bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of a Psychogeriatric Service: The Distinction Between Psychogeriatric and Geriatric Patients
Authors: Copeland J. R. M. , Kelleher M. J. , Kellett J. M. , Barron G. , Cowan D. W. , Gourlay A. J.
Published: August 2008

This study examines a series of elderly admissions to a psychiatric hospital and a geriatric hospital serving the same catchment area in order to evaluate the success of the two hospital services in separating their patients into two groups, and to study the effect, if any, on the prognosis of those patients who were ‘incorrectly labelled’.
Psychosocial and Electroencephalographic Studies of Egyptian Murderers
Authors: Okasha Ahmed , Sadek A. , Moneim S. Abdel
Published: August 2008

The basic controversy in criminology at present is that between the psychiatric school and the sociological school. Members of the latter school recognize that psychogenic factors must be taken into account in the explanation of criminal behaviour, and members of the psychiatric school have recognized the importance of social and cultural conditions. But there is disagreement on the extent to which ‘Personality’ and ‘Culture’ should be emphasized in criminological theories.
The Marke-Nyman Temperament Scale in Depression
Authors: Metcalfe Maryse , Johnson Anthony L. , Coppen Alec
Published: August 2008

The Marke-Nyman Temperament Scale (MNTS) is a questionnaire based on Sjöbring's theory of personality structure.
Personality Characteristics of Alcoholic and Depressed Patients
Authors: Shaw David M. , MacSweeney David A. , Johnson Anthony L. , Merry Julius
Published: August 2008

In this study we have compared certain personality variables in alcoholic individuals, depressed subjects and in controls.
A Token Economy Ward Programme with Chronic Schizophrenic Patients
Authors: Mumford Susan J. , Patch Ian C. Lodge , Andrews Nirmala , Wyner Lesley
Published: August 2008

The application of techniques of behaviour modification to chronic adult psychiatric in-patients has for the most part been directed towards individual patients, and to specific problems such as hoarding, eating, soiling or speech (Ayllon, 1963; Ayllon and Haughton, 1962, 1964; Ayllon and Michael, 1959; Bachrach et al., 1965; Isaacs et al., 1960; Mertens and Fuller, 1963; Kennedy, 1964; Sherman, 1965). In this country, Baker (1970, 1971) and Kassorla (1968) have reported on the use of operant conditioning in reinstating speech in mute schizophrenics. There have, however, been few British reports relating to groups of patients, for example in wards where nurses have been trained to function as ‘behavioural engineers' (Ayllon and Michael, 1959); whereas Krasner and Attowe (1968) specified no fewer than 200 institutions and individuals in the U.S.A. currently involved in token reinforcement programmes, concerned with disturbed or autistic children, delinquent adolescents and the mentally handicapped; 22 projects involved chronic adult psychiatric in-patients.
Is Unilateral ECT Less Effective Than Bilateral ECT?
Authors: d'Elia Giacomo , Raotma Heino
Published: August 2008

There is a general agreement about the less disruptive effect on memory and the shorter post-treatment confusion after unilateral electroconvulsive therapy (UNI-ECT) as compared with the traditional bifrontotemporal ECT (BI-ECT). However, there are divergent opinions about its therapeutic efficacy.
Short-term Psychiatric Sequelae to Therapeutic Termination of Pregnancy
Authors: Lask Bryan D.
Published: August 2008

During 1973 there were 169,362 abortions notified to the Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Health. In a leading article the British Medical Journal (1973) acknowledged that ‘bald statistics cannot help to answer the important question of the nature of the physical and emotional sequelae of termination of pregnancy’. The article called for careful prospective studies to assess such sequelae. This paper is a report of a short-term prospective study of the psychiatric sequelae.
The Psychiatrist in Search of a Science: III—The Depth Psychologies
Authors: Slater Eliot
Published: August 2008

In his monumental work on the history of dynamic psychiatry (1970), Henri Ellenberger has traced the origin of the modern depth psychologies back into the mists of time. Both ills of the body and ills of the mind were originally handled by the priest-physician of primitive societies along much the same lines. But there came a parting of the ways. Glimmerings of an empirical approach to the external world led to some degree of objectivity and to the primordial elements of science. Some physical illnesses could be traced to physical causes, and an understanding of causation led in course of time to rational therapy along physical lines. But mental illnesses remained refractory. It was only in a small area of their vast extent that their causes could be attributed to bodily conditions and thereby to physical causes. Over a great reach of time up to the present day, or at least till yesterday, it was generally believed that, as bodily illnesses had physical causes, the illnesses of the mind must have psychological causes. It proved beyond the powers of priests or physicians to identify them; and there was no way of accounting for the variable course, outcome and responsiveness to treatment of mental disorders.
Psychiatric Teaching in the General Hospital
Authors: Ruff George E. , Mechanick Philip G.
Published: August 2008

The increasing involvement of psychiatrists in the general hospital presents opportunities for teaching medical students about the psychological evaluation and management of patients. We have found it useful to introduce this topic during the first year, by collaborating with colleagues from medicine and surgery in an interdepartmental course on patient care.
The Urban Distribution of Non-Fatal Deliberate Self-Harm
Authors: Morgan H. Gethin , Pocock Helen , Pottle Susan
Published: August 2008

1. The incidence of non-fatal deliberate self-harm throughout the City of Bristol during 1972 and 1973 was assessed by means of a survey of patients presenting to Accident and Emergency Departments of hospitals in the area. Fatal or repeated acts of self-harm were not included in the survey. 2. The rates for females exceeded those for males at all ages, with peak incidence of 645 per 100,000 females (age group 15–29 years) and 334 per 100,000 males (age group 25–29 years). Ninety-three per cent had taken a drug overdose of some kind. 3. The problem was found in all electoral wards of the city, though its distribution was markedly centripetal, with a central area having morbidity rates up to 2.8 times that for the city as a whole. 4. The socio-economic correlates of deliberate self-harm were examined by reference both to a series of 368 patients interviewed soon after the event and to the pattern of its distribution throughout the city. A significant positive association was found with areas of overcrowding, lack of exclusive domestic amenities and high proportion of foreign born residents, but there was no correlation with the proportion of persons living alone nor with the type of accommodation. 5. The central high rate area was found to be heterogeneous in socio-economic terms, ranging from a student and young professionals' bed-sitter area to one with a high proportion of unskilled manual labourers and New Commonwealth immigrants. 6. The aetiological implications of the ecological findings for deliberate self-harm throughout the city are discussed.
Mental and Psychomotor Speed in Depression and Mania
Authors: Blackburn Ivy M.
Published: August 2008

Mental and psychomotor speed scores were obtained for three affectively ill groups of bipolar depression, unipolar depression and bipolar mania, and three corresponding recovered groups.

Comparisons were made among ill groups, among recovered groups, and between ill and recovered groups for each illness type. The following conclusions were drawn:

1.

Though manic patients solve problems quicker than those of either depressed group, they do not differ much from normals.

2.

With stress to work faster, the patients in the two depressed groups can quicken their speed of work and bring it up to the level of the manic patients, even though the latter also increase their speed.

3.

On a psychomotor speed task, the bipolar depressives are significantly slower than the manics and the unipolar depressives, who do not differ. ‘Internal distraction’ causes a slight increase in speed in all three groups, with no significant difference, but ‘external distraction’ speeds up the bipolar groups and slows down the unipolar depressives, resulting in significant differences between the bipolars on the one hand and the unipolars on the other.

4.

All recovered groups perform at the same level on all measures.

5.

Comparison between ill and recovered groups seems to indicate that a manic illness does not affect mental or psychomotor speed significantly when tested objectively. Unipolar depression also does not seem to affect speed functions very significantly, but bipolar depression does decrease both mental and psychomotor speed significantly. Thus only bipolar depressive patients seem to show true retardation, and manic patients do not show the opposite of retardation.
The Clinical Course of Primary Recurrent Depression in Pharmacologically Treated Female Patients
Authors: Kolakowska Tamara
Published: August 2008

The main questions of diagnosis and classification of depressive illness put forward by Sir Aubrey Lewis in the 30's are still under discussion. Despite the many published clinical studies of affective illness, there remain—as recently stressed by Klerman (1971)—problems requiring further description and investigation.
Depression in Medical In-Patients
Authors: Moffic H. S. , Paykel E. S.
Published: August 2008

Although there have been many accounts of depression in medical in-patients, there have been relatively few systematic studies of its prevalence and features. With respect to prevalence, most studies have concerned single medical diagnoses (4) or have been based on ward referrals to psychiatrists, in which referral practices may be of more importance than actual occurrences (10). Schwab et al. (12, 13) studied prevalence in 153 medical patients. They used multiple rating scales and compared depressed and non-depressed patients to investigate aetiological factors. Stewart et al. (14), who carried out a smaller study, also compared symptoms of five medical depressives with those of manic depressives.
Subjective Age in Chronic Schizophrenia: Evidence for a Sub-Group of Patients with Defective Learning Capacity?
Authors: Crow T. J. , Mitchell W. S.
Published: August 2008

Most people are aware of their own age, and are able to give it, at least to within a year or two, without reflection. Correct recall presumably depends upon the information being revised and up-dated with the passage of time, i.e. upon a new learning process. Some demented and mentally subnormal patients may be expected to be deficient in reporting their ages, but little is recorded that would lead one to expect such a defect in patients suffering from a functional psychosis.
Pentazocine Abuse and Problems of Withdrawal
Authors: Maxmen Jerrold S. , Silberfarb Peter M. , Plakun Eric
Published: August 2008

This report describes a patient who developed a peculiar movement disorder and delirium after receiving hypnotics and phenothiazines during pentazocine withdrawal.
Stress in Schizophrenics and Normals
Authors: Serban George
Published: August 2008

This paper presents findings related to the measure of stress in 641 schizophrenics (125 acutes and 516 chronics) and 95 comparable normals. Stress was defined as an imbalance between environmental demands and the respondent's ability to meet that demand successfully, and was measured in terms of level of stress experienced in relation to specific problem situations. Twenty-one dimensions of stress were measured, subsumed under the following four general areas: social performance, family interaction, social interpersonal interaction, and social maladaptive activities.

Results indicated that, in general, normals experience significantly less stress in dealing with life events than do schizophrenics. Within the schizophrenic group, the pseudo ambulatory chronic patients evidenced more stress than did their acute counterparts, a finding not previously described in the literature.

Implications of these findings do not support the present community after-care concepts. Discharged chronic schizophrenics appear unable to remain in the community for any reasonable period of time because of the high level of stress under which they function.
Eeg Features of Depressive and Schizophrenic States
Authors: Scott D. F. , Schwartz Martin S.
Published: August 2008

25-year-old female patient with a psychotic illness lasting three months in which schizophrenia and depressive episodes occurred was studied by serial EEGs. These were coded, masked and rated in a set way without knowledge of the clinical state. It was found that the schizophrenic state was characterized by a decrease in the amount and poor organization of alpha activity, as well as the occurrence of paroxysmal phenomena in particular atypical spike and wave. In the depressive episode, alpha activity was prominent and only scanty paroxysmal features were seen. Using these criteria a series of EEGs from psychiatric patients were assessed ‘blind’ with a view to separating them into either a schizophrenic or a depressive category. This proved possible in 17 cases (9 depressive and 8 schizophrenic). In only two was the categorization completely misjudged. These results suggest that further detailed study of the EEG, possibly with computer analysis, combined with assessment of the behavioural state might not only yield useful diagnostic information but also lead to a better understanding of the underlying neurophysiological basis of certain mental disorders.
The Brain Stem in Psychosis
Authors: Fisman M.
Published: August 2008

The brain stems of 24 mental hospital patients and 10 control patients were examined. Ten mental hospital patients were either deluded or auditorily hallucinated in clear consciousness, and of this group 8 presented with a diagnosis of schizophrenic syndrome. The nature and significance of lesions found in the midline reticular nuclei and the trigeminal n. are discussed. The results, and the dearth of other published material on this subject, indicate the need for further work in this field.
A Genetic Study of Bipolar Affective Disorder
Authors: James N. MeI. , Chapman C. J.
Published: August 2008

A group of 46 bipolar probands and their first degree relatives were studied. A high rate of affective disorder (19.6 per cent) was found, including both unipolar (13.2 per cent) and bipolar (6.4 per cent) types, with females predominating (3: 1). The presence of four father-son pairs suffering from affective disorder made the hypothesis of X-linked dominance untenable. Results compatible with polygenic inheritance were found, using both Slater's and Falconer's methods. There was no evidence for assortative mating or for increased total number of females (both well and ill) among first degree relatives. The probands and affectively ill first degree relatives who have died show an alarmingly high rate of suicide (46 per cent). Other forms of mental disorder, including alcoholism, were no more common than in the rest of the community.
Observations on the Dose Regime of Fluphenazine Decanoate in Maintenance Therapy of Schizophrenia
Authors: Johnson D. A. W.
Published: August 2008

An analysis of the drug regimes prescribed to two separate groups of unselected schizophrenic patients indicates certain trends of clinical importance. The results demonstrate a need for the adoption of a personalized dose regime. The scatter of dose regimes found effective is too great to recommend a standardized approach to the prescription of L.A.P. injections.

Two other results of particular significance are that the dose of drug required to control symptoms can be gradually reduced in nearly half of patients, and that helpful trends in prescribing were identified that will help the clinician to abolish side-effects.
Attainment and Adjustment in Two Geographical Areas
Authors: Rutter Michael , Yule Bridget , Quinton David , Rowlands Olwen , Yule William , Berger Michael
Published: August 2008

Large differences have been found between the Isle of Wight (IOW) and a (former) inner London borough (ILB) with respect to the rates of emotional (neurotic) disorders, conduct disorders and specific reading retardation in ten-year-old boys and girls (Rutter et al., 1975; Berger et al., 1975). This paper presents preliminary considerations on possible reasons for these differences. Any explanation must account for the fact that the differences in the rates apply to three rather disparate disorders. The epidemiological characteristics and psychosocial correlates of emotional disorders in childhood differ quite markedly from those of conduct disorders, and it appears highly likely that the causes of the two disorders are different (Rutter, 1965, 1970a; Rutter, Tizard and Whitmore, 1970). Although specific reading retardation overlaps markedly with conduct disorders, to a considerable extent it seems to have a separate set of aetiological influences (Rutter and Yule, 1973). Furthermore, there is little association between specific reading retardation and emotional disorder in childhood. It is also notable that the higher rates of disorder in London compared with the Isle of Wight apply just as much to girls as to boys, in spite of the marked differences between the two sexes in the correlates of psychiatric disorder (Rutter, 1970b).
Gross-National Study of Diagnosis of the Mental Disorders: A Comparative Psychometric Assessment of Elderly Patients Admitted to Mental Hospitals Serving Queens County, New York, and the Former Borough of Camberwell, London
Authors: Cowan Daphne W. , Copeland J. R. M. , Kelleher M. J. , Kellett J. M. , Gourlay A. J. , Smith A. , Barron G. , De Gruchy J. , Kuriansky Judith , Gurland B. , Sharpe L. , Stiller P. , Simon R.
Published: August 2008

In a cross-national comparison of the frequency of occurrence of various diagnoses among elderly psychiatric patients admitted to public mental hospitals in London and New York, a short battery of psychological tests was administered to all patients independently of psychiatric examination. The psychological assessment was focused on the differentiation between dementing and affective disorders. The test performance showed a highly significant difference between the two groups as diagnosed, and when patients were allocated to groups on the basis of tests alone these allocations showed a high rate of agreement with initial psychiatric diagnosis. There was a similar high rate of agreement between test allocation and hospital diagnosis in the U.K., but this was not so in the U.S.

No significant differences were found between the test performance of U.K. and U.S. patients, except on the WAIS Vocabulary and the Angles Error measurement of the Bender-Gestalt test. When the effects of age and Vocabulary score were eliminated these differences disappeared.

The hypothesis that the diagnosis of affective disorder would be confirmed by a relatively greater improvement in test performance over time in this group of patients was not upheld by the non-parametric analysis of change scores. However, an analysis of covariance utilizing age and initial score did indicate the expected differential improvement.
A Comparative Psychometric Assessment of Psychogeriatric and Geriatric Patients
Authors: Cowan Daphne W. , Wright Patricia M. , Gourlay A. J. , Smith A. , Barron G. , de Gruchy J. , Copeland J. R. M. , Kelleher M. J. , Kellett J. M.
Published: August 2008

A battery of psychological tests was administered on three occasions over a three-month period to 75 patients admitted to a geriatric hospital and 75 patients admitted to psychiatric hospitals serving the same catchment area. The test results, used as an independent criterion, provided evidence that the criteria of psychiatric diagnosis were applied with constancy and accuracy in the two types of hospital, and supported the psychiatrists' findings that there were no strong grounds to believe that elderly patients were being ‘misplaced’ in one or other type of hospital facility.
Genetic Hypotheses and Environmental Factors in the Light of Psychiatric Morbidity in the Families of Schizophrenics
Authors: Kay D. W. K. , Roth M. , Atkinson M. W. , Stephens D. A. , Garside R. F.
Published: August 2008

The hypothesis that schizophrenia and some non-psychotic abnormalities occurring in the close relatives are both manifestations of a unitary ‘schizoid state’ due to a major dominant gene is further examined. Comparisons are made (1) of the observed and expected frequencies of the different types of parent mating; and (2) of the observed and expected risks among sibs in families with neither, or with one or both, of the parents abnormal. It is concluded that the results do not fit well with the model of inheritance of the schizoid state through a major dominant gene.

Since some hereditary contribution in schizophrenia can be regarded as established, the excess of personality disorders and heavy drinking in the families is thought to be due to a combination of polygenic inheritance and environmental influences. The findings are regarded only as tentative, but suggest several hypotheses which could be tested.
Psychiatric New-Patient Clinic Non-Attenders
Authors: Whyte R.
Published: August 2008

Non-attenders at a psychiatric new-patient clinic were seen and interviewed six weeks after the missed appointment, as were a group of controls who did attend.

The non-attenders were more likely to have had frequent changes of occupation or belong to families where this was the case with the family breadwinner; a history of court conviction; and a history of previous psychiatric treatment. They were less likely to have improved since referral to the clinic; and to have a diagnosis of manic depressive psychosis, depressed type.

The findings are discussed. There appears to be some self-selection, the most treatable patients keeping their appointments.
Symptomatic Treatment of Agoraphobia and Social Phobias: A Follow-up Study
Authors: Tyrer Peter , Steinberg Derek
Published: August 2008

1.

Twenty-six out of 28 out-patients with agoraphobia and social phobias who had originally been treated with phenelzine or placebo in a double-blind clinical trial were followed up for a mean period of one year. During the follow-up period patients received further pharmacotherapy or behaviour therapy, except that those patients originally receiving placebo were not allowed therapy with monoamine oxidase inhibitors.

2.

Ratings of phobic and additional symptoms, social adjustment and degree of personality disorder were made after one year by one of the authors (D.S.) who had no prior knowledge of the treatment each patient had received.

3.

There were no significant differences in any of the ratings between the patients of the two groups, but those originally receiving placebo had more additional treatment in the follow-up period. Patients continuing to receive phenelzine frequently experienced a return of symptoms if the drug was withdrawn before six months treatment had elapsed.

4.

Degree of personality disorder showed a significant negative correlation (p = –0.6) with improvement in the phenelzine group but not in those receiving placebo originally.

5.

Improvement in social adjustment items was less than improvement in symptoms at follow-up. The implications of this are discussed.

6.

The results suggest that phenelzine is of comparable efficacy to other symptomatic treatments for agoraphobia and social phobias, but that it acts mainly by symptom suppression. Prolonged treatment in patients with personality disorders is not indicated, for improvement is less likely and the dangers of dependence are greater.
Psychiatric Referrals from the Police
Authors: Sims A. C. P. , Symonds R. L.
Published: August 2008

This is a study of one mode of inception into psychiatric care in Birmingham, Mentally disturbed people coming to the attention of the police are referred to a mental welfare officer and assessed by him, usually in a police station. The mental welfare officer may then refer for a psychiatric decision with regard to further management, and the patient is examined by the doctor in the police station.

The annual frequency of use of this referral system was studied from 1962–73 inclusive. It is shown that there was an increase in referral over the years and that such referral from the police became an increasing proportion of new referrals to the Mental Health Department (Social Services Department).

The sample of referrals from the police for 12 months is studied in greater detail (252 cases), surveying social characteristics of individual patients, the relationships between such police intervention and areas of the city, the nature of situation requiring intervention and the management and treatment which these patients received. The referrals were traced from contact with the mental welfare officer to hospital where the case notes of those admitted were studied for details of legal status and mental state on admission, diagnosis, duration of stay and disposal. The effectiveness of this method of entering treatment is discussed and some recommendations are made.
Premenstrual Affective Syndrome and Affective Disorder
Authors: Wetzel Richard D. , Reich Theodore , McClure James N. , Wald Jeffrey A.
Published: August 2008

Sixty-four per cent of 874 freshmen and sophomore women sent questionnaires about premenstrual and menstrual symptoms returned them. They differed from those not returning the questionnaires only in year of school. As predicted, women reporting premenstrual affective symptoms were more likely than those who did not report them to seek psychiatric care at the Student Health Service and to be diagnosed as affective disorder at the service.
A Double-Blind Trial of Intravenous Thyrotrophin-Releasing Hormone in the Treatment of Reactive Depression
Authors: Evans L. E. J. , Hunter P. , Hall R. , Johnston Moira , Roy V. Mathew
Published: August 2008

In a double-blind trial 600μg. of thyrotrophin-releasing hormone (TRH) was compared with placebo given daily for four days to two groups of ten patients. There was no significant difference between the antidepressant effects of TRH and placebo.
Community Care: An Analysis of Assumptions
Authors: Hawks David
Published: August 2008

The implementation of a policy of ‘community care’ is seen to involve a number of assumptions, some of which are rarely examined. These can be roughly categorized as involving the nature of mental illness, the nature of community, the course and treatment of mental illness, the proper scope of psychiatry, the burden on the community and the efficacy of social work. Data bearing on these assumptions are reviewed, and the conclusion is offered that they are far from being uncontentious.

It is suggested that the movement toward community care has many of the attributes of a moral enterprise which, unless substantiated by benefits to the patient or his family, may be the latest diversion of the psychiatric conscience from the care and treatment of the chronic mentally ill.
Demographic Differences in Functional Psychoses
Authors: McCabe Michael S.
Published: August 2008

Only Scandinavian investigators have reported on demographic aspects of reactive psychoses. Data from the National Health Service, Denmark, for age at first admission, sex, and length of stay in hospital in reactive, manic-depressive and schizophrenic psychoses are analysed. Differences in sex incidence ratios, age at first admission and length of stay are evident between the three psychoses. The differences noted are considered to provide indirect evidence supporting the separate diagnostic categories.
A Ten-year Study of Out-patient Analytic Group Therapy
Authors: Dick Barbara M.
Published: August 2008

Ninety-three chronic neurotic patients whose previous psychiatric treatments had proved unsuccessful were included in this study, and selected patients, relatives and G.P.s were briefed to expect stress during therapy.

Assessment made by therapist and patients before and after therapy was made on the basis of the acceptability of eight aspects of their life. Follow-up lasted 2 ½ years.

Of the 93 patients, 87 per cent showed positive change, a small number showed temporary negative change and one patient became psychotic but later recovered.

The ‘contamination’ of results due to therapist involvement in assessment is offset against corroborative evidence of change, in that 96 per cent of patients became independent of the psychiatric and social services after years of dependency in many cases. There were also marked changes in life situations and relationships.

A need for increased facilities for basic and in-service training of group therapists is indicated.
Parental Characteristics in Relation to Diagnosis and Neurological Status in Childhood Psychosis
Authors: Netley C. , Lockyer Linda , Greenbaum G. H. C.
Published: August 2008

Twenty-six psychotic children were examined by means of psychological tests and EEGs. The parents of these patients were also tested with the EPI and the Grid Test of Thought Disorder. The mothers of children with the symptom of autism tended to have some cognitive disorganization, which was less common in the mothers of children without the symptom. The extraversion and neuroticism scores of all parents were not markedly different from population statistics.

The incidence of EEG abnormality in the children was high and not related to diagnosis or other criteria.

These findings are interpreted as providing suggestive evidence for a two-factor theory of childhood psychosis. It is postulated that a neurological disorder is a necessary condition for the development of such a disorder; and that a second process related to parental characteristics is also involved, which has the effect of determining the particular symptomatic manifestations seen in the psychotic child.
An Empirical Classification of Psychopathic Personality
Authors: Blackburn R.
Published: August 2008

Personality profiles of 79 non-psychotic male offenders admitted to a security hospital were subjected to a cluster analysis. Four profile types were generated, classifying four-fifths of the sample, and differences were found between the types in previous antisocial behaviour. Two of the types were identifiable as primary and secondary psychopaths, while the remaining two showed little resemblance to the concept of the psychopathic personality. The primary psychopaths were extraverted but not neurotic, while the secondary psychopaths were neurotic, but not extraverted. Both were highly impulsive but distinguished by a dimension of sociability-withdrawal.
Reacting to Autistic Children: The Danger of Trying Too Hard
Authors: Richer John , Richards Barry
Published: August 2008

Recent work has revealed that autistic children's predominating tendency to avoid social interactions is actually enhanced by the ‘friendly’ approaches of others. In this study it was recorded on video-tape how eight autistic children reacted to four styles of adult behaviour. The adult reacted to the child's looks at her by (i) smiling, (ii) gaze averting, (iii) gaze averting plus other ‘timid’ behaviours and (iv) doing nothing except continuing to look back. For this last condition—when the adult did not react—it was found that autistic children showed less avoidance behaviour after eye contact and spent more time within one metre of the adult. The implications for treatment are contrary to much modern practice and to what seems to be adults' ‘natural’ response. Reactivity by others appears to enhance the child's avoidance, and it is suggested that adults should be circumspect in the degree of sociability with which they respond to autistic children.
Subcultural Mental Handicap
Authors: Blackie J. , Forrest A. , Witcher G.
Published: August 2008

Some conceptual problems in relation to the interaction of genetic influence and social disadvantagement are discussed, and some of the results of a study of 144 families with mentally handicapped children reported. The work of Heber and his associates in Milwaukee is briefly reviewed, and the Edinburgh data discussed in relation to the study in Aberdeen by Birch et al. (1970). Possible strategies for intervention are considered.
Use of a Standardized Psychiatric Interview in Mentally Handicapped Patients
Authors: Ballinger Brian R. , Armstrong Jennifer , Presly Allan S. , Reid Andrew H.
Published: August 2008

This study attempted to assess the applicability of the Clinical Interview Schedule (Goldberg et al., 1970) to mentally handicapped patients in a hospital. Twenty-seven patients were rated simultaneously by three raters. Of the 31 items assessed for reliability, 11 were completely satisfactory, 8 were satisfactory, 6 unsatisfactory and 6 ‘not proven’. Ratings made by all raters for overall severity of psychiatric illness correlated significantly with similar ratings made by the consultants responsible for the patients.
Cannabis and its Users in Nepal
Authors: Sharma B. P.
Published: August 2008

Cannabis is easily available in Nepal, large numbers of persons using it regularly. I have studied its effects on 226 persons who had been using it for a long time and in considerable amount. As a control group I used an equal number of men of matching age and education.

Compared with the controls, the cannabis users had a poor work record, poor social and family relationships, a lack of interest in sex and a general loss of initiative and efficiency. However, there was no difference in crime rate between the groups.
A Further Investigation of Differences in the Suicide Rates of England and Wales and of Scotland
Authors: Ross Olivia , Kreitman Norman
Published: August 2008

National samples of case records of suicidal-type deaths from England and Wales and from Scotland were reassessed by officials in the other country. It emerged that similar criteria for suicide existed in both countries, and that there was no age-related tendency to misclassify cases. The lower official suicide rate amongst the old in Scotland was therefore considered not to result from ascertainment differences. It was also concluded that Scottish records were not so briefly documented as to prevent the conclusive ascertainment of cause by England and Wales coroners. Cases which were designated ‘undetermined’ in Scotland tended to be classified ‘accidental’ by coroners. Reasons for the lower incidence of suicide in Scotland are discussed.
Psychological Aspects of Isolator Therapy in Acute Leukaemia
Authors: Gordon Alistair M.
Published: August 2008

Treatment under conditions of gnotobiotic isolation can augment the stress of adaptation to a diagnosis of leukaemia. Identification of the psychological problems experienced in isolator treatment can contribute to the effective maintenance of therapy. Individual patterns of adjustment to treatment relate to the psychological defence mechanisms employed to contend with the dependent position enforced by isolation. Psychiatric assessment can assist both patients and nursing staff with the management of their separate difficulties in this unfamiliar treatment situation. Psychological features of isolator treatment in ten patients with acute leukaemia are described and suggestions proposed for psychological management of patients under isolator conditions.
A Statistical Review of Controlled Trials of Imipramine and Placebo in the Treatment of Depressive Illnesses
Authors: Rogers S. C. , Clay P. M.
Published: August 2008

A method of reviewing a series of clinical trials by extracting the basic data in the form of 2 × 2 tables and analysing these by Fisher's two-tailed Exact Test is described, and illustrated by published imipramine-placebo trials.

The results suggest that the benefit of this drug in patients with endogenous depression who have not become institutionalized is indisputable, and that further drug-placebo trials in this condition are not justified.

Two of the three trials of imipramine in neurotic depression gave results showing significant improvement.

Possible explanations of the apparent failure of this drug in groups of patients with undifferentiated depression are discussed.
Subjective Side-Effects of ECT
Authors: Gomez Joan
Published: August 2008

The incidence of side-effects present 24 hours after electroconvulsive therapy was studied in 96 patients who between them received 500 treatments in a consecutive series. None of the side-effects occurred frequently: headache was experienced after 2·6 per cent and subjective memory impairment after 3 per cent of treatments. None of the unwanted effects held any serious physical threat. The aspect of ECT most disliked by the patients in this study, and mentioned by 16 per cent of them, was the fear of permanent memory upset.
Medico-Psychologists, Maudsley and the Maudsley
Authors: Walk Alexander
Published: August 2008

Four circumstances—in addition to my own limitations as a historian—have determined my choice of subject for this evening. Last November this Institute celebrated its Jubilee—that is, the 50th anniversary of the recognition of the Maudsley Hospital as a School of the University of London. In the following month the one-time Medico-Psychological Association, which owed its very name to a suggestion by Henry Maudsley, and has now developed into the Royal College of Psychiatrists, moved into its new headquarters in Belgrave Square. Since then we have had to mourn the death of Sir Aubrey Lewis, one of whose outstanding contributions to the Association, and to psychiatric history, was his Maudsley Lecture of 1951, devoted to the work and influence of Henry Maudsley.† Moreover, the early ‘70s are the centenary years of Maudsley's period of office as the senior editor of the Journal of Mental Science, now the British Journal of Psychiatry, with which I myself have long been associated. So it seemed that it might be appropriate for me to tell you something about the history of the Association, about Maudsley's relations with it, and about the various ideas, proposals and actions which eventually led to the foundation of this Hospital and Institute. In doing this I hope to furnish a few footnotes, as it were, to Sir Aubrey's Maudsley and Mapother Lectures, and these will be my personal tribute to one whom so many of us have held in affectionate admiration.
The Psychopathology of Cognitive Deficit
Authors: O'Connor Neil
Published: August 2008

Binet created the psychology of mental deficiency and incidentally the concept of intelligence which for many years has been a central issue in both psychology and education. He was primarily concerned with learning difficulties in children and it is a wry paradox that his development of the notion of intelligence has proved such a barrier to the study of the learning process. Intelligence for Binet was a summary term which stood in place of all the component elements of learning weakness which he noticed and assessed. His successors such as Spearman (1923), Burt (1937), Vernon (1950) and Jensen (1975) tend to use the term in an explanatory fashion although it is doubtful whether ‘intelligence’ explains ‘mental age’ or ‘mental deficiency’ except as a descriptive cross-reference.
Cross-Validation of a Predictive Scale for Subsequent Suicidal Behaviour in an Italian Sample
Authors: Garzotto N. , Siani Roberta , Tansella Christa Zimmermann , Tansella M.
Published: August 2008

A six-point predictive scale for parasuicide repetition developed by Buglass and Horton (1974a) was tested on a group of patients admitted for parasuicide to a psychiatric ward of one of the city hospitals of Verona. The scale gave a range of probability of repetition within 12 months of 15 per cent at a score of 0 up to 45.5 per cent at the scores 3, 4, 5 and 6. Moreover the scale discriminated significantly between repeaters and non-repeaters. Items significantly associated with repetition in the Italian sample, which are not represented by the six-point scale were: previous parasuicide not admitted to hospital, violence received, alcohol taken at time of act, less than one year at the present address.
Catechol O-Methyltransferase in Red Blood Cells of Schizophrenic, Depressed, and Normal Human Subjects
Authors: White Helen L. , McLeod Malcolm N. , Davidson Jonathan R. T.
Published: August 2008

Catechol O-methyltransferase of lysed human red blood cells was assayed under optimal conditions, using saturating concentrations of the substrates, S-adenosyl-L-methionine and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid. The mean enzyme activity found in 24 normal subjects was 29.2 nmol/hr/ml RBC. The mean activity in blood of 33 female unipolar depressives was not significantly different from normal. However, higher enzyme activities were observed in the blood of 11 schizophrenic patients (38.9 nmol/hr/ml RBC). Partially purified enzyme preparations from blood of normal and schizophrenic individuals were indistinguishable with respect to substrate specificities, isoelectric pH values, and ratios of the two O-methylated products. Therefore it is unlikely that any defect in O-methylation which may occur in schizophrenia can be attributed to a change in the intrinsic properties of erythrocyte catechol O-methyltransferase.
The Contribution to Psychiatry by Padua University
Authors: Bonuzzi Luciano
Published: August 2008

The welcome visit of the Royal College of Psychiatrists brings to mind the close links which exist between the University of Padua and Britain.
Electroconvulsive Therapy in Denmark
Authors: Roeder Erik , Heshe Joergen
Published: August 2008

During the fiscal year 1 April 1972 to 31 March 1973, 22,210 ECT treatments in 3,438 series were given in Denmark (6.46 treatments per series). Indications for treatment were: endogenous depression, acute delirium, mania, hysterical psychosis, reactive depression and schizophrenia. Unilateral ECT was used in more than half of the departments concerned. Two treatments were given weekly. The types of apparatus and anaesthesia techniques used are described. One death, which had questionable relation to the ECT, was reported, and other complications were few and mild. The advantages of ECT compared to tricyclic antidepressants are described, including the higher percentage of remissions or improvements in the treatment of endogenous depressions (about 80 per cent for ECT compared to about 60 per cent for tricyclic antidepressants). Little risk was found in out-patient administration of ECT. With present techniques and unilateral placement of electrodes out-patient ECT may be recommended for wider use than before.
Validity and Clinical Utility of the Grid Test of Schizophrenic Thought Disorder
Authors: Hill A. B.
Published: August 2008

It is suggested that a clearer distinction should be made between the statistical validity and the clinical utility of the Grid Test of schizophrenic thought disorder. The results of three published studies are examined, and in each case the Grid Test is found to have appreciable statistical validity in terms of correlations between grid predictions and clinical judgements of thought disorder. Two criteria are proposed for assessing the usefulness of the Grid Test as a diagnostic instrument, and from an examination of the results of three published studies it is concluded that, despite its statistical validity, the test, at least in its present form, has no appreciable clinical utility.
Observations on the Evolution of the Hysterical Symptomatology
Authors: Stefanis C. N. , Markidis M. P. , Christodoulou G. N.
Published: August 2008

A retrospective study of the records of 17,571 psychiatric patients who attended the out-patients department of Eginition Hospital in Athens during three two-year periods (1948–50, 1958–60 and 1969–71) revealed a statistically significant decrease in the frequency of patients diagnosed as suffering from hysteria, a statistically significant decrease in the relative frequency of patients with hysterical fits and with mental conversion symptoms, and a statistically significant increase in the relative frequency of patients with mixed conversion symptoms. The findings confirm the notion that hysteria is still a ‘woman's disease’, although a statistically significant increase in male participation was noted. The significance of the above findings for the understanding of certain aspects of hysteria is discussed.
The SCL-90 and the MMPI: A Step in the Validation of a New Self-Report Scale
Authors: Derogatis Leonard R. , Rickels Karl , Rock Anthony F.
Published: August 2008

The present investigation was intended principally as a concurrent validation study for a new self-report symptom inventory: the SCL-90. A sample of 209 ‘symptomatic volunteers' served as subjects and were administered both the SCL-90 and the MMPI prior to participation in clinical therapeutic drug trials. The MMPI was scored for the Wiggins content scales and the Tryon cluster scales in addition to the standard clinical scales. Comparisons of the nine primary symptom dimensions of the SCL-90 with the set of MMPI scales reflected very high convergent validity for the SCL-90. Peak correlations were observed with like constructs on eight of the nine scales, with secondary patterns of correlations showing high interpretative consistency.
The Cohesiveness of Alcoholism-Complicated Marriages and its Influence on Treatment Outcome
Authors: Orford Jim , Oppenheimer Edna , Egert Stella , Hensman Celia , Guthrie Sally
Published: August 2008

One-hundred husbands, diagnosed as suffering from alcoholism, and their wives, were followed up twelve months after initial consultation and assessment. Follow-up information was complete in 89 cases. On the basis of both husband and wife accounts of the husband's drinking behaviour during the follow-up period, and their assessment of the drinking problem at twelve-months follow-up, 28 were classified as having a ‘good’ outcome and 29 as having a ‘bad’ outcome. In the remaining 32 cases outcome was considered ‘equivocal‘.

A composite measure of marital cohesion was predictive of twelve-month outcome classification, cohesive marriages being significantly more likely to have a good outcome. The measure of marital cohesion was based upon husband and wife reports of mutual affection and of husband involvement in family tasks, favourable spouse perceptions and meta-perceptions, and optimism about the future of the marriage. Composite measures of dominance balance within the marriage were not predictive of outcome.

Husband's job status, husband's self-esteem, and wife's reported hardship were not independent of marital cohesion, and were themselves predictive of twelve-months outcome. When these variables were partially controlled it was found that marital cohesion remained predictive for husbands with relatively low status jobs and husbands with relatively low levels of self-esteem. It is an over-simplification to state that either the marriage, the spouse, or the severity of the patient's condition is alone the cause of variation in outcome.

It is possible to integrate these findings with those of other studies on the influence of family variables on the outcome of conditions other than alcoholism. Together these studies suggest a general hypothesis linking a breakdown in the cohesiveness, or mutual rewardingness, of family relationships and unfavourable outcomes following treatment or consultation for psychological disorder.