bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Female habitual self‐mutilators
Authors: Favazza A. R. , Conterio K.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT– Data are presented on 240 female habitual self‐mutilators. The typical subject is a 28‐year‐old Caucasian who first deliberately harmed herself at age 14. Skin cutting is her usual practice, but she has used other methods such as skin burning and self‐hitting, and she has injured herself on at least 50 occasions. Her decision to self‐mutilate is impulsive and results in temporary relief from symptoms such as racing thoughts, depersonalization, and marked anxiety. She now has or has had an eating disorder, and may be concerned about her drinking. She has been a heavy utilizer of medical and mental health services, although treatment generally has been unsatisfactory. In desperation over her inability to control her self‐mutilative behavior this typical subject has attempted suicide by a drug overdose.
Collaboration with families for the rehabilitation of schizophrenic patients and the concept of expressed emotion
Authors: El‐Islam M. F.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT– Recent interest in community care of schizophrenic patients has led to publication of a number of studies that deal with patients' rehabilitation in their families. Joint efforts of psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers have produced a number of techniques for collaboration with families of schizophrenic patients, including techniques based on the concept of expressed emotion. This concept is presented with reference to its spectrum consistency in time, generalizability to nonfamily setups, relationship to relapse, prevalence in disorders other than schizophrenia and usefulness in comparison to other concepts in family therapy of schizophrenia. Caution is urged in not incriminating the family in causing relapse, after the quiet abandonment of older theories that blamed families for initiating the illness of schizophrenic members.
Anxiety disorders: a comparison of the ICD‐9 and DSM‐III‐R classification systems
Authors: Hiller W. , Zaudig M. , von Bose M. , Rummler R.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT– Corresponding categories for anxiety disorders, as defined by the classification systems of the ICD‐9 and the DSM‐III‐R, were compared in a selected sample of 114 outpatients. An unequivocal category‐to‐category correspondence could not be demonstrated for any diagnosis. Anxiety states in ICD‐9 were closely related to generalized anxiety and panic disorder in DSM‐III‐R, and most patients diagnosed as phobic according to ICD‐9 one of the specific phobia diagnoses of DSM‐III‐R. To some degree, diagnostic discrepancies were caused by coexisting symptoms of phobia, panic attacks and/or generalized anxiety within patients. A new technique is introduced to adjust corresponding proportions according to base rate differences.
Female alcoholics
Authors: Blankfield A.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT– A case note study of 518 alcohol‐dependent (DSM‐III) inpatients examined their reported past history of prescribed psychotropic drug use patterns between 1973–1985. The subjects were cross‐matched for gender, age and admission date and stratified into 3 time periods. The characteristics of psychotropic medication recipients were compared with those patients who reported no use of licit medications. Statistical analysis by logistic regression indicated that there was a significant relationship between the past use of psychotropic drugs with a parental history of excessive alcohol intake, the higher levels of MAST scores and the occurrence of past parasuicide events. Patients in their middle years (35–54) tended to have significantly less psychotropic drugs than the younger or older age groups. The female (70%) to male (48%) ratio of past psychotropic use was 1.4:1. Gender differences were also noted in the use of antidepressants and illicit substances.
Adding lithium carbonate to carbamazepine: antimanic efficacy in treatment‐resistant mania
Authors: Kramlinger K. G. , Post R. M.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT– Although lithium and carbamazepine used alone are effective in treating acute mania, some patients do not respond adequately to either of these medications used alone. We assessed, under double‐blind conditions, a potential synergism between carbamazepine and lithium in the acute treatment of mania. Six of 7 manic patients who had previously been largely refractory to lithium alone, and who still showed substantial mania after several weeks of double‐blind treatment with carbamazepine, improved following the blind addition of lithium. The clinical and theoretical implications of the response to this combination treatment are discussed.
Prolonged Q‐T interval and hypokalemia caused by haloperidol
Authors: Aunsholt N. A.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT– A patient is described who developed hypokalemia and cardiac arrythmia after acute intoxication with haloperidol.
Bulimia nervosa and Crohn's disease: two case reports
Authors: Meadows G. , Treasure J.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT– Two patients are described for whom Crohn's disease and its treatment were significant factors in the development and course of bulimia nervosa.
Attempted suicide in Hong Kong
Authors: Chiu L. P. W.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT– In 1986, psychiatrists saw a total of 307 attempted suicide cases presented to a regional general hospital in Hong Kong, whether admitted or not. Compared with suicide attempts in Hong Kong in 1954 and those in Western countries, suicide attempts in Hong Kong in 1986 were significantly more likely to be precipitated by interpersonal conflicts, and significantly less likely to be precipitated by economic stress. Compared with the methods of attempted suicide in Hong Kong in 1986, those in Hong Kong in 1954 were significantly more likely to be fatal, while those in Western countries are significantly more likely to be ingestion of hypnotics and sedatives. Suicide attempters in Hong Kong are significantly more likely to be diagnosed as schizophrenics or paranoid psychotics than those in Western countries.
Suicide and violent death among adolescent suicide attempters
Authors: Kotila L. , Lönnqvist J.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT– A total of 422 subsequent suicide attempts commited by 362 people 15–19 years old in the Helsinki area in 1973–1982 were investigated to find risk factors for subsequent suicide or violent death. By the end of 1982, 8.7% of 115 boys and 1.2% of 247 girls had died. Eight (2.2%) had committed suicide. The mean annual mortality for suicide and violent death was 20‐fold compared with the mortality for suicide and violent death among people 15–19 years old in Finland at that time. The risk ratios of the boys for suicide (2.0) and for violent death (2.4) were greater than that of the girls (0.6 and 0.3 respectively). The risk ratio of psychotic persons for suicide was 4.2 and for violent death 4.1. Seriousness of intent heightened the risk, whereas degree of lethality did not influence it. The people who expressed clear‐cut difficulties as a reason for their suicide attempt seemed to have a smaller risk for suicide or violent death than people whose reasons remained unclear. Attempted suicide among boys is a serious symptom for predicting subsequent suicide that should be addressed in suicide prevention.
Prevalence of psychiatric disorders among subjects exposed to a natural disaster
Authors: Maj M. , Starace F. , Crepet P. , Lobrace S. , Veltro F. , De Marco F. , Kemali D.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT– A general practice study was carried out in 3 areas of the province of Naples, in southern Italy: Pozzuoli (PZ), a town exposed to significant seismic events in 1983, Monte Ruscello (MR), a village built to accommodate the victims of the earthquake, and Monte di Procida (MP), a town selected as a control since it is situated near PZ and was not significantly affected by the earthquake. The sociodemographic characteristics of the subjects examined were comparable in the 3 areas. The estimate of the real prevalence of psychiatric disorders according to Diamond & Lilienfeld was found to be higher in PZ and MR than in MP. Neurotic depression was the most frequent psychiatric diagnosis. The relative risk of mental disorders in subjects who reported none one or more social problems compared with those who reported none was more than 4 times greater in PZ and MR than in MP. Social problems also differed qualitatively, being more frequently related to living conditions in PZ and MR and to the primary social network in MP.
Utilization of psychiatric inpatient care
Authors: Hansson L.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT– Utilization of inpatient care in a catchment area was studied by means of a 4‐year comparison before and after a sectorization of the care organization. There was almost no reduction in the number of patients hospitalized, but the number of admissions was reduced by 20% and the total number of days in hospital by 40%. An initial rise in the hospitalization of nonpsychotic patients was found in the new organization, probably because of the increased accessibility and availability of psychiatric care in the catchment area. The rate of hospitalization decreased for schizophrenic patients and remained unchanged for other psychotic patients. There was a significant reduction in rates of readmission, and mean length of stay in hospital was reduced for all groups of patients except patients with a diagnosis of neurosis or personality disorder. A reduction in rates of compulsory care, primarily for patients with alcohol diagnosis, was found. The sectorized care organization has fulfilled the objective of reducing inpatient care. However, great attention must be paid to evaluating new patient categories reached by the development of outpatient facilities, especially in areas where accessibility to and availability of the care organization were formerly low.
Healthy students as adult citizens
Authors: Holmström Reijo
Published: August 2007

ABSTACT

The longitudinal research project dealing with the mental health of Finnish students was started in the year 1965. This paper is the fifth follow‐up report from research phase III. It describes the most healthy subgroup by contrasting it with the ill subgroup. Time and sex as well as external and internal reality are essential aspects of this comparison between the healthy and the ill. Differences between the healthy and the ill have been described in terms of a) external facts, b) background information (phases I and II) and c) subjective inner feelings. The special character of mental health and illness in men and women is also discussed from several points of view.

In the attempt to interpret the extensive body of data and to give it a coherent shape, one general hypothesis which has been formed is that women tend to be characterized by a greater‘mobility’between the more mature, adult level and an earlier one, reaching back all the way to the oral aspects of the dyadic relationship. Such mobility and flexibility has both its advantages and its disadvantages. The specific aspects of women's difficulties are easily obscured by the duality of the roles taken on by the woman, and the great difference between them ‐ that of adult woman and that of mother. In particular the maternal role easily comes to mask problematic early elements, which under subsequent conditions of stress may be activated. The male personality is more definite and clearcut in this respect, but by the same token also more rigid.
Homicide in the Nordic countries
Authors: Guôjónsson G. H. , Pétursson H.
Published: August 2007

This article reviews and assesses previous studies of homicide in the Nordic countries and compares the main findings with those from other countries. In spite of the relative sparsity of data, the nature of the available information allows a reasonably reliable comparison to be made between different Nordic countries. Although findings from separate studies vary somewhat, some general trends have been noticed and seem to apply to most of the countries in question: in particular, changes that have occurred over the last 2 decades. Thus, all the Nordic countries have experienced an increase in homicide incidence during this period, and with some notable exceptions, this increase has been quite drastic. Certain other trends have been observed, such as the prominent role of alcoholism and drug abuse in homicide offences, as well as the relative increase in nondomestic offences. Homicide followed by suicide has decreased proportionately among males, whereas this trend has not occurred to the same extent among females, who are more frequently involved in domestic homicide. Methods of homicide have also varied somewhat during the last few decades. The case of homicide in Greenland is discussed separately in view of its special circumstances. Studies dealing with the various psychiatric and mental health problems related to homicide in the Nordic countries are discussed and a hypothesis is offered about possible sociocultural factors, in particular alcohol and drug abuse, that seem to be important.
Primary and secondary erotomania: clinical characteristics and follow‐up
Authors: Gillett T. , Eminson S. R. , Hassanyeh F.
Published: August 2007

A survey within a defined area of the north‐east of England (population of approximately 1.25 million) generated a number of patients with current or past erotomanic phenomenology. A casenote study was carried out on the 11 patients identified. Cases were classified in accordance with DSM‐111‐R criteria and an assessment was made of the extent to which each case fulfilled specific criteria for primary and secondary erotomania, as defined by previous authors. The response to treatment of both psychiatric syndrome and erotomanic phenomenology is described for each case. The findings are discussed in relation to the current debate regarding the status of de Clerabault's syndrome and delusional disorder (erotomanic type) as nosological entities.
Hypochondriacal fears and beliefs in pregnancy
Authors: Fava G. A. , Grandi S. , Michelacci L. , Saviotti F. , Conti S. , Bovicelli L. , Trombini G. , Orlandi C.
Published: August 2007

Illness attitudes were evaluated in 26 pregnant women and 26 control subjects matched for sociodemographic variables, by means of a self‐rating scale, on 3 different occasions. For each trimester of pregnancy, women displayed more hypochondriacal fears and beliefs and conviction of disease (disease phobia) than normal controls. In the third trimester, they also reported more fear of dying and bodily preoccupations. The findings should alert physicians to ask their pregnant patients whether they are preoccupied with fear of dying, or are concerned that they suffer from an undiagnosed physical illness, or dread a specific illness such as cancer or heart disease. Hypochondriacal fears and beliefs are liable to affect well‐being and the health attitudes of pregnant women. If properly recognized, they may effectively be treated.
Annual rhythms of violence in hospitalized affective patients: correlation with changes in the duration of the daily photoperiod
Authors: Roitman G. , Orev E. , Schreiber G.
Published: August 2007

We extensively reviewed the medical records of violent patients restrained in a locked psychiatric ward of a university‐based hospital for 6 years (1980‐1985). A total of 551 patients were restrained at least once during hospitalization, of which 186 patients had affective disorders and 365 had nonaffective psychiatric illnesses. While the number of restrained non‐affective patients was constant throughout the year, the number of restrained affective patients showed a circannual rhythm with nadirs in May and November and peaks in June and December. This pattern of restraints correlated to changes in the length of daily sunlight (photoperiod). These results suggest that the aggressiveness of patients with affective disorders correlates with photoperiod duration and that the aggressiveness of patients with nonaffective disorders does not correlate with photoperiod.
The List of Threatening Experiences: the reliability and validity of a brief life events questionnaire
Authors: Brugha T. S. , Cragg D.
Published: August 2007

During the 23 years since the original work of Holmes & Rahe, research into stressful life events on human subjects has tended towards the development of longer and more complex inventories. The List of Threatening Experiences (LTE) of Brugha et al., by virtue of its brevity, overcomes difficulties of clinical application. In a study of 50 psychiatric patients and informants, the questionnaire version of the list (LTE‐Q) was shown to have high test‐retest reliability, and good agreement with informant information. Concurrent validity, based on the criterion of independently rated adversity derived from a semistructured life events interview, making use of the Life Events and Difficulties Scales (LEDS) method developed by Brown & Harris, showed both high specificity and sensitivity. The LTE‐Q is particularly recommended for use in psychiatric, psychological and social studies in which other intervening variables such as social support, coping, and cognitive variables are of interest, and resources do not allow for the use of extensive interview measures of stress.
Neuropeptide Y: an overview of central distribution, functional aspects, and possible involvement in neuropsychiatric illnesses
Authors: Heilig M. , Widerlöv E.
Published: August 2007

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) was first discovered and characterized as a 36‐amino‐acid peptide neurotransmitter in 1982. It is widely distributed in the central nervous system, with particularly high concentrations within several limbic and cortical regions. A number of co‐localizations with other neuromessengers such as noradrenaline, somatostatin, and gamma‐aminobutyric acid have been demonstrated. A large number of physiological and pharmacological actions of NPY have been suggested. Recent clinical data also suggest the involvement of NPY in several neuropsychiatric illnesses, particularly in depressive and anxiety states. This article gives a comprehensive review of central distribution of NPY and its receptors, co‐localizations and interactions with other neuromessengers, genetic aspects, pharmacological and physiological actions, influence on neuroendocrine functions, and possible involvement in various neuropsychiatric illnesses.
A psychiatric study of suicide among urban Swedish women
Authors: Åsgård U.
Published: August 2007

A total of 104 suicides among women were investigated by means of a modified psychological autopsy, including interviews with survivors and a review of somatic and psychiatric records. Diagnosis according to Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC) showed that 35% were suffering from a major depressive disorder during their final month and another 24% were also depressed; 12% were substance abusers and 14% had adjustment disorders. Two thirds had attempted suicide and another 23% had communicated suicidality in other ways. Slightly more than half of the women had been psychiatric inpatients and another 19% had at some time been outpatients. Fifty‐seven percent had been psychiatric inpatients or outpatients during the final year of life. An increasing number of life events occurred during the final 6 months. In most cases the depressed women had been treated ineffectively with antidepressant drugs.
Do children with autism have March birthdays?
Authors: Gillberg C.
Published: August 2007

One hundred people with autistic disorder (DSM‐III‐R) without a known cause who comprised a total population of children with autism were compared with “autistic‐like” children, Asperger syndrome and age‐matched comparison children from the general population and were examined with regard to month of birth. There was an excess of March birth in the group of children with autism. The possible reasons for this finding are discussed.
Development of case vignettes to assess the mental health training of primary care medical officers
Authors: Sriram T. G. , Chandrashekar C. R. , Isaac M. K. , Murthy R. Srinivasa , Kumar K. V. Kishore , Moily S. , Shanmugham V.
Published: August 2007

This article reports the development of case vignettes as a method of assessing the short‐term in‐service training of primary care medical officers in mental health care. A pool of 18 case vignettes representing common psychiatric problems and a standard response sheet were written first. This was mailed to 45 psychiatrists for their comments. Based on the comments received from 21 psychiatrists, 2 sets of questionnaires with 7 vignettes in each set were developed. When administered to a group of 32 medical officers, this method of assessment was found to be sensitive in detecting gain in knowledge and skills following training. Further, performance on case vignettes was found to correlate positively with clinical skills when actual cases were given for assessment.
Internal consistency and factor structure of the Chinese Health Questionnaire
Authors: Cheng T. A. , Wu J. T. , Chong M. Y. , Williams P.
Published: August 2007

The internal consistency and factor structure of the Chinese Health Questionnaire (CHQ) were investigated in 2 samples in Taiwan, one from 3 communities (n= 1023) and the other from consecutive attenders for health screening in a general hospital (n= 386). Cronbach's alpha coefficients were calculated to be 0.84 and 0.83 for the 12‐item and 0.90 and 0.92 for the 30‐item CHQ version. Four factors similarly extracted for the CHQ‐30 in both samples include somatic symptoms, anxiety and worrying, social dysfunction, and depression and poor family relationship. The implications of these findings were discussed from a cross‐cultural perspective.
Celibacy and fertility rates in patients with major affective disorders: the relevance of delusional symptoms and suicidal behaviour
Authors: Calzeroni A. , Conte G. , Pennati A. , Vita A. , Sacchetti E.
Published: August 2007

The celibacy and fertility rates of 186 patients with major affective disorders were analysed as a function of the presence or absence of histories of mood congruent delusions or suicidal behaviour in the depressive phases of the disease. Both delusional and suicidal histories were irrelevant to celibacy rates. On the contrary, delusional depressives had a reduced incidence of cases with 2 or more children and suicide attempters had both a lower frequency of high‐fertility cases and a smaller mean number of children than nonattempters. The differences were apparently not attributable to the length of the fertile period of life spent in illness.
Handicraft or interactional groups: a comparative outcome study of neurotic inpatients
Authors: Sexton H. , Fornes G. , Kruger M. B. , Grendahl G. , Kolset M.
Published: August 2007

A comparative outcome study of 2 contrasting activity‐based groups with 80 hospitalized nonpsychotic patients is described. One group focused on activities designed to evoke emotional or interpersonal reactions followed by a subsequent reflection. The other focused on handicrafts and non‐emotionally challenging activities. Ego strength was also measured with an instrument developed in conjunction with the study. The 2 groups were demonstrated to be consistent with the preconditions and significantly different by independent scoring of videotaped sessions. There was a greater rated threrapeutic gain in the interactional group at discharge, but patient ratings did not differ between groups. There were no differences at follow‐up between the groups. Measured ego strength strongly predicted outcome after correcting for the initial symptom levels. Ego strength did not interact with activity type. Clinical diagnosis did not predict differential outcome. The groups had no differential effects on specific symptom clusters or social functioning.
Suicide among Hungarian Gypsies
Authors: Zonda T. , Lester D.
Published: August 2007

A study of suicide among the nonnomadic Gypsies in three counties in Hungary revealed that they had a lower completed suicide rate but a higher attempted suicide rate than ethnic Hungarians. The rate of attempted suicide appeared to be higher in the younger, partially assimilated Gypsies as a result of the conflict between the traditional values of their parents and the pull of the larger Hungarian culture.
Mortality in heroin addiction: impact of methadone treatment
Authors: Grönbladh L. , Öhlund L. S. , Gunne L. M.
Published: August 2007

The mortality within a cohort of 115 street heroin addicts was studied for 5–8 years using the Kaplan‐Meier survival estimate technique. This differed markedly from the relatively low mortality of 166 comparable heroin addicts given methadone maintenance treatment (MT). The street addicts’ mortality rate was 63 times that expected, compared with official statistics for a group of this age and sex distribution. When 53 patients in MT were involuntarily expelled from treatment, due to violation of programme rules, they returned to the high mortality of street addicts (55 times that expected). A group of 34 rehabilitated patients who left MT with medical consent retained the low mortality of MT patients (their mortality rate was 4 times that expected). Despite this great improvement in survival, even patients in MT showed a moderately elevated mortality (8 times that expected), mainly due to diseases acquired before entering the treatment programme. It is concluded that MT exerts a major improvement in the survival of heroin addicts.
Obsessive‐compulsive disorder: a clinical, neuropsychological and positron emission tomography study
Authors: Martinot J. L. , Allilaire J. F. , Mazoyer B. M. , Hantouche E. , Huret J. D. , Legaut‐Demare F. , Deslauriers A. G. , Hardy P. , Pappata S. , Baron J. C. , Syrota A.
Published: August 2007

The authors compared 16 nondepressed obsessive‐compulsive patients (OCS) with 8 normal controls (NC) of similar age for resting‐state regional cerebral glucose metabolic rates (rCMRglu) using positron emission tomography with the fluorodeoxyglucose method. OCS were rated for clinical data, and a neuropsychological battery was administered to 14 patients on the day of the scan. Absolute rCMRglu for whole cortex, and normalized prefrontal lateral cortex metabolic rates, were both significantly lower in OCS than in NC. No significant difference between treated (n= 10) and drug‐free (n= 6) OCS was found for those variables. OCS were significantly impaired in the neuropsychological tasks assessing memory and attention. The rCMRglu for prefrontal lateral cortex were negatively correlated to Stroop‐test subscores. This “frontal‐oriented” task assessed the ability of OCS to inhibit immediate but inappropriate responses. These results suggest, in OCS, a modification of the general activating systems of cortical function and a relationship between the lateral prefrontal rCMRglu decrease and a selective attention deficit.
Relationship between expressed emotion and family burden in psychotic disorders: an exploratory study
Authors: Jackson H. J. , Smith N. , McGorry P.
Published: August 2007

This study explored the relationship between level of expressed emotion (EE) and level of family burden in 20 families of individuals with psychotic disorder. Results indicated that a relationship between EE and family burden did exist, but it appeared to be strongly influenced by demographic and illness‐related variables. The usefulness of the 5‐min speech sample method of assessing EE was limited by the aversion of some family members to being videotaped and by denial of patient symptoms by some relatives. Other methodological weaknesses are discussed. The relationship between demographic and illness‐related variables and level of EE needs further exploration.
A technique to simulate human interaction: relational styles leading to a schizophrenic communication pattern and back to normal
Authors: De Giacomo P. , Pierri G. , Lefons E. , Mich L.
Published: August 2007

This article describes an attempt to use a theoretical model of human interaction called the elementary pragmatic model to determine which communication style leads from a normal subject's interactive pattern to a schizophrenic's and, conversely, from schizophrenia to normality. Results of this experimentation reveal a clear correspondence with the data published in the literature on communication deviances and family therapy. The computer simulation indicates preferential ways of therapeutic intervention.
Psychopathology and treatment of 30,344 twins in Sweden. I. The appropriateness of psychoactive drug treatment
Authors: Allgulander C. , Nowak J. , Rice J. P.
Published: August 2007

We studied whether regular treatment with tranquilizing and hypnotic drugs among 30,344 twins in Sweden 15–47 years old was associated with robust indicators of poor health. Longitudinal psychiatric diagnoses and subsequent suicides were analyzed with data from cross‐sectional health questionnaires. Women were almost twice as likely to report medication, even those with psychiatric inpatient diagnoses. Within each of mental, somatic, and lifestyle domains, medication was more frequent among those with multiple problems. The partial odds for medication for those with a diagnosis of psychosis were 11.81, affective disorder 10.94, neurotic or personality disorder 11.09, alcoholism 5.00, and drug addiction 13.92. We conclude that reported regular treatment with tranquilizing and hypnotic drugs in young Swedish adults was significantly associated with diagnosed and subjective somatic and mental health problems, and thus largely in agreement with current peer guidelines. The reasons why women were more often treated than men requires further study.
Major depression with mood‐congruent psychotic features: a distinct diagnostic entity or a more severe subtype of depression?
Authors: Maj M. , Pirozzi R. , Di Caprio E. L.
Published: August 2007

The nosological status of major depression with mood‐congruent psychotic features was explored by a cross‐sectional demographic, clinical and biological assessment and a 7‐year prospective follow‐up of 2 samples of patients fulfilling, respectively, DSM‐III criteria for this condition and for major depression without psychotic features. The 2 patient groups did not differ with respect to demographic and historical features, response to DST and outcome. The global severity of the index episode was greater in psychotics. All nonpsychotics and 69% of psychotics were treated with antidepressants alone or in combination with benzodiazepines, whereas the addition of neuroleptics was required only in 31% of psychotics. A tendency towards an interepisodic diagnostic stability was verified in nonpsychotics more than in psychotics, but was less pronounced than that reported by the authors advocating the nosological autonomy of delusional depression. These data support the view that major depression with mood‐congruent psychotic features is not a distinct diagnostic entity, but rather a more severe depressive subtype.
Female alcoholics. IV. Admission problems and patterns
Authors: Blankfield A. , Maritz J. S.
Published: August 2007

In an age‐matched sample of male and female inpatient alcoholics (n= 518) of the same ethnic background, subjects under 35 years of age described significantly more problem areas than older age groups. Elderly subjects over 55 were the least articulate group. The first‐ever addiction treatment subjects reported the lowest mean number of years of problem drinking, the lowest mean Michigan Alcoholic Screening Test scores and the lowest mean daily alcohol intakes. They also displayed greater current social stability than the 2 readmission treatment categories. The general determinants of admission to this addiction unit centred around the experience of crises, social instability and psychological complaints. The most important specific determinants for the individual subject were the propensity to fight when drunk, followed by a positive parental history of excess alcohol intake. Criminal and occupational factors were infrequently encountered in female subjects, but widowhood was common in the older ones.
Pharmacokinetics of antipsychotic drugs in man
Authors: Dahl S. G.
Published: August 2007

Abstract Variability in the outcome of treatment with antipsychotic drugs may be due to differences in compliance and to variations in pharmacokinetics and concentration‐response relationships at the receptor level. Among the various chemical classes of neuroleptics, the butyrophenones, the phenothiazines, and the thioxanthenes have similar pharmacokinetics, and show larger inter‐individual variations in plasma drug levels after oral than after intramuscular doses. Compared to the “classical” neuroleptics, the more water‐soluble benzamide derivatives have significantly shorter elimination half‐lives, and show smaller inter‐patient variations in plasma level: dose
Cognitive disturbances in neuroleptic therapy
Authors: Strauss W. H. , Klieser E.
Published: August 2007

Abstract Eighteen patients (7 men, 11 women) from one of the centres taking part in a multicentre comparative study of remoxipride and haloperidol in the treatment of acute schizophrenia were investigated separately to study the effect of the two neuroleptic drugs on cognitive abilities. The tests of cognitive ability that were used are standard in West Germany. The results of this study indicate that there could be differences between remoxipride and haloperidol regarding their effects on cognitive abilities ‐ the patients who had been treated for four weeks with remoxipride showed a greater “mental fitness”.
Guidelines for the dosage of antipsychotic drugs
Authors: Beckmann H. , Laux G.
Published: August 2007

Abstract When commonly recommended guidelines for the dosage of neuroleptic drugs are critically reviewed, unanswered questions outnumber accepted rules. The relationship between dose and therapeutic efficacy remains far from clear, and despite lack of data there has been a trend in recent years to escalate dosage. Average clinical antipsychotic potency correlates closely with the affinity of the drug for dopamine (D2) receptors. Correlations of blood levels of neuroleptics with clinical efficacy are inconsistent. Assessments of immediate and follow‐up treatment indicate that moderate doses are adequate for most psychotic patients and fail to support the use of high doses (more than the approximate equivalent of 300–600 mg chlorpromazine daily). Occasionally however, patients, perhaps because of idiosyncratic pharmacokinetics, require higher doses and do not conform to the statistical data for outcome. More precise results for determining the optimum dose of antipsychotic compounds in schizophrenics in the future, may be available from positron emission tomographic (PET) techniques.
Clinical profile of remoxipride ‐ a combined analysis of a comparative double‐blind multicentre trial programme
Authors: Lewander T. , Westerbergh S.‐E. , Morrison D.
Published: August 2007

Abstract Nine double‐blind studies comparing remoxipride to haloperidol in the treatment of acute schizophrenia formed the basis of this analysis. All studies followed a basic protocol with the main assessments performed regularly during the 4–6 week trial period according to the same methodology, thus allowing the data to be pooled. The results showed that remoxipride in a daily dose of 150–600 mg had a therapeutic effect comparable to that of haloperidol (5–45 mg/day), both on positive and negative symptoms. There was a clear advantage for remoxipride over haloperidol with regard to adverse events/symptoms, particularly extrapyramidal symptoms, but also drowsiness/somnolence and tiredness/fatigue. Anticholinergic drugs were used consistently less frequently as concomitant medication to alleviate extrapyramidal symptoms in the remoxipride group; the use of sedatives/hypnotics was approximately the same in both groups. Based on these and supportive clinical data, remoxipride seems to have a clinical profile characterized by antipsychotic efficacy in acute schizophrenia, apparently equal to that of haloperidol, and good tolerability in being non‐sedative (in terms of drowsiness/somnolence) and with low incidences of extrapyramidal, autonomic, and endocrine symptoms.
Experiences of long‐term treatment with remoxipride: efficacy and tolerability
Authors: Walinder J. , Holm A‐C.
Published: August 2007

Abstract An international clinical trial programme was undertaken to evaluate the clinical safety and tolerability of remoxipride during a 12 month long‐term study and to evaluate safety, tolerability and efficacy of remoxipride for up to 6 months in a double‐blind comparison with haloperidol. A total of 145 patients were treated with remoxipride for at least 12 months. In the double‐blind evaluation 106 patients on remoxipride and 50 on haloperidol were included. The doses of remoxipride ranged between 90–600 mg daily and of haloperidol between 5–45 mg daily. The therapeutic efficacy of remoxipride obtained in short‐term studies was maintained during long‐term treatment in most patients and was similar to that of haloperidol. Remoxipride had a clear cut advantage concerning extrapyramidal symptoms and anticholinergic drugs were needed less frequently with remoxipride than with haloperidol. The tolerability and safety showed no clinically significant differences compared to the data from short‐term studies. This indicates that remoxipride can be used safely and with maintained efficacy for long‐term treatment.
Moclobemide (Ro 11‐1163) versus desipramine in the treatment of endogenous depression
Authors: Gabelic I. , Moll E.
Published: August 2007

Moclobemide was compared with desipramine in 30 patients with endogenous depression. The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression showed significantly greater improvement for moclobemide (69%) than for desipramine (45%). The final assessment of tolerance was good or very good in 87% of moclobemide patients compared with 13% of desipramine patients; 5 patients in the first group and all 15 in the second group complained of adverse effects. One patient on moclobemide and 5 on desipramine stopped treatment prematurely because of poor tolerance; no patients stopped treatment because of lack of efficacy. Assessment in this study was made difficult by concomitant treatment with benzodiazepines and/or mild neuroleptics in both groups, but the results of efficacy and tolerance clearly favour moclobemide over desipramine in the treatment of endogenous depression in hospitalized patients.
Moclobemide versus clomipramine in the treatment of depression: a single‐centre study, Federal Republic of Germany
Authors: Funke H. J. , Moritz E. , Hellstern K. , Malanowski H.
Published: August 2007

Moclobemide was compared with clomipramine for safety and efficacy in 2 groups of 15 patients each with endogenous depression. The drugs were given under double‐blind conditions in increasing doses; 1 patient in the moclobemide group dropped out because of lack of efficacy. Mean final improvement on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression was 51% in the moclobemide group and 54% in the clomipramine group. Efficacy and tolerance were rated good or very good by 47% (moclobemide) and 53%o (clomipramine) (NS). The results indicate that moclobemide is as effective as clomipramine in treating endogenous depression.
Moclobemide versus clomipramine in the treatment of depression: a double‐blind multicentre study in Belgium
Authors: Dierick M. , Cattiez P. , Franck G. , Burton P. , Defleur J. , Hermans W. , Roelandts A. , Wolfram C. , Berger M. , Hellstern K. , Ward J.
Published: August 2007

Moclobemide and clomipramine were compared for efficacy, tolerance and safety in 63 mixed endogenous and nonendogenous depressed patients. Treatment was given for at least 4 weeks in a double‐blind, randomized, parallel‐group design. The mean Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression score decreased gradually during treatment with no differences between groups. Two patients on clomipramine and none on moclobemide were withdrawn for lack of efficacy, and poor tolerance caused 3 patients on moclobemide and 7 on clomipramine to stop treatment prematurely. Patients with endogenous depression responded better to clomipramine, whereas nonendogenous disorders did better on moclobemide. Adverse events were more frequent in the clomipramine group and more of these were severe or very severe than for moclobemide. Thus, although no significant difference in efficacy was seen, moclobemide appeared to be tolerated better than clomipramine. The numbers were small, however, and many patients received concomitant medication, and the results are therefore difficult to interpret.
Efficacy of a reversible monoamine oxidase‐A inhibitor versus imipramine in subgroups of depressed patients
Authors: Bizlère K. , Berger M.
Published: August 2007

Two multicentre studies comparing moclobemide with imipramine under similar conditions in patients undergoing a major depressive episode (DSM‐III) were combined in the present analysis. A total of 353 patients received moclobemide (300‐600 mg/day) and 356 imipramine (100‐200 mg/day). In each study, the antidepressant efficacy of the 2 drugs was comparable, and subgroup analysis showed that moclobemide and imipramine were equally effective in endogenous depression. The response rate did not appear to be influenced by sex, but patients older than 60 years tended to respond less well to both drugs than did those under 60. The conclusion from the 2 studies is that, contrary to what is frequently stated for monoamine oxidase inhibitors, moclobemide appears as effective as a tricylic in treating endogenous depression.
Short‐lasting and reversible inhibition of monoamine oxidase‐A by moclobemide
Authors: Prada M. Da , Kettler R. , Keller H. H. , Burkard W. P.
Published: August 2007

In ex vivo experiments, the time course of monoamine oxidase‐A (MAO‐A) inhibition after 10 mg/kg oral moclobemide was virtually the same for whole rat brains and liver: the onset was rapid, the maximum effectt was obtained in 15 min, and the duration of action was short (about 16 h) compared with several days for the irreversible MAO inhibitors. The time course of MAO‐B inhibition was peculiar: almost complete inhibition was obtained in the time only between the first and second hours, whereas in the whole brain, or various brain areas, maximum MAO‐B inhibition (40%) did not occur until 2 h after drug administration. Inhibition in other peripheral organs, such as kidney and small intestine, was of even shorter duration (3 h). After even marked MAO‐A inhibition in the liver by moclobemide, the activity recovered within about 4 h when the homo‐genate was dialysed against water or buffer at 37°C. This rapid recovery is temperature‐dependent and does not occur at 18°C. The substance causing the marked inhibition of MAO‐A activity when moclobemide is given is probably itself inactivated by the enzyme (reversibility by metabolism). It is expected that more insight into the mechanism of action of moclobemide will be obtained from the use of highly purified preparations of the MAO‐A isoenzyme.
Information processing: a new model for understanding cognitive disturbances in psychiatric patients
Authors: Rund B. R. , Landrø N. I.
Published: August 2007

Key words Information processing models are influenced by the information sciences and by computer technology, which progressed in the 1960s and 1970s. During the last decade these models have formed the theoretical basis for much of the experimental research on cognitive dysfunctions in psychiatric patients. An essential element in all of these models is that information is processed in several discrete stages. Different experimental paradigms have been developed in order to tap information about the processes taking place in each of these stages. Most of the research so far on pathological groups has been done on schizophrenic patients. Some deficits found in schizophrenics seem to be symptom‐related. This is the case with performance deficits on the Continuous Performance Test with low processing load. Other dysfunctions might be vulnerability indicators, such as deficit performance on the forced choice Span of Apprehension task and the Continuous Performance Test with high momentary processing load, backward masking, serial recall for items that involve active rehearsal, and eye movement dysfunctions. However, information processing deficits do not seem to be specifically related to schizophrenia. Deficits can be found in other psychiatric syndromes too, especially in manic patients. Generally speaking, the dysfunctions emerge in a milder form in nonschizophrenic patients.
The use of direct confrontation: the treatment‐resistant schizophrenic patient
Authors: Rosberg J. , Stunden A. A.
Published: August 2007

Schizophrenics are often labeled treatment‐resistant because the psychological treatment they receive is seldom appropriate for their needs. Specialized psychotherapy for schizophrenia is available but rarely used. Training in these methods is difficult to find. If we are to treat schizophrenia successfully, we must rethink the treatment and training process, modify our views and teach interventions that force the patient to respond to the demands of the therapist. Professionals must learn that change occurs because the therapist is stronger than the psychotic defenses of the patient, i.e., the patient's resistance to treatment.;
Partial sleep deprivation to prevent 48‐hour mood cycles
Authors: Churchill C. M. , Dilsaver S. C.
Published: August 2007

The course of a patient with the phenomenon of 48‐h mood cycles, including her response to medication and to systematic partial sleep deprivation, is described. She had only a partial response to tranylcypromine alone. Partial sleep deprivation during the second half of alternate nights successfully prevented depressive mood cycles. Three to four weeks after discontinuing tranylcypromine she lost her ability to sustain this regimen. This case demonstrates an interaction between antidepressant medication and partial sleep deprivation in the prevention of depressive mood cycles.;
Initiation into intravenous drug abuse
Authors: Stenbacka M.
Published: August 2007

At the Stockholm Police Arrest Centre, 156 intravenous drug abusers (103 men, 53 women) were interviewed during the first part of 1987. A structured questionnaire was used in order to survey the initiation process into drug abuse, focusing on the differences and similarities between men and women. Of the men, 80 (78%) had been introduced to illegal drugs by a man and only 14 (14%) by a woman. Of the women, 39 (74%) had been introduced by a man and only 11 (21%) by a woman. The majority of both the men (62%) and the women (51%) were introduced by a close friend. Most of the introductions took place in a secure environment, at the home of either the novice, a friend or the introducer.
Simultaneous depression
Authors: Holte A. , Bjoru E. , Sorvig B. S. , Abrahamsen P.
Published: August 2007

Five different strategies were used to detect cases in which depressed behaviour occurred in both spouses within the same time period (simultaneous depression). Among 7068 references on depression in the literature, only one referred to a case of simultaneous depression. Of 8008 registered individuals hospitalized in Norway from 1961‐1971, none had simultaneous depression. A search of the total Scandinavian population (17.5 million) revealed only one case. The authors suggest that the result is caused by specific communication values attached to depressed behaviour and compensatory mechanisms in depressed couple relationships. The need for assessments that include the identified patient's family system in the planning of treatment for depression is discussed, with the aim to prevent cases of successful mistreatment in which the identified patient is cured while the spouse becomes depressed or commits suicide.