bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nonspecific psychological distress, psychosocial stressors and delusional psychosis
Authors: Jørgensen P. , Aagaard J. , Jespersen J. Hjermind , Mortensen L. 
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— The purpose of the study was to examine patients with delusional psychosis regarding characteristic personality traits as illustrated by nonspecific psychological distress, and psychosocial stress prior to onset of the psychosis. The design of the study was a comparison of first‐admitted psychiatric patients with delusional psychosis and psychiatrically symptom free surgical controls.Patients with delusional psychosis reported significantly more psychosocial stress than controls during the 3 months prior to admission. They also reported significantly higher mean values than controls on the subscales named poor self‐esteem, helplessness‐hopelessness, dread, sadness, anxiety and approval of rule breaking on the schedule of nonspecific psychological distress.In discriminating patients with delusional psychosis and surgical controls, approval of rule breaking, helplessness‐hopelessness, and severity of psychosocial stressors were the most informative variables.Patients with delusional psychosis will be followed up in order to analyze if nonspecific psychological distress and psychosocial stressors are of importance for the prediction of the course and the outcome.
Mental health in the population approaching retirement age
Authors: Mattila V. , Joukamaa M. , Salokangas R.K.R. 
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— The present paper deals with a Finnish long‐term prospective study, the objective of which is to shed light on adjustment to retirement and old age. In this phase, only the preliminary findings of the initial survey carried out in 1982 are available. For the purposes of the study, a random sample of 200 individuals was drawn from among Turku inhabitants born in 1920. Another sample, consisting of 189 persons of the same age, was drawn from rural municipalities in the neighborhood of Turku. An extensive structured psychosocial interview could be conducted with a total of 339 subjects. The research methods used included e.g. the 36‐item version of Goldberg's General Health Questionnaire (GHQ).Relatively little mental disturbance was revealed in the interview, and no major differences occurred between the urban and the rural sample. Somewhat over one‐third of both samples were probable psychiatric cases as defined according to the GHQ.
Schizophrenia:
Authors: Bland R. C. , Newman S. C. , Orn H. 
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT— Twenty persons with schizophrenia were identified in a community sample of 2144 adult household residents interviewed by trained lay interviewers using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule. The hierarchy‐free lifetime prevalence for a variety of psychiatric disorders is compared in those with and without schizophrenia. Those with schizophrenia were found to have increased chances of having other disorders, all except one having had at least one other disorder. Major depressive episodes, obsessive compulsive disorder, phobia, alcohol abuse/dependence and drug abuse/dependence, each occurred in over half of the schizophrenics, and panic disorder, antisocial personality, and mania were each found in one sixth to one quarter of the schizophrenics.Although current diagnostic systems generally lack an empirical basis for hierarchies, the practical significance of co‐morbidity must be determined from outcome studies, familial morbid risk data and possible differential effects of treatments.
Schizoaffective disorder: A dimensional approach
Authors: Yasamy M. T. 
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACTThe current categorical approach has not proved successful in resolving the problem of classifying patients with both affective and schizophrenic features. A dimensional approach is suggested; postulating two interacting factors; “dissociotaxia”, a neurointegrative abnormality; and “hyperactivation”, an abnormality in activation regulation. The latter factor can convert dissociotaxia to associative dyscontrol and produce mixed schizoaffective features. Clinical‐phenomenological, prognostic, genetic‐familial, treatment response and biological evidence is reconsidered from this standpoint; and the preferability of the dimensional approach is suggested, both for understanding the underlying psychopathology, and for constructing a different classification system, extensible to other areas of psychiatry.
Regional brain glucose metabolism in drug free schizophrenic patients and clinical correlates
Authors: Wiesel F. A. , Wik G. , Sjögren I. , Blomqvist G. , Greitz T. , Stone‐Elander S. 
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACTRegional brain glucose metabolism was investigated in healthy volunteers (n= 10) and in drug free schizophrenic patients (n= 20). The metabolism was determined by positron emission tomography (PET) with 11C‐glucose as the tracer. Diagnosis of schizophrenia was made according to RDC and DSM III. Eight patients had their first psychotic episode, four patients had a subchronic course and eight patients had a chronic course with an exacerberation of their illness. Computed tomography (CT) of the brain were made in all the subjects. Regions of interest (n= 35) were drawn on displayed CT images and the marked regions were transferred to the corresponding slice of the PET examination. The PET investigation was made in a dimly lit, quiet room with the eyes of the subject covered. The time course of the 11C‐glucose uptake was measured by a four ring PET scanner (PC‐384‐7B).Metabolic rates of glucose varied greatly among the schizophrenic patients investigated. The variance was significantly greater than that of the controls in most regions. Decreases in mean levels of metabolic rates were related to patients with subchronic or chronic courses. Changes in metabolism were not related to previous duration of neuroleptic treatment of the patients. Left‐right asymmetries were found in the temporal lobe (area 22) and the basal frontal cortex (area 11), the metabolic rates of the patients being lower on the left side compared to the controls. Asymmetry of the metabolic rate of the amygdala in hebephrenic patients was the opposite of that found in paranoid patients and controls. Negative correlations between regional metabolic rates and autistic or negative symptoms were found. Thus, the lower the metabolic rate was, the more autistic the patient. Metabolic rates were not correlated to atrophic changes of the brain.No basis for a specific alteration in frontal cortical metabolism of schizophrenics was obtained. Changes in regional metabolic rates in schizophrenia are suggested to reflect disturbances in more general mechanisms which are of importance in neuronal function.
Staff observation aggression scale, SOAS: Presentation and evaluation
Authors: Palmstierna T. , Wistedt B. 
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACTA new psychiatric report and rating scale assessing severity and frequency of aggressive behaviour is presented and evaluated. It is based on the staff's standardized reports of aggressive incidents. By using a special aggression report form, comprehensive and standardized information is obtained, thereby permitting scoring and further analysis of different aspects of aggressive incidents. The reliability of scoring is tested and found to be good as is the scale's capacity to discriminate between different patterns of aggressive behaviour in different groups of patients. As a result of this and because of the simplicity of the scale, it is thought to be a potentially useful tool in scientific research on aggressive behaviour from psychiatric inpatients.
Social networks, social support and the type of depressive illness
Authors: Brugha T. , Bebbington P. E. , MacCarthy B. , Potter J. , Sturt E. , Wykes T. 
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACTWe hypothesised that there would be greater deficiencies in the quality and quantity of close personal relationship and social support in “neurotic” than in “endogenous” depressives, and that the relation between support and recovery would be stronger in the former. One hundred and thirty men and women who contacted hospital psychiatric services with depression were interviewed, and 119 (92%) reinterviewed after approximately 4 months. The association between the type of depression and deficiencies in social relationship was not impressive. However, differences were apparent in the prognostic implications of social relationship. For “neurotic” depressives, about half the social support variables assessed were significantly related to outcome, whereas the only significant predictor for “endogenous” cases was the presence of a close confidant. The results argue for further research on social support in clinical samples of acute depression.
Pharmacology of the benzodiazepines; with special emphasis on alprazolam
Authors: Söderpalm Bo 
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACTDifferent aspects on the structure‐activity relationships, the pharmacokinetic and the pharmacodynamic properties of the benzodiazepines (BDZs) are briefly outlined, followed by a more thorough description of the current hypothesis on the mode of action of these drugs, focusing on the supramolecular GABA‐BDZ‐chloride‐ionophore receptor complex. The existence of different synthetic ligands for the receptor exerting opposite effects is discussed together with the recent finding in mammals of an endogenous ligand with anxiogenic‐like effects. The possibility of the anxiolytic effects of the BDZs being related to actions on monoaminergic systems is also briefly mentioned. A new group of BDZs, the triazolo‐BDZs, is described. One of these compounds, alprazolam (APZ), exhibits a different clinical profile as compared to traditional BDZs. Apart from being effective in the treatment of generalized anxiety, it has been proven effective also in the treatment of panic disorder. Some studies also indicate anti‐depressant effects of the compound. The reason for these apparent unique effects of APZ is not clear.A brief description of a commonly applied animal model (the Vogel conflict model) for the study of anxiety‐related mechanisms is given and original animal data from experiments aiming at elucidating the mechanism behind the anti‐panic effect of APZ are presented. The results indicate that tolerance to different pharmacodynamic effects of APZ and the traditional BDZ diazepam (DIZ) develop to different extents. Thus, tolerance development to the ataxic/sedative effects of APZ was pronounced, whereas no significant tolerance developed to the anxiolytic‐like effects. For DIZ, however, tolerance development was pronounced to both the anxiolytic‐like and the ataxic/sedative effects. Hence, in the rat, the “therapeutic range” with regard to anxiolytic‐like effects is more favourable for APZ than for DIZ after long‐term treatment. Evidence for the possibility of a similar mechanism also in man has been reported. It is suggested that the efficacy of APZ, in contrast to DIZ, on panic disorder seems due to the former drug possessing more anxiolytic potency in relation to its side‐effects at long‐term treatment, hence enabling a sufficient increment of the dosage applied.
A model of panic and agoraphobic development
Authors: Klein Donald F. , Gorman Jack M. 
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT‐A model for the development of agoraphobia with panic attacks is proposed. The initiating clinical manifestation is the sudden appearance of spontaneous panic. The inter‐panic chronic anxiety may have several components: i.e. conditioning, increasing autonomic distress, and sensitization to the panic leading to avoidance. The illness course is quite variable but usually chronic. The spontaneous panic is blocked by imipramine with primary pharmacological anti‐panic effects. However, no direct effect of imipramine upon either anticipatory anxiety or avoidance behaviour is hypothesized. Among the psychotherapies, direct in vivo exposure mobilizes the patient more rapidly than office based therapy. Our data are consonant with the theory that the avoidances of agoraphobia are secondary to spontaneous panic attacks, and that the primary benefits of imipramine and exposure therapy are in their respective effects on panic and avoidance. Moreover, laboratory challenge studies, brain imaging studies, and genetic studies all point to a biological diathesis for panic disorder.
Crime and the schizophrenia spectrum: a diathesis‐stress model
Authors: Silverton L. 
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACTPrevious studies support a relationship between schizophrenia and antisocial behavior. In the present study, offspring of schizophrenics showed a greater degree of antisocial behavior than did offspring of parents without psycho‐pathology. The present study clarifies the interplay between risk for schizophrenia and developmental factors in determining antisocial behavior. Those variables which distinguished high‐risk criminal behavior from high‐risk non‐criminal behavior were irritability and shortened attention span in infancy, paternal absence during ages 15 to 17, lower WAIS Verbal IQ, impoverished neighborhood, family discord and negative attitude towards father. In a multiple regression analysis, paternal absence in adolescence, shortness of attention span, and low Verbal IQ each contributed a unique portion of the variance in antisocial behavior. A block of interaction terms (Stressor X Risk) did not contribute a significant portion of the variance in antisocial behavior, suggesting that those factors which predict antisocial behavior in the high‐risk group are the same factors which predict antisocial behavior in the low‐risk group. In addition, a significant portion of the variance in phenotypic outcome (criminal vs. schizophrenic) was accounted for by passivity in infancy (predictive of schizophrenia) and low Verbal IQ (more common in high‐risk criminals). Shortened attention spans in infancy were found to precede both criminal behavior and schizophrenia in this sample. This feature may therefore indicate a genetic vulnerability to schizophrenia.
Mothers of primary school children with Down's syndrome
Authors: Ryde‐Brandt B. 
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACTThe occurrence of anxiety or depression, experience of social support and feelings about the family situation were evaluated in 13 mothers of children of primary school age with Down's syndrome (DS). The results were compared with those obtained in a group of 13 females engaged in taking care of these children and assisting their families. Questionnaires were used to assess feelings of depression or anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), to evaluate social support (Interview Schedule for Social Interaction) and the family situation (Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale). A semi‐structured interview with the mothers was also conducted. The results indicated that negative feelings at the birth of a child with DS had almost invariably changed in a positive direction. Experience of depression or anxiety was uncommon. Social and emotional contacts were quantitatively normal, although more empathy was often desired. The families were relatively often described as enmeshed and controlled, but the experience of the family situation was generally positive.
Neurotransmitters, receptors and neuropeptides in post‐mortem brains of chronic schizophrenic patients
Authors: Toru M. , Watanabe S. , Shibuya H. , Nishikawa T. , Noda K. , Mitsushio H. , Ichikawa H. , Kurumaji A. , Takashima M. , Mataga N. , Ogawa A. 
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACTIn the analysis of post‐mortem brains of 14 chronic schizophrenic patients and 10 controls, biochemical evidence of a hyperdopaminergic state was found in the basal ganglia of schizophrenics; tyrosine hydroxylase activity was increased with a concomitant increase of homovanillic acid. Unusually high tyrosine hydroxylase activity was noted in 2 schizophrenic cases. The Bmaxvalue of3H‐spiperone binding for schizophrenics was higher than the controls. We also found increased specific binding of3H‐kainic acid to the prefrontal cortex in schizophrenics. A negative correlation existed between3H‐kainic acid binding in the medial frontal cortex, and glutamic acid content in various brain areas. Increased immunoreactivity of substance P was found in more than ten brain areas. Methionineenkephalin was also increased in three areas of the prefrontal cortex of schizophrenics. These results suggest that the hyperdopaminergic state co‐existed with glutamatergic hypofunction and increased neuropeptides in various brain areas of chronic schizophrenic patients.
Imipramine binding in depressive patients diagnosed according to different criteria
Authors: Plenge P. , Mellerup E. T. , Gjerris A. 
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT 3H‐imipramine binding to platelet membranes, Bmax and KD, was measured in depressed patients, who were divided into endogenous and non‐endogenous depression according to three different criteria, the ICD‐9, the Newcastle I and the Newcastle II rating scales. Two groups served as controls, a group of healthy volunteers and a group of psychiatric patients suffering from schizophrenia or senile dementia. No significant differences were found in either Bmax or in KD among the different groups of patients and the control groups.
Clinical course and outcome of cycloid psychotic disorder: a three‐year prospective study
Authors: Maj M. 
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACTThe course and outcome of cycloid psychotic disorder was explored by means of a prospective three‐year follow‐up of a sample of patients fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for the disorder provided by Perris & Brockington, compared to patients with a diagnosis of affective or schizoaffective disorder. The most striking difference between cycloids and affectives was the lack of manic episodes during the follow‐up period in the former group. Moreover, the mean age at onset was lower in cycloids. No difference between these patient groups was observed with regard to outcome. Compared to schizoaffectives, cycloids showed several differences in the clinical picture during the index episode, and their symptomatological pattern was more consistent from one episode to another during the follow‐up. Moreover, the outcome of cycloids was significantly more favourable than that of schizodepres‐sives.
Pain in non‐psychotic psychiatric patients: life events, symptomatology and personality traits
Authors: Jensen J. 
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACTOccurrence of pain was investigated in 73 non‐psychotic psychiatric inpatients; 75% had been bothered by pain within the last 3 months and about half of these had pain every day. Pain was most frequent in patients with neurosis and personality disorder. The occurrence of pain was significantly associated with unskilled work, but was not related to experience of social stress. Patients with pain reported more anxiety and hostile feelings and had a higher degree of somatic anxiety and muscular tension, thus attaching importance to anxiety‐induced muscle spasm as a pain‐mediating mechanism. A specific relationship between pain and depression was not supported.
Group therapy with schizophrenic patients in outpatient departments
Authors: Wode‐Helgodt B. , Berg G. , Petterson U. , Rydelius P.‐A. , Trollehed H. 
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACTTwelve schizophrenic patients were treated with neuroleptic drugs and psychoanalytically oriented group therapy during a period of 2 years. Twelve other patients, matched with regard to the state of their disease, sex, age, civil status and social situation, were given neuroleptic drugs and contact therapy during the same period. All patients were evaluated by the same test procedures. The Rorschach test, the Defence Mechanism Test (DMT), interviews and a self‐evaluation test, were performed before and after 2 years of treatment. The dates of discharge, number of days in hospital and neuroleptic drugs prescribed were recorded for all patients over a 2‐year period before, during and after treatment. Half of the patients improved, regardless of the treatment they received. No evaluation instrument used before the start of treatment could predict the patients who later improved. After 2 years of treatment, it was assessed that the patients who improved required a further period of insight therapy.
Withdrawal reactions to diazepam in combined imipramine/diazepam treatment of primary nonagitated depressed outpatients
Authors: Feet P. O. , Larsen S. , Lillevold P. E. , Robak O. H. 
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACTTwenty‐seven outpatients who had primary nonagitated depression that had been treated for 3.5 months with imipramine were included in the study. Of these, 14 patients were given additional diazepam treatment (10 mg/day) and 13 patients got placebo. The additional medication was stopped, and withdrawal reactions were observed after two weeks. The depression scores (both global evaluation and CPRS) increased significantly in the diazepam group, without any changes in the placebo group. Eleven patients in the diazepam group and four in the placebo group reported their condition as impaired after discontinuing their additional medication. Four patients in the placebo group and none in the diazepam group reported improvement. The level of working activity decreased significantly in the diazepam group and increased in the placebo group. The serum level of imipramine decreased in the placebo group (P= 0.07), but not in the diazepam group. Serum levels of desipramine decreased significantly in both groups (P < 0.05). Our study indicates that the discontinuation of diazepam, even when given in moderate dosage over a relatively short period of time, may cause withdrawal reactions in combined anti‐depressant/diazepam treatment. This may be caused by a possible tendency for the depression to become chronic. Such chronicity may be the reason for secondary dependency to diazepam.
DSM‐III symptom disorders (Axis I) and personality disorders (Axis II) in an outpatient population
Authors: Alnæs R. , Torgersen S. 
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACTType and prevalence of Axis I and Axis II disorders (DSM‐III) were assessed in a sample of 298 consecutive psychiatric outpatients. The instruments used were SCID and SIDP. About half of the Axis I diagnoses consisted of different subgroups of depression. Most patients had more than one diagnosis, anxiety being the second most common disorder. Eighty one percent of the subjects met the criteria for a personality disorder diagnosis; half of them obtained more than one Axis II diagnosis. Personality disorder was more common among men than among women. Avoidant and dependent personality disorders constituted the most frequent diagnoses.
Treatment of a mild form of neuroleptic malignant syndrome with oral diazepam
Authors: Kontaxakis V. P. , Christodoulou G. N. , Markidis M. P. , Havaki‐Kontaxaki B. J. 
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACTA mild form of neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) in a schizophrenic patient who was receiving a depot neuroleptic is described and beneficial response to oral diazepam 50 mg daily is reported.
Correlates of addiction‐related problems in Kuwait: a cross‐cultural view
Authors: Bilal A. M. 
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACTThe promise of adopting a valid and reliable tool for diagnosing addiction‐related problems is offered by the Addiction Severity Index (ASI). Socially determined admissions and poor treatment facilities may have biased the representativeness of our sample, though methodological difficulties were minimal. The ASI was used to evaluate 120 hospitalized addicts in Kuwait's only addiction unit, categorized according to their primary drug of abuse: 61% were alcoholics and 39% drug addicts. Examination of ASI composite scores showed no difference between the two patient groups except in their corresponding problem area of substance abuse. ASI composite scores were similar to the interviewer's severity ratings. Intercorrelations between scores for different problem areas were low. The validity of ASI in diagnosing these problems was unquestionable, but the cross‐cultural significance of some problem areas is doubtful.