bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Personality variables and dysthymic symptoms: a comparison between a Greek and a British sample
Authors: Lyketsos G. C. , Blackburn Ivy M. , Mouzaki D. 
Published: July 2009

SYNOPSISFoulds' short psychiatric screening questionnaire and personality measures were administered to a representative Greek sample. The results were significantly different from British norms, highlighting the importance of the interaction between states and traits in population morbidity and the need for local norms.
Comparative reliability of categorical and analogue rating scales in the assessment of psychiatric symptomatology
Authors: Remington Marina , Tyrer P. J. , Newson-Smith J. , Cicchetti D. V. 
Published: July 2009

SYNOPSISThe reliability of 26 items from the ninth edition of the Present State Examination (PSE) was assessed using both the conventional categorical scales and separately constructed analogue scales. Reliability was also calculated when the analogue responses were rescaled down to 2, 3 and 4 categories. The levels of inter-rater agreement obtained were comparable to those achieved in previous studies of PSE reliability, although as expected the levels of agreement on audiotapes were greater than those for independent interviews performed on the same day. These levels were not significantly affected by any of the changes in scale format, but there were apparent differences in reliability depending on the statistics used. In selecting or constructing a psychiatric rating scale, the question of reliability should not influence the choice of a categorical or continuous scale, or the number of scored points in the scale.
Acetylator status and inhibition of platelet monoamine oxidase following treatment with pheneizine
Authors: Yates Celia M. , Loudon J. B. 
Published: July 2009

SYNOPSISThe activity of platelet monoamine oxidase(MAO)was measured in 22 severely depressed patients before and after treatment with 45 mg and 60 mg phenelzine. The per cent inhibition of platelet MAO after both doses was not related to acetylator status.Phenelzine, since it is a hydrazine derivative, is probably metabolized by polymorphic acetylation. Patients who were phenotypically slow acetylators have been reported to show a better clinical response (Johnstone & Marsh, 1973) and more side-effects (Evanset al.1965) to a given dose of phenelzine than patients who were fast acetylators.
Obstetric complications in children born to parents with schizophrenia: a meta-analysis of case–control studies
Authors: Sacker A. , Done D. J. , Crow T. J. 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisOn the basis of previous findings, we used meta-analyses to consider whether births to parents with schizophrenia have an increased risk of obstetric complications. Meta-analyses were based on published studies satisfying the following selection criteria. The schizophrenic diagnosis could apply to either parent: parents with non-schizophrenic psychoses were not included: only normal controls were accepted. In all, 14 studies provided effect sizes or data from which these could be derived. Studies were identified by data searches through MEDLINE, PSYCLIT and through references of papers relating to the subject. Births to individuals with schizophrenia incur an increased risk of pregnancy and birth complications, low birthweight and poor neonatal condition. However, in each case the effect size is small (mean r = 0·155; 95% CI = 0·057). The risk is greater for mothers with schizophrenia and is not confined to mothers with onset pre-delivery or to the births of the children who become schizophrenic themselves.
Reversibility of brain tissue loss in anorexia nervosa assessed with a computerized Talairach 3-D proportional grid
Authors: Swayze V. W. , Andersen A. , Arndt S. , Rajarethinam R. , Fleming F. , Sato Y. , Andreasen N. C. 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisWe describe the results of our follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study of underweight patients with anorexia nervosa, using rigorous methodology to control for head position across time. All subjects first underwent an initial scan and rescan to verify that our computerized three-dimensional co-planar grid method for volume measurement was reliable and accurate, regardless of head positioning. After a period of several months, subjects had a follow-up scan to assess for changes that may have occurred following significant weight gain.Ventricular and total brain volume measurements from the initial scans were compared with the scans from an age- and sex-matched normal control group to determine whether we could replicate previous findings of ventricular enlargement compared with controls and whether brain volume is reduced compared with controls. Anorexic subjects had significantly larger ventricles when compared with normal controls but did not differ significantly in total brain volume. Using a repeated measures analysis of variance,a prioricontrasts compared the initial/rescan pair volumes with each other and the initial/rescan pair volumes with the follow-up volume. These analyses showed that ventricular and total brain volumes derived from the initial/rescan pair were nearly identical, but that at follow-up ventricular volume decreased significantly and total brain volume increased significantly after weight gain.
The Gospel Oak Study stage IV: the clinical relevance of subjective memory impairment in older people
Authors: Tobiansky R. , Blizard R. , Livingston G. , Mann A. 
Published: July 2009

SYNOPSISThe prevalence rate of subjective memory impairment (SMI) and its value as a predictor of future depression or dementia was studied in a community sample of elderly residents in one electoral ward using the short-CARE. SMI was found to be common, occurring in 25% of subjects. Subjects with SMI were more likely to be suffering from either dementia or depression than those without the complaint, although 60% of subjects with SMI did not have evidence of either disorder. When followed up over a 2-year period, subjects with SMI were found to be at four-fold greater risk of developing future dementia and two-fold greater risk of developing a depression compared with those without SMI. The SMI scale was not found to be useful as a population screen for dementia or depression, although two of the nine items might have value as screening questions in clinical circumstances to determine those with memory complaints at risk for dementia.
Sub-typing depression, II. Clinical distinction of psychotic depression and non-psychotic melancholia
Authors: Parker G. , Hadzi-Pavlovic D. , Brodaty H. , Austin M.-P. , Mitchell P. , Wilhelm K. , Hickie I. 
Published: July 2009

SYNOPSISWe have attempted to clarify clinical differentiating features of psychotic depression. Forty-six depressed subjects meeting DSM-III-R criteria for major depression with psychotic features were compared with (i) DSM-defined melancholic, (ii) Newcastle-defined endogenous, and (iii) a residual DSM-defined major depressive episode group. Additionally, a ‘bottom up’ latent class analysis (LCA) suggested a larger sample of 82 ‘psychotic depressive’ subjects, and multivariate analyses contrasted these subjects with both LCA-identified melancholic and all residual depressed subjects. Analyses suggested that, in addition to two features with absolute specificity (delusions and hallucinations), both the DSM-defined and LCA-defined ‘psychotic depressive’ subjects were significantly more likely to demonstrate marked psychomotor disturbance, to report two morbid cognitions (feeling sinful and guilty; feeling deserving of punishment), as well as be more likely to report constipation, terminal insomnia, appetite/weight loss and (variable across the defined ‘psychotic depressive’ groups) loss of interest and pleasure. The study identifies a wider set of potentially discriminating clinical variables than previous studies, as well as both indicating the existence and assisting identification of ‘true’ psychotic depression in the absence of formal psychotic features being acknowledged or elicited.
Sub-typing depression, III. Development of a clinical algorithm for melancholia and comparison with other diagnostic measures
Authors: Parker G. , Hadzi-Pavlovic D. , Hickie I. , Brodaty H. , Boyce P. , Mitchell P. , Wilhelm K. 
Published: July 2009

SYNOPSISWe describe the development of a clinical algorithm to differentiate melancholic from non-melancholic depression, using refined sets of ‘endogeneity’ symptoms together with clinician-rated CORE scores assessing psychomotor disturbance. Assignment by the empirically developed algorithm is contrasted with assignment by DSM-III-R and with several other melancholia subtyping indices. Both the numbers of ‘melancholies’ assigned by the several systems and their capacity to distinguish ‘melancholics’ on clinical, demographic and a biological index test (the DST) varied across the systems with the algorithm being as ‘successful’ as several systems that include inter-episode and treatment response variables. Analyses provide information on the criteria set developed for DSM-IV definition of ‘melancholia’.
Homesickness: a review of the literature
Authors: Van Tilburg M. A. L. , Vingerhoets A. J. J. M. , Van Heck G. L. 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisHomesickness has not received due attention from psychological researchers, in spite of the fact that it is of considerable interest to counsellors and care-givers of those who have migrated or moved temporarily or permanently (e.g. immigrants, refugees, students, soldiers). First, this review addresses the definition of homesickness, the possible different kinds of homesickness, its prevalence rate, and symptomatology, Secondly, an overview is given of the theories that account for psychological distress following leaving home. These theories link homesickness with separation-anxiety and loss, the interruption of lifestyle, reduced control, role change, and internal conflict. In addition, the review focuses on: (i) studies that show that subjects reporting homesickness differ from non-homesick persons in terms of personality; (ii) the analyses of environmental characteristics that may play a crucial role in the onset and course of homesickness. Thirdly, Fisher's (1989) composite model of homesickness, which summarizes key findings of the major studies on homesickness is discussed. Fourthly, methodological issues are addressed. Finally, suggestions for future research are presented and possibilities for interventions are proposed.
Neuropsychological impairments in unipolar depression: the influence of perceived failure on subsequent performance
Authors: Elliott R. , Sahakian B. J. , McKay A. P. , Herrod J. J. , Robbins T. W. , Paykel E. S. 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisThe CANTAB battery of neuropsychological tests was used to compare the performance of 28 patients with unipolar depression with that of 22 age and IQ matched controls. The patients were impaired on almost all tests studied with deficits in pattern and spatial recognition memory, matching to sample, spatial span, spatial working memory and planning. Most of the patients showed at least some impairment and deficits were seen across cognitive domains. An important finding was the detrimental effect of failure on subsequent performance; having solved one problem incorrectly, patients were far more likely than controls to fail the subsequent problem. Superimposed on the general deficits, there were also specific deficits in executive tasks characteristic of frontostriatal dysfunction and deficits in mnemonic tasks characteristic of temporal lobe dysfunction. This combination of a specific form of motivational deficit, resulting in oversensitivity to negative feedback, and superimposed specific neuropsychological deficits were correlated with severity of depression. The most significant correlations were seen between mnemonic deficits and clinical rating scores. Comparisons of the deficits seen in the depressed patients in this study with other patient groups assessed with the CANTAB neuropsychological battery, showed that one of the hypotheses of the neuropsychological deficits in depression, that of ‘frontosubcortical’ or ‘frontostriatal’ dysfunction, was not supported. These findings are discussed in relation to the likely neural substrates of depression.
Depressive thinking: changes in schematic mental models of self and world
Authors: Sheppard Leyland C. , Teasdale John D. 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisAlternative explanations for the changes in thinking associated with depression were examined. Depressive thinking could reflect a generalized increase in accessibility of negative constructs and memories, previously associated with depression. Alternatively, depressive thinking could reflect changes at a more generic level of cognitive representation, related to schematic mental models. To investigate contrasting predictions from these two explanations, depressed patients and non-depressed controls completed sentence stems involving social approval or personal achievement e.g. ‘If I could always be right then others would____me’. Construct accessibility views predict that depression will be associated with more negative completions (e.g. ‘dislike’). By contrast, the schematic model view predicts patients may give more positive completions (e.g. ‘like’). This is because schematic models reflect inter-relationships between constructs, and, it is suggested, depression is associated with use of schematic mental models that imply closer dependence of personal worth/acceptance on success/approval than the models used in the non-depressed state. Predictions from the schematic model view were supported, confirming previous findings. Results suggest that depressive thinking reflects changes in the high level mental models used to interpret experience.
Prevention of winter seasonal affective disorder by bright-light treatment
Authors: Partonen Timo , Lönnqvist Jouko 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisIn patients with winter seasonal affective disorder (SAD) the onset of a depressive episode is probably associated with the decreasing amount of light during the autumn. A highly predictable onset of a recurrent depressive episode with seasonal pattern provides a rationale for testing the efficacy of bright-light treatment as a preventive measure. Twelve out-patients with winter SAD were assigned to start bright light treatment either when they were well, or not to start it until the first symptoms of depression had already emerged. The severity of depressive symptoms was prospectively rated for a parallel randomized comparison. Bright light given well in advance of the emerging symptoms prevented a depressive episode. Clinical remission was significantly more frequent in the former subgroup of the patients in January and in March. To sum up, bright light can be successfully administered as prophylactic treatment for the prevention of winter SAD.
Factors affecting the success of community placement: the TAPS project 26
Authors: Gooch Christopher , Leff Julian 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisLong-stay patients who were discharged from Friern and Claybury hospitals during the 6-year period between September 1985 and August 1991 were followed up for at least 1 year and the details of all readmissions were recorded. Of the 615 hospital leavers, some 178 (29%) were readmitted at some time during the follow-up period. A proportional hazards regression analysis revealed a number of independent baseline factors which affect the risk of readmission at any time during the follow-up period. Younger patients were more at risk of readmission than were older patients and ‘new’ long-stay patients had a greater risk than baseline patients. Risk was also greater in patients who had a larger number of pre-discharge admissions,a higher abnormal behaviour score (PSE BSO) or a diagnosis of manic psychosis. An ordinal logistic regression analysis revealed that these same five factors tended to increase the actual number of readmission episodes. The proportion of post-discharge time spent in hospital among the readmitted patients was found to be greater for males, new long-stay patients and for patients with a higher number of positive social behaviour symptoms (SBSPOS score).
Effects of positive and negative life events on time to depression onset: an analysis of additivity and timing
Authors: Frank E. , Tu X. M. , Anderson B. , Reynolds C. F. , Karp J. F. , Mayo A. , Ritenour A. , Kupfer D. J. 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisWhile the relationship of life events to depression onset has occupied researchers for almost a quarter of a century, few studies have attempted to account for either the temporal patterning of events relative to episode onset, or, the effect of multiple events in a study period. In this report, we attempt to address the issues of timing of events, multiple events (both positive and negative) and multiple aspects (both positivity and negativity) of single events on latency time to depression onset, while simultaneously accounting for possible decay in the effects of events over time. We use the proportional hazards approach to model the effects of life events and consider modelling the change in impact of events with the passage of time.After interviewing 142 recurrent unipolar patients using the Life Events and Difficulties Schedule, we rated severity and positivity of life events reported during the 6-month period prior to onset. As we hypothesized, additional life events occurring after an initial provoking agent level event significantly alter the risk of illness onset. Additional severely threatening events decrease the time to onset, but positive events do not appear to delay onset. Interestingly, seemingly neutral events had a highly significant effect in shortening the time to onset. We note the many limitations imposed on the interpretation of these findings related to the selected group of subjects studied and encourage those who have more generalizable data to apply these methods of analysis.
Causal attributions about common somatic sensations among frequent general practice attenders
Authors: Sensky T. , MacLeod A. K. , Rigby M. F. 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisThe causal attributions that people make about bodily symptoms or sensations are likely to influence their decisions whether or not to consult a doctor. Previous research has supported the model that people tend initially to look for external or environmental explanations for bodily sensations (normalizing attributions) and only if this process fails do they search for attributions internal to themselves (somatic or psychological attributions). This study tested two hypotheses about frequent general practice attenders: (1) compared with others, they are more likely to make somatic attributions and less likely to make normalizing ones; and (2) given a bodily symptom together with a somatic explanation, frequent attenders will have greater difficulty than others in finding reasons why the given (pathological) explanation is untrue. The frequent attenders' group had themselves initiated an average of 12 general practice visits in the 12 months before assessment, while a control group of infrequent attenders had not made appointments to see their general practitioner for an average of 24 months. The results provide partial support for the hypotheses. Frequent attenders generated significantly fewer normalizing explanations for a series of common bodily sensations than the comparison group, although the two groups did not differ in their somatic attributions. Given a common bodily sensation and an accompanying pathological explanation, the frequent attenders were less able than the control group to generate reasons why the given explanation might be untrue. Some associations were found between these measures and anxiety.
Changes in regional cerebral blood flow on recovery from depression
Authors: Bench C. J. , Frackowiak R. S. J. , Dolan R. J. 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisWe have previously described focal abnormalities of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), anterior cingulate cortex and angular gyrus in 40 patients with major depression. We now report on the patterns of change in rCBF in a subgroup of 25 of the same patients who were rescanned following clinical remission of depression. Fifteen patients were scanned when optimally matched for drug treatment (4) or drug free on both occasions (11). The other 10 patients were fully recovered but could not be matched for drug status for clinical and ethical reasons. In a paired comparison of the same patients when ill and following recovery it was evident that remission was associated with a significant increase in rCBF in the left DLPFC and medial prefrontal cortex including anterior cingulate. Increases in rCBF in the angular gyrus were not seen when the comparison of depressed and recovered scans was matched for medication. The previously described relationship between clinical symptoms and brain perfusion in the depressed state was no longer present in the recovered state; this supports the hypothesis of state relatedness. Thus, recovery from depression is associated with increases in rCBF in the same areas in which focal decreases in rCBF are described in the depressed state in comparison with normal controls.
Relationship between family attitudes measured by the Semantic Differential and relapse in schizophrenia: a 2 year follow-up prospective study
Authors: Girón Manuel , Gomez-Beneyto Manuel 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisA prospective study was carried out to investigate the relationship between family attitudes and relapse in a cohort of 80 schizophrenic patients followed up for 2 years. A significant relationship was found between attitudes as measured by means of a semantic differential during hospitalization and later relapse. Lack of treatment compliance, negative symptoms, unemployment and poor pre-morbid adjustment were also associated with relapse. In a multivariate analysis some of these variables changed their predictive power but the association between attitudes and relapse was maintained.
Changes in a proposed new neuroendocrine marker of oestrogen receptor function in postpartum women
Authors: Bearn J. A. , Fairhall K. M. , Robinson I. C. A. F. , Lightman S. L. , Checkley S. A. 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisWe describe a novel neuroendocrine test which reflects a central response to activation of oestrogen receptors. This is achieved by measurement of plasma levels of oestrogen-stimulated neurophysin (ESN) following an oestrogen challenge. In normal women the ESN response to ethinyl oestradiol is dose-dependent. This response is attenuated in normal women during the first postpartum month, although it is unchanged in patients with anorexia nervosa, in spite of their similar concurrent hypo-estrogenic state. The altered puerperal response may result from the acute oestrogen withdrawal which occurs at delivery. The time course of the altered ESN response coincides with the period of maximum risk for puerperal psychosis. The ESN response to oestrogen provides a novel neuroendocrine measure to test the relevance of changes in central oestrogen receptor responsiveness in the pathogenesis of puerperal psychosis.
Psychosis associated with demonstrable brain disease
Authors: Feinstein Anthony , Ron Maria A. 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisSixty-five psychotic patients with unequivocal evidence of brain pathology and a variety of neurological disorders were assessed with respect to phenomenology and outcome. No relationship was found between site of brain pathology and type of psychotic disorder. A majority of patients had a syndrome indistinguishable from schizophrenia without coarse brain involvement and shared similar variables predicting outcome of psychosis, thus raising important issues concerning their nosological status.