bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Serum Immunoglobulins and Cognitive Status in the Elderly: 1. A Population Study
Authors: Cohen Donna , Eisdorfer Carl
Published: August 2008

Fifty-seven cognitively impaired elderly had significantly elevated serum IgG (P $0.005) and IgA (P $0.01) levels and similar IgM levels, compared to a population of 65 elderly matched for age and sex, who did not manifest cognitive impairment. These findings are compatible with a current hypothesis that immunological factors may be important in the cognitive disorders observed with increasing frequency among the aged.
Brothers, Sisters and Antisocial Behaviour
Authors: Jones Marshall B. , Offord David R. , Abrams Nola
Published: August 2008

The brothers of 73 delinquent boys were found themselves to be more antisocial than the brothers of 73 matched control boys. Further, the average antisocial score of the probands’ brothers increased with the number of brothers in the family, holding the number of sisters constant, and decreased with the number of sisters, holding the number of brothers constant. These results are interpreted in terms of male potentiation and female suppression of antisocial behaviour in boys. Results are also reported for 59 pairs of matched delinquent and control girls and their siblings.
The Interaction of Life Events and Relatives’ Expressed Emotion in Schizophrenia and Depressive Neurosis
Authors: Leff Julian , Vaughn Christine
Published: August 2008

A history of life events in the three months before onset of illness was taken in a group of schizophrenic and a group of depressed neurotic in-patients. The Expressed Emotion (EE) of the patients’ key relatives was measured. There was no difference between the schizophrenic and depressed patients in the rate of events in the three month period before onset or in the proportion of undesirable events. However, the two groups exhibited significantly different patterns of interaction between life events and relatives’ EE. Schizophrenic patients living with high EE relatives had a low rate of life events compared with those living with low EE relatives, whereas depressives living with high criticism relatives had a high rate of events compared with those living with low criticism relatives. The implications of these findings are discussed in relation to schizophrenic and depressive patients’ differential vulnerability to environmental stress.
The Spatial Distribution of Depressive Illness in Plymouth
Authors: Dean K. G. , James H. D.
Published: August 2008

Diagnostic and demographic data were collected from all 2,298 psychiatric hospital admissions for affective illnesses from private households in the City of Plymouth for the six-year period 1970–1975 inclusive. Intercorrelations of diagnostic subtypes were performed, together with a multiple regression analysis against spatial and ecological data from the 1971 Census. Rate differences were related to the geographic structure of Plymouth. With psychotic illnesses, ecological correlations were low for male and female first admissions and for male readmissions. However, important correlations relating to socio-economic status, housing tenure and structure, population instability, and other sociodemographic features emerged in varying degrees of specificity for reactive and neurotic illness in males, and for all readmissions in females, largely irrespective of diagnostic subtype. Explanations for the processes underlying these patterns are offered in terms of population structure, particularly the differing vulnerability of age and marital status groups, the referral and diagnostic process, social and physical stresses in the lower socioeconomic groups, and urban drift.
Variability of Mood and the Diagnosis of Hysterical Personality Disorder
Authors: Slavney Phillip R. , Rich Gerald
Published: August 2008

Twenty patients with the diagnosis hysterical personality disorder were compared with a matched control group of patients with other personality and neurotic diagnoses. Subjects' moods were assessed with a visual analogue scale 4 times a day for 5 consecutive days. Patients with a primary discharge diagnosis of hysterical personality disorder showed greater variability of mood than controls. Since emotional lability is said to be a characteristic hysterical trait, the results are taken as empirical support for the validity of one of the clinical judgements inherent in the diagnostic process.
Lateral Response to Suggestion in Relation to Handedness and the Side of Psychogenic Symptoms
Authors: Fleminger J. J. , McClure G. M. , Dalton R.
Published: August 2008

A left-sided preponderance of psychogenic symptoms has often been reported. A Suggestion Test for the study of the laterality of psychogenic symptoms is described. Psychiatric patients and nurses received, on tape, the suggestion of a sensation in the hand to which they could give either right, left or bilateral responses. In both groups there was a majority of left-sided responses. Also, a history was obtained of previous psychogenic symptoms. These had occurred more on the left than on the right side of the body, and an association was found between left-sided symptoms and left-sided response to the test in individual patients. Left-sided symptoms were more prevalent among patients who were not strongly right-handed. These findings are considered in relation to ideas about the differential involvement of the cerebral hemispheres in the production of psychogenic symptoms.
Homosexuality and Parental Guilt
Authors: Zuger Bernard
Published: August 2008

Homosexuality in the male is commonly held to be the product of a specific family constellation consisting of a dominant mother and an ineffectual or hostile father. Prospective studies however, on boys with early effeminate behaviour, the majority of whom subsequently become homosexual, show that their closeness to the mother and distance from the father spring from their own needs. The physician should feel free to relieve parents of guilt for this condition.
Propranolol in Chronic Schizophrenia: A Controlled Study in Neuroleptic-Treated Patients
Authors: Lindström Leif H. , Persson Eva
Published: August 2008

The effect of propranolol at a dose level of 1,280–1,920 mg per day was studied with a double-blind crossover design in twelve chronic schizophrenics with persistent psychotic symptoms despite maintenance treatment with a depot neuroleptic. By use of a psychiatric rating scale (CPRS), an improvement was seen during the two week period of propranolol compared to placebo treatment in six patients, whereas three patients were unchanged and three deteriorated. The effect on total symptom scores for the whole group was significantly better after propranolol. The data indicate that propranolol in high doses has an antipsychotic effect in some schizophrenic patients when receiving neuroleptics.
A Symptom Schedule for the Diagnosis of Borderline Schizophrenia
Authors: Khouri Philippe J. , Haier Richard J. , Rieder Ronald O. , Rosenthal David
Published: August 2008

The concepts of ‘borderline’ and ‘borderline schizophrenia’ remain a confusing area in psychiatry. In its functional use, the word ‘borderline’ refers to a hypothesized level of functioning on a continuum which extends from normality to psychosis, e.g. borderline personality organization. In the phenomenological use ‘borderline’ qualifies a psychiatric diagnosis, referring to a milder form of the disease process, e.g. borderline schizophrenia. In this paper we attempted to define and validate the concept of borderline schizophrenia using case records from the Danish Adoption study with this diagnosis and rating the cases on a new instrument: the Symptom Schedule for the Diagnosis of Borderline Schizophrenia, found reliable, and discriminating cases of borderline schizophrenia from cases of neurosis and personality disorder.
Growth Hormone After Trh in Women with Depressive Illness
Authors: Linkowski P. , Brauman H. , Mendlewicz J.
Published: August 2008

Plasma growth hormone (GH) release after TRH injection was investigated in 27 unipolar and 23 bipolar depressive women, and in 39 normal female controls matched for age, sex and menopausal status. Peaks of GH secretion after TRH were observed in some depressive patients as well as in some normal controls, but there were no significant differences in GH response after TRH administration between patients and controls. The implications of these findings are discussed in reference to such factors as non-specific stress responses and abnormal neuroendocrine circadian rhythms in affectively ill patients.
Marital Conflict and Sexual Dysfunction in Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Couples
Authors: Chiles John A. , Stauss Fred S. , Benjamin Lorna S.
Published: August 2008

Marital interaction appears to be relevant to alcoholism. This study compares two groups of couples, each presenting with sexual dysfunction. One group has an alcoholic member in each couple, one group does not. Data are presented suggesting that alcoholic marriages can be distinguished, in a clinically useful way, from other troubled marriages. Alcoholic husbands feel submissive, but are not being forced by their wives to be so. This suggests a therapeutic approach different from the one that would be taken if the wives were actually dominating.
A Comparison of Frontalis EMG Feedback Training and Progressive Relaxation in the Treatment of Chronic Anxiety
Authors: Leboeuf Alan , Lodge Jeremy
Published: August 2008

Two groups (N = 26) of patients with chronic anxiety were compared in their response to different forms of relaxation therapy. One group received 16 sessions of frontalis EMG and the other 16 sessions of progressive relaxation. Although EMG feedback was much superior in reducing frontalis EMG activity this treatment was no more effective than progressive relaxation in reducing symptoms of anxiety. Few patients in each group showed more than marginal improvement.
Injury and Insult—Considerations of the Neuropathological Aetiology of Mental Subnormality
Authors: Cowie Valerie
Published: August 2008

We have gone far in getting to grips with the nature of the error underlying mental handicap in many conditions. In a number of these, this has given scope, for example, for treatment based on biochemical correction, and for valuable preventive measures. The cause of the condition of many mentally handicapped patients, however, remains mysterious when neither history-taking nor investigations have led to any clues.
Visiting the Mentally Handicapped in Residential Care
Authors: Colledge Julian
Published: August 2008

Various characteristics of residents of a large hospital for the mentally handicapped were investigated in order to find any associations between these characteristics and the frequency of visiting by parents. The findings suggest that early attachment of the parents to the subjects is of more importance for visiting than present skills and behaviour. The most frequently visited subjects were more likely to recognize people, have some speech and have had a normal appearance as a baby. The unvisited subjects were more likely to have been born with an abnormal appearance and into homes with pre-existing social and emotional problems.
A Stepped Forty-Eight Hour Manic-Depressive Cycle
Authors: Paschalis C. , Pavlou A. , Papadimitriou A.
Published: August 2008

This paper describes a patient with an almost 48-hour manic-depressive cycle but with a daily shift of the switching time, the latter having itself a cycle of five days. The mood change always occurred gradually and during the day, never at night. Between manic and depressive phases there was a difference in the frequency of the EEG alpha rhythm. The patient showed a good response to lithium treatment.
Social and Psychological Functioning of the Ageing Male Homosexual
Authors: Bennett Keith C. , Thompson Norman L.
Published: August 2008

The stereotype of the older male homosexual is one of disengagement from the homosexual world, loneliness, rejection, depression and unhappiness. This typical picture of the ageing homosexual is not supported by the findings from 478 homosexual men in Australia with diverse backgrounds. There are no age differences in psychological well-being and involvement in the gay community. The older homosexual does believe he has less control for his sexual orientation and attempts to hide his homosexuality more than his younger counterparts. These latter findings appear to be generational differences. Implications for professionals working with homosexuals and their parents are briefly discussed.
Some Measures of Goal Attainment in Focussed Integrated Active Psychotherapy: A Study of Fifteen Cases
Authors: Ryle Anthony
Published: August 2008

The psychotherapeutic treatment of 15 patients is described. The goals were defined in terms of target problems and target dilemmas, traps and snags, and the outcome was assessed by rating these or with a symptom questionnaire and a dyad repertory grid before and after treatment. Patients who rated dilemmas as resolved showed appropriate changes in construct correlations on the dyad grid.
Bipolar Affective Psychosis with Onset before Age 16 Years Report of 10 Cases
Authors: Hassanyeh F. , Davison K.
Published: August 2008

Ten patients, 5 male and 5 female, with bipolar psychosis beginning before the age of 16 years, mean 14.1 years, are described. Difficulties in diagnosis in this age group are discussed and background factors of possible aetiological importance analysed. Lithium therapy was effective in 6 out of 7 patients.
The Assessment of the Ego States
Authors: Falkowski W. , Ben-Tovim David I. , Bland J. M.
Published: August 2008

The hypothesis that ego states, as defined in Transactional Analysis, are distinct and identifiable phenomena was tested. Ten TA therapists were asked to assess which of the three ego states, Parent, Adult or Child, were present in forty statements extracted from the tape of a family therapy session. The level of agreement reached was statistically highly significant. There was a certain amount of inter-rater variability, and potential sources of disagreement are discussed.
Psychiatric Morbidity in Elderly Surgical Patients
Authors: Millar Henry R.
Published: August 2008

One hundred patients aged 65 and over were psychiatrically assessed before and in the first week after elective surgery. Thirteen were psychiatrically ill before operation and 21 developed post-operative illness. Post-operative confusional states (14 patients) were associated with physical complications but not with environmental or pre-operative psychiatric variables. Affective disorders either improved following successful surgery (5 patients) persisted or developed after operation in association with continuing physical illness (6 patients).
Hallucinatory Experiences of Prelingually Profoundly Deaf Schizophrenics
Authors: Critchley E. M. R. , Denmark John C. , Warren Frank , Wilson Kathleen A.
Published: August 2008

The communication difficulties of prelingually profoundly deaf patients render psychiatric diagnosis extremely difficult. A study of 12 prelingually profoundly deaf schizophrenic patients revealed that visual hallucinations occurred in 10, and 10 also had experiences analogous to auditory hallucinations although voices may not have been heard.
Group Psychotherapy
Authors: Bloch Sidney
Published: August 2008

Group psychotherapy is perhaps a misleading term and the concept of the group psychotherapies probably better represents the broad range of psychological treatments in psychiatry in which the group process is an essential component: from psychotherapy with a married couple to the large community group meeting in a psychiatric hospital. Group psychotherapy most commonly refers to the long-term treatment of neurotic out-patients in small groups, and this will be my main focus. Marital and family therapy have their own distinctive literatures, while the therapeutic community has been well covered in a previous column (Mandelbrote, 1979).
The Carroll Rating Scale for Depression I. Development, Reliability and Validation
Authors: Carroll Bernard J. , Feinberg Michael , Smouse Peter E. , Rawson Sarah G. , Greden John F.
Published: August 2008

The Carroll rating scale (CRS) was developed as a self rating instrument for depression, closely matching the information content and specific items of the Hamilton rating scale (HRS). The CRS was found to have acceptable face validity and reliability. The concurrent validity of the CRS was acceptable, based on comparisons with the HRS and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The internal consistency of the CRS was very similar to that of the HRS. The CRS contained information about HRS scores beyond what could be predicted from BDI scores, but the BDI did not predict HRS scores beyond what could be predicted from CRS scores. The CRS and BDI scores were strongly correlated and both had access to a subjective dimension of depression that could not be predicted from HRS scores. The complementary uses of self ratings and observer ratings are evident from these results. The CRS may be a useful alternative to the BDI as a self rating scale, with the additional advantage of closer correspondence to the HRS.
The Carroll Rating Scale for Depression II. Factor Analyses of the Feature Profiles
Authors: Smouse Peter E. , Feinberg Michael , Carroll Bernard J. , Park Myoung H. , Rawson Sarah G.
Published: August 2008

Factor analyses were conducted for the Hamilton depression rating scale (HRS) and the self administered Carroll counterpart (CRS). The factor loadings for the respective first factors were similar; those for the respective second factors showed strict sign consistency but only moderate consistency of magnitude; the loadings for the respective third factors showed no particular consistency. The first three CRS and first three HRS factor scores were computed for each individual and correlations were computed from these factor scores. The first and second factors were highly correlated but the third factors were negatively correlated indicating that they were not measuring the same thing. The first factors of the CRS and HRS correlated highly with their respective raw total scores and were indices of the severity of illness. The self-administered CRS (with matching weights) is a credible alternative to the HRS for routine clinical assessment of the severity of depression.
Inhibition of In Vitro Production of Aldosterone by Manic-Depressive Sera
Authors: Hullin R. P. , Levell M. J. , O'Brien M. J. , Toumba K. J.
Published: August 2008

Serum samples from psychiatric patients were added to incubations of rat adrenal cortical cells synthesizing aldosterone. A high proportion of sera from patients with bipolar manic-depressive psychosis inhibited aldosterone production, but chronic in-patients without affective disorders gave few inhibitory sera. Inhibition was greatest in depression, lowest during normal affect. In one patient studied through 11 affective cycles the inhibitor score increased during transitions from mania to depression, showing a significant regression on time. The possible relationship of this in vitro phenomenon to the defect of aldosterone regulation in manic-depressive psychosis is discussed.
The Essence of Psychotherapy
Authors: Greben Stanley E.
Published: August 2008

Psychotherapy and the changes it produces can be understood in terms of simple basic essentials. Intensive and longstanding clinical experience demonstrates its therapeutic potency. Those factors in the therapist which are most important in leading to change are described. The significance of the therapeutic relationship is discussed, as well as the necessity of its candid and intensive examination during the therapy, if marked change is to occur. What is not psychotherapy is also explored.
Psychiatric Interviewing Techniques IV. Experimental Study: Four Contrasting Styles
Authors: Rutter M. , Cox A. , Egert S. , Holbrook D. , Everitt B.
Published: August 2008

The development and definition of four contrasting interview styles is described. The four styles were designed using different permutations of techniques which, on the basis of an earlier naturalistic study, appeared to be most effective in eliciting either factual information or feelings. A ‘sounding board’ style utilized a minimal activity approach; an ‘active psychotherapy’ style actively sought to explore feelings and to bring out emotional links and meanings; a ‘structured’ style adopted an active cross-questioning approach; and a ‘systematic exploratory’ style aimed to combine a high use of both fact-oriented and feeling-oriented techniques. Quantitative measures based on video-tape and audio-tape analysis showed that two experienced interviewers could be trained to adopt these four very different styles and yet remain feeling and appearing natural. An experimental design to compare the four styles is described.
A Study of Naloxone with Schizophrenic and Manic Patients
Authors: Sethi Brij B. , Prakash Rudra
Published: August 2008

Eleven schizophrenic and three manic patients were randomly administered 0.3 mg/Kg b.wt. of naloxone or placebo in a drug-free state using a double blind procedure. BPRS and CGI were employed for making periodic assessment of mental status; the MRS was additionally used for manic patients. The authors discuss their findings, which are essentially negative.
Impaired Cerebral Dominance and Schizophrenia
Authors: Chaugule V. B. , Master R. S.
Published: August 2008

A total of 150 psychiatric patients—schizophrenics, affective psychotics and neurotics—were compared with 150 normal controls for handedness. Schizophrenics were significantly more likely to be non-dextrals (i.e. not completely right handed) than controls. Affective psychotics and neurotics were not significantly different from controls.
The Role of Maintenance Therapy and Relatives' Expressed Emotion in Relapse of Schizophrenia: A Two-Year Follow-up
Authors: Leff Julian , Vaughn Christine
Published: August 2008

A two-year follow-up study was conducted, mainly from case notes, of patients who had originally taken part in a study of the influence of relatives' expressed emotion on schizophrenic relapse. It was found that in the two years following discharge from hospital patients from high expressed emotion homes had a significantly greater relapse rate than those from low expressed emotion homes.

The prophylactic effect of maintenance drugs was no longer evident for patients from high expressed emotion homes at the two-year follow-up. By contrast, a significant protective effect of maintenance therapy emerged for patients from low expressed emotion homes.

The interpretation of these findings is discussed.
Propranolol in Schizophrenia
Authors: Peet M. , Middlemiss D. N. , Yates R. A.
Published: August 2008

Ten hospitalized chronic schizophrenic patients were given chlorpromazine alone and chlorpromazine plus high dose propranolol in two 7-week treatment periods according to a randomized crossover design. In the six patients who completed the whole study, plasma levels of chlorpromazine and chlorpromazine sulphoxide, total serum levels of neuroleptic and serum levels of prolactin were consistently and significantly elevated during treatment with chlorpromazine plus propranolol relative to levels during treatment with chlorpromazine alone. These effects are sufficient to explain previously reported clinical improvement in schizophrenic patients given propranolol in addition to neuroleptics.
The Symptomatology of Puerperal Illnesses
Authors: Dean C. , Kendell R. E.
Published: August 2008

Women who had a psychiatric illness requiring hospital admission within 90 days of delivery were compared with a control group matched for age, Research Diagnostic Criteria diagnosis and year of admission. Those with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder differed significantly from non-puerperal controls in being more deluded or hallucinated, more labile and more disorientated. There was no difference between puerperal and control cases of major depressive or manic disorder with respect to treatment received, or responded to, or length of stay in hospital.
Life Events and Depression in a Kenyan Setting
Authors: Vadher A. , Ndetei D. M.
Published: August 2008

Thirty Kenyan patients of black African origin undergoing treatment for clinical depression in Nairobi, and 40 matched non-psychiatrically disturbed controls in the community were studied for life events using the Brown-Harris model. It was found that the depressed group had significantly more life events (P <0.001 with Yates correction for continuity) in the twelve months preceding the onset of their depression than the controls in the same period. These results are similar to those obtained by several workers in Western settings. Their implication for the practice of psychiatry in an African context is examined, and some myths about psychiatry in Africa re-examined.
Studies of Depressive Symptoms in Schizophrenia
Authors: Johnson D. A. W.
Published: August 2008

Depression assessed by clinical examination and Hamilton rating scale was found in half of 37 untreated new acute schizophrenics, and in about a third of chronic schizophrenics who relapsed whether treated with depot injections (89) or not (79). A significant part of depressive illness in schizophrenics is thus not drug-related. However, depression was commoner in those on higher doses of depot neuroleptic (P <.05) or who showed extrapyramidal side effects (P <.001), suggesting that drugs can play a part. Patients maintained in remission on moderate doses of depot drug had the lowest prevalence of depression.
The Efficacy of Cognitive Therapy in Depression: A Treatment Trial Using Cognitive Therapy and Pharmacotherapy, each Alone and in Combination
Authors: Blackburn I. M. , Bishop S. , Glen A. I. M. , Whalley L. J. , Christie J. E.
Published: August 2008

We report an extensive study which compares cognitive therapy, antidepressant drugs and a combination of these two, in depressed patients seen either in general practice or an out-patient department. One-hundred and forty patients were screened for primary major depression and 64 patients completed the trial. All were rated on seven measures of mood, including independent observer-rated and self-rated depression and scales of anxiety and irritability. Patients were randomly assigned to cognitive therapy, antidepressants or a combination of the two. The antidepressant drug group did less well in both hospital and general practice and combination treatment was superior to drug treatment in both hospital and general practice. In general practice, cognitive therapy was superior to drug treatment. The presence of endogenous features did not affect response to treatment. The results are discussed in terms of Beck's cognitive theory of depression and factors of presumed causal importance of depression in general practice.
Patterns of Self-Reported Symptoms in Chronic Psychiatric Patients
Authors: Palmer R. L. , Ekisa E. G. , Winbow A. J.
Published: August 2008

The patterns of self-reported symptoms in 103 chronic psychiatric patients were examined using the Delusions-Symptoms-Sign Inventory (DSSI). The subjects were all those able to co-operate drawn from the total population of psychiatric patients in Leicestershire who had been in continuous in-patient or day-patient care for over one year. A majority reported dysthymic symptoms and some sort of delusions. Three-quarters produced patterns of response predicted by the hierarchy hypothesis of Foulds.
Child Psychiatry and Enuresis
Authors: Berg Ian
Published: August 2008

The status of enuresis as a symptom of psychiatric disturbance is still uncertain despite a considerable amount of research, which has been well reviewed by Shaffer (1973, 1977, 1980). The problem is that although general population surveys, such as the Isle of Wight investigation (Rutteret al, 1973) and the National Child Development Study (Essen and Peckham, 1976) have indicated a definite association between enuresis and psychiatric disorders, particularly the common neurotic and conduct disturbances, they have also made it abundantly clear that the majority of children who wet are actually well-adjusted and free from other problems affecting their behaviour. Enuretic children referred to clinics for treatment are more likely to be psychiatrically disturbed (Hallgren, 1957), but even then the majority of them are free from other behaviour difficulties.
Neuroendocrine Mechanisms and the Aetiology of Male and Female Homosexuality
Authors: MacCulloch Malcolm J. , Waddington John L.
Published: August 2008

Theories on the classification and aetiology of male homosexuality are reviewed, particularly recent hypotheses on the role of prenatal hormonal influences on brain sexual differentiation and subsequent sexual object choice in the male. Female as well as male brain sexual differentiation may be hormonally determined, and so primary homosexuality in both sexes may be due to abnormalities in foetal exposure to hormones, leading first to physical mis-differentiation and later to homosexual behaviour in genetically and phenotypically normal men and women.
A Follow-up Study of Severe Puerperal Psychiatric Illness
Authors: Da Silva Lalitha , Johnstone Eve C.
Published: August 2008

The outcome in clinical and social terms of a psychiatric illness arising within 1 year of confinement or termination of pregnancy and requiring on-going care was studied after a period of 1–6 years in 47 women. The outcome was related to the earlier features of the illness and to personal and historical features. Social impairment and continuing psychopathology occurred in many cases. The only factor which significantly related to poor outcome was an initial diagnosis of schizophrenia.
Hereditary Factors in the Pathogenesis of Affective Illnesses
Authors: Jakimow-Venulet Barbara
Published: August 2008

The purpose of the study was verification of a genetic distinction between bipolar and unipolar affective illness and investigation of hypotheses concerning the mode of genetic transmission of both illnesses. The investigation demonstrated a difference between a group of 150 probands with bipolar affective illness and 50 probands with unipolar affective illness.

A genetic-correlation analysis of both diseases showed that they are determined by different, partly correlated liabilities. Evaluation of the mode of inheritance suggests a multifactorial mode of inheritance of both affective illnesses: although genetic factors are of basic importance, continuously acting environmental factors also have a significant influence on the manifestation of the illness. The results suggest possible heterogeneity of both illnesses from the genetic standpoint.
Psychiatric Aspects of Diabetes—a Physician's View
Authors: Tattersall R. B.
Published: August 2008

A raised blood sugar level no more defines a single entity than does a raised bilirubin or a low haemoglobin. Diabetes is a heterogenous group of disorders whose only common factor is hyperglycaemia (Tattersallet al, 1980). The classification of diabetes is being revised, although the changes are of more relevance to epidemiologists than clinicians. Previous standards of normal glucose tolerance were set too low, so that some people were labelled diabetic who had no symptoms and have proved on follow-up not to be at risk of developing complications such as retinopathy (i.e. they had a non-disease). Epidemiological evidence suggests that the cut-off point for ‘true’ diabetes (i.e. a condition which leads to complications and shortening of life span) is a blood glucose level two hours after a 50 G oral glucose load of 11.1 mMol/L (National Diabetes Data Group, 1979). This corresponds to a fasting blood glucose level of 7 mMol/L or below. Hence, a single blood glucose value, either in the fasting state or two hours after a 50 G glucose load, is enough to diagnose diabetes and glucose tolerance tests should hardly ever be necessary.
Quantitative Determination of Immunoglobulins in CSF and Plasma of Chronic Schizophrenic Patients
Authors: Delisi Lynn E. , Weinberger Daniel R. , Potkin Steven , Neckers Leonard M. , Shiling David J. , Wyatt Richard Jed
Published: August 2008

Immunoglobulins, IgG, IgA and IgM were quantified in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma from chronic schizophrenic patients and controls using an immunofluorescent antibody technique. A generalized reduction in immunoglobulin levels was observed in the schizophrenic patients compared with controls. While this study supports other reports of abnormal immune functioning in schizophrenia, it failed to replicate previous findings of elevations in CSF IgG and elevations in serum IgA. The aetiology and significance of these findings are hypothesized but remain elusive.
Fear, Folie and Phantom Pregnancy: Pseudocyesis in a Fifteen-Year-Old Girl
Authors: Hardwick Peter J. , Fitzpatrick Carol
Published: August 2008

Pseudocyesis is rare in childhood and adolescence. Moreover, in all age groups, there has been little written on its therapeutic handling. We describe a case of pseudocyesis in a fifteen-year-old girl and discuss the therapy in some detail.
Affective Disorder in Mothers of Young Children
Authors: Bromet Evelyn J. , Solomon Zahava H. , Dunn Leslie O. , Nicklas Nancy N.
Published: August 2008

This research assessed the rate of affective disorder in 124 mothers of preschool children, which was found to be lower than in earlier studies, i.e. twelve per cent during the child-rearing years, and eight per cent in the year before interview. In half of those mothers who had an affective episode during the child-rearing years, its onset had predated the birth of the first child. We investigated sociodemographic and social support variables in relation to clinical and subclinical disturbance and found only modest associations.

The apparent discrepancy between the present findings and those of previous research is discussed in relation to environmental and methodological factors.
The Relative Timing of Psychiatric Disorder in Parents and Children
Authors: Hobbs Paul
Published: August 2008

The high incidence of psychiatric disorder in parents of disturbed children is usually explained in reactive terms implying a relationship in time. The records of children attending a child psychiatric service and the psychiatric records of their parents were examined and the time between episodes of illness in parent and child were calculated. Fathers' illnesses preceded those of their daughters, but in general, there was little evidence of any close relationship
Immunological Indices in the Cerebrospinal Fluid of Patients with Presenile Dementia of the Alzheimer Type
Authors: Jonker C. , Eikelenboom P. , Tavenier P.
Published: August 2008

In ten patients with presenile dementia of the Alzheimer type and in a control group the levels of the different immunoglobulins were determined in both serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and gel electrophoretic techniques used to determine possible oligoclonal bands in the gamma-globulin region. There is no indication that patients with Alzheimer disease produce immunoglobulins within the central nervous system.
Elevated Serum Levels of Lactoferrin and Eosinophil Cationic Protein in Schizophrenic Patients
Authors: Hällgren R. , Venge P. , Wistedt B.
Published: August 2008

The serum levels of lactoferrin, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), lysozyme and β2-microglobulin have been measured in schizophrenic patients in an attempt to elucidate the activity and turnover of neutrophil and eosinophil granulocytes, macrophages/monocytes and lymphocytes, respectively. Serum-lactoferrin and serum-ECP levels were significantly (P <0.001) higher in the patient group as compared to healthy controls in contrast to blood cell counts and serum-lysozyme and serum-β2-microglobulin levels which all were within normal limits. The results were not affected by anti-psychotic therapy. A significant correlation was found between serum-ECP and serum-lactoferrin levels which may suggest a common underlying cause of the elevated levels. The findings suggest an increased eosinophil and neutrophil activity and/or turnover in schizophrenia and may have a bearing on the well-known altered inflammatory response associated with this syndrome.
Side Effects and Placebo Amplification
Authors: Thomson Richard
Published: August 2008

A sample of placebo-controlled tricyclic antidepressant studies was examined retrospectively to determine whether there was any difference in the relative efficacy of the tricyclic when it was compared against an inert placebo as against an active (atropine) placebo with anticholinergic side effects. Fewer studies showed a significant difference between atropine placebo and drug than between inert placebo and drug. The possibilities that atropine has a specific antidepressant effect or that side effects amplify placebo responses are considered.
Urinary Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor and Benzodiazepine Withdrawal
Authors: Petursson H. , Bhattacharya S. K. , Glover Vivette , Sandler M. , Lader M. H.
Published: August 2008

A characteristic withdrawal reaction following the cessation of long-term benzodiazepine treatment in seven patients was accompanied by a significant increase in output of urinary monoamine oxidase inhibitor. This finding provides further support for the concept that the urinary inhibitor excretion pattern may be related to stress or anxiety.
The Therapy of Sexual Dysfunction
Authors: Frank O. S.
Published: August 2008

The last 15 years or so have witnessed a marked growth of interest in sexual problems paralleled by a growth of interest in marital and familial processes. The pioneering work of Masters and Johnson (Masters and Johnson, 1966 and 1970) has been a focus for this trend, but the increased interest shown in professional circles is in part a response to demands created by changes within society as a whole. In particular sexual attitudes have changed as have expectations of personal happiness, and these permissive attitudes have their casualties as well as being liberating in effect.
The Effect of Lithium on Platelet Monoamine Oxidase Activity in Bipolar and Schizoaffective Disorders
Authors: Meltzer Herbert Y. , Tueting Patricia , Jackmann Herbert
Published: August 2008

Platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity was studied in 33 in-patients with bipolar and schizoaffective disorder who were treated with lithium. Platelet MAO activity was found to increase following 10–41 days of lithium treatment compared to a prior drug free period, and the increase was positively correlated with the duration of lithium treatment. The increase in platelet MAO activity was not correlated with clinical improvement as measured by the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and the Global Assessment Scale (GAS). The number of platelets per unit of blood was also significantly correlated with the number of days of lithium treatment. However, the increase in the number of platelets in lithium-treated patients was not correlated with the increase in MAO activity and thus appears not to account for it. These results indicate that studies relating platelet MAO activity to psychiatric diagnosis should be interpreted cautiously if patients are receiving lithium carbonate.
Psychiatric Symptom Patterns of Chronic Epileptics Attending a Neurological Clinic: A Controlled Investigation
Authors: Kogeorgos John , Fonagy Peter , Scott D. F.
Published: August 2008

The psychiatric morbidity of chronic epileptic out-patients unknown to psychiatric agencies was assessed using two questionnaire measures of psychopathology (GHQ and CCEI). Nearly half of the epileptics were classified as probable psychiatric cases. Psychiatric morbidity was both more prevalent and more severe in this group than in a comparison group of chronic neurological out-patients. Depression, anxiety and hysterical symptomatology were the commonest characteristics of psychiatrically impaired epileptics. The type and severity of epilepsy were found to influence both the degree and pattern of psychiatric morbidity. Contrary to previous findings, age of onset had no relation to psychopathology.
Effect of ECT on the Neuroendocrine Response to Apomorphine in Severely Depressed Patients
Authors: Christie Janice E. , Whalley L. J. , Brown N. S. , Dick H.
Published: August 2008

Animal studies have suggested that the mechanism of the antidepressant action of ECT may be to increase monoaminergic post-synaptic receptor sensitivity. We have tested this hypothesis in 12 drug-free patients suffering from severe depression, 11 of whom had depressive delusions. The responses of growth hormone, prolactin and Cortisol to 0.75 mg subcutaneous apomorphine were examined before and after a successful course of ECT. There were no significant differences between hormonal measurements on the two occasions, with the exception that basal plasma Cortisol concentrations were significantly lower following ECT and recovery from depressive illness. These results do not support the hypothesis that ECT increases dopaminergic post-synaptic receptor sensitivity.
A Controlled Comparison of Flupenthixol Decanoate Injections and Oral Amitriptyline in Depressed Out-Patients
Authors: Tam W. , Young J. P. R. , John G. , Lader M. H.
Published: August 2008

Sixty-eight depressed out-patients were allocated to treatment with either oral amitriptyline (75–225 mg/day) or intramuscular flupenthixol decanoate (10–30 mg every 14 days) in flexible dosage for 12 weeks under double-blind procedures. Various observer- and self-rating scales were applied before and after 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks of treatment. Twenty-four patients completed the course of amitriptyline and 20 the course of flupenthixol. All variables improved over time, but there were no significant differences between the two drugs. The Newcastle scores pre-treatment were not related to drug response suggesting that both drugs were similarly effective across a wide spectrum of depressive disorders. Patients on amitriptyline tended to complain of dry mouth; those on flupenthixol had a higher incidence of extrapyramidal signs, the majority receiving anti-parkinsonian drugs at some time during the treatment. Flupenthixol decanoate in low dose is a useful anti-depressant, but should be restricted to short courses of treatment, to patients refractory to other treatments, and to patients suspected of poor compliance.
Field Dependence and the Factor Structure of the General Health Questionnaire in Normal Subjects
Authors: Parkes Katharine R.
Published: August 2008

The factor structure of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) was investigated in a non-clinical sample in relation to the role of field dependence (assessed by the Hidden Figures Test) in influencing the extent to which different aspects of psychoneurotic disturbance are differentiated. Greater differentiation was achieved by the field independent (FI) group than by the field dependent (FD) group, as shown by: (i) the proportion of variance accounted for by the general factor in the principal components analysis of the 60-item GHQ data was lower (17 per cent) in the FI group than in the FD group (33 per cent); (ii) the factor loadings in the FI group, but not the FD group, corresponded closely with the four subscales of the 28-item scaled GHQ; (iii) the interscale correlations were significantly lower in the FI group than in the FD group. The implications of these findings are discussed, particularly their relevance to ‘unitary’ and ‘distinct-syndrome’ models of minor anxiety and depressive disorders, and the greater probability of occurrence of mixed states in field dependent subjects.
Perinatal Complications and Clinical Outcome within the Schizophrenia Spectrum
Authors: Parnas J. , Schulsinger F. , Teasdale T. W. , Schulsinger H. , Feldman Peter M. , Mednick S. A.
Published: August 2008

In a prospective study of offspring of schizophrenic mothers, perinatal complications reported in midwife protocols were analysed for those offspring who, as adults, were diagnosed as schizophrenic, borderline schizophrenic or as not suffering from mental illness. The schizophrenics were found to have had the most complicated births, and the borderlines, the least complicated births. This difference is interpreted in terms of a ‘diathesis-stress' model. It is proposed that birth complications can decompensate borderline individuals towards schizophrenic breakdown.
The Clinical Features of Diabetic Impotence: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Fairburn C. G. , Wu F. C. W. , McCulloch D. K. , Borsey D. Q. , Ewing D. J. , Clarke B. F. , Bancroft J. H. J.
Published: August 2008

Twenty-seven diabetic men with erectile impotence were given physical and psychosexual assessments. Physical assessment included vascular and neurological evaluation. Psychosexual assessment was by means of a semi-structured interview. Seven potent diabetic men formed a control group. Patients with erectile failure Had a varied clinical picture which differed from the stereotype of diabetic impotence: morning erections were preserved in over a half (55 per cent), eight patients (30 per cent) had intact spontaneous erections, and sexual interest was reduced in 12 patients (44 per cent). In 13 patients (48 per cent) ejaculation was disturbed and a further four patients (15 per cent) described unusual disorders of sexual function.

Within the group there were no differences in clinical picture between those with and without autonomic neuropathy, retinopathy or potential psychogenic factors.
The Empirical Heterogeneity of First Rank Symptoms in Schizophrenia
Authors: Lewine Richard , Renders Robin , Kirchhofer Mark , Monsour Ann , Watt Norman
Published: August 2008

First rank symptoms have assumed an important role in the assessment of schizophrenia. Only recently, however, have there been empirical studies of their reliability and validity. In this study, we examined the relationship between first rank and other psychiatric symptoms in 100 schizophrenic patients. The results are consistent with other research reports suggesting that first rank symptoms do not represent a homogeneous group of symptoms within an individual patient.
Haloperidol-Induced Changes in Blink Rates Correlate with Changes in BPRS Score
Authors: Karson Craig N. , Bigelow Llewellyn B. , Kleinman Joel E. , Weinberger Daniel R. , Wyatt Richard Jed
Published: August 2008

Spontaneous eye blink rates, psychiatric symptoms and response to neuroleptic medication may all be mediated by dopamine. Fixed doses of haloperidol, a dopamine blocking agent, were administered for six weeks to 17 chronic schizophrenic patients who had been previously withdrawn from all medications. The change in blink rates caused by haloperidol corresponded to a change in the thought disturbance syndrome which measures positive symptoms (r =.48, P <.05). The relationship was particularly clear in patients with normal cerebral ventricles (r =.74, P <.01).
Gutenberg and the ICD-9 of Mental Disorders
Authors: Essen-Möller Erik
Published: August 2008

Stimulated by the improvements contained in the ICD-9 of Mental Disorders, the author ventures to revive certain earlier suggestions aimed at its further simplification and homogenization. The major points are: (1) Three separate lists of items, one for each of the variables—Category, Specified Syndrome, and Aetiology, as well as compulsory registration of aetiology even when merely inferred. (2) Threefold diagnoses, built up by one item from each list, but with no catalogue Of preconceived combinations, the manual containing only the lists. (3) No running numbering of diagnoses, but codification by juxtaposition of three independent numerals.