bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Short stature as a possible etiological factor in anorexia nervosa
Authors: Brinch M. , Manthorpe T.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT: The 21st case of concurrence of anorexia nervosa (AN) and gonadal dysgenesis (GD) or Turners syndrome is presented together with two more cases of AN in girls of short stature, but with normal chromosomes. The concurrence of AN and GD in the Danish population over a 10 year period is found not to be beyond the expected frequency. The possibility of low stature as such as an etiologic factor in AN is presented on the background of three cases. The same hypothesis has been suggested previously, but we cannot support the view of short stature as a common condition in AN patients premorbidly.
The prevalence of dementia: A quantitative integration of the literature
Authors: Jorm A. F. , Korten A. E. , Henderson A. S.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— Data from studies of dementia prevalence between 1945 to 1985 were analyzed statistically. Prevalence rates were found to vary as a function of methodological differences between studies. However, despite these differences, the relationship between prevalence and age was found to be consistent across studies, with rates doubling every 5.1 years. Across studies, Alzheimer's disease (AD) was found to be more common in women, with a tendency for multi‐infarct dementia (MID) to be more common in men. There were also national differences in the relative prevalence of AD and MID, with MID being more commmon in Japanese and Russian studies, no difference in Finnish and American studies, and an excess of AD in other Western European countries.
Masked depression in Nigerians treated at the Neuro‐Psychiatric Hospital Aro, Abeokuta
Authors: Makanjuola J. D. A. , Olaifa E. A.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— In 1980, 572 patients were treated for depressive illness at Aro Neuro‐Psychiatric Hospital, Abeokuta in Nigeria. These included 91 cases in which diagnoses other than depression were initially made due to the overwhelming somatic and psychoneurotic symptoms which totally eclipsed the primary depressive symptoms. The presentation and management of these 91 cases have been described. There is the need for psychiatrists to be aware of the possibility of depressive illness being masked at presentation, particularly in Africans.
Tardive dyskinesia in neuroleptic medicated mentally handicapped subjects
Authors: Rao J. Murti , Cowie V. A. , Mathew B.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— Sixty‐seven neuroleptic medicated mentally handicapped subjects in a hospital were rated on two occasions for abnormal involuntary movements on three scales: Abnormal Involuntary Movements (AIMS), Rockland and Parkinsonism scales, with 6 months between each assessment. Inter‐rater and test‐retest reliabilities were high. The data from the second assessment was analyzed. Prevalence of tardive dyskinesia (TD) was 21% on AIMS, 42% on the Rockland scale; 60% had parkinsonism. Multiple stepwise regression analysis revealed that age, sex, current neuroleptic and anticholinergic dose, antiepileptic medication, psychosis, cumulative anticholinergic dose were not significant predictors of TD as determined by AIMS. Parkinsonism and cumulative neuroleptic dose were significant predictors of and correlated positively with AIMS score. TD subjects formed 35% of the parkinsonian group. Overt brain damage was not a significant predictor of AIMS score and the difference between the neuroleptic medicated and neuroleptic free group on AIMS scores was highly significant.
The practice of forensic psychiatry in cases of homicide in Copenhagen, 1959 to 1983
Authors: Gottlieb P. , Kramp P. , Gabrielsen G.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— During the years 1959 to 1983 a doubling in the rate of homicide took place in Copenhagen. This increase was exclusively due to an increasing number of male offenders. By comparing with another Danish material, the frequency of female homicide as well as that of homicide combined with suicide was found practically unchanged since 1946, indicating that both of these kinds of homicides seem to have a background different from those of other offences of fatal violence. During the years 1959 to 1983, the criteria of selection of the defendants for a psychiatric examination for the court were fairly consistent. Examinations were performed in practically all cases, where a charge of murder raised by the police was followed by a legal trial for homicide. Less and less of the defandants, however, were hospitalized for the examination, while more were examined in The Clinic of Forensic Psychiatry in Copenhagen.
Dysthymic states and depressive syndromes in physical conditions of presumably psychogenic origin
Authors: Lyketsos C.G. , Lyketsos G.C. , Richardson S.C. , Beis A.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— This paper reports studies of patients with the following disorders: peptic ulcer, hypertension, bronchial asthma, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), ulcerative colitis (UC), urticaria, psoriasis and alopecia. The investigations focused on dysthymic states, measured by Foulds’ Scale of Anxiety and Depression (SAD) and – except for the first three disorders – the Present State Examination (PSE). On the SAD, all the above groups scored significantly higher than somatically ill controls in anxiety, and all except ulcer patients scored significantly higher in depression. The PSE designated more than half of these patients as cases, except in the psoriasis group. Most patients were assigned to the PSE syndromes of anxiety states or neurotic depression, with the former being more common in UC and urticaria, and the latter more common in IBS, alopecia and rheumatoid arthritis. The variation within skin diseases and within gastrointestinal diseases suggests that neurotic symptoms are typical of each disease rather than of the system involved in the disturbance.
Screening for the psychological consequences of a major disaster in a developing country: Armero, Colombia
Authors: Lima B. R. , Pai S. , Santacruz H. , Lozano J. , Luna J.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— Seven months following the volcanic eruption that destroyed the small town of Armero, 200 victims were screened for emotional problems with the Self‐Reporting Questionnaire, a simple and reliable instrument. Fifty‐five percent of the victims were found to be emotionally distressed. Variables associated with the presence of emotional distress included living alone, having lost previous job, feeling not being helped, not knowing date for leaving temporary shelter, being dissatisfied with living arrangements, complaining of non‐specific physical symptoms or epigastric pain, and presenting several physical problems. The high prevalence of emotional distress supports the need to deliver mental care to disaster victims in developing countries through the primary level of care. Our findings provide guidelines for early detection of individuals at risk for developing emotional problems.
Schneider's First Rank Symptoms: An international and interethnic comparative study
Authors: Chandrasena R.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— 419 patients in Sri Lanka, 150 patients in U.K. and 172 patients in Canada who were suffering from “Functional Psychoses” were interviewed using the Present State Examination to elicit Schneider's First Rank Symptoms (FRS). Nationality and ethnicity were found to be significant variables associated with lower prevalence of FRS. Higher prevalence of cultural and subcultural beliefs among ethnic minorities may contribute towards this lower prevalence but a true reduction also appears to be present. Prevalence of some individual FRS also vary with ethnicity and nationality. Universally, FRS had a good discriminative value.
Antithyroid antibodies in major depression
Authors: Joffe R. T.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— Antithyroid antibodies were measured in 58 patients with unipolar major depressive disorder. None of the patients had received prior lithium treatment. Five patients had antimicrosomal and antithyroglobulin antibodies. The prevalence rate of detectable antibody titers approximates that found in normal subjects. The presence of detectable antibody titers was not related to abnormal thyroid function tests. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Reliability and validity of the Newcastle Scales in relation to ICD‐9‐classification
Authors: Maier W. , Philipp M. , Buller R. , Schiegel S.
Published: August 2007

The assessment of endogenous depression by means of the Newcastle Scales (1965, 1971) has been validated by their correlation with biological findings in many previous studies. However, reliability and cross validation studies are lacking for these scales. We found the reliability of the Newcastle Scales to be sufficient or at least moderate in a sample of 70 inpatients with major depression. In order to cross validate both scales, the clinical classification according to ICD‐9 and the assessment of the Newcastle Scales have been performed independently in a sample of 112 inpatients with Major Depressive Disorder (RDC). The rate of agreement between clinical diagnosis and classification according to the Newcastle Scales of endogenous depression is only fair. However, a modification of the diagnostic algorithm applied to the items of the Newcastle Scales I (1965) improves the rate of agreement considerably. The Newcastle Scale I turned out to represent a heterogenous concept without sufficient transferability. Modifications of both scales are proposed.
Altered relationships between metabolic rates of glucose in brain regions of schizophrenic patients
Authors: Wiesel F. A. , Wik G. , Sjögren I. , Blomqvist G. , Greitz T.
Published: August 2007

Regional brain glucose metabolism was studied with positron emission tomography (PET) in healthy volunteers (n= 9) and schizophrenic patients (n= 15). The patients were in an acute phase of the disease and drug free. Cerebral metabolic rate with 11C‐glucose as the tracer (CMRgl) was determined in both cortical and subcortical structures. In the healthy volunteers significant correlations were found between metabolic rates of some regions, but no relationships were found between CMRgl of limbic cortical areas and that of neocortical or subcortical structures. In the patients, high and significant positive correlations were found between metabolic rates in the neocortical areas, the limbic cortical areas and the subcortical areas. The results indicate differences in the neuronal interplay between regions of healthy and schizophrenic subjects. It is proposed that neuronal systems guiding the specificity and diversity in neuronal functions between different brain regions, are abnormal in schizophrenic patients. Such a disturbance may be the basis for the diversity of psychiatric symptoms in schizophrenics.
Maternal age and transition to motherhood: Prenatal and perinatal assessments
Authors: Welles‐Nyström B. L. , de Château P.
Published: August 2007

The purpose of this short‐term longitudinal study was to document the contents and consequences of the timing of first birth to two groups of Swedish mothers in respect to biomedical, behavioral, psychological and social variables. Fifty‐one primiparous women participated in the study during pregnancy through the first 4 months postpartum. Women were assigned to group dependent upon age: those 20–29 years of age in Group 1; and those 30–39 years of age in Group 2. Methods included standard ethnographic procedures, semi‐structured open‐ended interviews and pre‐coded questionnaires. Infant assessments included the Brazelton examination and the Neonatal Preception Inventory. Results indicated group specific maternal behavioral patterns. Group 2 mothers were more anxious during pregnancy and more likely to regard certain asspects of their transition to motherhood as problematic (e.g. breastfeeding). Additional findings included biomedical variance between groups of infants: the Group 2 infants weighed less and were less healthy than the infants born to younger mothers. Results are discussed in respect to medical precedents and psychological impact as well as the cultural patterning of motherhood.
Acute confusional states in the elderly: A radiological evaluation
Authors: Koponen H. , Hurri L. , Stenbäck U. , Riekkinen P. J.
Published: August 2007

Computered tomography of the head was carried out on 35 patients who received a hospital diagnosis of delirium according to the DSM‐III, and 25 controls without cognitive disturbance. There were no statistically significant differences in the mean age of the groups or in the cortical atrophy score as measured by the mean width of the four largest sulci in the three uppermost tomographic cuts. Instead, the delirious patients differed from the controls in the frontal horn and cella media indices, in the width of the third ventricle and Sylvian fissure at insula on the left side. There was also a significant excess of low attenuation, brain infarct‐type areas in the delirious patients. The study confirms the marked predisposing role of the structural brain diseases (primary degenerative and multi‐infarct type dementias, Parkinsonism) in the development of acute delirium in elderly patients.
The suicide rate of epilepsy
Authors: Barraclough B. M.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT: Evidence from follow‐up studies concerned with the mortality of epilepsy suggests the suicide rate is increased. The risk of suicide seems to be higher from temporal lobe epilepsy, for epilepsy with a greater degree of handicap and in the early years of the condition.
Electrodermal activity in suicidal and nonsuicidal depressive patients and in matched healthy subjects
Authors: Thorell L.‐H.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT: The electrodermal activity (EDA) was measured in 25 suicidal and 34 nonsuicidal depressive patients and 59 individually matched healthy subjects during stimulation with neutral tone stimuli. Suicidal behaviour, especially the occurrence of attempts, was related to low electrodermal responsivity (EDR) and low stimulus‐unrelated phasic activity, but unrelated to tonic EDA. The EDR of different groups of subjects was successfully illustrated and tested by statistical methods known as survival statistics. The extreme hyporesponsivity in the attempters was observed irrespective of whether the attempt had been made previously or during the current depression. Electrodermal hyporesponsivity among depressive patients may be a part of a mechanism operating in the suicidal process, and an expression for a factor related to the ability to carry out a suicide attempt. This nonverbal and noninvasive method may yield additional valuable information when estimating the suicide risk in depressive patients in clinical work.
Recent developments in the treatment of panic disorder
Authors: Sheehan David V , Soto Sonia
Published: August 2007

‐The focus of this paper is the treatment of panic disorder with alprazolam. Drug treatments alone are sometimes not sufficient by themselves, to adequately control all of the symptoms or components of this disorder. In the typical case we can identify four targets of treatment: The first target is the biological core of the condition, that is characterized by the unexpected, unprovoked attacks of anxiety. This responds best to medication. The second target is the phobic avoidance behaviour. It appears to be a conditioned or learned complication of the biological core, and appears to follow the laws of learning theory. Unlearning treatments, like behaviour therapy (notably in vivo exposure) are usually necessary to make a full impact against the phobic avoidance behaviour. Thirdly, there is no drug that reverses the psycho‐social problems these patients have. Not all of them have such problems, but those that do may need psychotherapy to deal with their conflicts and stresses. Finally, the evidence in several chronic studies, suggest that this is a chronic relapsing disorder in the majority of cases. It is not enough to treat these patients acutely. They must be followed chronically and monitored carefully over many years, if they are to be protected against relapse.
Primary prevention of psychiatric disorders
Authors: Leighton Alexander H. , Murphy Jane M.
Published: August 2007

Abstract After a general discussion of factors involved in primary prevention of mental disorders, a case is described where community intervention aiming at reversing a process of social disintegration seemed to reduce the prevalence of anxiety and depression. Further experience with community development as an activity integrated into the functioning of a mental health centre is described. It was possible to encourage the growth of social networks that in turn led to several sustained organizations for self help and mutual aid. Even if this is promising from a preventive point of view, the effect upon mental health is not known. Repeated epidemiological studies in the area show a very stable prevalence level over time with high degree of chronicity and few new cases. This means that change in prevalence over a limited period of time only to a very small degree can be caused by primary prevention.
Prevention in child psychiatry
Authors: Sommerschild Hilchen , Sundby Hilchen
Published: August 2007

Abstract Prevention in child psychiatry may be divided into two different areas: Promotion of mental health and prevention of psychiatric illness. In promotion of mental health the target is the total population and one has to deal with values within the sociocultural frame of reference. Research pilot projects have been carried out by the establishment of different parents groups. The intention of this group‐work has been of a cultural ‐not an educational ‐ nature. We have tried to create a replica of the lost possibility of cultural transference of skills and norms in caring and upbringing. In prevention of psychiatric illness the work must be based on epidemiology and the risk groups are the specific target. Research projects in prevention have been rather limited, but we may draw two con clusions: To identify the risk children has not been the problem ‐ the interventions must be rather comprehensive for counteracting the risk factors, rendering them harmless.
Scandinavian routines and practices in the registration of suicide
Authors: Hessø Rolf
Published: August 2007

Procedures followed in reporting and registrering death in each of the Scandinavian countries are scrutinized to find out whether the pronounced difference in the suicide rates between Norway and the other Scandinavian countries might be due to the under‐reporting of suicide in Norway. A survey is also given of the practices followed when classifying and coding cause‐of‐death. The routine and practice followed when registering, classifying and coding varies considerably from country to country. However, none of the procedural differences could explain the low Norwegian rates and the Norwegian suicide statistics were found to be at least as accurate and reliable as those in Denmark, Finland or Sweden.
II. Suicide and Social Integration A pilot study of the integration levels in Norway and Denmark
Authors: Bille‐Brahe Unni
Published: August 2007

A model for comparison of levels of social integration in each of theNordic countries was developed from Durkheim's theories and then tested on Norwegian and Danish data to determine whether the difference in the frequency of suicide between Norway and Denmark could be “explained” by a corresponding difference in degree of social integration. The results confirmed Durkheim's theory in that the general level of social integration was found to be considerably lower inDenmark than in Norway. Danish middleaged women, whose rate of suicide is more than three times that of their Norwegian counterparts, were expecially poorly integrated by comparison. Furthermore, the level of integration among young Norwegian men was found to be in marked decline and their suicide rate on the increase. The necessity of testing and refining the method is stressed.
Pseudologia fantastica
Authors: King B. H. , Ford C. V.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— Pseudologia fantastica has not been reviewed in the English literature in over 50 years, but the term is still used, for example, among the diagnostic criteria for the Munchausen syndrome. Based upon a review of 72 cases of pseudologia fantastica collected from 26 reports since its initial description in 1891, pseudologia is distinguished from other types of lying. Pseudologia fantastica is typified by these characteristics: (1) the stories are not entirely improbable and are often built upon a matrix of truth; (2) the stories are enduring; (3) the stories are not told for personal profit per se and have a self‐aggrandizing quality; and (4) they are distinct from delusions in that the person when confronted with facts can acknowledge these falsehoods. The authors compile phenomenological data about “the pseudolouge”, who is represented equally males and females. Intelligence varies, but at least 40% have evidence of central nervous system dysfunction. The authors suggest that disease simulation, peregrination, and imposture are secondary behavioral manifestations of pseudologia, which is deserving of additional study.
Social factors associated with the use of psychotropic drugs: Alcohol abuse and minor psychiatric morbidity in the community
Authors: Zimmermann‐Tansella C. , Donini S. , Ciommei A. M. , Siciliani O.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— The association of socio‐demographic factors and life events with psychotropic drug consumption, alcohol abuse and minor psychiatric morbidity was investigated in a representative community sample of 181 respondents. The statistical model used was a logistic multiple regression analysis. Psychotropic drug use was best predicted by family size and employment status; alcohol abuse by sex, family size and “exit” events; and minor psychiatric morbidity by sex, marital status and undesirable life events.
Partial 11β‐hydroxylase activity suppression after dexamethasone in patients with major depression
Authors: Kathol R. G. , Gehris T. L. , Jaeckle R.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— Eleven β‐hydroxylase activity was assessed by measuring the cortisol to 11‐deoxycortisol ratio in 20 control subjects, 38 patients with major depression, and five patients with Cushing's disease before and after 1 mg of dexamethasone. The mean levels of 11β‐hydroxylase activity did not differ among groups before dexamethasone. After dexamethasone patients with Cushing's disease showed a nonsignificant increase in 11β‐hydroxylase activity while patients with major depression and controls subjects both showed a decrease. Endogenous depressive patients were no more likely to show high 11β‐hydroxylase activity than neurotic depressive patients; however, depressed patients with cortisol nonsuppression after dexamethasone were. Post‐dexamethasone 11β‐hydroxylase activity is positively correlated with age in both control subjects and patients with depression.
Family relation and social competence of children unwanted at birth
Authors: Myhrman A.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— The children of mothers who said during the pregnancy that the child was not wanted were followed up to age of 16. The material is based on a 14 year follow‐up of 96.5% of all the births in Northern Finland in 1966. Controls from the 1966 data are assigned to the unwanted children who are matched with them in sex, age and parity. The number of children and marital and social status of the mother were matched, also taking into acount the change in these variables between 1966 and 1980. The differences between the unwanted and control children were not dramatic, but there was a consistent difference between the unwanted girls and their controls, especially in their relations with their fathers, the unwanted girls perceiving their fathers to have been more hostile, more inconsistent in educational practice and less positive. The unwanted girls were rated lower by their teachers in personal behaviour and their relationships with schoolmates. They were more often reluctant to go to school, wanting to leave at the earliest possible age. No such differences were noted between the unwanted and control boys.
Sensorimotor laterality in schizophrenia: Which features transcend cultural influences?
Authors: Gureje O.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— A battery of performance tests was conducted to compare motor laterality and eye dominance in Nigerian schizophrenics and normal controls. Both groups were similar in age and sex distribution. While no difference emerged with regard to right, mixed, or left handedness, or foot or eye dominance, cross‐dominance (i.e. full left eye dominance and full right handedness) significantly differentiated the 2 groups. The same feature differentiated paranoid from non‐paranoid subtypes of schizophrenia. Cross‐dominance may represent a more reliable measure of sensorimotor lateralization in schizophrenia since it may be less likely that it is masked by cultural factors.
Effects of environmental stimulation on biochemical and psychological variables in dementia
Authors: Karlsson I. , Bråne G. , Melin E. , Nyth A.‐L. , Rybo E.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— The nursing care of a group of moderately demented patients (n= 11) in a nursing home was improved as a result of an education of the staff. Thus the patients were subjected to an increased emotional and intellectual stimulation during the ordinary daily care and participated in group sessions twice a week. In order to evaluate the effects of the treatment, psychological parameters and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) HVA (homovanillic acid), 5‐HIAA (5‐hydroxyindole acetic acid) and HMPG (4‐hydroxy, 3‐metoxyphenylglucol) were quantified before and after a 2‐month treatment period. A group of similar patients (n= 13) in another nursing home constituted a control group. The ratings of concentration, absent mindedness and recent memory showed a more favorable development in the treatment group than in the control group where an intellectual deterioration was evident. Restlessness was rated higher in the treatment group after the treatment period, while the psychological testings showed no significant changes between the groups. CSF HVA concentrations increased in the treatment group and decreased in the control group (P < 0.05). No change was evident in 5‐HIAA or HMPG concentrations in either group. The results suggest that environmental factors influence biochemical markers of transmitter activity which thus possibly may be of etiological importance in dementia.
Elevation of the renal enzyme N‐acetyl‐β‐glucosaminidase in affectively disordered patients
Authors: Garvey M.J. , Furlong C. , Schaffer C.B. , Adelman R.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— A minority of patients with affective disorders experience mild elevations of the renal enzyme N‐acetyl‐β‐glucosaminadase (NAG). Some affectively disordered patients also have reduced concentrating ability and reduced creatinine clearance. Thirty‐one affectively disordered patients were compared to 17 healthy controls, to evaluate whether these various renal abnormalities are associated with one another and to further examine the proportion of affectively disordered patients experiencing NAG elevations. Twenty‐nine percent of patients had an elevated NAG, whereas none of the controls did (P < .005). There was a trend for an association between elevated NAGs and reduced creatinine clearance (P < .08), but no association was found between concentrating ability and either elevated NAG or reduced creatinine clearance.
Speech characteristics as indicators of depressive illness
Authors: Nilsonne A.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— Measures of the rate of change of voice fundamental frequency, fundamental frequency variability, reading and counting times, and different measures of pause time were compared in 28 depressed patients and 13 healthy controls. The fundamental frequency variables were lower in the depressed group, and the pauses between the interviewer's questions and the patient's answers were longer. The remaining speech variables, including the summed duration of interdigit pauses in counting from 1 to 10 (speech pause time), did not differ between the groups.
The geographical pattern of methods of suicide in Belgium: Implications for prevention
Authors: Moens G. F. G. , Loysch M. J. M. , van de Voorde H.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— The geographical variation of reported suicide among the 43 Belgian districts was analysed for each method of suicide in both sexes and in two time periods: 1968‐72 and 1978‐81. Different descriptive methods were used to assess the patterns and changes in method‐specific indirectly standardized death rates. It appeared that the overall suicide pattern was not always a good reflection of the method‐specific patterns. Moreover, these seemed consistent in time and between sexes. Two important methods, which could be partially influenced, showed a remarkable concentration in some southern districts: suicidal poisoning by solid and liquid substances (in both sexes) and the use of firearms (in males). Drowning was much more concentrated in the West of the country and jumping was especially frequent in Brussels. Possible explanations and the relevance of these findings for prevention are discussed.
A prospective 5‐year follow‐up study of self‐poisoned patients
Authors: Rygnestad T.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— A 5‐year follow‐up study of 253 patients discharged after self‐poisoning is presented. Repeated acts of self‐poisoning occurred mainly in the first year after discharge; 20% and 22% of female and male patients, respectively. This number is a minimum, the migration frequency being high. Very few patients responded to a letter asking them for a follow‐up interview, only 56% and 42% of female and male patients, respectively. Five years after discharge 18% of male patients and 11% of female patients had died. The 5‐year mortality rate was 73 times the expected value for male patients and 109 times the expected value for female patients.
Clinical predictors of course and outcome in delusional psychosis
Authors: Jørgensen P. , Aagaard J.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— The purpose of the study was to examine whether clinical variables of first‐admitted patients with delusional psychosis were of predictive importance of course and outcome illuminated through the dimensions: psychotic symptoms, impairment, remission, and relapse at 2‐year follow‐up. Male, sex, age below 30 years, unmarried, long duration of psychosis, and absence of psychosocial stress prior to first admission were all statistically predictive of poor outcome. Concerning nonspecific psychological distress high mean values on the subscales of helplessness‐hopelessness, dread and antisocial history were correlated to poor outcome as was low mean value of active expression of hostility. Concerning psychopathology assessed by PSE individual items as lost emotions, thought insertion, thought broadcast, primary delusions and certain auditory hallucinations (voices discussing/commenting subject in third person) predicted poor outcome. Further classes of PSE symptoms as perceptual disorder, thought disorder, and delusions of influence predicted poor outcome too. Other prognostic unfavourable variables were systematisation of delusions, severe preoccupation with present delusions and no suspicion of attempt at concealment of delusions and hallucinations.
Aetiological and precipiating factors in wife battering A psychosocial study of battered wives
Authors: Bergman B. , Larsson G. , Brismar B. , Klang M.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— Forty‐nine women who attended a surgical emergency department after being battered are the subjects of this prospective study. The childhood and adolescence of the women had been marked by abuse and violence in the parental home. Most of the women had suffered prolonged, repeated battering. Fifty‐one per cent of the women and 88% of their male assailants were considered to be heavy consumers of alcohol and in over half of the cases of battering both the man and the women had been drinking. In most cases the women's own children were present when the mother was beaten. One third of the women stated that they were highly dependent on the man in question emotionally. It is concluded that social heredity, heavy consumption of alcohol and emotional dependence on the male assailant are major reasons for the woman's inability to break away from a relationship characterized by repeated battering.
Mania following head injury
Authors: Yatham L. N. , Benbow J. C. , Jeffers A. M.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— A case of mania following head injury in an individual with a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia is reported. It is argued that the head injury is probably causative in his case and suggested that head injury should be considered as one of the aetiological factors in secondary mania.
Tardive dyskinesia
Authors: Gerlach J. , Casey D.E.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a syndrome of involuntary movements that develops in predisposed individuals during neuroleptic drug treatment, with an average prevalence of 15%. Neuroleptic (antidopaminergic) drugs are the predominant etiological factor. Although no simple correlation can be established, both dosage and treatment duration seem to be of importance for the development of dyskinesia. It is still uncertain whether some neuroleptics carry a higher risk than others, but it appears that the atypical neuroleptic clozapine, which causes no or minimal dystonia, parkinsonism, or akathisia, also carries no or minimal risk of TD.

The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying TD are unclear. The traditional dopamine hypersensitivity theory is no longer viable, whereby new hypotheses have been advanced: TD can be due to the blockade of a subset of striatal dopamine receptors, while parkinsonism is due to the blockade of another such subset, and/or can be due to a reduced GABA turnover in a subgroup of neurons connecting striatum with globus pallidus and substantia nigra.

TD is best prevented by a course of neuroleptic medication involving as little antidopamine effect as possible, including minimal doses and shortest possible length of treatment. The main TD treatment principle consists of a gradual dose reduction, possibly over years. It should be added, however, that more recent investigations indicate that traditional antidopaminergic treatment in moderate doses may be safely continued over a long period without an increased risk of TD progression.
Comparisons of psychopathological phenomena of 422 manic‐depressive patients with suicide‐positive and suicide‐negative family history
Authors: Mitterauer B. , Leibetseder M. , Pritz W.F. , Sorgo G.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— Psychopathological symptoms of 342 manic‐depressive patients with a family history (FH) of manic‐depressive illness (MDI) and suicide (FH‐S‐positive group) were compared with 80 manic‐depressive patients with a family history of MDI but without suicide (FH‐S‐negative group). Frequencies of suicide tendencies, attempted suicides, rage, angry mania and delusions were evaluated. In contrast to the FH‐S‐positive group where suicide tendencies and attempted suicides were more frequent, the FH‐S‐negative group revealed a higher frequency of delusions. There was no difference between the groups concerning rage and angry mania. Comparisons regarding suicide tendencies, attempted suicides, rage, angry mania and diagnostics referring to depressive, manic, subdepressive and hypomanic phases showed no difference between the sexes.
Relationships between EEG and biochemical parameters in major depressive disorder
Authors: Nyström C. , Matousek M. , Hällström T.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— Twenty‐five patients with major depressive disorder according to RDC were examined with computerized quantitative EEG before antidepressive treatment. Normal EEGs were found in 20 patients and slight abnormality in five cases. Relationships between various EEG variables and pretreatment accumulation rate of 14C‐5‐HT and 3H‐NA in rat synaptosomes, incubated in patients’ plasma, and 5‐HT in whole blood were studied. Age and current treatment with benzodiazepines were taken into account. There was an inverse relationship between alpha‐1 amplitude in all derivations and beta‐2 amplitude in the parieto‐occipital derivation on one hand and pretreatment 14C‐5‐HT synaptosomal accumulation rate on the other. This result indicates that low 14C‐5‐HT synaptosomal accumulation rate is related to increased EEG alertness. This EEG pattern is suggested to be associated with a serotonergic subgroup of depression. The relationships between the other biochemical variables and the EEG patterns did not show any consistent pattern.
The effect of long‐term treatment with clozapine in schizophrenia: A retrospective study in 96 patients treated with clozapine for up to 13 years
Authors: Lindström L. H.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— A retrospective study was performed to evaluate the effect of long‐term treatment with clozapine in 96 schizophrenic or schizoaffective patients hospitalized at the Psychiatric Research Center in Uppsala during the period 1974‐1986. All patients had previously been treated with different neuroleptics but with inadequate response or distressing side effects. The mean duration of the disorder at the start of clozapine treatment was 8 years and 9 months and the mean duration of the treatment 3 years and 11 months. Clozapine treatment was discontinued in 36 % of the patients, mainly due to lack of efficacy, poor compliance or temporary withdrawal of the drug from the market in 1975. In two patients the reason was leukopenia or agranulocytosis. In another 10 patients a transient decrement of WBC was seen, which was normalized during ongoing treatment. Four patients died when on clozapine during the follow‐up period, but no causal relationship to the treatment could be established. Eighty‐five per cent of the patients could be discharged from the hospital. Of the 62 patients who were still on clozapine after 2 years, 18% had full time and 21 % half‐time employment. A global evaluation of the clinical efficacy revealed a significant improvement in 43 % and a moderate improvement in 38 % of the patients compared to previous neuroleptic treatments. Common but usually mild side effects were sedation, hypersalivation, weight gain, and obstipation. Four patients had grand mal seizures. No extrapyramidal side effects were observed during clozapine treatment. It is concluded that clozapine is an effective antipsychotic drug that offers particular advantages for many schizophrenic patients compared to classical neuroleptics and that the risk/benefit ratio should be re‐evaluated in the light of recent long‐term studies.
Thyroid hormones in the treatment of affective disorders
Authors: Stein D. , Avni J.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— The experience of using thyroid hormones in affective disorders is summarized. This includes: 1) Using thyroid hormones alone in depression; 2) their combined use with tricyclic antidepressants; 3) addition of thyroid hormones to non‐tricyclic antidepressants; 4) the use of thyroid stimulating hormone; and 5) thy‐rotropin releasing hormone in depression. Suggested mechanisms of action are discussed. A special attention is paid to the place of thyroid hormones in the treatment of rapid cycling affective disorder.
Mania following head injury: Case reports and neuropsychological findings
Authors: Nizamie S. H. , Nizamie A. , Borde M. , Sharma S.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— Mania secondary to head injury is reported to be rare. Two cases of florid manic psychoses following head injury are reported along with neurological and neuropsychological investigations. Findings on the Luria Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery (LNNB) suggested residual cognitive deficits, predominantly of right hemisphere. Temporal proximity, clinical neurological findings, EEG changes and deficits on LNNB suggest a causal link between head injury and mania.
Bipolar affective disorder
Authors: Dewan M. J. , Haldipur C. V. , Boucher M. F. , Ramachandran T. , Major L. F.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— Since the clinical significance of CT abnormalities found in bipolar patients remains obscure, we studied 26 DSM‐III bipolar patients who had specific CT abnormalities (third ventricle enlargement, and hyperdensity of the caudate, thalamus, anterior frontal white matter, and right temporal lobe) on numerous parameters such as EEG, the Halstead‐Reitan Neuropsychological Battery, premorbid personality adjustment, family history of affective disorder, positive and negative symptoms, employment history, and response to lithium carbonate treatment. None of these measures could differentiate between the CT abnormal and CT normal subgroups. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Anxiety disorders and neuroticism: Are there genetic factors specific to panic?
Authors: Martin N. G. , Jardine R. , Andrews G. , Heath A. C.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— Data from 2,903 adult same‐sex twin pairs were analysed to investigate whether the genetic determinants of symptoms of panic are different from those underlying the neuroticism personality trait. Our results suggest that much of the genetic variation influencing the physical symptoms associated with panic is of the nonadditive type, perhaps due to dominance or epistasis. In both sexes these nonadditive genetic effects on physical symptoms influence the reporting of “feelings of panic”. In males they also account for as much as half the genetic variance in neuroticism. The remainder is additive and also accounts for the balance of genetic variation in “feelings of panic”. In females genetic variance in neuroticism is entirely additive but is not an important source of covariation with either panic symptom. Thus, symptoms of panic seem to be shaped in part by unique genetic influences which do not affect other anxiety symptoms. That a substantial part of the genetic variance in neuroticism in males may be due to the nonadditive effects on physical symptoms of panic may help to explain the rather low correlation between the genetic influences found to affect neuroticism in males and their counterparts in females.
The Rutter Parent Scale A2 and Teacher Scale B2 in Chinese
Authors: Wong C. K.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— The well established child psychiatric epidemiological instruments Rutter Scale A2 and Scale B2 were translated by the author into Chinese. The Chinese and the English versions of both Scales were administered to bilingual Chinese subjects in Hong Kong. The statistics of Cohen's kappa was used to test the item agreement between the two language versions. It was found that most kappas fell within good or excellent ranges. The overall kappa for Scale A2 was 0.81 and for Scale B2 0.71. The correlation between the total scores of both versions for both Scales was very high; for Scale A2 it was 0.94 and for Scale B2 it was 0.93. It was concluded that the Chinese versions were accurate translation of the English versions.
Clinical anxiety in Nigeria
Authors: Awaritefe A.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— Two hundred patients clinically certified as suffering from anxiety state were investigated with a view to understanding the clinical manifestation of the condition in Nigeria. We found that 67 symptoms were manifested by those patients, but only 15 symptoms were presented by about 10% of the sample. These common symptoms were: frequent headaches, difficulty in falling asleep, flushing, difficulty in concentrating, rapid or irregular heart beating, weakness, hot flashes, dizziness, feeling of something crawling in the head, heaviness of the head, nervousness, poor appetite, poor sight, nightmares, and chest pain. The five major precipitating factors were physical ailments, studying and examinations, use of drugs, psychological phenomona, pregnancy and childbirth, in decreasing order of magnitude. The most vulnerable age group was between 18 and 23 years old. The first born children account for the highest number of anxiety patients, but as the number of siblings increases, the vulnerability of the last‐born increases. Anxiety neurosis as seen here is predominantly a problem of single males and females with secondary school education.
The Rutter Parent Scale A2 and Teacher Scale B2 in Chinese II. Clinical validity among Chinese children
Authors: Wong C. K.
Published: August 2007

This is the second of two papers about the Rutter Scales A2 and B2 among Chinese children in Hong Kong. A consecutive series of patients (n= 124) suffering from emotional and conduct disorders is compared with two control groups. Similarities and differences were found when compared with Rutter's original work. In particular, not all the items could differentiate between patients and controls. But with total scores constructed according to local standards the combined sensitivity of both Scales was highly satisfactory (96% for boys and 93% for girls). No combined specificity was available owing to the design of the study, but the respective value for individual Scales was satisfactory (using optimal cut‐off points the lowest specificity was 74% for Scale A2 in boys). Their discriminative power for conduct and emotional disorders was good except in the case of A2 with emotionally disordered girls where only 13% of the cases were correctly identified. Again except A2 in girls the compositions of the anti‐social and neurotic subscores of both Scales among Chinese children were similar to that for English children. It appears that these two simple Scales do have important potentials among Chinese children.
Locus of control, life events and treatment outcome in alcohol dependent patients
Authors: Canton G. , Giannini L. , Magni G. , Bertinaria A. , Cibin M. , Gallimberti L.
Published: August 2007

We investigated the relationship of locus of control and life events to outcome of treatment at 6 months in 67 patients with alcohol dependence. Outcome was less favourable in patients with pre‐treatment scores indicating external locus of control than in those with internal locus of control. Furthermore, patients with relapse in the follow‐up period experienced more independent life events with moderate to severe objective negative impact than those with more favourable outcome. These results suggest that locus of control may be of clinical use in formulating treatment and prognosis, and that the occurrence of life events may influence outcome. The results are discussed in relation to strategies for treatment and prevention of relapse.