bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An assessment of the Newcastle Anxiety Depression Index
Authors: Davidson J. , Pelton S. , Krishnan K. R. R. , McLeod M. , Raft D. , Miller R. D. , Allf B.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— The Newcastle Anxiety and Depression Diagnostic Index (NADDI) has been reviewed, and its advantages and disadvantages discussed. One hundred eighty‐seven patients were examined, and grouped into three categories by means of the NADDI, which produced a unimodal distribution of score. These three groups were studied in respect of the Hamilton Depression and SCL‐90 self‐rating scales. Significant profile differences were found on both scales. Patients with pure anxiety and pure depression were more distressed than the intermediate group of mixed anxiety‐depressed patients. The NADDI scale items were compared in four clinical groups of primary endogenous, primary nonendogenous depression, generalized anxiety, and panic disorder. Most differences were found when panic disorder was compared to the other three groups, and generalized anxiety disorder received minimal validation. Treatment response was also examined.
Topography and possible physiological significance of EEG amplitude variability in psychosis
Authors: Müller H. F. , Achim A. , Laur A. , Buchbinder A.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT: The topography and possible physiological significance of EEG average amplitude and amplitude variability in time were examined in 10 chronic psychotic patients and several groups of healthy volunteers. In confirmation of previous reports, the patients showed more slow (5.2–7.6 Hz) activity, particularly in frontal areas, and less alpha rhythm variability in posterior areas, compared to matched controls, chiefly during the resting state, while eye opening, and particularly structural sensory input, made the groups more similar. The same two EEG variables showed significant correlations with ratings of psychopathology, in the expected direction. The EEG amplitude variability is increased by unstructured perception, probably as an expression of readiness or search for structures in the input, and shows persistent topographic patterns over time in individuals. It appears to reflect a functional dimension which is different from the one represented by the average amplitude and is one of several spontaneous oscillatory functions which are diminished in chronic psychosis, perhaps as consequence of prefrontal malfunction. The results suggest a diminished guiding function by the anterior cortex, and a diminished readiness for perception of exogenous structured information, in chronic psychosis.
Clinical aspects of hysteria
Authors: Hafeiz H. B.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT:This is a clinical study of 80 patients, diagnosed as suffering from hysteria, who attended the psychiatric clinic in Khartoum Hospital over a period of 3 years. The incidence of hysteria was 10%, the female‐male ratio 15:1, and young age‐groups predominate. 60% were essentially of normal personality. The clinical picture was fairly consistent. Hysterical conversion was the commonest clinical form (76%) and the dissociative type was rare. The patients with recurrent and vague bodily complaints could be labelled as histrionic.
Delusional psychosis
Authors: Jørgensen P.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT The study comprises a consecutive evaluation of 88 first‐admission patients from a well‐defined catchment area. All patients disclosed functional delusional psychosis at PSE interview. Sex distribution was equal and the patients’ mean age in the thirties. Symptomatology and diagnostic classification are presented and, for the latter, related to the Catego Class of PSE. Forty‐five patients fulfilled Catego Class S+, the majority being diagnosed reactive psychosis while only 13 patients were diagnosed schizophrenia. At discharge, 44 patients were fully remitted. A follow‐up will be made of social and clinical course and outcome.
Attempted suicide in hospitalised schizophrenics
Authors: Prasad A. J.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT A group of 25 hospitalised schizophrenics who had attempted suicide within the past year was compared with another group of 30 hospitalised schizophrenics who had not attempted suicide, using the PSE symptoms. The former had a significantly higher number of symptoms indicative of a depressive disorder. It is concluded that suicidal risk in schizophrenia is significantly raised when there are concomitant depressive symptoms.
Discriminating characteristics of suicides
Authors: Dingman C. Wesley , McGlashan T. H.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT Diagnostic, demographic, and outcome profiles were compared between psychiatric inpatients and former inpatients who ultimately committed suicide and those who did not. Results showed that the suicide group contained a greater preponderance of males and patients suffering from schizoaffective disorder or unipolar depression, and comparatively fewer patients with borderline personality disorder. The suicide group also had histories or symptoms indicative of affective difficulties, and premorbidly had achieved a higher IQ and higher levels of socioeconomic functioning. They also demonstrated higher levels of psychopathology on admission and their post‐hospitalization courses were characterized by lower levels of functioning. The risk of suicide thus appeared to be correlated to illness virulence and to the magnitude of the loss of healthy functioning.
Double‐blind efficacy and safety study comparing adinazolam mesylate and placebo in depressed inpatients
Authors: Smith W. T. , Glaudin V.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT In a 6‐week, randomized, double‐blind study, adinazolam mezylate (Deracyn® Tablets, The Upjohn Company) was compared with placebo for the treatment of depression in 80 inpatients who met the criteria for single episode or recurrent DSM‐III Major Depression. Subjects were admitted to the hospital 3 days before the start of the study and remained hospitalized for at least the first week of treatment. Efficacy was evaluated after 2, 4, 7, 14, 28, and 42 days of treatment. Adinazolam was significantly superior to placebo on all observer‐rated and all global patient‐rated measures of efficacy. Twenty‐five subjects (63%) completed 6 weeks of adinazolam treatment and of these, 88% responded within 7 days. Only 15 placebo‐treated subjects (38%) completed the study. Drowsiness and mild to moderate cognitive complaints were the only side effects observed more frequently with adinazolam, and both were transient. The results show that adinazolam is safe and more effective than placebo for the treatment of major depression.
REM latency and core temperature relationships in primary depression
Authors: Avery D. H. , Wildschiødtz G. , Smallwood R. G. , Martin D. , Rafaelsen O. J.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT REM latency and rectal and ear canal temperature were studied simultaneously in 11 controls and nine depressed patients; seven of the patients were studied when recovered. REM latency was shorter in the depressed group compared with controls and lengthened with recovery. The nocturnal and ear canal temperatures were higher in the depressed group compared with controls and decreased with recovery. REM latency and the nocturnal rectal temperature were negatively correlated when all the nights of the depressed patients were analyzed (r = ‐0.44) and when all the nights of the subjects were analyzed (r = ‐0.44). REM latency and nocturnal ear canal temperatures were negatively correlated when all the nights of the control group were analyzed (r = ‐0.34). The timing of the temperature rhythm did not appear to be correlated with the REM latency.
Identifying children at high somatic risk: possible long‐term effects on the parents’ attitudes and feelings associated with the child
Authors: McNeil T. F. , Thelin T. , Aspegren‐Jansson E. , Sveger T.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT α1antitrypsin deficiency (ATD) predisposes the individual for serious lung disease in adulthood. The identification of ATD by neonatal screening was hypothesized to have negative long‐term effects on the parents’ attitudes and feelings associated with the child. This hypothesis was tested by comparing these attitudes and feelings of parents of 61 clinically healthy 5–7‐year‐old children with ATD versus those of parents of 61 control children without ATD. The data were collected by interviews in the home. No evidence was found to support the hypothesized negative effect on parental attitudes and feelings. A consistent but weak increase in positive feelings and attitudes toward the child was noted among the mothers of children with ATD.
Epidemiology of suicide in a Swedish county (Västerbotten) 1961–1980
Authors: Jacobsson L. , Renberg E.
Published: August 2007

As the initial part of the development of a suicide prevention program in a county in northern Sweden, an epidemiologic study on all suicides in the Västerbotten county 1961–1980 was performed. The study confirms other studies which differentiate between an urban‐alienated pattern and a rural‐traditional. There is a considerable increase in the suicide rate during the 1970's in the county alongside the development of a marked difference between different socio‐economic regions. The highest suicide rates are now found in the most sparsely populated mountainous areas in the western part and in the most rapidly expanding urban area.
Psychosocial outcome in schizophrenia and psychotherapeutic orientation
Authors: Salokangas R. K. R.
Published: August 2007

The purpose was to compare the psychosocial outcome in two groups of schizophrenic patients who were treated by different methods but were in other respects unselected, and to consider factors predictive of the outcome. The first sample, consisting of a total of 100 patients, had received hospital and outpatient care, here called traditional; only 12 of them had received sustained psychotherapy. Of the second sample, comprising 75 patients, 66 were treated in a psychotherapeutic community and 25 also received sustained psychotherapy. All patients were interviewed by the author on an average of 8 years after the first hospitalization. The patients treated in the psychotherapeutic community had remained longer under hospital care, particularly at first, and at the end of follow‐up their functional capacity was lower, but they were more satisfied with the treatment received compared with the patients treated traditionally. The samples did not differ in terms of clinical status. The severity of the schizophrenic disorder, including diagnostic category, and a tendency toward grandiose thinking emerged as the most important factors predictive of psychosocial outcome. Premorbid psychosocial development and social support were also relevant to the outcome. After taking the predictor variables into account, extensive hospital care was still associated with a poor outcome. This may in part explain why, despite the greater amount of psychotherapy provided, the functional capacity of the patients who received psychotherapeutic community treatment had poorer outcome than those treated traditionally.
Unexpected death in patients suffering from eating disorders
Authors: Rajs J. , Rajs E. , Lundman T.
Published: August 2007

Medico‐legal investigation into causes of unexpected death of five persons who suffered from eating disorders did not give distinct pathoanatomical explanations. The analysis disclosed a number of risk factors whose interplay may have resulted in a circulatory catastrophy. These factors were of organisational and ideological character: simultaneous treatment at different departments, lack of contact with psychiatrists, or unclear criteria for admission to hospital; or somatic: circulatory and electrocardiographic S‐T and T wave abnormalities, hypopotassemia and hypoglycemia, as well as anergy of the emaciated patient which may have led to symptoms of bronchopneumonia being overlooked. Morphological investigation revealed heart atrophy as well as recent lesions such as haemorrhages, fragmentation and contraction bands of the myofibres. In two extremely emaciated patients there was a disproportion between the size of the mitral valves and the atrophic ventricular wall, an appearance similar to “floppy valves”. In one instance an erroneously inserted gastric tube contributed to vomiting, hypopotassemia and sudden death.
Values and priorities assigned to different kinds of research
Authors: Boulougouris John , Calltorp Johan , Cohen Jerome , Dencker Sven J. , Dow Ronald , Greist John , Harnois Gaston , May Philip R. A. , Sainsbury Peter , Scott Alex , Serafetinides E.A.
Published: August 2007

A constrained allocation method was used to ascertain the values and priorities assigned to ten different types of research by a group of 275 raters. Basic RESOURCES came first in their priorities, followed in order by PHYSICAL HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH, WORK and EDUCATION. Taken together, PHYSICAL and MENTAL HEALTH dominated the order. Differences of oponion were substantial: For each type of research, there were many who would assign it no funding at all, yet others would assign it a very high amount.

The results are consistent with those reported from a previous study, indicating that the constrained alocation method has considerable potential for studying judgements of research values and priorities.
Benzodiazepine hypnotic metabolism: drug interactions and clinical implications
Authors: Abernethy D. R. , Greenblatt D. J. , Shader R. I.
Published: August 2007

Benzodiazepines are the drugs of choice when initiating hypnotic therapy. Though the mechanism of benzodiazepine action in the central nervous system is similar for all drugs in this class, differences in absorption and pathway of elimination are associated with differences in observed clinical effect. After single‐dose administration, onset of hypnotic effect is most closely related to rate of drug absorption and duration of effect is more closely associated with extent of drug distribution. Relative affinity of the individual benzodiazepine for the specific central nervous system binding site may also determine duration of action. During multiple‐dose chronic therapy, route of metabolic biotransformation and elimination half‐life assume more importance. An increased incidence of adverse drug effects due to high doses of accumulating benzodiazepines may be seen in the elderly and patients with central nervous system deficits or chronic liver disease. Benzodiazepine metabolic biotransformation and clearance is broken into three groups. Group 1—oxidative biotransformation; Group 2—high clearance drugs; Group 3—drug conjugation. Groups 1 and 2 are implicated in a number of drug‐disease and drug‐drug interactions. Group 3 drugs have little change in patients with liver disease or when administered with inhibitors of drug biotransformation. Clinical implications of these metabolic interactions are variable, but inhibition of Group 1 and 2 benzodiazepine clearance has been associated with increased sedation and psychomotor impairment.
Aspects of driving after hypnotic therapy with particular reference to temazepam
Authors: Schmidt U. , Brendemühl D. , Rüther E.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT In a double‐blind study, 32 outpatients with sleep disorders received oral doses of temazepam 20 mg (n= 16) or flunitrazepam 2 mg (n= 16) once a night for 7 days. On the morning after the first and seventh doses, patients completed psychomotor tests and a real driving test on the road over a 25 km course. The road test included a 1 km straight stretch driven at constant speed. In the car, various parameters were automatically recorded every second for approximately 60 minutes. These included angular velocity of steering, lateral acceleration and velocity. An optimization quotient, a measure of the efficiency of information processing in the driver‐vehicle‐road interaction, was derived from these parameters. An observer recorded driving performance by scoring standardized tasks. After a single dose of temazepam, the improvement in driver performance as shown by a decreased optimization quotient was significantly different to the deterioration seen after flunitrazepam (p < 0.05). After the seventh dose, this trend was still apparent but was not statistically significant. After both one and seven doses, the angular velocity of steering was significantly decreased in the temazepam group compared with an increase after flunitrazepam (p < 0.001). Over the straight, this deterioration in steering ability in the flunitrazepam group was apparent after one dose and reached statistical significance compared with temazepam after seven doses (p < 0.01). After both one and seven doses, drivers in the temazepam group made fewer errors in the technical handling of the car whereas drivers in the flunitrazepam group made slightly more errors. This difference between the groups was statistically significant on both days (p < 0.05).
Insomnia in general practice: the role of temazepam and a comparison with zopiclone
Authors: Wheatley D.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT The aetiology of insomnia can be conveniently divided into six groups: physical (pain, cough, etc.), physiological (shift‐workers etc.), psychological (life events), psychiatric (depression, anxiety, etc.), iatrogenic (stimulant drugs, etc.) and idiopathic (no obvious cause). The four main types of insomnia are: prolonged latency, frequent short awakenings, one or two long awakenings and early morning awakening. Patients’ habits that may interfere with sleep are related to: alcohol, smoking, tea and coffee drinking, and bedtime drinks. In a double‐blind comparison between temazepam and nitrazepam, both drugs were shown to be effective hypnotics, nitrazepam being better for early morning wakening, although at the expense of more hangover effects. Zopiclone, a new cyclopyrrolone hypnotic, was also compared to temazepam in a double‐blind cross‐over trial and similar hypnotic effects were recorded with both drugs.
Philosophy of science and DSM‐III: Philosophical, idea‐historical and sociological perspective on diagnoses
Authors: Malt Ulrik Fr.
Published: August 2007

The validity of a classification system is primarily a question of philosophical premise. DSM‐II is from this point of view a theoretical classification system based on hypotheses currently considered reliable and interesting and which ‐ as presupposed ‐ could not be rejected by empirical methods. The relevance or validity of this empirical approach depends on the aim of the DSM‐III. An empirical approach may facilitate communication but can only have limited success as a help for planning treatment of psychiatric disorders where motives and meaning are important factors.

The choice of hypotheses and the empirically derived concepts used to construct the classification system neglects other important ways of comprehension. Although aspects of rational philosophy may be found in the DSM‐III system too, important ways of comprehension like the metaphysical approach is lacking. It is showed how this fact reflects a philosophical trend in the Western world following the Renaissance. By considering the Myth of Faust it is demonstrated how a metaphysical comprehension of life would lead to a different understanding of states of mind currently assumed to be a reflection of individual psychopathology according to empirical or rational comprehension. Thus in the end the validity of a classification system depends on the basic philosophical assumptions chosen. A choice which may be determined more by irrational and cultural forces than conscious contemplation.

The content of DSM‐III or ICD is also influenced by professional interests; the needs of the society and international political factors. It is concluded that a philosophical, idea‐historical, sociological and political consciousness is necessary to secure a critical but constructive attitude towards any classification system or theory. Whatever the basic point of view may be the provision of a classification system will always exclude important dimensions of man and life. Progress in psychiatry can only occur when this fact is conscious.
The DSM‐III classification of the functional psychoses and the Norwegian tradition
Authors: Dahl Alv A.
Published: August 2007

The relationship of the DSM‐III categories to the national diagnostic usage of ICD is of importance for communication between psychiatrists.

Here the theoretical relationship between the DSM‐III categories and the Norwegian use of ICD‐8 within the area of functional psychoses is discussed. An empirical investigation of these theoretical assumptions has been done on a hospital material diagnosed independently in the two classificatory systems. The empirical investigation gives support to the concordance of DSM‐III schizophreniform, Schizoaffective, and bipolar disorder and the Norwegian ICD‐8 Counterparts. The concordance is less for schizophrenic disorders and major depressoin. It is also found that the norwegian diagnoses of reactive psychoses spread over may DSM‐III diagnoses. In particular more of the reactive psychoses than predicted fall within the schizophrenic spectrum of DSM‐III.
Parameters affecting the course and results of delirium tremens treatment
Authors: Feuerlein W. , Reiser E.
Published: August 2007

The histories of 778 patients were analysed in respect of the course, type of treatment and lethality of delirium tremens. The lethality was highest in patients in the higher age range, those who were overweight and in spirit drinkers. The lowest mortality was in the patients treated with chlormethiazole (other drugs used included haloperidol and phenothiazines).
Chlormethiazole in the management of postcraniotomy seizures
Authors: Gurusinghe N. T. , Symon L. , Jewkes L. S. D. , Bromley L. , Brodrick P. , Gluckman P.
Published: August 2007

Epilepsy is an important problem in the period immediately following intracranial surgery. Rapid control of seizures is important to prevent damage to cerebral neuronal function. A method of managing epilepsy using intravenous chlormethiazole is reported. This regimen has proved to be safe and rapidly effective in the control of post‐operative seizures.
Early and late improvement in a two‐year out‐patient alcoholic treatment programme
Authors: Öjehagen A. , Berglund M.
Published: August 2007

Abstract— The process of improvement was studied in a 2‐year out‐patient programme for alcoholics. The drop‐out rate was 16%. The analysis was based on recurrent evaluations of treatment contracts including both drinking pattern and psycho‐social treatment objectives. Background data were related to the alcohol adjustment during the first but not during the second year of treatment. Subjects with favourable background characteristics showed an early improvement of drinking pattern but few psycho‐social changes. In contrast, subjects whose improvement in drinking behaviour occurred during the second year of treatment showed improvement in their psycho‐social adjustment already during the first year. All subjects with an early stable improvement were type 1 alcoholics according to the Cloninger‐Bohman typology while the majority of those who improved during the later part of the treatment period were type 2 alcoholics.
Dexamethasone suppression test in schizophrenic patients before and during neuroleptic treatment
Authors: Wik G. , Wiesel F.‐A. , Eneroth P. , Sedvall G. , Aström G.
Published: August 2007

Abstract— The dexamethasone suppression test (DST) was performed in 21 drug‐free schizophrenic patients. The patients satisfied DSM‐III and Research Diagnostic Criteria for schizophrenia and were in an acute phase of the disease. In 15 of the patients the DST was repeated after about 5 weeks of treatment with neuroleptics. DST compliance was checked by analysis of dexamethasone concentrations in plasma. In the acute phase 71% (at 04 pm.) of the patients were nonsuppressors. After neuroleptic treatment the frequency of abnormal responders had decreased to 20%. The decrease in nonsuppressors was not due to alteration of the dex amethasone concentration between the two test occasions. Prolactin levels were markedly increased at the second test occasion compared with the first. There were no significant relationships between cortisol levels, cortisol suppression and prolactin levels. The high frequency of nonsuppressors among schizophrenic patients in the acute phase of the disease indicates that acute stress may be a confounding factor in the outcome of DST.
Mental disorder at seventy in relation to social factors and attitudes during life
Authors: Holmberg I. , Persson G.
Published: August 2007

Abstract— Associations between social factors or attitudes during their life‐span and mental disorders at 70 were studied in 166 men and 226 women belonging to the population study “70‐year‐olds in Gothenburg”. Poverty during childhood, arduous job during mature age, and low frequency of social visiting were associated with mental disorder in men, and poverty during childhood and indications of current isolation, with mental disorder in women. Living alone was associated with mental disorder only if combined with factors, such as lack of daily contact with others, or low frequency of social visiting. Combinations of stress and strain during the life‐span were associated with feelings of fatigue, while there was no association between losses and mental disorder. Dissatisfaction during the life‐span, in women especially with regard to their childhood, was associated with mental disorder.
Effects of lithium on the kidney
Authors: Gelenberg A. J. , Wojcik J. D. , Falk W. E. , Coggins C. H. , Brotman A. W. , Rosenbaum J. F. , LaBrie R. A. , Kerman B. J.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— We tested kidney function in 268 patients given lithium treatment for an average period of 37.6 months and in 59 manic‐depressive patients never given lithium. No patients suffered serious renal damage during the course of our observations. Maximum concentration capacity was lower and serum creatinine concentration higher in the lithium treated patients than in the controls, but the differences did not achieve statistical significance. Females had poorer concentrating ability than males, both among the control subjects and during lithium treatment. Concomitant antipsychotic drug therapy may affect concentrating ability and possibly glomerular function adversely.
Why has the incidence of schizophrenia in Danish psychiatric institutions decreased since 1970?
Authors: Munk‐Jørgensen P.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— From The Danish Psychiatric Register five cohorts of all first‐admitted patients to Danish psychiatric institutions from the years 1970, 1973, 1976, 1979, and 1980 have been followed, and trends in age‐standardized rates of schizophrenia investigated. The first‐admission rates have decreased in both sexes, significantly in males. In addition, the cumulated schizophrenia rates for the cohorts, including those of patients diagnosed as schizophrenics only at a later admission within periods of 2 and 5 years, decreased. This decrease is significant at 2 years of observation in both sexes and at 5 years in females. The decreasing first‐admission rates might be explained partly by changes in diagnostic habits. The differential diagnoses of schizophrenia (paranoid states (ICD‐8:297), paranoid reactive psychoses (298.3), unspecified psychoses (298.9 and 299), and borderline states (ICD‐8 Danish version: 301.83)) are increasingly used as first‐admission diagnoses for patients later to be diagnosed as schizophrenics, possibly owing to a tendency to avoid the diagnosis of schizophrenia, when treatment of a patient is possible. A method of calculating the hospital incidence of schizophrenia approaching the real incidence better than the incidence of first‐admission diagnoses is suggested.
Low platelet monoamine oxidase and sensation seeking in males: an established relationship?
Authors: Ward P. B. , Catts S. V. , Norman T. R. , Burrows G. D. , McConaghy N.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— A significant negative correlation between platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity, a stable peripheral enzyme measure under genetic control, and sensation seeking, as measured using the Zuckerman Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS), has been reported for male subjects in several studies. As tobacco smoking has been related to both these measures, in the present study correlations were calculated among smoking and non‐smoking male university students. Platelet MAO activity was negatively correlated with the Disinhibition and Total scales of the SSS. These correlations were not significantly different in smokers and non‐smokers. The results are discussed in terms of recent evidence of reduced platelet MAO activity in psychiatric patients.
Trihexyphenidyl abuse: therapeutic implications for negative symptoms of schizophrenia?
Authors: Fisch R. Z.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— Trihexyphenidyl (THP) and other antiparkinsonian drugs are known to be substances of abuse. This is true both in abusers of other substances and in chronic schizophrenics, the latter being infrequent abusers of other drugs. Most reports on the abuse of antiparkinsonian drugs among schizophrenic patients warn against the possible harm of this self‐medication. The present article describes the different effects of THP on both schizophrenic and non‐schizophrenic abusers. The subjective experience in most chronic schizophrenic patients who abuse THP is positive: they claim that THP makes them feel and function better. In the light of these findings, the author suggests that research on the possible benefits of THP in contrast to the potential harm in chronic, residual schizophrenic patients is warrented.
Enhanced binding of [3H] (‐) adrenaline to platelets of depressed patients with melancholia: Effect of long‐term clomipramine treatment
Authors: Garcia‐Sevilla J.A. , Udina C. , Fuster M.J. , Alvarez E. , Casas M.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— The specific binding of the full agonist [3H] (‐) adrenaline to platelet membranes was measured in 14 drug‐free depressed patients with melancholia. There was an increased number of binding sites (Bmax) with the same apparent affinity (KD) for the radioligand, indicating that platelet α2‐adrenoceptor density in the high affinity state was increased in depressed patients. Long‐term administration of clomipramine was associated with decreases in platelet α2‐adrenoceptor densities which correlated with the duration of treatment. The results support the hypothesis that in endogenous depression there is a dysfunction of the α2‐adrenoceptor and that antidepressant treatment might involve a time‐dependent desensitization process of this receptor.
Treatment compliance among psychiatric outpatients in Kenya
Authors: Okonji M. M. O. , Dhadphale M.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— One hundred psychiatric outpatients discharged from mental hospital in Kenya were studied to estimate the treatment compliance after 3 months. The relatives and patients were interviewed separately to assess treatment adherence; 55 percent of them had defaulted in their treatment. Various factors were responsible for failure of compliance which included amongst many: unavailability of drugs which appears to be a common factor in Third World countries. Suggestions for better compliance included easily available injectable depot preparations or simple generic psychotropic drugs.
Affective impairment in young acute schizophrenics: Its structure, course and prognostic significance
Authors: Lindenmayer J.‐P. , Kay S. R.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— In order to investigate the structure, longitudinal course, and significance of affect impairments in young acute schizophrenics, we prospectively studied a group of 37 consecutively admitted acute inpatients at baseline and 26 months later (n= 19). They were evaluated at both points on a multidimensional affect rating scale, psychopathology rating scales, and tests of attention and motorium. Additionally, they were assessed on historical and subdiagnostic variables at baseline and on level of functioning at follow‐up. Factor analysis revealed three reliably measured affect components: emotional unrelatedness, expressive immobility, and inappropriateness of affect. The first two factors were strongly interrelated and associated also with the BPRS depression factor at baseline. All four affective dimensions proved unstable over the course of 2 years and produced different sets of correlates at the two points of time. In the acute phase, only the depression factor carried favorable prognostic import (r = 0.52, P < 0.05). Emotional unrelatedness and expressive immobility were of unfavorable consequence only when observed in the follow‐up stage. Thus, the affect profile seemed to be an evolving rather than a static phenomenon, precluding generalizations across the early course of schizophrenia. Possible interpretations of the baseline overlap between affect deficits and depression were discussed as well as their different prognostic implications.
An integration of the DSM‐III and ICD‐8 by global severity assessments for measuring multidimensional outcomes in general hospital psychiatry
Authors: Bech P. , Hjortsø S. , Lund K. , Vilmar T. , Kastrup M.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— A multiaxial classification system has been developed in which three ICD‐8 derived axes of psychiatric syndromes, personality disorders and somatic syndromes, and two DSM‐III axes of psychosocial stressors and social functioning have been included. Global assessment scales were annexed the three ICD‐8 axes. This DSM‐III/ICD‐8 system was used for registration of 880 consequetively admitted psychiatric patients in a general hospital setting. The results showed that six psychiatric syndromes (substance use disorders, schizophrenia, manic‐depressive psychosis, reactive psychosis, neurosis, and adjustment reactions) were responsible for 80% of the diagnostic variance. Of these syndromes, manic‐depressive psychosis had the highest improvement rate both concerning symptoms and social functioning. Manic‐depressive psychosis had also the lowest coefficient of variation in the stay in hospital indicating a high degree of homogeneity in accordance to the diagnose‐related group system. However, patients within the categories of reactive psychosis and neurosis who antidepressants also had a low coefficient of variation, although the neurotics were significantly more depressed than the manic‐depressives at discharge from hospital.
Personality traits and platelet MAO activity in alcohol and drug abusing teenage boys
Authors: von Knorring L. , Oreland L. , von Knorring A‐L
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— The aim of this study has been to investigate whether teenage boys with mixed drug abuse differ from those with pure alcohol abuse as concerns personality traits and platelet monoamine axidase activity. The series included 1129 consecutive 18‐year‐old males called to the Enlistment Center in the northern part of Sweden. A special inventory was constructed based on Zuckerman Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS), Eysenck's Personality Inventory (EPI), the Karolinska Scales of Personality (KSP) and questions about alcohol and drug consumption. The subjects with mixed drug abuse (n= 96) had high scores in the two subscales of SSS and KSP related to ability to stand boredom, high scores in both subscales of EPI and KSP related to impulsivity, high scores in Thrill and Adventure Seeking (TAS) and Experience Seeking (ES) of SSS as well as low platelet monoamine oxidase activity. The males with pure alcohol abuse (n= 33) also showed signs of monotony avoidance and impulsivity, but this type of abuse was not clearly related to low platelet monoamine oxidase activity and not to the aspects of curiosity included in the SSS such as TAS and ES. These findings are consistent with the picture earlier found as concerns “Type II” alcoholism which has an early onset, is genetically transmitted, is associated with mixed drug abuse and social complications.
Acute dystonic reactions in Saudi Arabian psychiatric patients treated with haloperidol
Authors: Conacher G. N. , Marazki M. O. , Evans D. A. P. , Bertilsson L. , Sjoqvist F.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— The work described in this paper arose from a clinical observation that Saudi Arabian patients treated with haloperidol appeared to suffer extrapyramidal side effects ‐ particularly acute dystonic reactions, more frequently than European patients. It was decided to study sequential drug free patients requiring haloperidol treatment and the results are presented.
The role of female autonomy in suicide among Portuguese women
Authors: Castro E. Ferreira de , Martins I.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— Our purpose has been to verify whether and in what way female autonomy may contribute to change the importance of variables once seeming to influence the suicide of Portuguese women. The suicide rates in both sexes in Portugal and the district and city of Lisbon (the capital of the district) was surveyed from 1950 to 1968 and from 1969 to 1983, over the decades of the 1950's, 60's and 70's and the period 1980‐83 and related to age, seasons, marital status, and number of children of married women. Since 1977, female suicide rates have risen significantly in Portugal and the district of Lisbon, both in total and in age groups which are professionally active; unmarried, and married and childless women achieve more. The rising trend of suicides in spring and summer is confirmed and resembles the male seasonal variation. The growing independence of Portuguese women is still not widely reflected in their suicide rates, but it seems plausible to anticipate that, without the reality of children, women's rates would gradually approach those of men.
Comparison between a serotonin and a noradrenaline reuptake blocker in the treatment of depressed outpatients
Authors: Nyström C. , Hällström T.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— Seventy‐five outpatients with major depressive disorder (RDC) were randomly referred to treatment with a dominant serotonin (5‐HT) reuptake blocker (zimeldine, 100 mg, b.i.d. n= 40) or a dominant noradrenaline (NA) reuptake blocker (maprotiline, 75 mg, b.i.d. n= 35). Seven patients on each drug were non‐responders after up to 4 weeks of treatment and were after a washout week crossed over to the other drug for up to another 8 weeks of treatment. There was a significant and similar improvement after 4 weeks of treatment with the second drug. After up to 8 weeks of treatment all patients but one in each group were much improved with the second drug. The existence of two biochemical subgroups of depression is discussed.
Platelet MAO activity in clinical subtypes of depression and DST suppression
Authors: Poirier M. F. , Lôo H. , Mitrani N. , Benkelfat C. , Askienazy S. , Fur G. Le
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— Platelet MAO activity was measured in 75 hospitalized depressed patients and in 31 healthy subjects. Plasmas post dexamethasone cortisol levels were examined in 73 patients. Results indicate that higher platelet MAO activity does not occur in all, but only in male major depressed patients. No relationship between changes of MAO activity and specific clinical subtypes was found. Platelet MAO activity is not different between DST suppressors and DST non suppressors. The authors suggest that platelet MAO activity may be related to non specific factors such as sex, age, but not to diagnosis of depression.
Transcultural differences in the perception of life events
Authors: Baratta S. , Perego P. , Zimmermann‐Tansella C.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— The perception of life events of Italian and English subjects was compared. Psychiatric patients and relatives rated 58 life events according to the degree to which the event was regarded as upsetting. The similarity between the two groups was noted, although Italian subjects tended to rate events as less upsetting than the English. The findings excluded that the rating differences between the two groups reflected differences in reaction to life and confirmed the existence of scaling similarity over national groups.
Life events and relapse in bipolar disorder: The impact of a catastrophic event
Authors: Aronson T. A. , Shukla S.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— The literature on life events and the precipitation of bipolar disorder is reviewed. The authors describe an unexpected increase in bipolar relapses in a Lithium Clinic following a catastrophic life event, a hurricane, and contrast the patients who relapsed with an age and sex matched control of bipolars who did not. Though retrospective, the study avoids the question of the independence of life events. The results suggest that certain bipolar patients, especially those recently unstable, may be more vulnerable to the impact of life events.
Alprazolam compared to amitriptyline in the treatment of major depression
Authors: Eriksson B. , Nagy A. , Starmark J.‐E. , Thelander U.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— In a double‐blind randomized study the therapeutic effect and safety of alprazolam was compared with amitriptyline in 81 outpatients suffering from major depression. Variable dosages of both drugs were used, the mean final dose of alprazolam being 3.05 and that of amitriptyline 130 mg. Both treatment groups improved steadily, assessed weekly with the use of the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, and no significant differences were found between the groups, either on comparison between single items or total scores. On several of the criteria used for assessment of treatment response, however, more patients responded to amitriptyline than to alprazolam. In an analysis of specific subgroups, patients whose depression was accompanied by retardation, those in whom there were no precipitating factors and those with low levels of anxiety, responded better to amitriptyline. Considerably fewer side effects were reported by patients receiving alprazolam. In particular, there was a significantly lower incidence of dry mouth, light‐headedness, tremor and tachycardia in patients receiving alprazolam compared with amitriptyline.
Suicides in close connection with psychiatric care: An analysis of 57 cases in a Swedish county
Authors: Sundqvist‐Stensman U. B.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— Among 523 suicides committed in 1977–1984, 10 took place in a psychiatric hospital ward, 17 after the patient had left the ward without permission, 21 while the patient was on leave and nine 0–7 days after discharge. These 57 subjects were compared with 271 suicides committed more than 7 days after discharge or during outpatient care only (PCO). The male:female ratio was 1.0 in the former (PCI) group and 2.0 in the PCO group. The median age of the PCI subjects was 38 years. The suicide method was hanging in all 10 suicides (2 males, 8 females) committed in the psychiatric hospital ward. Depressive syndromes and, particularly schizophrenic and paranoid psychoses were more frequent among the PCI than among the PCO subjects. The extent of psychiatric care, as assessed by the number of admissions, was much greater in the PCI than in the PCO subjects. Environmental factors that might have been of causative importance for the suicidal act were of various kinds and differed to some extent between the two grups. Among the PCI subjects women seemed to have experienced family troubles more often than men, and situations of stressful psychiatric rehabilitation were more common among men.
Post psychotic depression: The Fulbourn cohort
Authors: Berrios G.E. , Bulbena A.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— A comparison is reported, based on a 10 year follow‐up, between an index sample of 29 subjects suffering from schizophrenia and post psychotic depression and a control sample of 41 subjects suffering from schizophrenia alone, all having had their first admission to the same hospital in 1974.

The index subjects were significantly older on onset of schizophrenia and exhibited more auditory hallucinations. Follow‐up patients with post psychotic depression were admitted more often, but their admissions were shorter. No difference was found between the two groups in the frequency of family history of affective disorder, in the duration of treatment with depot neuroleptics or in the dose level of the depot injection received immediately prior to readmission.
Positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia and linguistic performance
Authors: Thomas P. , King K. , Fraser W. I.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT: Selected subjects from a group of first onset schizophrenics (aged under 30 years) were taken from a previous study and placed in one of two groups depending upon whether they had exclusively positive symptoms (n= 9) or a mixture of positive and negative symptoms (n= 9). Their linguistic profiles were compared with those of a group of controls (n= 10) matched for educational attainment and parental social class. Both groups of schizophrenics had significantly lower integrity scores, suggesting that they made more syntactic and semantic errors. Those patients who presented with negative symptoms tended to have speech of lower syntactic complexity than the other two groups, although this difference just failed to reach statistical significance. It is suggested that syntactic and semantic errors are state dependent features associated with positive symptoms, whereas low syntactic complexity may be a more enduring feature associated with the presence of negative symptoms.
Psychopathology and accidental injuries
Authors: Malt U. , Myhrer T. , Blikra G. , Høivik B.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT: One hundred and twelve adults admitted to a surgical ward due to accidental injuries were studied. Thirty‐seven percent had a psychiatric disorder on admission (DSM‐III axis I) and 21% had a personality disorder (axis 2). Substance abuse and dependence and antisocial personality disorders were most frequent. Eighteen percent were definitely distressed when injured. Persons with a personality disorder were distressed significantly more often and had sustained clinically more severe injuries. No support could be found for a hypothesis of accidental injuries being the result of hidden or unconscious self‐destructive tendencies, and only one patient was injured in a suicide attempt. Defense Mechanism Test applied to a subgroup of 20 patients suggested that high perceptual defense may be related to injury occurrence in patients at fault for the accident.
Clinical course and outcome of delusional psychosis
Authors: Jørgensen P.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT: The purpose of the study was to examine first‐admitted patients with delusional psychosis meaning functional psychosis with paranoid symptoms with respect to clinical course and outcome. The index population comprised 88 patients. At discharge from first admission the patients were classified according to ICD‐8 and DSM‐III. According to both diagnostic classifications the majority of the patients did not belong to either of the two major psychotic groups, schizophrenia or affective psychosis. During the 2‐year observation period half of the patients took psychotropic drugs continously, and almost half of the patients experienced one or more relapses. One third of the patients were readmitted, and in average the patients stayed in the hospital for 4 months during the observation period including the time of index admission. At follow‐up half of the patients revealed positive psychotic symptoms, while two thirds were moderately or severely impaired because of psychotic illness or personality dysfunction. It is concluded that the present aftercare treatment is insufficient to prevent relapse and psychotic symptoms. In consquence of this the existence of delusions at first admission to hospital because of functional psychosis seems for many to predict an unfavourable course and outcome. Further study will search for clinical and social predictors of course and outcome in patients with delusional psychosis.