bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Depression in Chronic Hepatitis C Treated with Interferon: Prevalence and Management
Authors: Scalori A. , Gandossini L. , Santamaria G. , Bellia V. , Bordoni T. , Avolio A. , Parravicini P. , Marin R. , Pioltelli P. , Roffi L. 
Published: March 2009

Neuropsychiatric disturbances, from depression to psychosis and attempted or successful suicides are reported during interferon (IFN) therapy for chronic viral hepatitis. IFN schedule and history of psychiatric illness are not enough to predict who will develop symptoms.Aims:To assess the prevalence of depression during IFN therapy; to test whether a computerized version of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) is a sensitive and reliable test for the early identification of patients at risk of depression before IFN therapy is started; and whether and how the depression can be cured. Patients. 185 patients treated with IFN.Methods:Before therapy, all patients underwent an MMPI and a clinical examination for identification of depressive symptoms.Results:Thirty-one patients developed a psychiatric disorder, 11 of them requiring treatment. Among the 18 patients with MMPI positive tests, 16 developed a psychiatric disorder (sensitivity of 0.58). Among the 154 who did not develop psychiatric side effects, 152 had a negative MMPI (specificity: 0.99). Severe psychiatric disorders (8 patients) were successfully treated with antidepressant drugs.Conclusions:Psychiatric side effects are easy to see during IFN therapy. An accurate psychiatric evaluation should be considered on all patients before treatment. However, as this specific examination cannot always be performed because of the lack of psychiatrists in liver units, it is necessary to identify tests, that are easy to carry out, reproducible, self-administered and inexpensive in order to screen all patients. If depression develops, it should be treated aggressively, and selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors are the anti-depressant of choice.
Gilles De La Tourette Syndrome and Epilepsy: A Case Report
Authors: Silva C. , Nunes C. 
Published: March 2009

Introduction:The association between tics, epilepsy and obsessive-compulsive symptoms, is still little explored in literature.Case report:The authors describe case of a male patient, 25 years old, with some obsessive personality traits and with the appearance of simple multiple tics, at 7-8 years old. The tics were vocal and motor, particularly facial and worsen with anxiety. Of the personal history is highlighted the existence of repetitive tonsilitis and in the family history the presence of tics in 3 paternal first cousins. This patient started only consultation of Neurology in 2003 and was medicated with haloperidol 1 mg / day. Already in 2007 it was triggered absence crisis, so that after additional study (EEG and MRI) and detection of focal paroxysmal activity in the left fronto-temporal region, the patient was medicated with levetiracetam 1000 mg / day. Currently holds the following therapy: levetiracetam 1500 mg / day, clonidine 0225 mg / day and buspirone 30 mg / day, with clinical improvement occurred.Conclusions:This patient on one hand, presents DSM-IV-TR (2001) diagnostic criteria for Gilles de la Tourette syndrome and on the other hand, criteria for the diagnosis of fronto-temporal epilepsy. It is also relevant the patient"s family history, that is consistent with the high risk of Tourette Syndrome in the first degree relatives.
Evaluation of Suicidal Behaviour in a General Psychiatric Consultation
Authors: Silva C. , Gil I. , Mateus M.A. , Nogueiro Ó. 
Published: March 2009

Several studies have been conducted to establish a profile of the suicidal/parasuicidal patient. Also several factors have been identified as possibly influencing the suicidal rates, including the religious practices.Objectives:Characterize the profile of suicidal behavior in a sample of patients followed in a general psychiatric consultation.Methods:It was done an analytical observational study of a random sample of 100 patients followed in a general psychiatric consultation. A survey was conducted with the collection of socio-economic, religious aspects and clinical data, and it was consulted the patient"s clinical process. Data analysis was done in Excel 2003.Results:The sample was consisted mostly by women (74%), being the most representative age group between 40 and 50 years (27%), mostly married (61%), 24% had 2 children and 65% lived in the rural area. The clinical diagnosis (ICD-9) was in 46% of cases, neurotic depression. 52% consider themselves religious not practitioners, being 90% catholics. History of suicide attempts/parasuicide occurred in 32% of patients, in the form of drug intoxication (31%) or with another method (11%). Most of the individuals said to have already thought about suicide at least once in their lifetime (74%). Only 8% had current suicidal ideation. Family history of suicide occurred in 27%, particularly in first degree family members, mainly by drowning (7%) and hanging (7%).Conclusions:Our results suggest that exists a high prevalence of suicidal behavior in this patients. For that reason, it should be done a systematic screening for suicidal ideation in this risk population.
Modeling of Selection of Relevant Cues in Rats: Effects of Task Complexity and Lesions of Medial Prefrontal Cortex
Authors: Svoboda J. , Blahna K. , Telensky P. , Bures J. , Stuchlik A. 
Published: March 2009

One of key features of cognitive processing in both humans and animals is to select relevant stimuli. Several rodent spatial paradigms proved to be useful in biological psychiatric research. A place avoidance task has been previously used in animal model of cognitive deficits in psychosis.Here we present modifications of the place avoidance paradigm, assessing the ability of selecting appropriate cues at various levels of task complexity. Moreover, we present a pilot experiment showing an effect of lesion to medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) on those tasks. Generally, the place avoidance apparatus consists of a circular arena elevated 1m above the floor. Rats are trained to avoid an unmarked forbidden sector, entering which is punished by mild footshocks. The sector can be defined with respect to the room or arena frame, which can be dissociated by arena rotation. Moreover, we studied an ability of rats to avoid the place defined by salient rotating object.The results showed that animals with mPFC lesion were capable of avoiding a place defined either by distal of by proximal cues, similarly as controls. However, both control and mPFC-lesioned rats had difficulties to avoid a place surrounding moving salient object. The performance increased whenever the rat was passively rotated with the arena, suggesting that vestibular stimulation enhanced the directed attention to an object. The poster will discuss the present findings and outline the future directions with emphasis on their utilization in animal models of neuropsychiatric disorders.Supported by GACR grants 309/07/0341 and 309/06/1231.
Comparison of Psychopathology in Type1 and Type2 Diabetic Patients
Authors: Talaei A. 
Published: March 2009

Aim:Psychiatric disorders are from prevalent outcomes of chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus. In spite of focused attention of prior researchers on psychiatric distresses of diabetes type2, there were not enough researches about psychopathology of diabetes type1. The aim of this study was to compare psychopathology of diabetes type1 with type2, and assess its relationship to demographic factors.Method:In this cross-sectional study, all of type1 and type2 diabetic patients who have medical records in "Khorasan Center of Diabetes Researches" matched about age and gender, then assessed their psychopathologies by using SCL-90-R questionnaire. Finally, 66 diabetic patients (33 with type1 and 33 with type2) completed the questionnaires and results processed by SPSS software.Results:The most prevalent pathology in SCL-90-R items was related to paranoid ideations (69.7%) and less prevalent item was phobic anxiety (33.3%). Prevalence of psychopathology in diabetic patients was 56.1%, in type1 diabetics more than type2 (66.7%, 45.5%), and in men more than women (63.3%, 50%). Independent t-test did not demonstrate a significant correlation between psychopathology and type of diabetes (P=0.156), but obsessive-compulsive symptoms and hostility in diabetes type1 have seen more than type2 (P< 0.05). ANOVA only could demonstrate relationship of education (P=0.006) and frequency of complications (P=0.011) to psychopathology.Conclusion:Great prevalence of psychiatric disorders in diabetic patients, need more attention for early diagnosis and treatment.
Hypochondriasis in Medical Sciences Students of Mashhad, Iran
Authors: Talaei A. 
Published: March 2009

Aims:Hypochondrias is a psychiatric disorder that is recognized with a strong belief and concerns about having a serious illness. Objectives of this study were determination of the frequency of these symptoms in medical sciences fieldsâ€™ students in their relation with age, gender & educational major and degree.Method:This study was performed on 500 randomly selected students in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. Those with a known previous medical or mental disorder or defectiveness were excluded. Assessment was done with the hypochondrias questionnaire that includes 36 items. Data was analyzed with appropriate statistical descriptive and analytic tests such as chi-square, independent t and ANOVA.Results:In the present study the prevalence of hypochondrias in medical students were %36.8 at the borderline level and 16% as the disorder level. Out of 70 cases with hypochondriac disorder 57 had mild and 13 had moderate symptoms. This disorder was significantly more prevalent in girls than boys (P=0.000) and it was not related to marital status (P=0.318), However, all the students with moderate disorder were single.Conclusion:The present study showed the higher prevalence of hypochondrias in Iranian medical sciences fields’ students compared to those in other countries. In contrast to other studies, the disorder was more prevalent in women in this research. Hypochondriac symptoms in medical sciences fields’ students especially in ones with inaccurate medical information are frequent, in this study also there was a higher prevalence of symptoms in people with bachelor degree than those with other educational levels.
Similar Clinical and Demographic Profile of Immigrant and Native Patients in an Acute Psychiatric Unit
Authors: Magán T. Merino , Diez-Canseco M. Lloret , Sopena L. Laguna , Manteiga A. Tatay , Díez S. Cepeda , Crespo R. Calabuig , Martínez V. Balanzá 
Published: March 2009

Aims:The recent increase of immigrant population in some European countries represents a new social reality demanding an update of psychiatric clinical practice and resources. We aimed to:1.compare the clinical and demographic profile of immigrant patients admitted to a Spanish acute psychiatric ward with that of native patients, and2.detect changes over the last years regarding both the profile and the occupation of psychiatric beds.Method:Demographic and clinical data of immigrant patients admitted to the Doctor Peset University Hospital acute unit during 2005-2007 were retrospectively analyzed. For each case, a non-immigrant patient was assigned as a control. Immigrant subjects hospitalized during 2007 were compared to those admitted during 2000.Results:Over the three-year period, 38 immigrant individuals needed 45 hospitalizations (2.9-5.1% of total annual psychiatric admissions). Native patients presented similar demographics and produced a similar number of hospital stays, but had significantly more psychiatric (p=.02) and medical (p=.05) comorbid conditions. Immigrant patients hospitalized during 2007 (n= 12) were comparable to those admitted in 2000 (n=6), although the former accounted for a larger proportion of annual admissions (3.44% vs. 1.93%).Conclusions:During the last seven years, the occupation of psychiatric beds by immigrant population has almost doubled but it is still in the low range. The clinical and demographic profiles of patients admitted to this acute ward were similar, regardless of their geographical origin.
Life’s But a Walking Shadow
Authors: Jara J.M. , Tavares J. , Paixão L. , Carriço P. 
Published: March 2009

The approach to mental states made in literature even before the sistematization of psichopathology, contributes to the comprehension of mental illness by giving it an almost universal and timeless perspective.Hamlet walked the stage wearing several masks which succeeded themselfs.Throught the presentation of a psychiatric story we would like to go through some of the masks present in Shakespear's work. From Othello to Juliet, from Desdemona to Hamlet, to Ophelia.Following the internment of a 75 year old women, a biography with romanesque and tragic features emerged from her clinical condition: a love story and the Othello syndrom of her Romeo.
Psychosocial Determinants of Quality of Life 6 Months after Transplantation
Authors: Telles-Correia D. , Barbosa A. , Mega I. 
Published: March 2009

Objectives:The study sought to investigate the psychosocial determinants of quality of life 6 months after transplantation.Methods:A liver transplant candidates sample (n=60), comprising consecutive patients attending out-patient clinics of a liver transplantation central unit (25% of the patients had Familial Amyloid Polineuropathy (FAP) and the remaining patents had chronic liver diseases), was assessed in the pre-transplantation period by means of Neo FFI personality inventory, HADS, Brief COPE, and SF-36, a quality of life self rating questionnaire. Six months after transplantation these patients were assessed by means of SF-36.Results:Psychosocial predictors where found by means of multiple regression. The physical component of quality of life 6 months after transplantation was determined by coping strategies and physical quality of life in the pre transplantation period (this model explained 32% of variance) and that mental component 6 months after transplantation was determined by depression in the pre transplantation period and by clinical diagnosis of patients (FAP patients with lower mental component of quality of life) (explained 25% of the variance).Conclusions:Our findings suggest that coping strategies and depression measured in the pre-transplantation period are important determinants of quality of life 6 months after liver transplantation.Further studies are needed to identify the extent to which early and continued psychotherapeutic interventions can improve not only mental but also physical related quality of life in patients at risk, for example patients with increased scores for depression and for non adaptive coping strategies in the pre transplantation period.
Modelling the Effect of Minor Orthopaedic Day Surgery on Patient Mood at the Early Post-Operative Period: A Prospective Population-Based Study
Authors: Tsapakis E. , Tsiridis E. , Hunter A. , Georgakarakos N. , Thomas P. , Schizas C. , West R. 
Published: March 2009

Objective:The effect of minor orthopaedic day surgery (MiODS) on patient's mood.Methods:A prospective population-based cohort study of 148 consecutive patients with age above 18 and less than 65, an American Society of Anaesthesiology (ASA) score of 1, and the requirement of General Anaesthesia (GA) were included. The Medical Outcomes Study-Short Form 36 (SF-36), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were used pre- and postoperatively.Results:The mean physical component score of SF-36 before surgery was 45.3 (SD = ±10.1) and 8 weeks following surgery was 44.9 (SD = ±11.04) [n = 148, p = 0.51, 95%CI = (-1.03 -1.52)]. For the measurement of the changes in mood using BDI, BAI and SF-36, latent construct modelling was employed to increase validity. The covariance between mood pre- and post-operatively (cov = 69.44) corresponded to a correlation coefficient, r = 0.88 indicating that patients suffering a greater number of mood symptoms before surgery continue to have a greater number of symptoms following surgery. When the latent mood constructs were permitted to have different means the model fitted well with χ2 (df = 1) = 0.86 for which p = 0.77, thus the null hypothesis that MiODS has no effect on patient mood was rejected.Conclusions:MiODS affects patient mood which deteriorates at 8 weeks post-operatively regardless of the pre-operative patient mood state. More importantly patients suffering a greater number of mood symptoms before MiODS continue to have a greater number of symptoms following surgery.
Discussing First Aid Training Issues of Psychiatric Emergencies
Authors: Tsopelas C. , Kapsali F. , Tsetsou S. , Kardaras K. , Oikonomou D. , Sardis A. 
Published: March 2009

Aims:Psychiatry is considered a specialty not having a lot to do with medical emergencies. Psychiatrists are being asked to contribute to medical treatment or diagnosis after the completion of diagnostic procedures by physicians, often concluded in a diagnosis by exclusion. Having said that, emergency psychiatric issues often arise in usual clinical practice.Methods:Thorough research of the main medical databases, and web search engines for relevant studies. We scrutinize them independently, before reaching consensus about appropriateness.Results:There are several books, articles and guidelines that go beyond the psychiatric emergencies of mentally ill patients, aiming to provide guidelines for the providers of emergency treatment in settings that access to psychiatric treatment is limited due to obstacle of time or distance.Conclusions:Although general in concept and not particularly concerned with the accuracy of psychiatric diagnosis and the description of symptoms and signs of psychopathology, there are general guidelines well described that a qualified nurse, social worker or an ambulance worker could apply. We have an obligation to disseminate knowledge about dealing with psychiatric emergencies especially to health services at remote areas. Publication of treatment guidelines that are easy to apply, could be the next step in recognition, early intervention and appropriate referral in challenging psychiatric situations at the members states of European Union.
Dhat Syndrome: A Systematic Review
Authors: Udina M. , Foulon H. , Corcoles D. , Rodriguez L. , Battacharyya S. , Martín-Santos R. 
Published: March 2009

Background:Dhat syndrome is a widely recognized clinical condition from the Indian subcontinent characterized by a preoccupation with semen loss in urine and other symptoms such as fatigue or depressed mood. This condition has been considered to be a culture-bound syndrome, and may be considered to be a culturally manifestation of depression or anxiety.Aims:The purpose of this paper was to perform a systematic review of published literature on Dhat syndrome.Methods:A review of the literature on Dhat syndrome until July 2008, without any language restriction was conducted by a search of the MEDLINE and PsycLIT indexing services using the following key words:Dhat syndrome, semen loss anxiety and loss of semen syndrome. Inclusion criteria were any case-control or cross-over study.Results:Twenty-three studies were identified, of which 10 met the inclusion criteria. There were 8 cross-over and 2 case-control studies. The reviewed studies included a total number of 680 cases and 93 controls. Patients included in these studies were mostly unmarried, young males (25.4 years old;18-45 years) from a poor socio-economic status. Majority of the studies involved patients from the Indian subcontinent. Some studies reported concomitant depressive symptoms (50%), anxiety (40%), fatigue (30%) and sexual problems (40%). Only 4 studies reported information about treatment (psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy).Conclusions:There was a high degree of heterogeneity among the studies reviewed. In conclusion, Dhat syndrome appears to be commonly associated with depression, anxiety and somatic symptoms. More studies are warranted related to the various treatment approaches for this condition.
Kynurenine Involvement in Pathogenesis of Hyperkinetic Children Syndrome
Authors: Uzbekov M. 
Published: March 2009

Objectives:The aim of the study was to evaluate the response of different monoaminergic systems to psychostimulant treatment in children with mild form of hyperkinetic syndrome (HKS).Methods:The levels of N-methylnicotinamide (end product of kynurenine pathway of tryptophan metabolism), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic (product of serotonin pathway of tryptophan metabolism), homovanillic and vanillylmandelic acids were measured in daily (3 days) urine samples of children (30 patients, 7-11 years old) with mild HKS with normal intellect or borderline mental insufficience. Biochemical measurements were performed before and 3 weeks after sydnocarb medication (5-15 mg sydnocarb daily). (Sydnocarb is a psychostimulant introduced into the clinical practice in the Soviet Union in the 70th of XX century).Results:After 3 weeks of sydnocarb therapy there were found the improvement of children's clinical status in both groups. It was followed by a significant decrease in the excretion of homovanillic (by 45 %), vanillylmandelic (by 35 %) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic (by 50 %) acids but by a significant increase in N-methylnicotinamide excretion (by 30%).Conclusions:Psychostimulant medication has revealed the involvement of kynurenine and serotonin in HKS pathogenetic mechanisms. There were found a reciprocal relationship between serotonergic and kynurenine systems. It is proposed the kynurenine hypothesis of pathogenesis of HKS. It is characterized by the decreased activity of kynurenine system in HKS children. Clinical improvement of HKS children under psychostimulant medication is connected with activation of kynurenine system along with the decrease of serotonergic activity.
A Model for the Management of Suicidal Behaviour in Primary Care [P02-304]
Authors: Voros V. , Osvath P. , Fekete S. 
Published: March 2009

Introduction:Although suicide rates are decreasing in most European countries, suicide is still a major health concern. Despite of the fact, that the vast majority of suicidal patients contacted with health care services before the suicidal act, the doctor-patient meeting is a necessary, but sometimes not sufficient way enough to prevent suicide. Most patients, who commit or attempt suicide, are not regarded as being at high immediate risk at their final contact with health care services.Aims and methods:Based on reviewing the relevant literature and on our previous studies we developed a brief, practical, clinical guideline, which may aid general practitioners and primary care professionals to assess suicide risk and also to manage these patients.Results:We introduce a model for an integrated, regional suicide prevention strategy, which includes recognition, risk assessment and also intervention. The main steps of our model are to recognize warning signs, explore crisis situation and/or psychopathologic symptoms, assess protective and risk factors, estimate suicide risk, plan intervention strategies, and finally manage suicidal patients through the different levels of intervention.Conclusion:In the management of suicidal behaviour the complex stress-diathesis model has to be adjusted by considering biological markers (mental disorders, personality traits) and psycho-social factors (crisis, negative life events, interpersonal conflicts). Only after the assessment of these factors primary care professionals, as ‘gatekeepers’ can manage suicidal patients effectively by using adequate psychopharmacotherapeutic and psychotherapeutic facilities in the recognition, treatment and prevention of suicidal behaviour.