.
A cluster‐analytically derived subtyping of chronic affective disorders
Authors: Furukawa T. , Sumita Y.
Published: August 2007

This article aims to propose a mathematically legitimate and externally validated subclassification of chronic affective disorders. Three subtypes emerged from the cluster analysis of the symptom data of 40 patients with chronic affective disorder that had been present without remission for more than 2 years; the subtypes were then validated by psychosocial variables. The first cluster, a predominantly male group with young onset, is characterized by past history of psychotic features and is named psychotic subtype. The second cluster, a predominantly female group with late onset, is tentatively called late‐onset female subtype. The third cluster has the youngest onset and the longest duration, and is characterized by early object loss and high neuroticism score: depressive personality subtype.
Suicide attempts among Greek and Danish women and the quality of their relationships with husbands or boyfriends
Authors: Arcel L. T. , Mantonakis J. , Petersson B. , Jemos J. , Kaliteraki E.
Published: August 2007

Greek and Danish women 15–45 years old who attempted suicide were interviewed with an extensive semistructured schedule, in Athens and Copenhagen, after admission to the intensive care unit of 2 general hospitals and one psychiatric reception ward. This article presents 2 groups from each country, a group of married women and a group with steady relationships (n= 56), focusing on the quality of their relationships and their significance for the women's suicide attempts. Most of the women in both countries had very poor relationships, as concerns communication, intimacy, concern, recreation, sharing of everyday activities and social and private life. A high degree of psychological and physical violence was found in all 4 groups. The burdensome and humiliating relationship created shame in the women. After unsuccessful attempts to change the relationship and inability to leave it because of financial and emotional dependence, the women attempted suicide to escape from the situation.
Deliberate self‐poisoning: treatment follow‐up of repeaters and nonrepeaters
Authors: Öjehagen A. , Danielsson M. , Träskman‐Bendz L.
Published: August 2007

Since 1986 psychiatrists and social workers of the Lund Suicide Research Center have investigated subjects admitted to the medical intensive care unit after a suicide attempt. Fifty‐nine of 79 deliberate self‐poisoners were interviewed 12 months after a suicide attempt. Twenty‐one had previously been interviewed 6 months after the index suicide attempt. We obtained minor information on 8 subjects. Two patients had committed suicide. Sixteen subjects (27%) of those who were interviewed showed repeated suicidal behavior (repeaters) during the 1‐year follow‐up, and their psychiatric diagnoses at the index attempt were most commonly alcohol abuse and dysthymia (DSM‐III, Axis I). Compared with nonrepeaters, repeaters had more often made previous suicide attempts, their index attempt was less serious and they were more often in psychiatric treatment at index. At follow‐up, repeaters more often than nonrepeaters expressed the need for professional mental health support. Two‐thirds of the patients were in treatment at follow‐up. About half had remained in continuous treatment and most in psychiatric care for more than 1 year. Repeated self‐poisoning occurred despite ongoing treatment. In view of the fact that numerous suicide attempters obviously remain in treatment for several years, we suggest further development and evaluation of long‐term treatment strategies.
Manic‐depressive psychosis in children younger than 15 years: a register‐based investigation of 39 cases in Denmark
Authors: Thomsen P. H. , Møller L. L. , Dehlholm B. , Brask B. H.
Published: August 2007

Using a nationwide psychiatric case register covering a background population of 5.1 million inhabitants. 39 children (23 boys, 16 girls) were identified who got the diagnosis of manic‐depressive psychosis between 1970 and 1986 before the age of 15. The frequency of manic‐depressive psychosis in this child psychiatric population was 1.2%. The mean age for first‐time admission with this diagnosis was 12.7 years. There was no sex difference. Twenty‐six of the children got the diagnosis of manic‐depressive psychosis during their first admission. Survival analysis was used to describe the prognosis and the diagnostic development of the group. As a whole, the group had a poor prognosis with many readmissions. The most common differential diagnoses were other types of psychosis in boys and oppositional and emotional disorders in girls.
Effect of psychopharmacotherapy on suicide risk in psychiatric inpatients
Authors: Taiminen T.J.
Published: August 2007

A retrospective analysis of the psychopharmacotherapy of 25 inpatients who had committed suicide and the same number of matched control subjects was carried out comparing the quality and doses of medication. Two statistically significant differences between the groups considering the medication were found. The suicide group had lower neuroleptic doses and they more often used benzodiazepine medication than the control group. The presence of depression was documented in the hospital charts more frequently in the suicides, but no differences were observed between the groups in the amount of antidepressant medication used.
Need‐adapted treatment of schizophrenia: a five‐year follow‐up study from the Turku project
Authors: Lehtinen K.
Published: August 2007

The five‐year follow‐up results of 28 first‐contact schizophrenic patients are compared with an older patient series of 53 patients from the same district. The treatment of the new series followed the principles of the need‐adapted model. The emphasis was on immediate initial crisis‐oriented family interventions. The treatment of the old series followed psychodynamic principles with an emphasis on individual and milieu therapy. The patients in the new group manage better with half the number of hospital days and less outpatient treatment. The differences are most clear in men. The crisis orientation caused failure in sustaining longer treatment relationships. This was harmful for patients and families with a more chronic development. In future, better continuity of treatment must be emphasized.
Release of corticotropin after administration of corticotropin‐releasing hormone in depressed patients in relation to the dexamethasone suppression test
Authors: Thalén B.‐E. , Kjellman B.F. , Ljunggren J.‐G. , Akner G. , Kågedal B. , Wahlund B. , Wetterberg L.
Published: August 2007

The possible hypersecretion involvement of corticotropin‐releasing hormone (CRH) in the pathophysiology of hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenocortical axis disturbances in patients with major depressive episode and with an abnormal dexamethasone suppression test (DST) was investigated. The corticotropin (ACTH) and cortisol response to the injection of 45 μg of synthetic human CRH at 1630 were analyzed in 24 inpatients with normal (suppressors) or abnormal (nonsuppressors) DST. The outcome of the DST was analyzed using 3 cut‐off points for the cortisol levels. The clinical assessments included two rating scales. The results showed that nonsuppressors had a significantly lower ACTH response to CRH stimulation than suppressors at all cut‐off points (calculated as net area under the curve and as the difference between the peak and the baseline level) despite no significant differences in the severity of depression.
Blinking, alpha brain waves and smoking in schizophrenia
Authors: Klein C. , Andresen B. , Thom E.
Published: August 2007

Blink rates (BR) and alpha brain waves were studied in 13 schizophrenic and 13 healthy smokers under conditions of smoking deprivation as well as smoking saturation and under different task conditions of smooth pursuit eye movements. Task conditions significantly changed BR and alpha power; smoking enhanced BR and alpha frequency, the latter effect being especially pronounced in schizophrenics for F3‐F4 leadings. Concerning BR, groups differed significantly as long as smoking quantity was not statistically controlled. BR, alpha power and smoking quantity were consistently correlated above chance levels. Results are discussed with respect to the blink alpha neurocircuit model.
Differences in P300 amplitudes and topography between cycloid psychosis and schizophrenia in Leonhard's classification
Authors: Strik W. K. , Dierks T. , Franzek E. , Maurer K. , Beckmann H.
Published: August 2007

In a polydiagnostic approach, we investigated the parameters of auditory P300 in a group of 18 remitted schizophrenics and in 18 age‐ and sex‐matched controls. All patients fulfilled the criteria of schizophrenic disorder according to DSM‐III‐R. Applying Leonhard's classification, patients were to be subdivided into 7 cycloid psychosis and 11 Leonhard's schizophrenics. Patients with cycloid psychosis fulfilled the operational criteria of Brockington et al. We found significantly lower P300 amplitudes in the group of Leonhard's schizophrenics than in controls and in cycloid psychosis, whereas no difference could be shown between patients with cycloid psychosis and controls. Both the maxima and the minima of the P300 field map were dislocated significantly to the right in the group of Leonhard's schizophrenics but not in cycloid psychosis.
Resolution of chlorpromazine‐induced cutaneous pigmentation following substitution with levomepromazine or other neuroleptics
Authors: Bloom D. , Krishnan B. , Thavundayil J. X. , Lal S.
Published: August 2007

Eleven chronic schizophrenic patients with abnormal skin pigmentation associated with neuroleptic treatment were withdrawn from chlorpromazine (CPZ), which was replaced by levomepromazine (n= 4), trifluoperazine (n= 1) or thioproperazine (n= 1) as the sole neuroleptic, by a combination of these phenothiazines (n= 4) or with haloperidol plus pipotiazine (n= 1). Seven patients showed complete resolution of abnormal skin pigmentation over a period of 1–5 years and 4 markedly improved over 2.0–2.6 years of follow‐up. Our observations suggest that neuroleptic‐induced abnormal skin pigmentation is (i) predominantly, if not exclusively, a side effect of CPZ and (ii) reversible, providing that CPZ is withdrawn and sufficient time is allowed to elapse.
Staging: a neglected dimension in psychiatric classification
Authors: Fava G. A. , Kellner R.
Published: August 2007

The staging method, whereby a disorder is characterized according to seriousness, extension and features, has achieved wide currency in medicine but is currently neglected in psychiatry. Studies addressing or related to the issue of staging in schizophrenia, unipolar depression, bipolar disorder and panic disorder are discussed. The phenomenological development of these mental disorders may be categorized according to stages.
The St. George's dementia bed investigation study: cardiovascular, neurological and neuropsychological correlates
Authors: Gilleard C.J. , Kellett J.M. , Coles J.A. , Millard P.M. , Honavar M. , Lantos P.L.
Published: August 2007

The results of the cardiovascular, neurological and neuropsychological examination of a series of patients admitted to the St. George's dementia investigation bed and who later came to postmortem are compared in relation to their pathological diagnosis. Individual clinical signs were not found to differentiate between cases of dementia with vascular versus those with Alzheimer's disease pathology, although multivariate analysis suggested that there was a pattern of signs associated with cerebrovascular disease. A vascularity index was constructed from these signs; it achieved a useful level of discrimination between vascular and nonvascular causes of dementia.
Antipsychotic drug prescription in general practice in Italy
Authors: Raschetti R. , Alegiani S. Spila , Diana G. , Da Cas R. , Traversa G. , Pasquini P.
Published: August 2007

Prescribing patterns of neuroleptic drugs in a population of about 3,700,000 inhabitants were analysed using all individual prescriptions delivered by the Italian National Health Service during 4 years (1986–1989). Data contained in a regional prescription database were analysed using an outpatient drug monitoring system (VIDEOFAR). The proportion of subjects receiving neuroleptics was about 1.3% of the entire population. During 1989, 20.2% of 52,716 observed subjects received multiple neuroleptic therapy. Haloperidol, the most frequently prescribed antipsychotic, was dispensed to 21.3% of the individuals as the only neuroleptic treatment. Consumption sharply increased with age and about 60% of patients receiving a prescription were women. Nonetheless, among the heavy users in the younger ages, the male‐to‐female ratio is significantly greater than one. Although the principal indications for neuroleptics are subacute or chronic clinical conditions, a surprisingly high proportion of subjects (ranging from 48% to 76% depending on the type of neuroleptic) received only one single prescription during 1989.
Studies of nocturnal penile tumescence and sleep electroencephalogram in patients with major depression and in normal controls
Authors: Steiger A. , Holsboer F. , Benkert O.
Published: August 2007

Nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT), sleep electroencephalogram and testosterone secretion were investigated in 25 nonmedicated male patients with an acute episode of major depression. Twelve patients were reassessed after a stable remission and withdrawal of antidepressants. Four of the 25 patients had no NPT activity during acute depression, but this was reversed after recovery. The area under the NPT curve increased after remission, whereas all other NPT variables remained unchanged. Nocturnal testosterone secretion was enhanced after recovery, whereas the sleep structure remained unchanged. The NPT findings for the depressed patients did not differ from those for a control group, even though the latter group was younger. Hence, there are no general NPT changes that could be used to separate depressed patients and normal controls. However, a lack of NPT seems to be a possible, reversible symptom of depression in men.
Stress, depression and left‐sided psychogenic chest pain
Authors: Naidoo P. , Patel C.J.
Published: August 2007

Ninety men between the ages of 20 to 65 were studied to investigate the relationships between stress, depression and psychogenic pain. Three groups (the coronary heart disease (CHD) group; the left‐sided psychogenic chest pain (LPCP) group; and the control group) comprising 30 patients per group, each completed the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS), as a measure of stress; the Schedule of Recent Experience, to document the recency of actual life events experienced as listed in the SRRS; and the Beck Depression Inventory, as a measure of the severity of depression. Separate analyses of the variables stress and depression failed to yield significant stress differences in the 3 groups, but the LPCP group was significantly more depressed than the CHD and control groups. Factor analysis, however, indicated that the stress profiles were significantly different in each of the 3 groups. This study indicates that the condition of LPCP shares a similar depressive profile to other psychogenic pain conditions and further lends support to the hypothesis linking psychogenic pain to depressive disorders.
Disqualifying family communication and anxiety in offspring at risk for psychopathology
Authors: Wichstrøm L. , Holte A. , Wynne L. C.
Published: August 2007

The association between disqualifications in parental and family communication and manifest anxiety in boys (7 or 10 years) was investigated. The sample consisted of 59 families where one of the parents had previously been hospitalized for a functional mental disorder. Parental and family communication was observed in the Couples Rorschach (CR) and Family Rorschach (FR) tasks, respectively. The results showed that the amount of one particular type of disqualification, self‐disqualification, correlated positively with the boy's anxiety level. Self‐disqualification refers to utterances in which the speaker communicates in vague, egocentric or paradoxical ways, which makes it impossible for the receiver to know what has been said. This correlation was evident both with respect to the communication between the parents during CR and the communication from the family to the index boy during FR. The relationship between self‐disqualification and anxiety was attributable to neither the boy's age or intelligence quotient nor the dimensions of parental psychopathology or functional impairment.
Thiamine pyrophosphate effect and erythrocyte transketolase activity during severe alcohol withdrawal syndrome
Authors: Nordentoft M. , Timm S. , Hasselbalch E. , Roesen A. , Gammeltoft S. , Hemmingsen R.
Published: August 2007

The thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) effect and erythrocyte transketolase activity (ETKA) in a group of 28 patients admitted to a psychiatric emergency ward because of severe alcohol withdrawal syndrome were compared with the TPP effect and ETKA in a control group of 20 healthy nonalcoholic volunteers. The patients were treated with 300 mg thiamine 3 times daily as intramuscular injections, and the TPP effect and ETKA were measured after 1 and 4 days of treatment. No difference was found between the patient group and the control group with regard to the TPP effect and ETKA and no decline in the TPP effect was found in the patient group after 4 days of intensive treatment with thiamine. ETKA increased with intensive thiamine treatment, which suggests that ETKA is a sensitive indicator of thiamine deficiency. Serum magnesium, which is a cofactor for thiamine pyrophosphate, decreased significantly with the disappearance of alcohol from the blood in patients with high initial blood alcohol levels, but this shift did not interfere with biological thiamine activity.
Suitability for brief dynamic psychotherapy: psychodynamic variables as predictors of outcome
Authors: Høglend P.
Published: August 2007

The success rate in predicting symptom change 2 years after brief dynamic psychotherapy increased 20% by adding quality of interpersonal relations from a psychodynamic evaluation interview to DSM‐III diagnoses, Axis V and Axis II. The success rate in predicting dynamic change 4 years after therapy increased nearly 40% by adding the same variable. Selection criteria such as circumscribed focus, motivation and involvement in the evaluation interview were shown to be redundant as predictors.
Characteristics of winter depression in the Oslo area (60°N)
Authors: Lingjærde O. , Reichborn‐Kjennerud T.
Published: August 2007

This is the first comprehensive description of winter depression (WD), as part of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), from Norway, and one of the very few from so far north. A total of 128 media‐recruited people had first been screened with the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire and were thereafter personally interviewed. The criteria for DSM‐III‐R mood disorder, seasonal pattern, were satisfied by 85%, whereas 73% satisfied the criteria of Rosenthal et al. for SAD. Seven percent were diagnosed as subsyndromal SAD. The main characteristics of our patient group were in reasonable accordance with other clinical SAD materials: there were 81% women; the mean age was 44 years (range: 20 to 76); the mean age for SAD debut was 24 years (range: 4 to 71); and the duration of WD was most often from October to March or April. Only 12% had ever been manic or hypomanic in summer. During their WD, most patients suffered at least one of the symptoms hypersomnia, hyperphagia or carbohydrate craving; 16% also had a craving for fatty food in winter, but this may be considered “normal” at this northerly latitude.
Gender specificity of geographical variation in morbid risk for schizophrenia in rural Ireland
Authors: Youssef H. A. , Kinsella A. , Waddington J. L.
Published: August 2007

The morbid risk for schizophrenia was determined separately for men and women within each of 36 contiguous district electoral divisions of a rural Irish county in which all cases of schizophrenia satisfying DSM‐III‐R criteria had been sought. The distribution of morbid risk values for men (0.0‐19.2 per 1000) was in accordance with a statistical model for random occurrences in space, while for women (0.0‐38.3 per 1000) it deviated markedly from such a model; thus, morbid risk for schizophrenia showed very prominent geographical variations in women, but not in men. These findings may have a basis in factors that can show both spatial inhomogeneity and gender specificity in their consequences for schizophrenia.
Sex differences in depressiogenic risk factors and coping strategies in a socially homogeneous group
Authors: Wilhelm K. , Parker G.
Published: August 2007

We examined for sex differences in possible risk factors for depression, manifestations of depression and associated help‐seeking and coping styles in a socially homogeneous cohort without any sex difference in lifetime rates of depression. The sexes did not differ on measures of depression, dysfunctional attitudes, perception of important interpersonal relationships, experience or perceived impact of life events. Women scored more highly on measures of neuroticism, were more dependent and were more likely to engage in self‐consoling behaviours and coping styles. Recklessness as a coping style was the only item endorsed more frequently by men, posing the question of whether current measures take into consideration the male experience of depression. The findings suggest that many putative depressiogenic risk factors over‐represented in women do not, by themselves, create depression but require a triggering factor or certain social conditions for their expression.
Obsessive‐compulsive disorder in children and adolescents
Authors: Thomsen P. H.
Published: August 2007

A total of 1032 pupils in Denmark aged 11‐17 years completed a survey form of the Leyton Obsessional Inventory ‐ child version, consisting of 20 items. These pupils had higher scores for obsessional symptoms or traits than high school students in the United States, also when corrected for age differences, but the most frequently reported symptoms seemed to be the same: repetitive thoughts or words, having trouble making up one's mind and worrying about being clean enough. There was no significant sex difference in total score. From 0.5% to 5% reported considerable interference by each obsessional symptom, and 4.1% had a total interference score > 25, reflecting possible subclinical or clinical obsessive‐compulsive disorder.
Excluding linkage between panic disorder and the gamma‐aminobutyric acid beta 1 receptor locus in five Icelandic pedigrees
Authors: Schmidt S.M. , Zoëga T. , Crowe R.R.
Published: August 2007

The GABAA receptor subunits are candidate genes for panic disorder because the receptor is the site of action for the anxiolytic effects of the benzodiazepines. We tested for linkage between a tetranucleotide repeat polymorphism at the GABAA beta 1 locus, located on chromosome 4p13‐p12. and panic disorder defined by DSM‐III‐R criteria in 5 Icelandic pedigrees. Both a narrow affection status (definite panic disorder and agoraphobia) and a broad one (including probable cases of these disorders) were tested. With the narrow definition, at a recombination fraction of 0.00, the lod scores in the 5 pedigrees ranged from ‐3.240 to +0.063, the total score across all 5 pedigrees being ‐8.299. With the broad definition at the same recombination fraction, the individual lod scores ranged from ‐2.614 to ‐0.489, with the total being ‐8.089. Thus. linkage between panic disorder/agoraphobia and the GABAA beta 1 locus in these pedigrees is exceedingly unlikely.
Subclinical eating disorders in male athletes
Authors: Thiel A. , Gottfried H. , Hesse F. W.
Published: August 2007

This study investigated the possibility that male athletes who, owing to the rules of their sport, are pressured to maintain a low weight show an elevated prevalence of subclinical eating disorders. Twenty‐five wrestlers and 59 rowers in the lower weight categories were investigated using the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI). Fifty‐two percent of the athletes reported the occurrence of binging. The EDI profiles of 11% of the athletes suggested the presence of a subclinical eating disorder. These figures are clearly elevated compared with the normal male population. Low‐weight wrestlers and rowers should be considered a high‐risk male population for subclinical eating disorders. These findings are comparable to high‐risk groups consisting mainly of women (such as ballet and modelling students). The causal relationship between the specific sport and the development of a psychogenic eating disorder is discussed.
Mental illness and social integration among suicide attempters in Copenhagen
Authors: Nordentoft M. , Rubin P.
Published: August 2007

In order to describe a population of suicide attempters in an affluent suburb of Copenhagen, 100 patients were interviewed, randomly chosen from a group of 246 patients referred to psychiatric consultation after a suicide attempt. The group consisted of 71 women and 29 men. Single status, abuse, and previous suicide attempts occurred frequently as did suicide among first‐degree relatives. The most frequent reason for a suicide attempt was conflict with partners. In comparison with the normal population in the same catchment area, the patients were alone and felt lonely, but no difference was found in the group's relation to the labor market. After a four‐year follow‐up period, 9 persons had died by suicide. Borderline personality disorder and affective psychosis, no employment, 2 or more previous attempts, violent method and potential lethal attempt proved to be predictors of suicide later on. Alcohol and drug abuse, lack of social support and loneliness did not influence the risk.
Carisoprodol abuse: a report from India
Authors: Sikdar S. , Basu D. , Malhotra A. K. , Varma V. K. , Mattoo S. K.
Published: August 2007

Carisoprodol, a centrally acting muscle relaxant, has recently been noticed to be abused. A series of 16 cases with carisoprodol abuse or dependence is described. Carisoprodol was started by the majority of patients as a substitute for opiates, although its independent distinct effects, similar to the features of hypomania, were recognized and described by most users. The drug is currently available freely over the counter and is a much cheaper substitute for the legally prohibited “harder” drugs. Unless awareness spreads and cautionary measures are taken, carisoprodol abuse might become a great menace in the near future.
Sedatives and suicide: the San Diego study
Authors: Mendelson W.B. , Rich C.L.
Published: August 2007

Although clinical experience points to the frequent use of sedatives and hypnotics in suicide, remarkably few data are available to characterize the demographics of the population involved. The San Diego study, in which toxicological examinations were performed in over 90% of 204 consecutive suicides seen by the San Diego County Coroner during 1981–1982, provides an opportunity to examine suicide victims who were taking various medicines and drugs of abuse. Drugs were detected in 68% of tested subjects. Anxiolytics and hypnotics were found in 10.7% and 12.3% of the cases respectively. Women were more than 4 times as likely as men to have tested positive for an anxiolytic or hypnotic. Antidepressants were found in 5.9%. Alcohol had been ingested by 28.3% of subjects. Barbiturates and benzodiazepines were found in approximately equal proportions, although nationally the number of barbiturate prescriptions filled in drugstores was only one‐sixth that of benzodiazepines. Major depression was found in 22.5%; among cases with positive histories of major depression, only a small proportion ranging from 4–10% were positive for antidepressants, anxiolytics or hypnotics. Interestingly, approximately equal proportions (4.8% and 6.2%) of depressed and non‐depressed patients were positive for antidepressants. Among subjects whose deaths were attributed to drug ingestion, benzodiazepines, barbiturates and antidepressants were found in approximately one‐third each, with little overlap. Although benzodiazepines were found in less than 10% of the group as a whole, they were found in one‐third of subjects who committed suicide by overdose. Several clinical concerns arise from these data, including: 1) the importance of recognizing depression in patients who complain of poor sleep, 2) the issue of multiple drug ingestion in suicide victims and 3) the rising rate of barbiturate use in areas in which benzodiazepines are increasingly restricted by regulatory agencies.