bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The attitudes toward psychiatry of physicians and medical students in Venezuela
Authors: Baptista T. , Pérez C. S. , Méndez L. , Esqueda L.
Published: August 2007

Attitudes toward psychiatry were assessed in 490 medical students and 362 physicians from two universities in Venezuela: Universidad de Los Andes (ULA) and Universidad Centro‐Occidental Lisandro Alvarado (UCLA). A modified version of the Attitude Toward Psychiatry‐30 scale was used. The attitude toward psychiatry of all the students and physicians was moderately positive. Students from ULA displayed a more positive attitude than UCLA students, whereas physicians from UCLA displayed a more positive attitude than ULA physicians. The most negative attitude toward psychiatry was observed in students planning to select obstetrics and gynecology (ULA + UCLA), in physicians working in Surgery, obstetrics and gynecology (ULA + UCLA) and in basic sciences (ULA). Female students tended to display a more positive attitude than male students. The attitude toward psychiatry was similar in students with low and high academic achievement in the courses in psychiatry. A large number of years in the profession did not modify the attitude of the physicians. It is recommended to improve teaching and communication with the students and physicians that displayed the most negative attitudes toward psychiatry.
Risk factors for tardive dystonia: a case‐control comparison with tardive dyskinesia
Authors: Sachdev P.
Published: August 2007

The objective of this study was to determine the putative risk factors for the development of tardive dystonia (TDt) in contrast with tardive dyskinesia (TD). Fifteen TDt patients seen in the Movement Disorders Clinic were compared with 2 groups of 15 TD controls each. The first control group was drawn from the Clinic and matched with the TDt cases for severity, using degree of dysfunction as the matching variable. The second control group comprised mild TD cases drawn from a separate study of drug‐induced movement disorders in chronic schizophrenia and were matched for age and sex with the TDt cases. A number of demographic, treatment‐related, diagnosis‐related and historical variables suggested in the literature were examined. Most risk factors for TDt that have been suggested by previous studies were not supported. The first control group was significantly older than the TDt cases. The TDt patients had a more frequent past history of acute drug‐induced dystonia and of postural tremor prior to the onset of the mental illness, although only the former reached statistical significance. The results suggested that TDt and TD do not differ in most putative risk factors, although the small sample size increases the likelihood of a type II error. It is inconclusive on the role of young age and male sex as risk factors. TDt cases may, however, be individuals vulnerable to the development of dystonia, with neuroleptics probably bringing out such a vulnerability. This finding needs to be examined in larger studies.
Disparity in regional cerebral blood flow during electrically induced seizure
Authors: Sestoft D. , Meden P. , Hemmingsen R. , Hancke B. , Madsen P. L. , Friberg L.
Published: August 2007

This is a presentation of 2 cases in which the intraictal regional cerebral blood flow distribution was measured with the 99mTc‐HMPAO single photon emission computerized tomography technique during an electrically induced seizure. Although the seizure was verified as generalized on electroencephalography, the regional neuronal activity expressed as rCBF unexpectedly was markedly asymmetrical in one of the cases. These findings demonstrated that the 99mTc‐HMPAO technique makes it possible to discriminate intraictal variation in cortical and subcortical activation between the hemispheres during electroencephalography‐verified generalized seizures.
Seasonality in severity of depression: relationships to suicide and homicide occurrence
Authors: Maes M. , Meltzer H. Y. , Suy E. , De Meyer F.
Published: August 2007

Some previous studies have reported seasonal or monthly variations in the occurrence of depressive syndromes. The present study was carried out in order to investigate seasonality in severity of depression. Toward this end, the authors measured the Zung Self‐Rating Depression (ZD) and Anxiety (ZA) Scales scores in 104 consecutively admitted depressed patients between November 1983 and April 1985. The data were analyzed by means of spectral analysis of a single time series. Up to 47.9% of the variance in the weekly average of the ZD scores could be explained by two significant rhythms of 51 (circannual) and 7 weeks. Peaks in ZD scores were observed in April‐May, with lows occurring in August–September. Up to 30.8% of the variance in the weekly average of ZA scores was explained by a circannual rhythm. Our results show that there is a true seasonality in the severity of illness of depressed subjects. There were significant correlations between the weekly average in severity of illness and the chronograms of suicide (positively) and homicide (negatively) occurrence in Belgium.
Redefining epidemic hysteria: an example from Sweden
Authors: Bartholomew R. E.
Published: August 2007

François Sirois’ influential paradigm for diagnosing episodes of epidemic hysteria is discussed. The part of his schema addressing the large diffuse outbreak should be eliminated as it does not possess characteristic features of mass hysteria and overlooks the potential social, cultural, political, ritualistic and institutional patterning of collective behavior. A case study involving the collective delusion of phantom rockets over Sweden during 1946 illustrates the complexities of such episodes.
Depression and the experience of psychological deficits in schizophrenia
Authors: Liddle P. F. , Barnes T. R. E. , Curson D. A. , Patel M.
Published: August 2007

A study of the relationships between depression and the subjective experience of psychological deficits was carried out in a group of 50 schizophrenic patients selected from a population of long‐term mentally ill patients. Experience of psychological deficits was associated with depression, and furthermore the temporal relationships between the phenomena supported the hypothesis that experience of psychological deficits is associated with vulnerability to depression in schizophrenia. In addition, the patients’ self‐reporting of depressed mood and negative cognitions was congruent with an observer's assessment of depression. These findings indicate that subjective experiences of deficits characteristic of the schizophrenic illness confer vulnerability to depression, but nonetheless the patients’ experience of depression resembles that typical of depressed non‐schizophrenic patients.
The influence of premenstrual syndrome on ratings of anxiety in women with generalized anxiety disorder
Authors: McLeod D. R. , Hoehn‐Saric R. , Foster G. V. , Hipsley P. A.
Published: August 2007

During the premenstrual and follicular phases of the menstrual cycle, 41 women who had generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) plus premenstrual syndrome (PMS) were assessed with psychiatric rating scales and compared with 21 GAD patients without PMS and 19 controls. The latter two groups were rated only once, in the typical open‐ended manner. Symptoms during both phases of the menstrual cycle were more severe in the GAD + PMS patients than in the controls and were more severe during the premenstruum. For the GAD + PMS patients, ratings obtained in the typical open‐ended manner were influenced by how patients felt during the premenstruum. Thus, the assessment of women with GAD + PMS may be complicated by cyclical fluctuations in symptom severity, and ratings obtained in the typical manner may be influenced disproportionately by how these patients feel premenstrually.
The relationship between mental health and drug use
Authors: Takala J. , Ryynänen O.‐P. , Lehtovirta E. , Turakka H.
Published: August 2007

The aim was to examine the relationship between mental health and use of different kinds of drugs. The study was a cross‐sectional survey of a total population aged 45–69 years, conducted in 2 municipalities in southwestern Finland. Altogether 1821 people (80% of those invited), 815 men and 1006 women, took part in the screening. The subjects were examined by a questionnaire mailed beforehand and checked in a personal interview. The questionnaire contained questions about the currently used drugs and Goldberg's questionnaire on mental health. Half of the people examined used prescribed drugs currently, more women used drugs than men, and the use of drugs increased with age. Mental symptoms measured with the Goldberg Index appeared in one fifth of the subjects, showing a slight increase with age. Men with mental symptoms showed a fourfold psychotropic drug use compared with the men without mental symptoms. The women with mental symptoms showed a threefold use of psychotropic drugs compared with the women without mental symptoms. Similar differences were found also in other drug groups, for example cardiac glycosides, other cardiovascular drugs, analgesics and drugs for respiratory and digestive organs. Persons with mental disorders showed a high tendency to drug use, also when those drugs had no direct attachment to the mental problem. Men seemed more liable to somatization of mental problems than women.
Characteristics of chronic outpatients with unipolar depression
Authors: Furukawa T. , Nakazato H. , Sumita Y.
Published: August 2007

Among the long‐term clinic attenders with unipolar depression, there are some who continue to visit the hospital after their affective symptoms have long abated. They constitute “new chronic” psychiatric outpatients and remain consumers of medical resources. We studied these patients’ characteristics through a case‐control study with former patients who received treatment for the same diagnosis but are currently not under treatment and not depressed. The long‐term clinic attenders tended to show fewer psychomotor symptoms and criteria symptoms than the control group. Although the groups were similar in terms of the severity of current depressive symptoms, the patients showed significantly poorer functioning in many areas of social adjustment. With regard to premorbid psychosocial variables, the chronic clinic attenders reported poorer friendship relationships during their adolescence, poorer premorbid global functioning and higher extraversion scores. These findings support the hypothesis that the social maladjustment of the chronic clinic attenders is not a sequela of their affective disorders but represents the patients’ enduring characteristics.
Personality traits and disorders among transsexuals
Authors: Bodlund O. , Kullgren G. , Sundbom E. , Höjerback T.
Published: August 2007

A group of transsexuals, 9 biological men and 10 women, was assessed according to clinical DSM‐III‐R diagnosis and a self‐report instrument for Axis II diagnoses based on the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM‐III‐R (SCID screen). A control group of 133 individuals was assessed by the same instrument. Combined with a functional criterion according to the Global Assessment of Functioning, the SCID screen showed good agreement with clinical Axis II diagnoses. The overall proportion of Axis II criteria fulfilled, proportion of criteria fulfilled for every single personality disorder and number of personality disorders were calculated from the modified version of the SCID screen. Personality disorders, mainly within cluster B, were identified among 5 of 19 transsexuals, and a majority had multiple personality disorders. Among controls, no personality disorder was identified. Personality traits as measured by the SCID screen revealed significantly more subthreshold pathology among transsexuals than controls in 8 of 12 personality categories. The proportion of overall Axis II criteria fulfilled was 29% among transsexuals versus 17% among controls. Sex differences among transsexuals, the usefulness of the SCID screen and diagnostic problems in DSM‐III‐R with respect to gender identity disorders are discussed.
Is there any specific personality disorder or personality disorder cluster that worsens the short‐term treatment outcome of major depression?
Authors: Sato T. , Sakado K. , Sato S.
Published: August 2007

This study attempted to identify a specific personality disorder (PD) or PD cluster that independently worsens the 4‐month treatment outcome of major depression under adequate antidepressant. The material of the study was 96 consecutive outpatients with major depression. For the Axis I and Axis II diagnoses, the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM‐III‐R (SCID) was used. In the material, the presence of any PD significantly worsened the 4‐month outcome. The discriminant function analysis, conducted to identify a specific PD or PD cluster that influences the outcome, found that the number of PD from only cluster A and the number of criteria met for only schizoid PD was significantly correlated with the 4‐month outcome of depression.
Adults who feared school: is early separation anxiety specific to the pathogenesis of panic disorder?
Authors: Silove D. , Manicavasagar V.
Published: August 2007

Although juvenile separation anxiety disorder is maintained to be a predisposing factor to adult panic disorder in DSM‐III‐R, past research has failed to clarify (a) whether it is separation anxiety per se or school refusal that is the pathogenic risk factor and (b) whether affected youngsters are specifically at risk of developing panic disorder rather than symptoms of general anxiety or phobias in later life. The present study of 74 adults who responded to media publicity found that a measure of early separation anxiety but not a history of school refusal was associated with risk of adult panic disorder according to DSM‐III‐R criteria. In contrast, separation anxiety scores were not associated with the presence or absence of general anxiety symptoms or phobic‐avoidance in adulthood. Subjects with higher separation anxiety scores were more likely to have either a sibling or child with school refusal. Although the present study is limited in its method to mailed survey responses and, in part, to retrospective data, the results do provide additional support for Klein's influential separation anxiety theory of panic disorder.
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia and the dexamethasone suppression test
Authors: Garyfallos G. , Lavrentiadis G. , Amoutzias D. , Monas K. , Manos N.
Published: August 2007

The dexamethasone suppression test (DST) was administered to 30 inpatients who met the DSM‐III‐R criteria for chronic schizophrenia and shared similar environments. Four of them (13%) were DST nonsuppressors. The mean and maximum postdexamethasone cortisol levels were correlated with the patient's score on the scale for the Schedule for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms and with the score on the anergia subscale of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. None of the correlations were statistically significant. Furthermore, the scores on the above scales were not significantly correlated with clinical variables such as duration of illness, number of admissions or length of hospitalization, nor were any significant correlations found between the postdexamethasone cortisol levels and the score on the Beck Depression Inventory. In addition, depressed and nondepressed schizophrenics did not differ regarding the rate of nonsuppression and the postdexamethasone cortisol levels. This study found that: 1) dexamethasone nonsuppression in schizophrenia was not related to the presence of negative symptoms; 2) there was no relationship between negative symptoms and illness variables; and 3) the depressed schizophrenics did not display increased nonsuppression compared with nondepressed schizophrenics.
Unemployment and mental wellbeing: a factory closure study in Finland
Authors: Viinamäki H. , Koskela K. , Niskanen L. , Arnkill R. , Tikkanen J.
Published: August 2007

The mental wellbeing of the entire personnel (n= 211) of a wood‐processing factory located in Hämeenlinna, Finland was studied by mailing a questionnaire to the subjects 6 months after the factory was closed down. The entire personnel (n= 305) of a similar wood‐processing factory acted as a control group. Mental wellbeing was measured by means of the 12‐item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ score), the 13‐item Beck Depression Inventory (BDI score), and the 13‐item questionnaire assessing psychosomatic symptoms. Seventy‐nine per cent of the study group and 65% of the control group returned the questionnaire. The two groups were similar sociodemographically. Mental wellbeing was poorer in the men of the study group than in the controls. No such difference was detected in women. Mental wellbeing was poorer in all age groups in the study group, especially in married men, than in the controls. The impaired mental wellbeing in the men in the study group was associated with insufficient social support, subjectively poor health, low income and uncertainty about the future. Based on a discriminant analysis, the two groups differed most in terms of GHQ score, income, sex and BDI score.
A double‐blind study of L‐sulpiride versus amitriptyline in lithium‐maintained bipolar depressives
Authors: Bocchetta A. , Bernardi F. , Burrai C. , Pedditzi M. , Del Zompo M.
Published: August 2007

A double‐blind group comparison study of L‐sulpiride and amitriptyline was carried out in 30 bipolar outpatients on maintenance treatment with lithium suffering from a major depressive recurrence. L‐sulpiride showed equivalent antidepressant activity to amitriptyline at 4 weeks using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. However, the onset of action was faster in the L‐sulpiride group, showing a significant improvement at 1 week in both anxiety‐somatization and specific depression items, including depressed mood, feelings of guilt, work & activities and retardation. The incidence of anticholinergic side effects was significantly higher in the amitriptyline treatment group.
Research experiences with Fini Schulsinger
Authors: Mednick S. A.
Published: August 2007

For the past 31 years (1961–1992) Fini Schulsinger and I have been exploring the origins of schizophrenia. We have started a number of longitudinal projects that are still keeping us rather busy; after all, retirement just means more time for research. Through our students and these projects, our collaboration may never end.
The involvement of the World Psychiatric Association in the issue of the political abuse of psychiatry
Authors: Stefanis C. N. , Reisby N.
Published: August 2007

This article provides a historical account of the abuse of psychiatry for political purposes and the involvement of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA) in this issue. The article focuses, particularly, on the developments from 1983 to 1989, which in many ways was crucial and determined the future of the WPA. The authors (the first, the President and the second, the Treasurer of the WPA during this period) pay tribute to Dr. Fini Schulsinger, who served as Secretary General. Through his eminent administrative capabilities, his profound understanding of ethical problems and his devotion to the basic principles of the WPA, he has substantially contributed to successfully overcoming a deep crisis with considerable impact on the identity and the moral foundations of the psychiatric profession.
Does obesity run in families because of genes?
Authors: Sørensen T. I. A. , Stunkard A. J.
Published: August 2007

A number of studies, including the Danish adoption study, have shown that, in adults, the familial resemblance of obesity, as measured by the body mass index (weight in kg/(height in m)2), is mainly due to genes. The body mass index may reflect both fat and fat‐free body mass. In this further analysis of the Danish adoption study, the degree of obesity was assessed by a silhouette score. There was a significant relationship in scores between the adult adoptees and their biological mothers and between the adoptees and their biological full siblings reared by the biological parents. Weaker, nonsignificant associations were found for the biological fathers and for the maternal and paternal half‐siblings. There were no relationships in silhouette scoring between adoptees and adoptive parents. The results confirm the results of our previous analysis of body mass index. We conclude that human obesity is under genetic control, whereas the childhood family environment has little, if any, influence on obesity in adults. It is an important task for future research to identify the genes involved.
Admission of self‐poisoned patients during one year at the Poisoning Treatment Centre, Copenhagen, Denmark
Authors: Welcher B. , Rubin P. , Nordentoff M.
Published: August 2007

The study comprises 541 patients admitted to the Poisoning Treatment Centre at Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen; 440 of the patients were psychiatrically evaluated prospectively. The sex distribution was almost equal. In comparison with the normal population there was an overrepresentation of the age groups of 30‐49 years old and of 18‐19 years old. Only 20% were employed. Sixty‐nine percent of the males and 40% of the females were living alone. Forty‐six percent of the patients had some sort of abuse. Twenty‐one percent suffered from psychotic disorder. Forty‐eight percent had at least once before attempted suicide. The group was found to be at high risk of repeating suicide attempt according to a scale developed in the poisoning treatment centre in Edinburgh. The treatment of suicidal patients is discussed.
The role of monoamines in suicidal behavior
Authors: Träskman‐Bendz L. , Alling C. , Alsén M. , Regnéll G. , Simonsson P. , Öhman R.
Published: August 2007

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), urine, platelet and neuroendochrine challenge tests of monoaminergic function give evidence of monoamines, especially serotonin, playing an important role in suicidal behavior. However, additional clinical, social and biochemical factors are necessary to better define suicide‐prone psychiatric patients.
The Semantic Status of Diagnostic Criteria for Organic Mental Syndromes and Disorders in DSM‐III and DSM‐III‐R
Authors: Malmgren H. , Lindqvist G.
Published: August 2007

After a general introduction referring to the contemporary debate about psychiatric classification, the nature of so‐called “diagnostic criteria” in psychiatry is discussed with special reference to DSM‐III(‐R) and to organic mental syndromes and disorders. A set of diagnostic criteria for a disease category can be intended alternatively (i) as stating logically necessary and/or sufficient conditions for the diagnostic concept in question, or (ii) as providing contingent (probabilistic) indicators of the disease. In one possible interpretation, a main aim of DSM‐III and DSM‐III‐R has been to formulate type (i), logical criteria, which amounts to an attempt to strictly identify syndromes or disorders with complex (polythetic) sets of easily observable symptoms and signs. It is shown that a logical interpretation would lead to such unwanted consequences for clinical and scientific practice that it could not possibly have been intended by the authors of DSM‐III and DSM‐III‐R. But neither can the alternative interpretation in terms of type (ii), contingent or probabilistic indicators be consistently upheld. The conclusion of the essay is that the semantic status of the diagnostic criteria in DSM‐III and DSM‐III‐R is fundamentally blurred. I his unclarity may very well lead to divergent interpretations of the concepts and to corresponding uncertainties in their clinical and scientific application.
The detection of mental disorders in the community using a 20‐item interview version of the General Health Questionnaire
Authors: Samuels J. F. , Nestadt G. , Anthony J. C. , Romanoski A. J.
Published: August 2007

A 20‐item interview version of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) was used to presumptively identify cases with mental disorders in a sample of 810 community residents. Subjects also were examined by psychiatrists using the Present State Examination (PSE). The screening instrument performed well in detecting PSE‐CATEGO syndromes related to anxiety and depression, but less well in detecting psychotic syndromes and cognitive impairment. The overall sensitivity of the instrument for any PSE‐CATEGO syndrome was 48%. The study elucidates the specific nature of the psychopathology that this version of the GHQ is likely to detect in the community.
Prophylactic effect of mianserin on recurrent depression
Authors: Kishimoto A. , Mizukawa R. , Matsuzaki F. , Hazama H. , Kamase H. , Tanaka K. , Kunimoto N.
Published: August 2007

The prophylactic effect of mianserin on recurrent depression was studied in a double‐blind comparison with an inactive placebo by analyzing the recurrence rate and the number of depressive episodes in 9 mianserin‐treated (daily dose 20–60 mg) and 13 placebo‐treated patients. The selected patients were those who had a higher incidence of recurrence (more than 2 depressive episodes during the 2 years preceding the study). During the 18‐month study period, 4 of 9 mianserin‐treated patients and all 13 placebo‐treated patients had recurrences. The ratio between patients with recurrence and total patients (recurrence ratio) was lower in the mianserin‐treated group throughout the study, and the intergroup difference from the 3rd to the 18th month was significant. In the mianserin‐treated group, the frequency of episode recurrence during the study period was significantly lower and the total duration of episodes was significantly shorter than those in the placebo‐treated group. The treatments did not differ significantly in safety. These results clearly indicate that mianserin is effective in the prophylaxis of recurrent depressive episodes.
Familial risk factors for adolescent suicide: a case‐control study
Authors: Brent D. A. , Perper J. A. , Moritz G. , Liotus L. , Schweers J. , Balach L. , Roth C.
Published: August 2007

Sixty‐seven adolescent suicide victims and 67 demographically matched living controls were compared as to family constellation, familial stressors and familial loading for psychopathology. Suicide victims were less likely to have lived with both biological parents, were more likely to be exposed to stressors such as parent‐child discord, physical abuse and residential instability and showed greater familial loading for depression and substance abuse. Multivariate analyses showed that family history of both depression and substance abuse and lifetime history of parent‐child discord were most closely associated with adolescent suicide. Children who are the offspring of parents with depression or substance abuse should be psychiatrically screened. Family interventions to decrease discord may also be helpful in decreasing the risk of adolescent suicide.
Prevalence of panic disorder in mitral valve prolapse: a comparative study with a cardiac control group
Authors: Sivaramakrishnan K. , Alexander P. J. , Saharsarnamam N.
Published: August 2007

This study investigated the relationship between mitral valve prolapse (MVP) and panic disorder (PD). by comparing the prevalence of PD in 33 patients with MVP and 27 patients with haemodynamically insignificant atrial septal defect or patent ductus arteriosus. MVP was diagnosed using standard echocardiographic criteria and the presence of mental disorder was assessed blindly with the help of the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia. DSM‐III criteria were used to diagnose PD. The two groups did not differ in age and sex; 12.1% of MVP patients and 3.7% of cardiac controls had PD (NS). Although the prevalence of PD in our sample of MVP patients was considerably higher than the prevalence of PD in the general population, this need not necessarily indicate a causal relationship between MVP and PD and may be due to studying a hospital‐based sample. The absence of any significant difference in prevalence of PD between MVP patients and a carefully selected cardiac control group drawn from the same setting argues against any special relationship between PD and MVP.
A cross‐sectional study of glomerular function in 740 unselected lithium patients
Authors: Kehoe R. F.
Published: August 2007

Creatinine clearance was estimated using a formulaic method from serum creatinine, age and sex in 740 unselected lithium‐treated patients in southeastern Scotland. Psychiatric history and details of prescribing and monitoring of lithium treatment were obtained from existing case registers. Lithium treatment duration and glomerular filtration, controlling for the effects of age, were weakly related, but only in males. Cases who had been exposed to higher serum lithium concentrations had lower creatinine clearance than those maintained within therapeutic range. Of cases within the lowest quartile of renal function, proportionally more were supervised in general practice rather than at hospital clinics. Suggestions are made for the clinical practice of monitoring serum lithium concentrations and serum creatinine.
Suicide and violence risk
Authors: Botsis A. J. , Soldatos C. R. , Liossi A. , Kokkevi A. , Stefanis C. N.
Published: August 2007

Thirty suicidal psychiatric inpatients were compared with 30 nonsuicidal psychiatric inpatients. A battery of self‐report tests was administered measuring suicide risk, violence risk and coping styles. The suicidal patients scored higher on both the suicide risk and violence risk. They also used almost all coping styles less frequently than the nonsuicidal patients. Among suicidal patients, suicide risk was negatively correlated with the coping styles of minimization, replacement and blame. Further, suicide risk and violence risk in suicidal patients were shown to be predicted by coping styles. These data indicate that suicidal patients have inadequate mental resources to deal with life problems. Besides their significance for assessing suicide risk, the findings may have possible clinical implications for case detection and early intervention with potential preventive value.
Manic‐depressive (bipolar) disorder: the course in light of a prospective ten‐year follow‐up of 131 patients
Authors: Winokur G. , Coryell W. , Akiskal H. S. , Endicott J. , Keller M. , Mueller T.
Published: August 2007

For a five‐year period, 131 bipolar patients were followed every 6 months; for the next 5 years, they were followed yearly. Each patient was interviewed in a systematic way that gave information about episodes, hospitalizations, cycle lengths and the presence of alcoholism. Women and men were not significantly different in the number of follow‐up manic or depressive episodes or hospitalizations. Chronicity from index episode to the end of the 10‐year follow‐up was uncommon (4%). Alcoholism, which was common in these patients, showed a great diminution at the end of 10 years. Contrary to expectation, cycle lengths showed no systematic decrease in length over the follow‐up. In this naturalistic study, treatment intensity was not related to decreasing episodes or to changes in cycle length. The number of episodes in the first 5 years of follow‐up was not correlated with the number of episodes in the last 5 years. Cycle lengths in the first 5 years of follow‐up were similar in length to the last 5 years of follow‐up. A family history of mania in these bipolar patients was associated with more episodes in follow‐up than if such a family history were absent. The patients whose alcoholism predated the onset of their affective illness were less likely to have episodes in the follow‐up than the patients in whom affective illness predated the onset of the alcoholism.
Obsessions and compulsions in the community
Authors: Nestad G. , Samuels J.F. , Romanoski A.J. , Folstein M.F. , McHugh P.R.
Published: August 2007

A total of 810 adults were examined by psychiatrists in the second stage of the Eastern Baltimore Mental Health Survey. A semistructured examination, the Standard Psychiatric Examination, was used. The relationships between obsessions and compulsions and personal characteristics, childhood behaviors, family history, and other psychopathology were evaluated. The estimated prevalence of obsessions and compulsions in this population was 1.5%. Cases were significantly more likely to report having had childhood fears, learning disabilities and a family history of alcoholism and suicidal behavior. There were significant positive relationships between scores on compulsive, borderline and histrionic personality disorder scales and the probability of obsessions and compulsions. These exploratory analyses in an epidemiologic sample may identify factors of etiologic importance in this condition.
Electrodermal reactivity in male and female depressive patients who later died by suicide
Authors: Wolfersdorf M. , Straub R.
Published: August 2007

On the basis of earlier studies on electrodermal responsiveness in patients with suicide attempts, an investigation on electrodermal activity (EDA) in former depressive inpatients was carried out. Male and female depressive inpatients who died of suicide later and participated in an habituation experiment during their inpatient treatment were identified retrospectively and compared (strictly matched by age and sex) to depressive suicide attempters with violent or nonviolent methods, suicide ideators and a nonsuicidal depressive group. In the first part of the study only male depressives (n= 12) who had committed suicide after or during inpatient treatment were compared with their controls. The hypothesis of a expected low electrodermal responsiveness and a fast habituation as an peripheral expression of a central impulse or violence control disturbance could not be confirmed. This was done in the second part of this study. We came to the following results: 1) a tendency to a faster habituation in the violent suicides compared with nonsuicidal depressives and violent suicide attempters plus violent suicide group in male depressives compared to suicide attempters (SA), nonviolent suicide ideators and nonsuicidal depressives. 2) A significant difference with faster habituation rates in a male and female violent suicide group compared with nonsuicidal depressives and again comparing a group of male and female violent suicides and SA with nonviolent SA, suicide ideator and nonsuicidal depressive controls. These results may reflect a dysregulation of violence and impulsivity control mechanism as an underlying disorder or personality trait.
Coping styles in women with premenstrual syndrome
Authors: Kuczmierczyk A. R. , Johnson C. C. , Labrum A. H.
Published: August 2007

Sixty‐five women with a prospectively confirmed diagnosis of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) were subdivided on the basis of their scores on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) into high‐depression and low‐depression groups and compared with 49 non‐PMS control women on self‐administered measures of coping and anxiety. The high‐depression PMS group was found to utilize significantly more avoidant coping styles in dealing with stressors independent of the premenstrual phase. Implications for treatment are discussed.
Antidepressant efficacy and quality of life in depression: a double‐blind study with moclobemide and fluoxetine
Authors: Lonnqvist J. , Sintonen H. , Syvälahti E. , Appelberg B. , Koskinen T. , Mannikko T. , Mehtonen O.‐P. , Naarala M. , Sihvo S. , Auvinen J. , Pitkanen H.
Published: August 2007

The efficacy of moclobemide (300–450 mg7sol;day) was compared with fluoxetine (20–40 mg/day) in a double‐blind, multicentre study in 209 patients with new episodes of depression selected from 612 consecutive depressed patients representative of those consulting psychiatric services in Finland. Antidepressant efficacy was assessed with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), Montgomery‐Åsberg Depression Rating Scale and Clinical Global Impression (CGI). The Medical Outcome Study Short‐form General Health Survey (SF‐20) and 15D Measure of Quality of Life were used to measure effectiveness in terms of health‐related quality of life. Efficacy was evident with both drug treatments, with 67% in the moclobemide group and 57% in the fluoxetine group having a reduction in HDRS of more than 50%. Similarly, 77% of the patients in the moclobemide group and 67% in the fluoxetine group were assessed on the CGI as much better or very much better after 6 weeks of treatment. The most commonly reported adverse events were nausea, other gastrointestinal symptoms, nervousness, dizziness and sleep disorders. Nausea was significantly more common in the fluoxetine group and was found especially in women. Premature terminations of treatment were 18% in the moclobemide and 21% in the fluoxetine group. A significant change for the better in quality of life was found in both treatment groups, even at week 2 but especially after 6 weeks of treatment. Improvement was not only seen in dimensions measuring depression or mental health but also in other dimensions.
The prediction of poor outcome in young adults: comparison of the Young Adult Self‐Report, the General Health Questionnaire and the Symptom Checklist
Authors: Ferdinand R. F. , Verhulst F. C.
Published: August 2007

The ability of the Young Adult Self‐Report (YASR), the Symptom Checklist (SCL‐90) and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ‐28) to predict maladjustment across a 2‐year time‐span was assessed in a general population sample of 528 18‐ to 22‐year‐olds. Referral for mental health services and need for professional help were predicted by total problem scores of the YASR, the GHQ‐28 and the SCL‐90 and by the internalizing scale of the YASR. Furthermore, the internalizing scale predicted suicide attempts or suicidal ideation, whereas the externalizing scale predicted police contacts. The YASR delinquent behavior syndrome was the only significant predictor of alcohol abuse. The findings supported the validity of the YASR as an instrument for the assessment of psychopathology in young adults.
Psychological difficulties related to human immunodeficiency virus‐1 infection in intravenous drug users
Authors: Hestad K. , Aukrust P. , Ellertsen B. , Kløve H.
Published: August 2007

Psychopathology and emotional changes were examined over a 9‐month period in this study of human immunodeficiency virus‐1 (HIV‐1) infection in seronegative and seropositive intravenous drug users. The HIV‐1‐seropositive group showed more psychological difficulties and emotional distress at both testings. For the HIV‐1‐seronegative subjects, a trend for less psychopathology and psychological distress was found. At the second testing, the difference between groups was increased due to improvement of the HIV‐1‐seronegative group. A more chronic course of psychological distress was found in the HIV‐1‐seropositive group.
Continuous monitoring of panic
Authors: de Beurs E. , Garssen B. , Buikhuisen M. , Lange A. , Van Balkom A. , Van Dyck R.
Published: August 2007

Data on naturally occurring panic attacks were gathered through continuous self‐monitoring for 94 patients suffering from panic disorder with agoraphobia. A total of 1276 panic attacks were collected. In this article various aspects of panic attacks, including severity, duration and time of onset and situations in which panic occurs are addressed. In addition, the symptoms of panic were investigated, examining the (in)variability of attacks within each patient and the patterning of symptoms in the entire group of patients. The most important findings were as follows: attacks occurred predominantly in nonphobic situations; nocturnal panic attacks were generally more severe than attacks during the day; symptom patterns across various attacks, stemming from the same patient, were rather variable; and finally, a substantial number of the attacks (40%) did not meet the DSM‐III‐R criteria for number of symptoms.
Insight in schizophrenia and mood disorders and its relation to psychopathology
Authors: Michalakeas A. , Skoutas C. , Charalambous A. , Peristeris A. , Marinos V. , Keramari E. , Theologou A.
Published: August 2007

The authors assessed insight on admission on the 15th, 30th and discharge day in 77 female inpatients (42 schizophrenic, 13 manic, 22 depressives) using McEvoy's Insight and Treatment Attitude Questionnaire (ITAQ) and studied its relation to psychopathology, which was assessed by completion of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (18‐item version). The data suggest that depressives had good initial (on admission) insight, schizophrenics the poorest, followed shortly by manics. Insight (ITAQ total score) improved significantly after treatment in both mania and schizophrenia. Moreover a constantly significant negative correlation existed between ITAQ and BPRS in mania but not in schizophrenia, indicating that other factors besides psychopathology might influence insight in schizophrenia.
Worldwide trends in suicide mortality, 1955–1989
Authors: La Vecchia C. , Lucchini F. , Levi F.
Published: August 2007

Patterns and trends in suicide mortality for the period 1955–89 for 57 countries (28 from Europe, the former Soviet Union, Canada, the United States, 14 Latin American countries, 8 from Asia and 2 from Africa, Australia and Oceania) were analyzed on the basis of official death certification data included in the World Health Organization mortality database. Over the most recent calendar quinquennium (1985–1989), Hungary had the highest rate for men (52.1 per 100,000, all ages, world standard), followed by Sri Lanka (49.6), Finland (37.2) and a number of central European countries. North America, Japan, Australia and New Zealand and several European countries had intermediate suicide rates (between 15 and 25 per 100,000), whereas overall mortality from suicide was low in the United Kingdom, southern Europe, Latin America and reporting countries and areas from Africa and Asia, except Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong. The pattern for women was similar, although the absolute values were considerably lower. The highest values were in Sri Lanka (19.0 per 100,000), followed by Hungary (17.6) and several other central European countries, with rates between 9 and 15 per 100,000. Female suicide rates were comparatively elevated in Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Cuba. With respect to trends over time, the figures were relatively favourable in less developed areas of the world, including Latin America and several countries from Asia, with the major exception of Sri Lanka. Of concern are, in contrast, the upward trends, particularly for elderly men in Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand and, mostly, the substantial rises over most recent decades of suicide rates in young cohorts of males in Japan and several European countries, Australia and New Zealand. These trends were often in contrast with more favourable patterns in women, and can be discussed in terms of ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic factors, aspects of psychiatric care or availability of instruments and methods of suicide.
Fear of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and fear of other illness in suicide
Authors: Aro A. R. , Jallinoja P. T. , Henriksson M. M. , Lönnqvist J. K.
Published: August 2007

Suicide victims with fear of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or other somatic illness were compared for psychosocial and health‐related characteristics, triggers and content of fear. Fear of AIDS cases (n= 28), 2% of the 1‐year Finnish suicide population (n= 1397), were younger and fewer had serious somatic disease (32%vs 64%) compared with cases of fear of other somatic illness. Both groups had more depression, especially major depression (54% and 61%vs 26%), more psychotic disorders (50% and 32%vs 24%) and health care contacts during their final week (61% and 64%vs 36%) than other suicides. Suicidal fear of AIDS calls for evaluation of sexual and other risk behaviour, but fear of AIDS was largely generated by the extensive media coverage. Fear of other somatic illness was more diverse in origin and related to illness experiences. Suicidal fear of illness calls for recognition of depression and differentiation of the origin and content of fear.
Risk factors for the incidence of social phobia as determined by the Diagnostic Interview Schedule in a population‐based study
Authors: Wells J. C. , Tien A. Y. , Garrison R. , Eaton W. W.
Published: August 2007

The Diagnostic Interview Schedule was used to identify 89 incident social phobia cases in wave 2 household subjects from 9437 at risk persons age 18 or older as part of the Epidemiologic Catchment Area study. Crude annual incidence of Diagnostic Interview Schedule/DSM‐III social phobia was estimated at 9 per 1000 population per year. Onset of social phobia was associated with low education, never having been married and female gender. First onsets occurred throughout the life course of this adult sample. Nervousness, headache, panic spells, palpitations, other phobias, binge pattern of alcohol consumption, dysthymia and schizophrenic symptoms were also predictive of social phobia onset. There was no difference in predictive factors when “primary” social phobia (without premorbid panic) was analyzed separately.
Prevalence of insomnia in elderly general practice attenders and the current treatment modalities
Authors: Hohagen F. , Käppler C. , Schramm E. , Rink K. , Weyerer S. , Riemann D. , Berger M.
Published: August 2007

This study aimed to assess the prevalence and treatment modalities of elderly practice attenders. A total of 330 patients aged over 65 years were investigated with a questionnaire in general practice. To assess insomnia, operationalized diagnostic criteria according to DSM‐III‐R were applied. Twenty‐three percent of the elderly patients suffered from severe, 17% from moderate and 17% from mild insomnia. More than 80% of the patients reported suffering from insomnia for 1–5 years or longer, which indicates a chronic course. Elderly patients showed unrealistic expectations concerning duration of sleep and spend more time in bed than they realistically can expect to sleep. More than half of the elderly patients reported habitual daytime napping. Sleep‐disturbed elderly patients did not differ significantly from good sleepers in their habit of taking daytime naps, but even when taking daytime naps, good sleepers slept significantly longer than the sleep‐disturbed patients. A significant association was found between insomnia and mental disorders, i.e., depression and organic brain syndrome according to the diagnosis of the general physician. In about half of the cases the primary care physician was not aware that the elderly patient suffered from severe insomnia. More than half of the elderly severe insomniacs took prescribed hypnotics habitually, mainly benzodiazepines.
Perception of spouse in relation to perception of self by semantic differentials in depressed patients and their spouses
Authors: Chotai J. , Eisemann M.
Published: August 2007

Several studies have shown correlations between personality types and affective disorders. To investigate the influence on personality assessment of the reporting individual's own schemata according to the cognitive theory of depression, we used an instrument of 29 items of semantic differentials. We obtained responses from 45 patients (18 men, 27 women) upon their recovery and from their spouses. Each of these 90 individuals indicated self‐perception on one copy and his or her perception of spouse on another. Factor analysis yielded four factors. Self‐perception and perception by spouse were significantly positively correlated for all these factors for the patients and their spouses, indicating lack of schemata influence. Anxiety scores were higher for patients and for women. There was negative correlation for extroversion within couples. Male (but not female) patients showed a negative correlation with their spouses for anxiety.
Platelet paroxetine binding in depressed and nondepressed chronic pain patients
Authors: Jensen N.‐H. , Lauritzen L. , Lunde M. , Eriksen J. , Plenge P. , Mellerup E. T.
Published: August 2007

Analysis of 3H‐paroxetine binding was used to determine the number of serotonin transporters in platelet membranes of chronic pain patients and controls. The pain patients who also suffered from depression in addition to the pain had significantly more serotonin transporters than the controls.