bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of antidepressants, lithium and electroconvulsive treatment on rat serum prolactin levels
Authors: Meltzer H. Y. , Simonovic M. , Sturgeon R. D. , Fang V. S.
Published: August 2007

The ability of antidepressant drugs, electroconvulsive treatment (ECT), or lithium chloride (LiCl), to modify prolactin secretion in the rat was studied. Chlorimipramine, citalopram, fluoxetine, imipramine and zimelidine potentiated the low dose 5‐hydroxytryptophan (5‐HTP)‐induced increase in prolactin secretion, suggesting inhibition of serotonin (5‐HT) uptake by these drugs. Amitriptyline, doxepin, iprindole, mianserin and trazadone inhibited the prolactin stimulating effects of high doses 5‐HTP and quipazine, suggesting that these drugs have 5‐HT receptor blocking properties. Tandamine inhibited only 5‐HTP‐induced increase in prolactin secretion. Chronic administration of imipramine, potentiated the effect of low dose S‐HTP significantly more than an acute dose. Amitriptyline, produced similar inhibition of the 5‐HTP‐induced increase in prolactin secretion after both acute and chronic administration. The ability of bupropion and mazindol to inhibit alpha‐methylparatyrosine‐induced prolactin secretion, and of nomifensine to inhibit reserpine‐induced prolactin secretion, is consistent with other evidence that these agents are indirect dopamine (DA) agonists. Desipramine, acutely, had no effect on any of the above paradigms but after chronic administration, potentiated the effect of low dose 5‐HTP on prolactin secretion. Nortriptyline had no effect on prolactin secretion after acute or chronic treatment. ECT for 10 days did not affect the ability of a 5‐HT agonist or d‐amphetamine to modify prolactin secretion. However, chronic, but not acute, treatment with LiCl markedly enhanced the prolactin response to 5‐HT agonists and reserpine while shifting the dose response curve for d‐amphetamine and apomorphine to the right. These results are discussed in light of current theories of the role of 5‐HT and DA in depression.
5‐HT reuptake inhibitors plus tryptophan in endogenous depression
Authors: Wålinder J. , Carlsson A. , Persson R.
Published: August 2007

In a previous double‐blind, 3‐week study we compared the effect of clomipramine + placebo with clomipramine + tryptophan in 24 patients with endogenous depression. The patients in the latter group showed a significantly more rapid improvement than those in the former group, especially with regard to the depression‐anxiety cluster of symptoms.

These results prompted us to perform a similar study in which zimelidine, a more specific inhibitor of 5‐HT reuptake, was used instead of clomipramine. In other respects the design was practically identical to that used in the previous study.

Unexpectedly, tryptophan in combination with zimelidine, was not superior to placebo + zimelidine with respect to antidepressant activity. In comparison with the previous study, the antidepressant action of zimelidine showed no statistically significant difference from clomipramine. However, the patients tended to show a more prompt response after zimelidine + placebo than after clomipramine + placebo. The changes in CSF amine metabolites were likewise different in the two studies. In the two studies taken together 12 out of 49 patients showed prompt improvement within one week. This raises the question whether the therapeutic response to antidepressant drugs necessarily involves a delay as is generally assumed. Side effects were remarkably few and mild in the second study.
A pilot study of the effect of the 5‐HT‐uptake inhibitor, zimelidine, on phobic anxiety
Authors: Koczkas S. , Holmberg G. , Wedin L.
Published: August 2007

A new antidepressant, zimelidine, which is a selective inhibitor of 5‐HT‐uptake, was tested in an open study of 13 patients, in each of whom the principal clinical diagnosis was phobic neurosis. The dose varied from 200 to 300 mg daily. After 6 weeks of treatment, 6 patients dropped out of the study as they were not appreciably improved, but 7 patients definitely improved and completed a treatment course of at least 12 weeks. In these cases it was possible to observe subjective relief of symptoms, improved social function, increased working capacity and a reduced need for anxiolytics. The effect appeared similar to the previously described effects of clomipramine treatment. The incidence of side effects was low and those that occurred were mild. Tolerance was assessed as very good by the great majority of patients. The study suggests that zimelidine has a favourable effect in mild, moderate, and even in some severe phobic conditions. Some comparisons with MAO‐inhibitors were made. The results are sufficiently encouraging to suggest a controlled study.
Comparison of peripheral anticholinergic effects of antidepressants: dry mouth
Authors: Rafaelsen O. J. , Clemmesen L. , Lund H. , Mikkelsen P. L. , Bolwig T. G.
Published: August 2007

Twenty‐one healthy volunteers were given single doses of placebo or antidepressants corresponding to average daily doses of patient medications. Spontaneous whole mouth and parotid salivation was measured two, six, and ten hours after drug administration in session 1; in session 2 after ten hours.

The results indicate that a subdivision of antidepressants into four groups can be made according to inhibitory effect on salivation: (a) isocarboxazide and lithium citrate with no effect, (b) zimelidine and nomifensine with slight effect, (c) imipramine oxide and mianserin with moderate effect and (d) maprotiline, nortriptyline, clomipramine, imipramine, and amitriptyline with pronounced effect.

Research implications and predictive value for new antidepressants are discussed.
Effects of antidepressants on cardiac function
Authors: Burgess C. D.
Published: August 2007

Most antidepressants may affect the cardiovascular system adversely although their mode of action in causing these complications differs. They affect the cardiovascular System directly or through drug interactions. They may affect blood pressure, the inotropic state of the heart and cardiac conduction.

The causes of these complications are discussed with relevance to the known action of these agents.

Although serious cardiovascular complications do not occur frequently at therapeutic dosage, a knowledge of these abnormalities is essential for safe prescribing. After overdose many of these agents may prove lethal.
Cardiovascular effects of zimelidine and other antidepressants in conscious rats
Authors: Lindbom L.‐O. , Forsberg T.
Published: August 2007

Blood pressure, heart rate and electrocardiograms were recorded in conscious rats during intravenous injections of consecutive increasing doses of zimelidine, amitriptyline, clomipramine, desipramine, imipramine, maprotiline, mianserin and nomifensine. The effects of zimelidine were small and indicate a good tolerance for the drug. After repeated oral administration of zimelidine, 80 μmol/kg, for ten days no effects were seen on body weight, heart rate, blood pressure or in the electrocardiograms.
Treatment of depression in the elderly. General clinical considerations
Authors: Gottfries C. G.
Published: August 2007

Epidemiological investigations indicate that there is a high incidence of affective disorders in the elderly. Women predominate over men which may be due to diagnostic problems. It is a general assumption that socio‐and psychogenic factors, somatic illness and treatment with drugs have etiological importance for affective disorders in the elderly. This assumption needs further investigation, however. Post mortem investigations have shown that there are biochemical changes in the brain in the elderly and in dementia disorders, indicating that there is a reduced activity in the serotoninergic and cholinergic systems. These biochemical changes may increase vulnerability to affective disorders in the elderly and in demented patients. When discussing the cause of the high incidence of affective disorders among the elderly a chain of factors must be considered. Psychogenic and sociogenic factors may precipitate the disease but biochemical disturbances related to the ageing process may make the individual vulnerable to affective disorders. Theoretically zimelidine seems to be the drug of choice when treating affective disorders in the elderly.
Depression: Treatment compliance in general practice
Authors: Johnson D. A. W.
Published: August 2007

A survey of over two hundred patients attending fourteen family doctors in five different practices investigates the treatment in general practice of patients suffering from depressive illness. Medication was the principal treatment offered, but was often inadequate either because of prescription variables or because patients failed to comply with the treatment prescribed. The reasons for patient non‐compliance fell into three main categories (a) side effects, (b) attitudes to drugs, (c) patient ‐ doctor communication failure. It is suggested that a more extensive discussion of mental illness and its treatment is required as part of the total treatment of the individual, that the family doctor should take a more active role in the supervision of the treatment regimen, and that drugs with fewer side effects, particularly anticholinergic effects, are all required as essential measures to improve patient compliance with treatment.
Tryptophan malabsorption in dementia. Improvement in certain cases after tryptophan therapy as indicated by mental behaviour and blood analysis
Authors: Lehmann J. , Persson S. , Wålinder J. , Wallin L.
Published: August 2007

Twenty‐four senile dementia patients in the age range 65–85 years were subjected to a new sensitive tryptophan loading test: Dopa‐Tryptophan loading (“Dop‐Try loading”) in order to determine whether Try malabsorption occurs in senile dementia and if so how frequent this is. For comparison the same loading test was performed on 23 subjects in the same age grouping but with normal mental function. The differences in Try absorption were statistically analyzed and this revealed that absorption was less effective in the senile dementia group.

Four patients with Try malabsorption were treated with 3 G 1‐Try + 50 mg d1‐5‐hydroxytryptophan (5‐HTP) per day orally for 20–30 days and four patients with normal absorption were treated in the same way. The Dop‐Try loading test was repeated after this treatment. Two patients showed improved absorption and coincident mental improvement, while one showed decreased absorption and mental deterioration. One died during the course of the treatment. None of the four patients with normal absorption showed mental improvement after the treatment. This pilot study suggests that increase in Try absorption following the Try treatment is a necessary condition for improvement in the mental state. The study is being continued with larger numbers of patients.
Single daily dose chlorpromazine therapy in psychosis
Authors: Kalyanasundaram S. , Shrikhande S. A. , Machado T. A. , Kapur R. L.
Published: August 2007

A double blind study was undertaken to compare the efficacy of a single bedtime dose of chlorpromazine (300 mg) with divided doses of the same drug (100 mg, thrice daily). Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and Nurses' Observation Scale for Inpatient Evaluation (NOSIE) were administered to 80 acutely psychotic patients who took part in the study. Thirty‐one patients in the experimental and 29 in the control group completed this 3‐week trial. It was observed that there were no statistically significant differences between the two modes of treatment. Drowsiness was seen more often in the single bedtime schedule. Postural hypotension was observed in both patient groups. The implications of single night‐time medication in psychotics is discussed.
Analysis of information in indicant‐patterns
Authors: Laursen A. Lund , Thomsen I. Scheel , Larsen S. B. , Mellergård M.
Published: August 2007

Different patterns of information may lead to identical diagnostic conclusions, but it remains uncertain whether such patterns will have the same validity towards other criteria, e.g. choice of treatment. A procedure for selection of optimal patterns of data and analysis of their validity towards different criteria is described. It is founded on Bayes’methodology and characterized by a continuous correction for redundancy between indicants. Permissible patterns/syndromes are formulated and evaluated in a consistent way.
Psychiatric aspects of homicide
Authors: Pétursson H. , Gudjónsson G. H.
Published: August 2007

Homicide is frequently associated with mental illness and suicide. The present study is an investigation of all known homicide incidents in Iceland during the past 80 years (1900–1979). There were 45 homicide incidents, involving 52 victims and 47 offenders. One‐third of the perpetrators were either psychotic, mentally subnormal, or committed suicide. A further one‐third were diagnosed as personality disordered, alcoholic, drug dependent or neurotic. A substantial proportion of the offenders suffered from fairly marked physical disabilities, and the mentally ill were significantly more frequently afflicted by such defects. Over 60 % of the offenders and 50 % of the victims were under the influence of alcohol at the material time. The findings are generally consistent with those of previous psychiatric studies of homicide.
ECT and cerebral atrophy
Authors: Calloway S. P. , Dolan R. J. , Jacoby R. J. , Levy R.
Published: August 2007

The case‐notes of 41 elderly depressives who underwent computed tomography were examined and the ECT history of each patient was assessed. No association was found between ECT and global cortical atrophy or ventricular size, but a significant relationship was demonstrated between frontal lobe atrophy and ECT.
The differential diagnosis of tardive dyskinesia
Authors: Casey D. E.
Published: August 2007

The evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of involuntary hyperkinetic movements can be a difficult challenge. A thorough history, including past and present drug use, and a complete physical, neurological, and psychiatric examination, accompanied by appropriate laboratory tests, are often necessary to make the correct differential diagnosis of dyskinesias. Movement disorders in psychiatric patients are usually related to neuroleptic medicines. Extrapyramidal syndromes related to starting these drugs include dystonia, akathisia, and parkinsonism, whereas tardive dyskinesia occurs late in the course of the treatment. Involuntary movements may, however, be idiopathic, be caused by many other drugs, or occur as part of psychoses, hereditary neurodegenerative diseases, or other medical illnesses.
Prevention/treatment of tardive dyskinesia
Authors: Gerlach J.
Published: August 2007

Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a syndrome of involuntary hyperkinetic movements associated with long‐term neuroleptic treatment. The syndrome depends on

1. predisposing factors, especially high age and an unknown constitutional vulnerability, and

2. a postsynaptic dopamine receptor hypersensitivity and/or a cholinergic hypofunction developed during prolonged antidopaminergic (neuroleptic) treatment.

TD is easily kept in check by continued and intensified neuroleptic treatment, which on the other hand presumably involves an aggravation of the underlying pathological process. On this account the importance of prevention can hardly be exaggerated. The most important prophylactic measures are:

1. narrowing the field of indications for the use of neuroleptics,

2. taking particular measures in predisposed subjects,

3. limiting the antidopaminergic influence by the use of neuroleptics with slight striatal antidopaminergic effect, lowest possible dose, shortest possible time of treatment, as well as increased intervals, and

4. paying close attention to the possible development of TD (early detection).

The significance of anticholinergics is still not clarified. Apparently anticholinergics accentuate TD at the time of treatment, without contributing to the development of the underlying primary defect.
Cis(Z)‐clopenthixol and clopenthixol in the treatment of acute psychoses and exacerbations of chronic psychoses| A DOUBLE‐BLIND CLINICAL INVESTIGATION
Authors: Gravem A. , Bugge A.
Published: August 2007

The clinical effect of cis(Z)‐clopenthixol has been compared with that of clopenthixol, which is a mixture of the pharmacologically active cis(Z)‐isomer and the inactive trans(E)‐isomer. In the 4‐week double‐blind trial were included 20 patients with acute psychoses and exacerbations of chronic psychoses, mainly schizophrenics. Ratings evaluating severity of illness, therapeutic effect, possible interference of side effects with the patient's functioning were done at weeks 0, 2, and 4, at which occassions also the BPRS was filled in.

All patients improved, most of them so much that their final BPRS‐score was less than half their initial score. In conclusion, the antipsychotic effect of cis(Z)‐clopenthixol was found equal to that of clopenthixol whereas the cis(Z)‐isomer on a mg/mg basis was twice as active as clopenthixol. Side effects were few, similar, and equally frequent in the two groups, extrapyramidal side effects and drowsiness being the most common.
Neuroleptic treatment of oligophrenic patients| A DOUBLE‐BLIND CLINICAL MULTICENTRE TRIAL OF CIS(Z)‐CLOPENTHIXOL AND HALOPERIDOL
Authors: Karsten D. , Kivimäki T. , Linna S.‐L. , Pollari L. , Turunen S.
Published: August 2007

One hundred mentally retarded patients from five Finnish institutions took part in a double‐blind, double‐dummy 12‐week trial assessing the therapeutic effect of cis(Z)‐clopenthixol and haloperidol. Assessments including CGI by psychiatrists and ward personnel as well as a 4‐item target symptom scale were done at weeks 0, 4, 8, and 12. Improvement was registered by the psychiatrists in 16, 21, and 24 cis(Z)‐clopenthixol patients and in 11, 6, and 7 haloperidol patients at weeks 4, 8, and 12, respectively ‐ the difference between the two drugs being significant at weeks 8 and 12. The ratings of CGI by the personnel and the 4‐item scale by the psychiatrists showed less improvements and no significant differences between the two drugs. While the overall impression of interference of patients’ functioning by side‐effects were in the favour of haloperidol the number of single side effects increased more with haloperidol than with cis(Z)‐clopenthixol during the 12 weeks. Average doses administered at week 12 were 34 mg cis(Z)‐clopenthixol and 5 mg haloperidol.
Serum concentrations of cis(Z)‐ and trans(E)‐clopenthixol after administration of cis(Z)‐clopenthixol and clopenthixol to human volunteers
Authors: Aaes‐Jørgensen T.
Published: August 2007

The serum concentrations of cis(Z)‐ and trans(E)‐clopenthixol have been estimated in human volunteers by an HPLC‐method after administration of a clopenthixol tablet, which contains the cis(Z)‐ and the trans(E)‐isomers in the ratio 1/2, or a cis(Z)‐clopenthixol tablet. The serum concentration curves obtained for the cis(Z)‐isomer after administration of the two drug preparations were very similar, and thus independent of the presence of the trans(E)‐isomer in one of the preparations. Likewise the biological half‐lives and the areas under the serum concentration curves for cis(Z)‐clopenthixol were similar after the two preparations. The biological half‐life of cis(Z)‐clopenthixol was as a mean 20 hours (12–29 hours) indicating that from a pharmacokinetic point of view a dosage interval of 24 hours is possible for most patients. The biological half‐life of trans(E)‐clopenthixol is found to be longer than that for cis(Z)‐clopenthixol.
Marital status in psychiatric patients
Authors: Lavik N. J.
Published: August 2007

During the last decades much research has indicated that marital status has an impact both on referrals to the mental health service and on the outcome of treatment. The main trends found in earlier research on the differences between single, married and separated/divorced patients, are confirmed in the present study. This is based both on a census and on a group of referred patients from a catchment area in Oslo in 1979. The problems connected with detecting the differential and independent impact of marital status in relation to other socio‐demographic variables are pointed out.
The time structure of depressive mood in schizophrenic patients
Authors: Strian F. , Heger R. , Klicpera C.
Published: August 2007

This research focused on the depressive mood of 134 inpatients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. All of the patients filled in a self‐rating mood scale (Befindlichkeits‐Skala by von Zerssen) every other day.

The frequency of depressive mood and the intensity and dynamics of each period of depression were analysed with the aid of defined algorithms. Marked depression was found in more than half of the patients. Depression was seen predominantly at the beginning of hospitalization, and subsequent occurrences were not concentrated in any specific time periods.

The results suggested that depression in schizophrenia is predominantly an experience or consequence of the underlying illness and that pharmacological factors are not of as great importance as has been thus far assumed in the literature.
Neurophysiological study of normal pressure hydrocephalus
Authors: Caltagirone C. , Gainotti G. , Masullo C. , Villa G.
Published: August 2007

A neuropsychological Mental Deterioration Battery (MDB) was used to identify deterioration profiles of 43 patients afflicted with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) (n= 18) or other forms of dementia (n= 25). The NPH patients submitted to a shunt‐intervention (n= 10) were also evaluated after surgery. A comparison of profiles, obtained from the experimental and control groups, shows that NPH patients seem to be more impaired in tests designed to detect frontal lobe involvement. Some implications of the relatively greater impairment of frontal functions in NPH dementia are discussed.
Half‐way services in the rehabilitation of chronic mental patients
Authors: Mezquita J.
Published: August 2007

The importance of adequate community facilities in the rehabilitation of chronic mental patients is stressed. In view of the common reluctance of relatives to accept this type of patient back home again, a residential programme was designed to obviate this problem. The rehabilitation unit described, achieved reintegration into the community of 36.1 % of the patients through the use of hostels and sheltered accommodation. In all, 58.4 % of the patients were discharged.

Finally, inention is made of the advantages of the system, especially its economy, availability, and helpful collaboration of land‐ladies.
Genetic models of schizophrenia
Authors: Baron M.
Published: August 2007

Multiple threshold models of inheritance are applied to a large sample of Franz Kallmann's (1938) pedigree data on schizophrenia. Paranoid and nonparanoid subtypes are represented in the models at different thresholds on a continuum of genetic‐environmental liability. Single major locus and multifactorial‐polygenic inheritance are ruled out as modes of transmission. These findings suggest that the paranoid‐non‐paranoid dichotomy cannot be used as a genetic threshold determinant in the population studied.
Early life experiences and psychiatric disorders: An adoptee study
Authors: von Knorring A.‐L. , Bohman M. , Sigvardsson S.
Published: August 2007

The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is any correlation between negative experiences in early infancy and the later occurrence of psychiatric disorders.

The subjects in this study were a cohort of 2,215 adoptees born 1930–1949. Information about the probands' early experiences has been obtained from the files of the Child Welfare Office, which include age at time of placement in the adoptive home and type of care before placement. 136 of the probands had been treated in a psychiatric department or mental hospital. From the case records a uniform classification of diagnoses was made. The analyses have been carried out in two steps; first as repeated univariate analyses and secondly as series of discriminant function analyses. Reactive neurotic depression was significantly correlated with placement at the age of 6–12 months, but with this sole exception there was no support for the hypothesis of a correlation between psychiatric disorders and early experiences.
EEG antecedents of thievery
Authors: Petersén K. G. I. , Matousek M. , Mednick S. A. , Volavka J. , Pollock V.
Published: August 2007

In Gothenburg studies using clinical and electroencephalographic techniques have been undertaken continuously since 1958 on a large number of individuals of all ages. All individuals studied were without impairment to the central nervous system, according to a number of well‐defined clinical criteria, and were termed normal. The term “normal” is used primarily because it is short. As part of the continued investigation, information has been gathered from social bureaus in Gothenburg and from federal registers. It was observed that youths and children who were found guilty of theft showed EEG abnormalities of some kind (in the EEGs taken several years earlier) statistically significantly more often than other youths and children belonging to our normal material. Among the characteristics discovered by EEG can be noted paroxysmal activity during sleep, slow alpha activity and spectral‐analytical measurements corresponding to lower EEG ages than the individuals' actual ages.
Naloxone‐induced reduction of schizophrenic symptoms A CASE REPORT
Authors: Jørgensen H. A. , Cappelen C.
Published: August 2007

A schizophrenic patient was repeatedly treated with intravenous naloxone 0.4 mg or saline in a double‐blind design. The Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale was used to quantify the symptoms before and after each injection. Naloxone significantly reduced the symptoms temporarily, whereas saline was without effect.
Sleep disorders: Research in psychopathology and its practical implications
Authors: Soldatos C. R. , Kales A.
Published: August 2007

This is a summary of research studies indicating a primary role of psychotherapy in the etiology of certain sleep disorders. Thus, chronic insomnia is associated with high levels of psychopathology and a personality profile characterized by internalization of emotions. Also, a greater number of stressful life events occurs at the year of onset of insomnia. Two additional sleep disorders (sleepwalking and night terrors in adults) are similarly associated with high levels of psychopathology. Although these two disorders share many common clinical and physiological characteristics, their psychological profiles and psychopathological correlates differ considerably. Sleepwalkers show a high incidence of personality disorders with generally active, outward behavioral patterns, whereas night terror sufferers are mostly anxious, depressed and phobic with an inhibition of outward expression of aggression. Based on these research findings a series of therapeutic recommendations is presented for the effective management of patients with insomnia, sleepwalking or night terrors.
The application of the epidemiological method in psychiatry
Authors: Shepherd M.
Published: August 2007

The assumptions underlying the epidemiological approach to psychiatry were clearly summarized in the report of a World Health Organization Expert Committee (WHO (1960)). It had, says the report, become increasingly apparent that “…the problems of studying personal susceptibility and the modifying effects of the environment or habit on the risks of attack were essentially similar in the communicable diseases and in other kinds of human illness. Consequently, the methods which had been used so successfully in uncovering the origin and mode of spread of diseases associated with microbial infection came to be increasingly applied to the study of mental disorders and the use of the term‘epidemiology’to imply the study of their distribution and behaviour in differing conditions of life in human communities became widely accepted”.

The application of epidemiological concepts to the field of psychiatry can thus be viewed as part of a more general change in medical attitudes towards the problems of chronic non‐infectious disease. The principal advantage to be derived from this outlook is a unification of research strategies, a drawing together of such previously varied topics as the analysis of institutional statistics, the use of psychometric tests in the screening of child populations, the demographic and sociological studies of suicide from the time of Durkheim onwards, the area population surveys of the German and Scandinavian geneticists, the ecological research of the Chicago school, and the many descriptive accounts of collective psychopathology.
Diagnostic processes and the classification of mental disorders
Authors: Cooper J. E.
Published: August 2007

Several psychiatrists presented with the same patient or case‐history and asked to make a diagnosis are likely to disagree, particularly if the illness falls within the categories of the neuroses or personality disorders. The size and nature of such disagreements is a greater problem in psychiatry than in most medical and surgical disciplines because of the lack in psychiatry of independent and reliable laboratory investigations that might contribute to the diagnostic process. It is usually necessary to rely on what can be learned about the patient by means of interviews and observation, and it is easy to show that differences are common between clinicians in their ideas of what is normal and abnormal, and how they perceive and interpret the statements and behaviour of patients. It is also easy to demonstrate that psychiatrists use important words like “schizophrenia” to mean different things in different countries, and even psychiatrists who have been trained together often find that they disagree to a surprising degree about, for instance, the most usual way to classify the various types of depressive illnesses.
Surveys to answer questions SOME METHODOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS
Authors: Rutter M.
Published: August 2007

Epidemiology is the study of the distribution of disorders in a population, together with an examination of how the distribution varies with particular environmental circumstances. As a research tool it has many applications. It may be used, for example, to assess the need for services, to determine whether particular disorders are becoming more or less common, to establish age or sex differences in prevalence, and to study causal processes. For each of these before starting the study it is necessary to define very clearly the questions or hypotheses to be examined, since the form of the question should determine the strategy and tactics of the research, Regrettably, all too often epidemiological studies have consisted of a general counting of heads in the (usually forlorn) hope that something will emerge from the mass of data accumulated. There is no virtue in the mere attachment of numerical values unless the numbers have a point and a purpose.
Comparison between zimelidine and desipramine in endogenous depression
Authors: ÅBerg‐Wistedt A.
Published: August 2007

Depressed patients, who did not respond after 4 weeks treatment with zimelidine 100 mg b.i.d. (five patients) or desipramine 75 mg b.i.d. (11 patients) in a double‐blind randomized study were crossed over, after 1 placebo week, to 4 weeks of treatment with the other drug. The three zimelidine non‐responders who responded to desipramine were significantly more retarded compared with eight desipramine non‐responders who responded to zimelidine. It was observed that two patients with bipolar depression developed mania during crossover treatment with desipramine, while two patients with bipolar depression who were treated with zimelidine during the second treatment period did not show any symptoms of mania. Three patients who were non‐responders during both treatment periods had lower plasma concentration of the drugs compared with respective responding groups.
Prospective study of social and psychiatric aspects in self poisoned patients
Authors: Rygnestad T. K.
Published: August 2007

A prospective follow‐up study of 257 self poisoned patients in Trondheim, Norway, is presented. The patients were mainly young females living in the central areas of the city where social, psychiatric and material problems are common. The psychiatrist found a suicidal intention in 25.7 % of male and in 29.8 % of female patients. About half the patients Received some psychiatric (28.7 %) or social help (21.4 %) after discharge. One and/or six months after discharge 229 (89.1 %) of the patients were interviewed again. At 6 months 61.1 % of male and 50.9 % of female patients said that their situation had improved. For the rest it had not changed or had worsened. Suicidal plans were expressed by 1.0 % of male patients and 3.9 % of female patients. During the first year after discharge four men (3.9 %) and two women (1.4 %) committed suicide. It seems important to keep in contact with the patients after discharge to identify those who need further help.
The role of alcohol, drugs, suicide attempts and situational strains in homicide committed by offenders seen for psychiatric assessment
Authors: Langevin R. , Paitich D. , Orchard B. , Handy L. , Russon A.
Published: August 2007

The use of alcohol and drugs at the time of offence, suicide attempts and situational strains were compared in 109 killers and 38 nonviolent offenders seen for psychiatric assessment. More killers than nonviolent offenders used alcohol and drugs at the time of their offence but there was no difference in previous attempts at suicide nor in situational strains. Killers, however, did have more recent frustrations than the other group. Results suggest that the use of intoxicants in violence‐prone individuals is the most important factor in homicide.
Urinary β‐hexosaminidase excretion in patients treated with lithium, thymoleptic and/or neuroleptic drugs
Authors: Thysell H. , And B. Hultberg , Regnell G.
Published: August 2007

In order to evaluate the nephrotoxic effect of serum lithium within the therapeutical range, the urinary excretion of P‐hexosaminidase was studied in 44 well‐managed long‐term lithium treated patients and in 27 healthy controls. In addition, six patients on thymoleptic and 16 patients on neuroleptic drugs were studied. The enzyme excretion was slightly increased in the lithium treated patients, but not in the patients only treated with thymoleptic or neuroleptic drugs.

The findings are consistent with the suggestion that long‐term lithium treatment causes a slowly progressive nephropathy. To follow the urinary F‐hexosaminidase excretion might be a measure to identify patients at higher risk. In two cases of lithium intoxication the enzyme excretion was considerably increased.
New inventory for measurement of parental rearing patterns: AN ENGLISH FORM OF THE EMBU
Authors: Ross M. W. , And R. L. Campbell , Clayer J. R.
Published: August 2007

Despite the importance of measurement of parental rearing patterns in psychiatric research, there are almost no acceptable standardised inventories available. An English‐language version of the Swedish EMBU Inventory is presented, which has subscales measuring the degree to which each parent was abusive, depriving, punitive, shaming, rejecting, overprotective, overinvolved, tolerant, affectionate, performance‐oriented, guilt‐engendering, stimulating, favoured siblings, and favoured the subject. Results indicate high and comparable reliability and item‐scale correlations in the English version, and a similar factor structure. It would appear that the EMBU has both cross‐cultural reliability and stable structure in the English translation.
The reliability of the Geriatric Mental State Examination
Authors: Henderson A. S. , Duncan‐Jones P. , Finlay‐Jones R. A.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT ‐ A version of the Geriatric Mental State Examination has been prepared for use in community surveys. Its reliability has been investigated on a sample of geriatric day‐patients (n= 52). Two psychiatrists separately examined each patient and audiotaped the interviews. It is argued that unless certain requirements in the data from such a study are fulfilled, interpretable reliability statistics can‐not be calculated for individual items. Where the data were sufficient in this study, the mean phi coefficient was 0.84 within interviews and 0.56 between interviews. The reliability of individual items has been assessed as a basis for further improvement in the instrument.
Triazolam as a hypnotic for geriatric patients
Authors: Dehlin O. , Björnson G.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT ‐ Triazolam 0.25 mg was compared with nitrazepam 5 mg as a hypnotic for 26 geriatric inpatients in a double‐blind cross‐over study. Sleep quantity and quality and psychomotor performance were studied. The sleep quantity and quality were similar for both drugs. There were no statistically significant differences between the two drugs in the psychomotor tests. The results are in contrast to results from other studies and might be explained by the composition of the patient material in the present study.
Kinetic evaluation of platelet monoamine oxidase following relaxation in chronic anxiety
Authors: Kralik P. M. , Ho B. T. , Mathew R. J. , Claghorn J. L.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT ‐ The effect of relaxation training, utilizing EMG biofeedback, on platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity was examined in patients with a history of chronic anxiety. Anxiety scores and MAO activity were significantly lowered after 4 weeks of therapy. Kinetic studies, using phenylethylamine as substrate, indicated a significant increase of the Km constant while the V. showed no significant or consistent variation. It is thought that this phenomenon represents an adaptive response by the individual to maintain a homeostatic level of the biogenic amines.
Liver function under long‐term treatment with neuroleptic drugs assessed by serum concentrations of bile acids, alkaline phosphatase, and aspartate aminotransferase
Authors: Linnet K. , Andersen J. Rye , Mørup L.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT ‐ Serum concentrations of total 3a‐hydroxy‐bile acids, alkaline phosphatase, and aspartate aminotransferase were measured in 35 psychotic patients who had been under treatment with neuroleptic drugs for more than 1 year. Serum concentrations of total bile acids were from 1.0 to 9.4 μmol/l (mean 2.9 μmol/l) in the patients and from 0.6 to 4.8 μmol/l (mean 2.2 μmol/l) in 20 healthy controls; the mean values were not significantly different. Serum concentrations of alkaline phosphatase and aspartate aminotransferase in patients and controls were not significantly different either. In conclusion, none of the patients had signs of manifest hepatobiliary dysfunction.
The long‐term effects of vasectomy on sexual behaviour
Authors: Dias P. L. R.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT ‐ Two hundred soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army who had undergone vasectomy at least 4 years earlier were interviewed by a pretested questionnaire to determine the incidence and nature of any changes in sexual behaviour after the operation. Fifty‐six percent re‐ported some change in their sexual behaviour after vasectomy. A de‐creased frequency of intercourse being reported by 15%, a decreased sexual desire by 19% and changes in sexual behaviour during inter‐course by 33%. Seven percent reported that their wives had noticed an alteration in sexual behaviour after operation. In spite of these changes in sexual behaviour after vasectomy the majority of men (92%) reported satisfaction with the operation, which is an indication that changes in sexual behaviour cannot be attributed directly to vasectomy.
Pharmacological aspects of mianserin
Authors: Pinder R. M. , van Delft A. M. L.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT ‐ S(+)‐mianserin is the more potent enantiomer of mianserin in pharmacological tests indicative for antidepressant activity. Pharmacological tests indicative for sedation suggest that sedative effects are similar for mianserin and its enantiomers.

Racemic mianserin had the optimal therapeutic ratio of antidepressant‐like activity versus sedative properties when assessed by computerised EEG in healthy volunteers participating in a double‐blind placebo‐controlled single dose trial.

Of the known metabolites, desmethylmianserin and 8‐hydroxymianserin substantially retain pharmacological properties indicative for antidepressant activity but are less active than mianserin in tests indicative for sedation. Mianserin‐N‐oxide is inactive or only weakly active in most pharmacological tests.

Desmethylmianserin occurs in human plasma after both single and multiple dosage to an extent of about one‐third that of mianserin.

Mianserin has optimal clinical efficacy as the racemate. Desmethylmianserin and 8‐hydroxymianserin are pharmacologically active metabolites and may contribute to the overall antidepressant effects of mianserin.
Psychiatric and neurological symptoms in workers occupationally exposed to organic solvents — results of a differential epidemiological study
Authors: And G. Struwe , Wennberg A.
Published: August 2007

It is accepted knowledge today that repeated intoxication with organic solvents damages the central nervous system and causes persistent psycho‐organic symptoms. That long‐term but low‐level occupational exposure — typical of painters and other blue‐collar workers — can also induce such disorders has not generally been recognized. The present epidemiological study was undertaken to evaluate the possible neuropsychiatric effects of such exposure. 80 laquerers exposed to a mixture of industrial solvents (average hygienic effect 0.3) and 37 printers exposed almost only to toluene (average hygienic effect 1.0) were compared with a control group of 80 age‐matched non‐exposed subjects. In psychiatric inteviews, the painters showed more mental symptoms. Fatigue, nervousness and lack of manual dexterity were most important and formed a typical neurasthenic syndrome. A general decrease in conduction velocity and action potential amplitude was also observed for the peripheral nerves. The printers showed a large decrease of the nerve action potential amplitude only for the sural nerve. No EEG abnormalities were found. Nor could any increase in mental symptoms be detected through psychiatric interviews compared to the controls. The results are interpreted as evidence for a CNS affection with consequent neuropsychiatric signs and symptoms after long‐term occupational expo‐sure to mixtures of industrial solvents below the current threshold limit values (TLV) but not after exposure to a single substance like toluene at about the TLV. The differential effects may be explained by synergistic amplification of the toxicity of solvent mixtures.
Specificity of psychiatric manifestations in relation to neurotoxic chemicals
Authors: Ross W. D. , Sholiton M. C.
Published: August 2007

Previous impressions of specificity of psychiatric manifestations in relation to particular chemical intoxications have been confirmed by comparisons of the symptoms and signs of two groups of individuals. Nine persons exposed to inorganic mercury had “erethism” and xenophobia in addition to non‐specific features of central nervous system poisoning. Twelve men with heavy exposure to organotins, in contrast to ten men with light or no exposure, more frequently presented an unique alternation between out‐bursts of rage and deep depression, the latter lasting from a few hours to a few days. The more heavily exposed men also had a greater number of non‐specific symptoms from neurotoxins.
Carbamazepine, a possible adjunct or alternative to lithium in bipolar disorder
Authors: Nolen W. A.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT – The effect of carbamazepine in bipolar disorder has been studied by several groups. According to these studies carbamazepine appears to exert a “lithium‐like” effect. Twelve patients with lithium‐resistant bipolar disorder and without epilepsy were prophylactically treated for 3 years with carbamazepine in an open study. In most patients carbamazepine was added to lithium, neuroleptics and/or antidepressants. Four patients did not complete the minimum treatment period of 6 months required for evaluation. In the remaining eight patients carbamazepine seemed to be effective in four patients, had a possible or slight effect in two, and no effect in the remaining two. It is concluded that carbamazepine can be safely combined with lithium, and that carbamazepine, eventually combined with lithium, can be effective in lithium(‐alone)‐resistant bipolar disorder.
Naloxone treatment for five days ineffective in schizophrenia
Authors: Naber D. , Münch U. , Wissmann J. , Grosse R. , Ritt R. , Welter D.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT – A double‐blind cross‐over study on the neuroendocrine and behavioural effects of naloxone, 10 mg/day, was performed in 12 male, acute and chronic schizophrenic patients, currently treated with neuroleptic drugs. The opiate antagonist was ineffective on prolactin, but increased β‐endorphin and cortisol serum levels. Treatment over 5 days did not change psychotic behaviour in any of the patients.
A double‐blind comparison of zimelidine and desipramine in endogenous depression
Authors: Lingjaerde O. , Bratfos O. , Bratlid T. , Haug J. O.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT– Zimelidine, a specific 5HT uptake inhibitor (final dose 225 mg), and desipramine, mainly a noradrenaline uptake inhibitor (final dose 150 mg), were given in random order to 24 in‐ and out‐patients fulfilling the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Major Depressive Disorder, definite or probable endogenous type, for a 3‐week treatment period. Nonresponders were crossed over to the other drug for another 3 weeks. There was a nonsignificant trend towards more overall improvement on desipramine. Some patients in both groups showed very little change during 3 weeks, indicating a bimodal distribution of response to either drug. Several nonresponders improved markedly upon direct crossing over to the other drug. There were few and mild side effects on both drugs, with no significant difference between them. No significant correlation was found between improvement and plasma concentrations of zimelidine, norzimelidine, or desipramine, whereas a significant positive correlation was found between improvement and platelet serotonin uptake inhibition (measured in fresh platelets incubated in diluted plasma from the patients) in zimelidine‐treated patients.
Abusers of alcohol immediately prior to pension
Authors: Elton M. , Hörnquist J. O.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT– In the granting of a disability pension to an alcohol abuser society is taking a somewhat controversial step. In order to elucidate the overall situation of these abusers, the quality of life of 61 abusing applicants was examined. The sample represents all 78 first‐time applicants during an 18‐month period in a geographically de‐fined region in the county of Östergötland in Sweden. As expected, apart from their extensive abuse, the applicants were in bad psychiatric‐psychological condition and demonstrated severe neuro‐psychological and biochemical disturbances. In addition, their social net‐work was somewhat restricted and also otherwise rather problematic. These deviations were evident in relation to a matched group of newly pensioned non‐abusers. In comparison with another more closely matched group of abusers undergoing rehabilitation, the differences appeared mainly within the psychiatric‐psychological sphere. This is a report in a series from the research project “Abuse of alcohol – Disability pension – Quality of life”.