bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The diseases called chlorosis
Authors: Loudon Irvine 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisIt is suggested that chlorosis, or the ‘green-sickness’, was not a single disease entity, but a name applied to at least two distinct conditions affecting young females in the past. The first (‘chloro-anaemia’) was a form of hypochromic anaemia possibly associated with gastric ulceration and poor diet. This form predominated in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The second (‘chloro-anorexia’) was a disorder of psychogenic origin resembling, but not identical to, anorexia nervosa. The latter form predominated in earlier periods but also occurred throughout the nineteenth century; it was also known as ‘the virgin's disease’ or ‘febris amatoria’. The ‘green’ of‘;green-sickness’ may originally have indicated innocence rather than a green colour of the skin.
The type—token ratio in schizophrenic disorders: clinical and research value
Authors: Manschreck Theo C. , Maher Brendan A. , Hoover Toni M. , Ames Donna 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisPrior research has indicated that the type-token ratio (TTR), a measure of repetition in language, correlates with clinical judgements of thought disorder when spoken language was examined, and differentiates statistically thought-disordered from non-thought-disordered schizophrenics and psychiatric and normal controls. We replicated this finding and examined the clinical sensitivity and specificity of the TTR measure in the diagnosis and in the assessment of thought disorder. The current clinical value of the TTR is limited, but further investigations of the nature of repetition in schizophrenic language are warranted.
Computed axial brain tomography in long-term benzodiazepine users
Authors: Lader M. H. , Ron M. , Petursson H. 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisTwenty patients who had taken long-term benzodiazepines were submitted to brain CT scan examinations. Some scans appeared abnormal. The mean ventricular/brain area measured by planimetry was increased over mean values in an age- and sex-matched group of control subjects but was less than that in a group of alcoholics. There was no significant relationship between CT scan appearances and the duration of benzodiazepine therapy. The clinical significance of the findings is unclear.
ADP and arachidonic acid induced platelet aggregation in schizophrenia and atypical psychoses
Authors: Whalley L. J. , Reading H. W. , Rosie R. 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisPlatelet aggregatory responses to adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and arachidonic acid were examined in 6 drug-free schizophrenics, 5 other drug-free psychotics, 8 ‘acute-on-chronic’ schizophrenics (on long-term neuroleptic therapy) and 38 healthy controls. Platelet aggregation and disaggregation following ADP was significantly lower in ‘acute-on-chronic’ schizophrenics (on drugs) compared with healthy controls, and disaggregation following 1 µM ADP was significantly less in drug-free schizophrenics. The difference between maximum aggregation induced by ADP and that induced by arachidonic acid was significantly greater in schizophrenics (both on drugs and drug-free) than in controls. These findings are related to possible abnormalities of central nervous system function in schizophrenia.
Does prostacyclin prevent cognitive deficits after open heart surgery?
Authors: Pears Elizabeth , Bowman Richard , Kincey John , Gautam Ramji 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisTwo groups of open heart surgery patients, one receiving prostacyclin and one placebo, were assessed one week pre-operatively and 3 months post-operatively, using a battery of clinical tests measuring a variety of cognitive functions. No significant differences between the groups were detected, apart from a visual retention deficit at 3 months in the prostacyclin group. The results cast doubt on previous findings suggesting that prostacyclin reduces cognitive deficits following open heart surgery.
Emotional distress among concentration camp survivors – a community study in Jerusalem
Authors: Levav I. , Abramson J. H. 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisThree hundred and eighty former concentration camp inmates were identified and interviewed in the course of a community health survey in Jerusalem. A set of 8 questions derived from the Cornell Medical Index was used as an index of emotional distress. The concentration camp survivors had a higher prevalence of emotional distress and more symptoms of this type than other European-born members of the community, controlling for age and education. The findings suggested that 16·0% of the emotional distress observed in male camp survivors and 22·9% of that among female camp survivors could be attributed to the camp experience almost three decades after the Holocaust. In this survey, data were elicited in a context unrelated to benefit-seeking such as clinic or compensation claims.
The syndrome concept: history and statistical operationalizations
Authors: Weber Adrian C. , Scharfetter Christian 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisA historical analysis of the syndrome concept shows that this term has been used in many different ways, ranging from clinical experience to records of coinciding symptoms. However, there seems to be broad agreement on the use of the word ‘syndrome’ in daily practice. If empirical–mathematical methods are applied in syndrome detection, however, a precise operation-alization of the syndrome concept is needed. Traditional procedures have often used models more dictated by methodological considerations than derived from the field of application, i.e. psychiatric syndromatology. An alternative approach, Boolean factor analysis, is presented in this paper. This relatively new method is illustrated by means of the analysis of a small artificial sample with a known structure. As a point of reference, traditional methods (factor analysis, cluster analysis, and multidimensional scaling) are also briefly discussed. It is demonstrated that they all share a deficiency of information about inter-group structure. In contrast, Boolean factor analysis uses a syndromic definition which builds on the basic notion of concurrent symptoms. Moreover, this approach can easily be understood by clinicians.
Binge-eating, self-induced vomiting and laxative abuse: a community study
Authors: Fairburn Christopher G. , Cooper Peter J. 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisFollowing a television documentary on bulimia nervosa, people who thought that they had this type of eating problem were asked to complete a confidential questionnaire. 579 women who fulfilled self-report diagnostic criteria for bulimia nervosa were thereby identified. These women closely resembled patients with bulimia nervosa, although the age range was wider. They had grossly disturbed eating habits and almost half vomited at least daily. Laxative abuse was also common. Although almost two-thirds had been overweight in the past, the majority had a weight within the normal range. A minority had previously fulfilled diagnostic criteria for anorexia nervosa. On standardized measures, these women had abnormal attitudes to their weight and shape, as well as significant levels of psychiatric symptomatology. Nearly three-quarters thought that they definitely needed professional help, yet only a third had ever been referred for psychiatric treatment. Using data from this sample and an independent sample of 499 probable bulimia nervosa cases, the significance of three issues relating to the diagnosis of bulimia nervosa were examined: laxative abuse, the frequency of self-induced vomiting, and a history of anorexia nervosa.
Actual and perceived attitudes towards deafness
Authors: Furnham Adrian , Lane Sarah 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisThis study had two aims: first, to investigate the attitudes of deaf and hearing people towards deafness; and, secondly, to study the difference between how deaf people perceive the attitudes of hearing people towards deafness, and how hearing people perceive the attitudes of deaf people towards deafness. The results showed that the deaf had more negative attitudes towards deafness than the hearing. In addition, the deaf believed that hearing people have more negative attitudes to deafness than hearing people actually have. This lack of empathy between the two groups was discussed. The amount of contact with the deaf was found to be associated with more realistic and less stereotyped attitudes to the deaf. The results are discussed in the context of research on social interaction with disabled people.
The Wechsler subtests in mild organic brain damage associated with folate deficiency
Authors: Botez M. I. , Botez Thérèse , Maag Urs 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisForty-nine patients with low serum and cerebrospinal fluid folate levels completed the Ottawa–Wechsler Scale after 7–11 months of folate supplementation (10 mg daily). Twelve patients exhibited major neurological symptoms, while 37 patients displayed depression and minor neurological signs. After folate therapy, Verbal, Performance and Full Wechsler scores were significantly improved (P≺ 0·0·01). The order of improvement in scores on the Wechsler subtests (from the statistically most significant to the least as measured by thet-statistics) was: Block Design, Digit Symbol, Similarities, Picture Completion, Picture Arrangement, Arithmetic, Object Assembly, Digit Span, Information, and Comprehension.
Covariation of depressive symptoms over time
Authors: Hibbert George A. , Teasdale John D. , Spencer Peter 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisThe covariation over time of depressive symptoms was studied by repeated ratings of the symptoms of individual depressed in-patients. Both within-patient factor analysis of symptom scores and correlation of symptom change scores to total change scores suggested that, while the symptoms of reduced interest and pleasure covaried closely with ratings of observed and reported low mood, the more ‘biological’ symptoms of sleep and appetite disturbance showed little covariation. The implications for the study of depression are discussed.
Allusive thinking, the Word Halo and verbosity
Authors: Armstrong M. S. , McConaghy N. 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisThe concept of allusive thinking is briefly reviewed and a Pavlovian model of thinking advanced. It is hypothesized that allusive, as compared with non-allusive thinkers, have a broader but less intense attention process associated with weaker inhibition. From this model it was predicted that on word tests which require judgements of similarity of meaning, allusive thinkers would tend to choose more remote or unusual words as similar in meaning.The Word Halo Test and the Word Sorting Test were administered to 63 university students using the Object Sorting Test as a measure of allusive thinking. The prediction that allusive thinkers would choose more unusual words as similar in meaning was supported. A tendency for allusive thinkers to be more verbose than non-allusive thinkers was also noted.
Reliability of the PSE (ninth edition) used in a population study
Authors: Wing J. K. , Nixon J. M. , Mann S. A. , Leff J. P. 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisA random sample of 237 women in a south-east London area were seen by non-medical interviewers, trained to use a standard technique (the Present State Examination) to elicit and record psychiatric symptoms. Ninety-five were interviewed a second time by psychiatrists, who also rated audiotape recordings. The reproducibility of the techniques is adequate though not as high, in some respects, as that obtained from out-patient or in-patient samples. This is true at the level of symptom, syndrome, total score, and index of definition of psychiatric disorder. It is concluded that nonmedical interviewers can obtain as high reproducibility as psychiatrists on most of the non-psychotic sections of the PSE if they have appropriate training. Repeatability is lower than reproducibility, partly due to fluctuations in clinical condition, partly to environmental changes between interviews, and partly to differential responses to medical and non-medical interviewers. Over a short period of time, such as a week, repeatability is satisfactory.
Further studies on interviewer training and inter-rater reliability of the Present State Examination (PSE)
Authors: Cooper J. E. , Copeland J. R. M. , Brown G. W. , Harris T. , Gourlay A. J. 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisThe Present State Examination (PSE) is discussed with regard to its use in surveys of subjects who are not psychiatric patients. Although the PSE was originally developed for use by psychiatrists with patients with obvious mental illness, the interview also contains sections dealing in considerable detail with the commoner and less severe complaints and symptoms that are found in a significant proportion of ‘normal subjects’. A shortened version of the PSE (8th edition) is described, limited to these sections, which has been used in population surveys, by interviewers who are not psychiatrists. The training of such interviewers is described, and information on a reliability and repeatability study is presented. This shows that with proper training, non-psychiatric interviewers can achieve standards of inter-rater reliability that are comparable to those previously reported between psychiatrists.
Two-year follow-up of the patients included in the WHO International Pilot Study of Schizophrenia
Authors: Sartorius N. , Jablensky A. , Shapiro R. 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisOver 90% of the 1202 patients investigated in the 9 centres collaborating in the International Pilot Study of Schizophrenia were traced 2 years after the initial examination and on the average over 75% of them were re-examined, using standardized instruments and methods. Results indicate that patients diagnosed as schizophrenic on the basis of standardized assessments and clearly specified diagnostic criteria demonstrated very marked variations of course and outcome over a 2-year period. Schizophrenic patients in the centres in developing countries had considerably better course and outcome than schizophrenic patients in the centres in developed countries.
Bulimia in the late nineteenth century: the observations of Pierre Janet
Authors: Pope Harrison G. , Hudson James I. , Mialet Jean-Paul 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisIn 1903 Pierre Janet published perhaps the first detailed descriptions of patients with bulimia. Janet's observations, although anecdotal, are consistent with modern studies suggesting an association between bulimia and major affective disorder and between bulimia and anxiety disorders. Janet's writings also support the belief that bulimia is more prevalent today than a century ago.
Perceptual changes in schizophrenia: a questionnaire survey
Authors: Phillipson O. T. , Harris J. P. 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisQuestionnaires were completed by 73 volunteers with a history of probable schizophrenia, and by 67 patients admitted to the accident wards of a general hospital. A high incidence of sensory distortions was recorded in the schizophrenic group compared with the controls, distortions of brightness contrast being the most common. Many schizophrenic patients reported that such distortions were reduced or removed early in treatment. Patients who reported visual distortions also tended to report visual hallucinations. The results are discussed with reference to the hypothesis that perceptual malfunction may underlie some other schizophrenic disorders such as delusions or catatonia.
Patient affiliation in major illness
Authors: Rofé Yacov , Hoffman Michael , Lewin Isaac 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisAffiliation preferences among 100 Israeli out-patients with major illness were assessed in waiting room interviews. Patients preferred healthy others over being with fellow sufferers or alone, and avoided illness as a discussion topic. Secondary preference for being alone rather than with co-patients rose slightly with reported anxiety. Findings contradict the emotional comparison hypothesis that misery seeks out co-sufferers.
Who was the first to describe anorexia nervosa: Gull or Lasègue?
Authors: Vandereycken Walter , Van Deth Ron 
Published: July 2009

SYNOPSISLeading articles or textbooks on anorexia nervosa generally give credit for its discovery to either the British physician William Withey Gull or to the French neuropsychiatrist Ernest Charles Lasègue. Although the major contributions of both men show a remarkable but independent coincidence around 1873, Gull is mostly given a slight priority because of a rather cryptic mention of an anorexia-like condition in a paper read in 1868. An analysis of the events, however, shows that the British physician from London does not really deserve this honour. For no clear-cut priority for either man can be established.
The role of provocative visual stimuli in agoraphobia
Authors: Watts Fraser N. , Wilkins Arnold J. 
Published: July 2009

SYNOPSISThree studies examine the role that provocative visual stimuli have in eliciting anxiety reactions in people with agoraphobia. Such stimuli elicit more anxiety in agoraphobic patients than control subjects. The effect of visual stimulation appears to be specific: (1) non-visual stimulation is without comparable effect; (2) both control and agoraphobic groups show similar effects of visual stimulation on another reaction such as headache. The anxiety effects of visual stimuli are correlated with the extent to which subjects experience depersonalization and somatic symptoms of agoraphobia, but not correlated with depression or the behavioural or cognitive aspects of agoraphobia. Alternative accounts of the possible role of visual stimulation in the anxiety reactions of agoraphobic patients are discussed.
Biopsychosocial aspects of long-term survival on end-stage renal failure therapy
Authors: Shulman Ralph , Price John D. E. , Spinelli John 
Published: July 2009

SYNOPSISAt ten-years follow-up of 64 haemodialysis patients, 43 had died and 21 were alive, twelve with cadaver renal transplants and nine on haemodialysis. Examination of the influence of psychological, demographic, physical and biochemical factors revealed the Beck Depression Inventory and age as the two most important predictors of survival. The behaviour of the patient was directly responsible for five (11·6%) of the deaths, by suicide in three cases and dietary noncompliance in two cases. Hypothetical mechanisms linking depression with reduced survival have been reviewed. As the impact of depression on survival was maximal in the first few years of dialysis, monitoring for depression should be incorporated into routine care from the start of dialysis together with evaluative interventions that might enhance survival.
Concurrent validity of GHQ-28 and PSE as measures of change
Authors: Ormel J. , Koeter M. W. J. , Brink W. Van Den , Giel R. 
Published: July 2009

SynposisSubstantial cross-sectional correlations have been reported between the GHQ and PSE (and CIS) total scores. Although necessary, this is not a sufficient condition for assuming good validity of the GHQ as a severity measure in longitudinal and health care evaluation studies. For this purpose the GHQ should also accurately reflect changes in severity over time. To examine their concurrent validity, GHQ and PSE scores were compared, in a three-wave longitudinal study, among 175 new psychiatric out-patients. Using a longitudinal structural equation model that takes measurement error into account, the strength of both the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationship between GHQ and PSE were estimated. The GHQ performed remarkably well; changes in severity as defined by PSE-ID and PSE total score were clearly reflected by changes in GHQ scores. The revised scoring method of the GHQ proposed by Goodchild and Duncan-Jones did not yield superior results.
Spontaneous length of depression and response to ECT
Authors: Kukopulos A. , Reginaldi D. , Tondo L. , Bernabei A. , Caliari B. 
Published: July 2009

synopsisElectro-convulsive treatment (ECT) was therapeutically ineffective in 27 (20 %) of 136 depressed patients. Failure to respond occurred in long-lasting depressions and in patients with a history of long-lasting depressions. In these cases the depression lasted at least 6 months. The hypothesis is proposed that ECT is effective only when given within 6 months of the spontaneous end of the depression. Clinical and nosological implications are discussed.
The role of oestrogen replacement in the climacteric syndrome
Authors: Borth Rudi , Strickler Ronald C. , Cecutti Anthony , Cookson Brian A. , Harper John A. , Potvin Robert , Riffel Paul , Sorbara V. James , Woolever C. Allan 
Published: July 2009

synopsisUsing a double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over design, the effect of equine conjugated oestrogens tablets (Premarin®) was studied in 20 women with the climacteric syndrome followed during 15 months. Sixteen women were equally improved on placebo and oestrogen. Only 2 patients had an improved sense of well-being on oestrogen and not on placebo. The psychological diagnosis was unrelated to the subjective response to oestrogen or placebo. Performance in psychological tests administered before and during treatment periods was not changed by oestrogen or placebo.
Mental distress in mothers of pre-school children in Inner London
Authors: Moss Peter , Plewis Ian 
Published: July 2009

synopsisThe level of mental ‘distress’ was assessed for a sample of mothers with pre-school children in Inner London. Fifty-two per cent of mothers had a moderate or severe distress problem in the 12 months prior to interview. Variables correlating with distress were identified and replicated in a second sample. Social class was not found to be related, and the question of the general relationship between social class and distress is considered.
A study of the symptomatology and course of manic illness using a new scale
Authors: Loudon J. B. , Ashworth Cheryl M. , Blackburn Ivy M. 
Published: July 2009

synopsisSixteen manic patients were rated fortnightly on the Present State Examination and a new manic rating scale. After 4 weeks of treatment a high proportion of symptoms had decreased significantly, but some symptoms likely to affect social functioning persisted. The group displayed many depressive and anxiety symptoms in addition to recognized manic symptoms.
Tryptophan and depressive illness
Authors: Coppen Alec , Wood Keith 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisPlasma free tryptophan is significantly decreased in monopolar, depressed patients. No evidence was found to suggest that poor nutritional history prior to hospital admission was responsible for these low levels. Factors known to influence tryptophan—albumin binding in plasma, e.g. concentration of plasma proteins, albumin and non-esterified fatty acids, did not account for the low levels of free tryptophan in depressed patients. A significant decrease in plasma free tryptophan levels was found in perimenopausal but not in pre- or post-menopausal female controls. This mirrors the decrease in circulating oestrogens. Although exogenously administered oestrogens do not have any therapeutic efficacy in relieving mild residual depressive symptoms of lithium treated patients, they increased the levels of plasma free tryptophan. Clofibrate also displaces tryptophan from plasma protein binding sites in both depressed patients and controls. Utilization of the increased levels of plasma free tryptophan is reduced in depressed patients. A situation therefore exists in depressed patients where the plasma free tryptophan is not only reduced but also leaves the plasma less readily than in control subjects.
A comparative controlled trial of pimozide and fluphenazine decanoate in the continuation therapy of schizophrenia
Authors: Falloon I. , Watt D. C. , Shepherd Michael 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisEvidence from a controlled, comparative trial indicates that oral pimozide is clinically at least as effective as depot injections of fluphenazine decanoate in the continuation therapy of a group of schizophrenic patients discharged from hospital. The administration of pimozide was associated with fewer unwanted effects. The implications of the findings are discussed.