bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Principles and practice of measuring needs in the long-term mentally ill: the MRC Needs for Care Assessment
Authors: Brewin C. R. , Wing J. K. , Mangen S. P. , Brugha T. S. , MacCarthy B. 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisWe report the development of a new procedure for assessing the needs for treatment and care of the long-term mentally ill. This procedure covers 21 areas of clinical and social functioning, and in each of these specifies appropriate interventions. Decision rules are described which permit problems in functioning to be primarily classified as a met need, an unmet need, or as involving no need, and which allow the identification of various secondary needs. We report preliminary data on the reliability and validity of this procedure and discuss its potential applications in the care of the long-term mentally ill.
Psychotropic drug utilization and audit in two Italian psychiatric services
Authors: De Girolamo Giovanni , Williams Paul , Cappiello Vincenzo 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisThe utilization of psychotropic drugs is a topic of increasing interest. This paper describes a study of psychotropic drug use in two acute psychiatric in-patient services in Cremona, northern Italy. Almost all patients surveyed received one or more psychotropic drugs, and there was evidence of a substantial level of polypharmacy. Women patients were prescribed more psychotropic drugs than the men, while the relationship between drug prescription and psychiatric diagnosis differed between the two services. During the second phase of the study, the medical staff were aware that their prescribing was being monitored. However, this knowledge appeared to have little effect on their patterns of prescribing. The findings of Barton (1978) are thus not supported.
Differences in the quality of residential provision for mentally handicapped people
Authors: Raynes Norma V. , Sumpton Roger C. 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisThis paper examines the quality of care in four types of residence for mentally handicapped adults in Britain. Data were gathered from 175 residents of 150 living units – mental handicap hospital wards, voluntary and private homes, local authority hostels and parental homes. Differences were apparent between the types of residence in terms of both residents' characteristics and care practices and routines. The findings indicate that some of the differences in care practices are not associated with differences in the residents' functioning. Additionally, alternatives to hospital care for mentally handicapped people are not providing demonstrably improved quality of care in several aspects of residential practice. A discussion of those aspects of care calling for more improvement is presented.
Selective subcortical abnormalities in autism
Authors: Jacobson R. , Le Couteur A. , Howlin P. , Rutter M. 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisNine physically healthy, adult autistic men, with normal or near normal intelligence, and 13 healthy male controls were examined in a CT brain scan study. CT scans were analysed with a fully automated computer-assisted program, and regional brain radiodensities were measured with careful attention to artefacts. Autistic patients revealed significantly larger third, but not lateral, ventricular size and significantly lower mean caudate, but equivalent mean frontal and thalamic, radiodensities compared to controls. The sizes of the Sylvian fissures and interhemispheric fissure were equivalent between groups. The findings are consistent with selective subcortical abnormalities in autism.
Emotional disorder and its assessment within the severe head injured population
Authors: Kinsella Glynda , Moran Carmel , Ford Bruce , Ponsford Jennie 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisThis study examined the usefulness of self-report measures of emotional disorder in a relatively acute, severely head injured population (i.e. individuals who had sustained their injuries cwithin the previous two years). The General Health Questionnaire, the Leeds Scales of Depression and Anxiety, and Visual Analogue Scales of Depression and Anxiety were administered to 39 severely head injured subjects and 35 ‘close others’ who were required to give their opinions on how they thought the head injured subjects were feeling. Twenty head injured subjects were re-tested within a week. Results indicated that the head injured are able to reliably complete self-report scales as indicated by the ‘close’ others similar reports. The head injured seem to be relatively aware of their overt behaviours and emotions, at least when utilizing the General Health Questionnaire and the Leeds Scale of Depression. According to the measures of emotional disposition used in the present study, emotional disorder was found to be common. From the results it was further suggested that lack of a close confiding relationship predicts emotional disorder and may be used to identify those subjects at risk. Overall, the results provide confidence for the use of self-report scales as a preliminary approach to the identification of emotional disorder in the severely head injured.
Brain computerized tomography in subtypes of severe chronic schizophrenia
Authors: Stahl Stephen M. , Jernigan Terry , Pfefferbaum Adolf , Zatz Leslie 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisComputerized tomographic (CT) brain scans were obtained in severely ill, chronic schizophrenic patients hospitalized in a long-term in-patient facility of a Veterans Administration hospital, and compared to CT brain scans from an age, sex and education-matched normal control population. In contrast to results obtained in our previous studies with younger, less severely ill, chronic schizophrenic patients, the current study population exhibited significantly increased rankings of third ventricular size and of fronto-tempero-sylvian atrophy, compared to normal control subjects.
A study of depressive typologies using grade of membership analysis
Authors: Davidson Jonathan , Woodbury Max A. , Pelton Susan , Krishnan Ranga 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisGrade of Membership (GOM) analysis, a multivariate technique for studying disease, was used to explore depressive typology and relationships between depression and anxiety. One hundred and ninety patients with RDC diagnoses of major or minor depression were assessed by the Hamilton and SCL-90 symptom rating scales, the Newcastle diagnostic indices for endogenous depression and for anxiety and depression. Demographic, family and treatment response information were used as external validators.Five pure types provided the most satisfactory solution to these data. One group corresponded to classical melancholia, occurring in older, stable, in-patients, who lacked panic-phobic symptoms. All patients with agoraphobia fell into two distinct in-patient and out-patient groups, which differed from each other in several ways. In one group, a link was found between panic attacks, agitated melancholia and familial pure depression. The second group was less symptomatic and had more atypical vegetative symptoms.Two more groups comprised mildly symptomatic, hypochondriacal, depression, and a highly neurotic, obsessive, anxious, non-phobic depression, which was commonly related to a physical stressor.
Development of a questionnaire measure of adjustment to cancer: the MAC scale
Authors: Watson M. , Greer S. , Young J. , Inayat Q. , Burgess C. , Robertson B. 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisThis paper describes the development of a self-rating scale to measure adjustment to cancer. The Mental Adjustment to Cancer (MAC) Scale has been completed by 235 patients with various types and stages of cancer. It is easily understood by, and acceptable to, patients. Data relating to reliability and internal consistency indicate that the MAC scale is a valuable research tool for clinical studies of patients' psychological adjustment to cancer.
The factor structure of the GHQ-60 in a community sample
Authors: Vazquez-Barquero J. L. , Williams P. , Diez-Manrique J. F. , Lequerica J. , Arenal A. 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisThe factor structure of the 60-item version of the General Health Questionnaire was explored, using data collected in a community study in a rural area of northern Spain. Six principal components, similar to those previously reported with this instrument, were found to provide a good description of the data structure.The 30-item and 12-item versions of the GHQ were then disembedded from the parent version, and further principal components analyses carried out. Again, the results were similar to previous studies: in each of the three versions analysed here, the two most important components represented a disturbance of mood (‘general dysphoria’)– including aspects of anxiety, depression and irritability– and a disturbance of social performance (‘social function/optimism’).The principal component structure of the GHQ-60 was then utilized to calculate factor scores, and these were compared with PSE ratings using Relative Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis. While four of the six factors discriminated well (area under the ROC curve 0–75 or more) between PSE ‘cases’ and ‘non-cases’, only one, depressive thoughts, was a good discriminator between depressed and non-depressed PSE ‘cases’.
Huntington's chorea in Norway
Authors: Saugstad Letten , Ødegård Ørnulv 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisBy means of a National Case Register of patients admitted to psychiatric hospitals in Norway it was possible to study the case-histories of the 199 patients admitted from 1916 to 1975 with a diagnosis of Huntington's chorea. Ascertainment is likely to have been most complete for the years 1930–50, when the prevalence rates ranged between 6 and 7 per 100000 population. The social adjustment of the patients was found to be more favourable than expected up to the onset of serious psychiatric and neurological symptoms. The marriage rate and the rate of reproduction were not lowered. Occupational distribution and the pattern of migration were normal. Depression and suicide were remarkably rare. The age of onset among single patients was nearly 10 years lower than among the married, and more than 13 years lower on admission to hospital, indicating selection for marriage. With a marriage rate of about 70% and the late manifestation of the disease, predictive tests without prospects of treatment are apt to increase significantly the burden on the carriers.
Bulimia nervosa: treatment and short-term outcome
Authors: Hsu L. K. George , Holder Diane 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisFifty-six bulimia nervosa patients were treated by means of a behavioural approach and followed for at least one year after completion or dropping out of treatment. Outcome was encouraging in about half of the patients and several psychiatric indicators, such as duration of illness and response to treatment, were identified. The significance of the findings and unresolved methodological issues are discussed.
Preserved reading and spelling ability in psychotic disorders
Authors: Dalby J. Thomas , Williams Richard 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisStandard scores on tests of intelligence, memory and academic achievement were obtained from individuals with either schizophrenic spectrum disorders, mania, alcohol abuse, antisocial personality disorders or no mental disorder. The three cognitive measures were highly and positively correlated in three groups (normal controls, alcohol abusers and antisocial personality disorders), while in the schizophrenic spectrum and manic groups a pattern of average reading and spelling achievement was contrasted with lower intelligence and memory quotients. It was suggested that reading and spelling ability are more accurate predictors of premorbid ability in psychotic disorders than other psychometric scales. This parallels previous findings with organic dementias and raises questions about possible shared aetiological bases between dementias and psychoses.
Possible determinants, correlates and consequences of high levels of anxiety in primiparous mothers
Authors: Barnett Bryanne , Parker Gordon 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisGroups of highly anxious, moderately anxious and minimally anxious primiparous mothers (N= 147) were obtained on the basis of Spielberger trait anxiety scores in the postpartum period, and subjects were compared. Allocation to those groups appeared to be more likely to reflect constitutional levels of anxiety, rather than recent or current social stressors. Highly anxious mothers were distinguished on a number of presumed correlates of anxiety measured by clinical questions (e.g. terminating of anxious situations), hospital notes (e.g. mood problems noted by nursing staff) and blind rater assessments (e.g. unassertiveness). While highly anxious mothers were more likely to report more recent life events, less social support, and negative interpretations of the pregnancy, the hospital experience and the hospital staff, such variables were less discriminating when neuroticism levels were effectively controlled. This suggests an intrinsic perceptual bias, rather than that the factors were determinants. Highly anxious mothers had more delivery complications, while their babies were more likely to be dysmature and slow to suckle, features we interpret as consequences of the anxiety levels. In the postpartum period these mothers were more depressed, had more concerns about their baby, themselves and their marriage, and were less confident about coping and their parenting capacities. Such variables may be correlates or consequences of anxiety.
Chest pain with normal coronary arteries: a comparative study of psychiatric and social morbidity
Authors: Bass Christopher , Wade Clyde 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisNinety-nine patients with chest pain and a presumptive diagnosis of coronary heart disease were assessed blindly within 24 hours of angiography, using standardized psychiatric and social interviews and a personality inventory. Thirty-one patients had normal coronary arteries (NCA), 15 had slight disease and 53 had significant coronary obstruction. Twenty-eight (61%) of the 46 patients with insignificant disease and 12 (23%) of the 53 with significant obstruction had psychiatric morbidity.Associations between the overall severity of psychiatric morbidity and measures of social maladjustment were strongest in the patients with normal coronary arteries. The 26 men with insignificant coronary artery disease had higher scores of neuroticism and extraversion than the 41 with important coronary occlusions. No differences were observed when the same comparisons were made for the women.The findings indicate that approximately two thirds of patients with normal and near-normal coronary arteries have predominantly psychiatric rather than cardiac disorders: the symptoms in these patients are more likely to represent the somatic manifestations of anxiety and overbreathing than the consequences of underlying cardiac disease. Physicians should be aware of the ways in which neurotic illness may present with symptoms mimicking cardiac disease, especially when cardiovascular symptoms are accompanied by phobic symptoms and unexplained shortness of breath.
Familial Alzheimer Dementia: a prevalent disorder with specific clinical features
Authors: Breitner John C. S. , Folstein Marshal F. 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisThe early literature on Alzheimer Dementia (AD) describes the clinical features aphasia, apraxia and agraphia as characteristic. We investigated the hypothesis that these features would specifically identify the familial form of AD (FAD). Since pedigree studies had suggested that FAD is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder, we hypothesized that the first-degree relatives of language-disordered or apractic AD probands would show at least 50% lifetime risks of dementia. Using standardized methods, we screened 3500 nursing home beds for stringently defined AD cases and controls, tested for agraphia, and obtained probands' clinical and family histories from multiple informants. Language disorder and apraxia were found in 78% of AD cases. They strongly predicted familial aggregation of dementia, with a 90-year lifetime incidence among relatives exceeding 50%, or 7 times the control values. The results suggest that language disorder and apraxia specifically identify a distinct clinical entity, Familial Alzheimer Dementia, that is among the commonest forms of senile dementia.
Drawing disability in patients with senile dementia
Authors: Moore Vanessa , Wyke Maria A. 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisA series of drawing tasks was administered to 15 patients with senile dementia who were assessed for intellectual functioning and severity of dementia. Their performance was compared with that of 15 elderly control subjects. The demented patients' spontaneous drawings were found to be impoverished in comparison with those of the controls. Copies of the same objects included more details, but these tended to be wrongly positioned in space. The performance of the patients with dementia was unlike that reported for patients with focal brain lesions. Significant relations were found between drawing performance and intellectual functioning and severity of dementia. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.
The mental and physical health of clients referred to social workers in a local authority department and a general practice attachment scheme
Authors: Corney Roslyn H. 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisAlthough numerous reports have strongly argued that there is a need for a closer collaboration between the health and social services, studies investigating the health of clients in contact with the personal social services have been few and limited. This study collected information regarding the physical and mental health of clients referred to social workers in a local authority intake team and to a general practice attachment scheme by means of questionnaires completed by the client and at interview. The results indicated that the proportions of patients with physical or mental illness were very high. However, while social workers in the attachment scheme had many contacts with members of the primary care team regarding these clients, contacts between intake social workers and medical personnel were very limited.
A new unit for long-stay psychiatric patients: organization, attitudes and quality of care
Authors: Garety P. A. , Morris I. 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisThe present study describes and evaluates aspects of care in a new residential unit for chronic patients. The findings suggest that the unit is relatively resident-orientated in its management practices and that the staff are similarly orientated in their attitudes. Staff also hold generally optimistic attitudes to residents' potential accomplishments and consider themselves highly involved in decision-making. They also show high levels of positive interactions with the residents. Various aspects of staff attitudes and behaviour are positively correlated with seniority or length of time on the unit. The results are discussed in terms of the unit's organizational structure and its possible impact on residents' functioning.
Disorders of memory, language and beliefs, following closed head injury
Authors: Hill Jonathan 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisA 26-year-old man developed a syndrome following a head injury, characterized by disturbances of memory, language, and beliefs, and lasting for several years. The clinical picture was suggestive of a number of conditions, but diagnostic of none. The aetiology involved a complex interaction of biological and psychological factors, and these are discussed in relation to similar syndromes described in the literature.
Minor psychiatric disorder in primary care in Brazil: a pilot study
Authors: Mari J. J. , Williams P. 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisThe General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and the Clinical Interview Schedule (CIS) were translated into Portuguese and were used in a pilot study of psychiatric morbidity in primary care at ‘The Health Centre Barra Funda/Bom Retiro’ of the Faculty of Medicine of Santa Casa Hospital at Sao Paulo, Brazil. The Portuguese translation of the CIS was found to be a feasible instrument for community studies in Brazil, but the Portuguese translation of the GHQ-30 was shown to be of limited use in this particular setting. The extent of minor psychiatric morbidity was very high (46%); 33% was regarded as conspicuous (CPM) and 13% as hidden (HPM).
Serum creatine phosphokinase levels and assaultive behaviour of psychotic patients
Authors: Isaacs John S. , Yesavage Jerome A. 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisSerum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) levels were compared with assaultive behaviour by 46 psychiatric patients. Significant relationships were found between CPK level and violent behaviour prior to admission and CPK level and seclusion as a danger to others while in hospital. No relationship was found between CPK level and assaultiveness while in hospital.
The Popper/Kuhn debate: truth and two faces of relativism
Authors: Notturno M. A. 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisThis paper argues: (1) that analysis of the issues upon which Popper and Kuhn have been thought to differ – the possibility of conclusive falsification, the incommensurability of theories, and the existence of normal science – reveals no appreciable difference at all; (2) that the basic point of disagreement concerns the role of truth in scientific inquiry, i.e. whether or not truth should be considered the regulative ideal of science; (3) that confusion concerning these issues results from a paradigm shift in epistemology; and (4) that Popper's epistemology proves more attractive than Kuhn's for unification in psychology.
The psychiatric expert in court
Authors: Kenny Anthony 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisThe law about expert evidence is unsatisfactory: it gives scope for the expert to usurp the role of judge, jury and parliament; it brings the professions of the experts into disrepute; and it sets juries the impossible task of sorting pseudo sciences from genuine ones. The law should be reformed by changing statutes which force expert witnesses to testify beyond their science, by taking the provision of expert evidence out of the adversarial context, and by removing from the courts the decision whether a nascent discipline is or is not a science.
Descriptive psychopathology: conceptual and historical aspects
Authors: Berrios G. E. 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisThis paper offers a conceptual and historical analysis of descriptive psychopathology. The first section defines it as a cognitive system constituted by terms, assumptions and rules for its application. It traces the conceptual implications of this definition and relates them to clinical practice. The second section contains an up-to-date assessment of current historical work on descriptive psychopathology and offers a new hypothesis to account for its development during the nineteenth century. It is suggested that the work involved in the testing of the hypothesis should be carried out by psychiatrists with historical training and as a separate speciality. It is concluded that the historical calibration of psychiatric symptoms must be considered as an essential stage in the construction of a viable descriptive psychopathology.