bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Psychological morbidity in patients with chest pain and normal or near-normal coronary arteries: a long-term follow-up study
Authors: Potts S. G. , Bass C. M. 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisForty-six patients with chest pain but normal or near-normal coronary arteries were assessed using standardized interviews and rating scales at the time of angiography, after 1 year, and again 11·4 years later. Psychological morbidity was substantial and enduring: 61% of patients were designated as psychiatric cases at angiography and 49% at 11·4 years. Both at the time of angiography, and 1 year later, levels of morbidity were significantly greater than in a control group of 53 patients with coronary artery disease. Anxiety disorders were common at all three interviews, with panic disorder (15% of patients) the most common current diagnosis at final follow-up. Current somatoform disorders were diagnosed in 9 patients (22%), and 11 (27 %) reported previous episodes of major depression. Psychological morbidity was associated with continuing chest pain, which was reported in 74% of patients, and with ongoing functional incapacity. These findings suggest that, in a sub-group of these patients, psychological factors contribute in part to the development of chest pain and other physical symptoms, and are also important in maintaining the disorder over long periods. Further research is now required to identify more fully the nature of these psychological factors, and how they interact with cardiac and non-cardiac physical pathology. There is also an urgent need to examine the clinical and economic benefits of specific psychological interventions.
Smooth pursuit performance in patients with affective disorders or schizophrenia and normal controls: analysis with specific oculomotor measures, RMS error and qualitative ratings
Authors: Friedman L. , Jesberger J. A. , Siever L. J. , Thompson P. , Mohs R. , Meltzer H. Y. 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisSmooth pursuit performance in schizophrenia and affective disorders has generally been found to be abnormal using a variety of measures. The purpose of this study was to assess patients with these disorders and normal controls in order to compare the different measures across diagnoses. Smooth pursuit was assessed using quantitative specific measures (gain, catch-up saccade rate and amplitude, square-wave jerk rate, number of anticipatory saccades and total time scored), as well as two global measures: root mean-square error (RMS) and qualitative rating. As previously reported, patients with schizophrenia had low gain, increased catch-up saccade rate and spent less time engaged in scoreable smooth pursuit than normal controls. Patients with affective disorders were not statistically different from controls on any of these measures, and had significantly higher gain than patients with schizophrenia. RMS error and qualitative rating measures were highly correlated (r = 0·87). In linear regression analyses, the quantitative specific measures were highly significant predictors of both RMS error and qualitative ratings (P < 0·0001). Linear regression analyses and a modelling study indicated that one quantitative specific measure, the percent of time engaged in scoreable smooth pursuit (total time scored), was most related to global ratings. However, RMS error and qualitative ratings were less sensitive than total time scored to the difference between controls and patients with schizophrenia. These data indicate two smooth pursuit performance deficits in schizophrenia: patients spend less time engaged in scoreable smooth pursuit and have low gain (accompanied by increased compensatory saccades) when the smooth pursuit is engaged.
Puberty, sexual milestones and abuse: how are they related in eating disorder patients?
Authors: Schmidt U. , Evans K. , Tiller J. , Treasure J. 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisIn order to assess the relationship between pubertal development, sexual milestones and childhood sexual abuse in women with eating disorders, 44 patients with restricting anorexia nervosa (RAN), 26 with bulimic anorexia nervosa (BAN), 29 with bulimia nervosa and also with a history of anorexia nervosa (BN/HistAN), and 69 with bulimia nervosa but without a history of anorexia nervosa (BN) completed questionnaires on pubertal and sexual development and unpleasant sexual experiences. Forty-four female college students completed the sexual development questionnaire only. Different eating disorder groups were found to be similar in terms of their pubertal development. All eating disorder groups showed delays in aspects of their psychosexual development (age at first kiss, masturbation, genital fondling and first sexual intercourse) compared with the control group, although to a different degree.The RAN group was delayed on almost all sexual milestones whereas the other groups were delayed on only some. On some variables, most noticeably on first sexual intercourse, restricters also were more delayed than the other eating disorder groups. Similarly, the median number of sexual partners differed significantly between groups (RAN = 1, BAN = 2, BN/HistAN = 4, BN = 4, controls = 5, P < 0·0001). Eating disorder patients, in particular RAN patients, were less positive about sexual relationships than controls, but did not differ from controls in attitudes to masturbation, marriage, children or pregnancy. Of the eating disorder patients 22−31% had been sexually abused during childhood. A history of abuse affected attitudes to masturbation, but did not appear to affect sexual development.
The stability of the Ways of Coping (Revised) Questionnaire over time in parents of children with Down's syndrome: a research note
Authors: Hatton C. , Knussen C. , Sloper P. , Turner S. 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisThe stability of the Ways of Coping (Revised) Questionnaire over time was assessed by comparing the scores of 68 mothers and 53 fathers of school-aged children with Down's syndrome over a 3-year time interval on the five coping strategy subscales described by Knussen et al. (1992). For this analysis, mothers' and fathers' scores were analysed separately. It was shown by t tests that mothers' and fathers' scores on the coping strategy subscales had not significantly changed over the three-year period. Time 1 and Time 2 scores on all of the coping subscales were strongly positively associated, with the exception of fathers' scores on the Stoicism subscale. Test–retest reliability was adequate for all subscales except mothers' scores on the Passive Acceptance subscale and fathers' scores on the Stoicism subscale. These results, by demonstrating the stability of the Ways of Coping (Revised) Questionnaire over a 3-year time period, further illustrate the utility of this instrument for investigating coping in families with special problems.
What happened to the growth spurt of nineteenth-century adolescents? An essay on the history of a scientific omission
Authors: Vandereycken Walter , Deth Ron Van 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisIt is common knowledge that puberty is characterized, among other phenomena, by a striking growth spurt. An exploration of the medical literature from previous centuries shows, however, that this feature of adolescence has attracted surprisingly little attention. Although the pubertal growth spurt was known to eighteenth-century physicians, it was neglected for about a century. The influential Belgian scientist Quetelet demonstrated a remarkable scotoma towards the phenomenon. It was only after his death in 1874 that the relationship between puberty and growth spurt became a scientifically established and recognized fact.
Reduced plasma oestrogen stimulated neurophysin and delayed response to oestrogen challenge in Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Christie Janice , Hunter Robert , Bennie John , Wilson Helen , Carroll Sheena , Fink George 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisPlasma concentrations of oestrogen stimulated neurophysin (ESN) were reduced in 28 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) compared with 14 age-matched controls, 16 patients with other presenile dementias and 12 patients with major depressive disorder. The ESN response to oestrogen challenge was delayed in 10 AD patients compared with 7 age-matched controls. Reduced basal and oestrogen stimulated plasma ESN may be related to impaired responsiveness of the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial neurons and/or a reduction in the amount of pituitary ESN available for release. Plasma ESN measurements may be of value for excluding the diagnosis of AD in patients with dementia who present before the age of 65.
Dieting reduces plasma tryptophan and alters brain 5-HT function in women
Authors: Anderson I. M. , Parry-Billings M. , Newsholme E. A. , Fairburn C. G. , Cowen P. J. 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisA three week low calorie diet significantly reduced both total plasma tryptophan and the ratio of tryptophan to competing amino acids in a group of 15 healthy volunteers. Despite a similar percentage weight loss the reduction in plasma tryptophan was greater in women than men. In addition, only in women was dieting associated with increased prolactin secretion following intravenous tryptophan, a measure of brain 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) function. These results suggest that dieting reduces the availability of circulating tryptophan for brain 5-HT synthesis. Women appear more vulnerable than men both to this effect and to its consequences for brain 5-HT function. Altered brain 5-HT function may play a part in some of the psychological consequences of dieting, including the development of clinical eating disorders.
The relationship between intellectual impairment and mood disorder in the first year after stroke
Authors: House Allan , Dennis Martin , Warlow Charles , Hawton Keith , Molyneux Andy 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisIn a community-based study of patients with a first-ever stroke, intellectual impairment (as denned by scores on a common screening test for dementia, the Mini-Mental State Examination) was found in 26% at 1 month post-stroke, and in 21% at 6 and 12 month follow-up. Low scores on the screening test were associated with greater age, physical disability before the stroke, larger stroke lesion volumes as measured on CT scan, and non-stroke changes such as atrophy and white matter low attenuation on the CT scan. There was a negative correlation between scores on the Mini-Mental State Examination and symptom levels on two measures of mood disorder. However, there was no evidence of a specific relationship between major depression and low scores on the Mini-Mental State. We examined various aspects of the relationship between mood symptoms and low scores on the Mini-Mental State, but found no evidence to support the suggestion that this relationship represented an example of depressive pseudodementia. We discuss the significance of our findings for clinical psychiatry and neuropsychology.
Subjective utility ratings of neuroleptics in treating schizophrenia
Authors: Finn Stephen E. , Bailey J. Michael , Schultz Robert T. , Faber Raymond 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisThis study developed a method for measuring subjective costs and benefits of psychiatric treatments. Forty-one patients rated the relative bothersomeness of symptoms of schizophrenia and side effects of neuroleptics. Thirty-four psychiatrists made parallel ratings from the perspective of the average patient (individual utility) and of the patient's family and society (institutional utility). Psychiatrists predicted patients' ratings moderately well, but misjudged the bothersomeness to patients of 24% of side effects and 20% of symptoms. When considering the patient's perspective, both schizophrenic patients and psychiatrists rated symptoms as no more bothersome than side effects. However, psychiatrists saw side effects as significantly less bothersome than symptoms when considering costs to society. The subjective utility of neuroleptic medications for schizophrenia is most justifiable from an institutional perspective.
Do statistics lie? Suicide in Kildare – and in Ireland
Authors: Walsh Dermot , Cullen Ann , Cullivan Rachel , O'donnell Brendan 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisThis study, reporting a ten-year investigation of suicide in Kildare, found that the suicide rate based on clinical assessment of coroner's records was very close to the Central Statistics Office (CSO) figure for Kildare and for Ireland as a whole for the same period. Dublin data for 1977–1981 confirmed these findings. Since in the 1960s similar clinical assessment concluded that CSO rates underestimated suicide by a factor of two or over, we believe that changes in CSO coding procedures whereby more deaths are now coded to suicide than was the case in the past have resulted in current CSO data reflecting accurately the rate of clinical suicide. There has been more than a three-fold increase in CSO suicide rates in Ireland between 1968 and 1987. Even allowing for improved CSO practices there still remains a considerable excess of suicide deaths which indicates a doubling of ‘real’ suicide in Ireland over these twenty years.
The Gospel Oak Study stage II: the diagnosis of dementia in the community
Authors: Livingston Gill , Sax Karen , Willison Jo , Blizard Bob , Mann Anthony 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisAn attempt was made to assess in detail subjects screened as suffering from dementia among a North London community sample of elderly people. Forty-eight (80 %) subjects were interviewed, 7 (12%) were found to have died and 5 (8%) either refused interview or were lost to follow-up. By clinicians' diagnosis of the 48 interviewed, 22 subjects (46%) had probable Alzheimer's disease, one had multi-infarct dementia, five had mixed dementia, five had secondary dementia, 10 had a dementia which could not be further classified and 5 were not demented. No subject had a reversible condition. The prevalence rate for clinical dementia was 6·1 %, and for Alzheimer's disease 3·1 %. According to AGECAT diagnosis the prevalence of organicity was 5·7%. The AGECAT diagnoses and psychiatrists' diagnoses were significantly associated (P < 0·003) and AGECAT was more likely to identify as organic those subjects with dementia diagnosed by psychiatrists as Alzheimer's disease, than those not so diagnosed (P < 0·04). A short psychometric battery, including the MMSE in two versions, was administered and its acceptability to a community sample evaluated. This detailed clinical investigation showed that the Dementia Diagnostic Scale of the Short-CARE was a specific predictor of clinical dementia or death at the time of follow-up, whereas the more inclusive Organic Brain Syndrome scale was a more satisfactory first phase screening instrument.
Costing mental health services
Authors: Knapp Martin , Beecham Jeni 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisIn this paper four principal topics are addressed: (a) the policy and political contexts in which demands arise for cost information; (b) the nature and phasing of those demands; (c) the basic rules of empirical costs research for meeting those demands; and (d) concomitant implications for the design, execution and interpretation of their research. Mental health care policy or practice changes which ignore costs, or which embody cost information without obeying or recognizing the four basic rules, can only be of dubious validity, or can only be used to answer a limited range of questions. But, as the illustrative studies show, it need not be an horrendous, or ideologically compromising or scientifically complex task to add a cost dimension to the evaluation of mental health services. There are enough examples in the literature of bad costs research to demonstrate that it is not as simple as some people think, but there are also enough examples of good research t o encourage further attempts.
Acculturation and psychiatric disorder: a study of Greek Cypriot immigrants
Authors: Mavreas Venos , Bebbington Paul 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisData are presented from a study of acculturation and psychiatric disorder in 291 Greek Cypriot immigrants from the general population of Camberwell, south London. We hypothesized that ‘pre-acculturation’ would protect against mental disorder, that difficulties in the period immediately after migration would increase the risk of disorder, and that disorder would be least common among those in the middle range of the acculturation spectrum.Of pre-acculturation factors, only previous knowledge of English was associated with reduced prevalence. Difficulties in the settling-in period were clearly related to current disorder. No relationship was apparent between present acculturation and disorder, but this disguised an interesting but unpredicted gender effect: in males, disorder was most prevalent in the highly acculturated; in females, in the least acculturated.
Random number generation by normal, alcoholic and schizophrenic subjects
Authors: Rosenberg Stewart , Weber Neville , Crocq Marc-Antoine , Duval Fabrice , Macher Jean-Paul 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisControls (N= 45), schizophrenics (N= 20) and alcoholics (N=23) were asked to choose at random a number between 1 and 10, 100 times. The correlation matrices of five different randomization indices were used to studywithingroup variation; these matrices were similar for the normal and alcoholic groups, but very different for the schizophrenic group. The differencesbetweenthe three groups were studied by canonical analysis and, in terms of the canonical variables, the mean performance of the normal group is clearly discriminated from that of the alcoholic and schizophrenic subjects.
Relatives and depressive relapse: the critical period after discharge from in-patient treatment
Authors: Veiel Hans O. F. , Kühner Christine 
Published: July 2009

SynopsisIn a sample of 60 remitted depressed in-patients, the power of three basic parameters of the social support network – Kin Support Network Size; Non-kin Support Network Size; and Satisfaction with Support – to predict depressive symptom levels seven months after discharge was examined. The results suggest that even positive, supportive family relationships can have a distinctly detrimental effect, and that a depressed in-patient's return to his or her family represents a crucial period for the further course of the disorder. The findings are discussed with respect to the social support literature and the ‘Expressed Emotion’ concept. It is held that neither paradigm provides an adequate explanation, and alternative mediating mechanisms are suggested.
The validity and reliability of the fatigue syndrome that follows glandular fever
Authors: White P. D. , Grover S. A. , Kangro H. O. , Thomas J. M. , Amess J. , Clare A. W. 
Published: July 2009

SYNOPSISThe validity and reliability of an empirically defined fatigue syndrome were tested in a prospective cohort study of 245 primary care patients, with glandular fever or an upper respiratory tract infection. Subjects were interviewed three times in the 6 months after onset. Subjects with the empirically defined fatigue syndrome were compared with those who were well and those who had a psychiatric disorder.The validity of the fatigue syndrome was supported, separate from psychiatric disorders in general and depressive disorders in particular. Only 16% of subjects with the principal component derived fatigue factor also met criteria for a psychiatric disorder (excluding pre-morbid phobias). Compared with subjects with psychiatric disorders, subjects with the operationally defined fatigue syndrome reported more severe physical fatigue, especially after exertion, were just as socially incapacitated, had fewer mental state abnormalities, and showed little overlap on independent questionnaires. A more mild fatigue state also existed. Both the fatigue syndrome and state were more reliable diagnoses over time than depressive disorders. The empirically defined fatigue syndrome probably is a valid and reliable condition in the 6 months following glandular fever.
The General Health Questionnaire: how many items are really necessary in population surveys?
Authors: Jacobsen B. K. , Hasvold T. , Høyer G. , Hansen V. 
Published: July 2009

SYNOPSISThis paper seeks to investigate whether only a few questions selected from the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) may be used to measure the degree of mental distress in population surveys. Data from 2112 men and women, 18 to 70 years old from two cross-sectional studies conducted in northern Norway and the island of Spitzbergen in the Arctic, were used. Correlation analysis of Likert scores from a 20-item version of GHQ (GHQ-20) with Likert scores based on four and six items selected by multiple regression analysis or by competent physicians was performed. The correlation coefficients between the scores from the subsets of four items and the full GHQ-20 questionnaire were high (greater than 0·80) in all examined subgroups of the populations. Increasing the number of questions from four to six only marginally increased the correlation coefficients. Thus, a simple linear sum of Likert scores based on a few GHQ items can be used to measure the degree of mental distress in population surveys.
The management of non-compliance with referral to out-patient after-care among attempted suicide patients: a controlled intervention study
Authors: Van Heeringen C. , Jannes S. , Buylaert W. , Henderick H. , De Bacquer D. , Van Remoortel J. 
Published: July 2009

SYNOPSISThe failure to comply with referral for out-patient after-care is a well-documented problem among attempted suicide patients. The present study aimed at the investigation of an experimental referral procedure by means of a randomized controlled study. Non-compliant patients in the experimental group were visited in their homes by a community nurse in order to assess reasons for non-compliance and to motivate patients to comply with referral. One year after their suicide attempt patients were visited in their homes in order to assess repetition of suicidal behaviour. Uni-and multi-variate analyses showed a significant beneficial effect of the experimental procedure on compliance with referral. A near-significant effect of the experimental procedure on the rate of repetition of suicidal behaviour was found.
The role of social support in HIV infection
Authors: Nott K. H. , Vedhara K. , Power M. J. 
Published: July 2009

SYNOPSISA study was carried out in a group of 91 HIV positive gay men to investigate the relationship between social support, measures of affect and health; the changing nature of support over time; and the causal direction of this relationship. Overall levels of support for this group were found to be moderately high and consistent over 6 months and were associated with greater psychological well-being. Individuals in receipt of quantitatively different levels of support were found to differ on measures of depression, stress, coping efficacy and self-esteem, while individuals in receipt of deficient levels of support were found to be more depressed. However, initial support levels were found to be the most powerful predictors of subsequent support levels. The implications of these findings are discussed.
The families of anorexia nervosa and cystic fibrosis patients
Authors: Blair C. , Freeman C. , Cull A. 
Published: July 2009

SYNOPSISThe objective of the study was to determine whether the families of anorexia nervosa (AN) patients were more dysfunctional than those of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients and well controls. Data were collected from self-report questionnaires, from an interview rated for Expressed Emotion (EE) and from direct observation of a family problem solving task which was rated for evidence of Minuchin's ‘psychosomatic family’ dimensions. A total of 87 families participated. Most self-report measures of family functioning did not distinguish between groups. There were no differences in levels of EE criticism. AN and CF households showed more EE emotional over-involvement than did the well households. Over-involvement correlated with illness severity. More households in the AN group were enmeshed, over-protective and poor at problem solving than in the CF and well groups. Minuchin's conceptualization of the anorexia nervosa family was partly supported.