bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Validity of the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale
Authors: Biggs John T. , Wylie Laurence T. , Ziegler Vincent E. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryThe Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (ZSDS) correlated well (0·69) with the treating physician's global rating in 26 depressed out-patients during the six weeks of treatment with a tricyclic antidepressant. In a larger sample of 41 patients, a high correlation was found between the ZSDS and the Hamilton Rating Scale. The sensitivity of the ZSDS was found to be adequate. The scale was able to differentiate, at the 0·05 level, four severity groups classified on the basis of the global rating. The importance of the direct relationship between the range of severity studied and the value of the correlation coefficient was discussed. Previous investigations and the results of this study indicate that the ZSDS is a valid and sensitive measure of clinical severity in depressed patients and support its continued use as a research instrument.
Social Deviance in a Day Hospital
Authors: Watts Fraser N. , Bennett D. H. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryA search was made of records available for 65 non-psychotic patients referred to a psychiatric day hospital. Assessments were made of whether they had shown various specified types of deviant social conduct, such detailed objective surveys of social conduct being regarded as superior to the use of concepts such as ‘psychopathic personality’. The correlational structures of the areas of deviance produced four factors, i.e. deviant family roles, poor social integration, violence, and a more heterogeneous antisocial behaviour factor.The relationship was examined between areas of deviance and indices of the course and outcome of day hospital admission. The prognostic significance of social deviance was different for men and women; for example, only men showed a correlation between the number of areas of social deviance and the outcome of day hospital admissions. Violence and poor social integration showed no relation to outcome at all. It is suggested that there is no basis for excluding such patients from day hospitals on the assumption that they are less likely to be helped than other non-psychotic patients.
The Effects of Methadone Maintenance with Opioid Takers: A Review and Some Findings from One British City
Authors: Paxton Roger , Mullin Patrick , Beattie Jack 
Published: August 2008

SummaryVarious benefits claimed for methadone maintenance in the treatment of opioid drug takers are reviewed. It is said to stop illicit drug use, maintain treatment contact, reduce morbidity, mortality and crime, and improve social adjustment. Little firm evidence is found to support these claims. Results are reported comparing 26 drug takers on methadone prescriptions with 16 illicit opioid takers. The measures used are Stimson's (1972) ‘Patterns of Behaviour’ questionnaire, and direct behavioural measures of social functioning. The groups are found not to differ in terms of treatment contact, work status and involvement with other drug takers. There is some evidence that the methadone group is involved in less criminal activity. However, no association is found between amounts of drugs prescribed and numbers of local pharmacy thefts. It is concluded that the benefits of methadone maintenance have been exaggerated.
An Evaluation of Hospital In-patient Treatment in Adolescent School Phobia
Authors: Berg Ian , Fielding Dorothy 
Published: August 2008

SummaryThirty-two school-phobic youngsters of mean age 13 years were randomly allocated to two treatment groups after stratifying for sex. Length of in-patient management in a psychiatric hospital unit for young adolescents was evaluated. One group was admitted for three months and the other for six. Care was taken to ensure that cases had been fairly distributed between the groups by comparing them on a variety of clinical features. Follow-up assessments were carried out in a reliable fashion at six months, one year and two years after discharge. Outcome, overall, was similar to that found in a previous follow-up study for the same unit, in that symptoms of emotional disturbance and social impairment tended to persist in a considerable proportion of cases over the period of review. Length of stay in hospital did not affect outcome as far as the boys were concerned; the findings in relation to the girls was less certain and it seems likely that longer in-patient treatment improves outcome in school-phobic girls.
Attempted Suicide and Suicide Among Oxford University Students
Authors: Hawton Keith , Crowle Judith , Simkin Susan , Bancroft John 
Published: August 2008

SummaryA lower incidence of attempted suicide was found for Oxford University students than for other persons of the same age in Oxford City. This may be due to social class differences. Characteristics of the student attempters are reported. On the other hand, the rates for completed suicides of students, over a recent ten-year period, were in excess of those for the rest of their age group.
Epileptic Homicide: A Case Report
Authors: Gunn John 
Published: August 2008

SummaryThis case report augments a paper published in 1971 (Gunn and Fenton) in which it was indicated that automatic behaviour is a rare explanation for the crimes of epileptic patients. It was claimed that although two possible ‘automatic’ crimes were committed by two epileptic patients among the 46 male epileptics at Broadmoor there were no such crimes committed by any of the 158 male epileptic prisoners who came into a national sample. Since then it has become clear that one man serving life imprisonment, excluded from the epileptic prisoner sample in 1967 because of a doubt about his diagnosis, is definitely epileptic and probably killed his wife during an epileptic attack or its immediate sequela.
Platelet and Plasma Amine Oxidase Activity in Alcoholic Individuals
Authors: Major Leslie F. , Murphy Dennis L. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryPlatelet and plasma amine oxidase activity was determined in a group of 99 healthy male (active duty military) alcoholics referred for hospital treatment who had been abstinent from alcohol for 2–10 days, and compared with that of a control military group. Platelet MAO activity was slightly but significantly lower in the alcoholic group. Both groups were significantly lower in MAO activity compared to a group of 42 non-military controls. In the alcoholic group there was no correlation between platelet MAO and severity or chronicity of drinking, nor was there evidence of iron deficiency to account for the lowered MAO activity. When the alcoholic and military control groups were split at the median, the first degree relatives of both the ‘low’ MAO alcoholics and the ‘low’ MAO military controls had a higher incidence of alcoholism than did the relatives of both ‘high’ MAO subgroups. No personal or family history data of alcohol-related problems were available on the non-military control group.
A Controlled Trial of L-Tryptophan in Mania
Authors: Chambers C. A. , Naylor G. J. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryA double-blind placebo-controlled trial of L-tryptophan, with pyridoxine and ascorbic acid, was carried out in 10 female patients suffering from mania.In contrast to earlier studies led by Prange and Murphy, L-tryptophan was found to be no better than placebo.
Dysmorphophobia—A Long-term Study
Authors: Connolly Francis Hugh , Gipson Michael 
Published: August 2008

SummaryThis study examines the mental health of 187 patients who had a rhinoplasty fifteen years earlier. Of 101 who had the operation following disease or injury 9 are now severely neurotic and one schizophrenic; of 86 who had the operation for aesthetic reasons 32 are now severely neurotic and 6 schizophrenic. The differences between the two groups are significant, and show that dysmorphophobia is an ominous symptom.
Insanity in Bar of Trial in Scotland: A State Hospital Study
Authors: Chiswick Derek 
Published: August 2008

SummaryLegal findings of unfitness to stand trial are returned ten times more frequently in Scotland than in England and Wales. Sixty-five patients in the State Hospital who had been found insane in bar of trial were compared with a control group of 64 offender patients. They showed a significantly greater incidence of homicidal crimes and diagnoses of psychotic disorders, 19 per cent of which later proved to be unstable. They had also been detained longer at the State Hospital. These findings are discussed and particular reference is made to the tendency for psychotic offenders to be almost automatically regarded as unfit to plead. A brief comparison is made with the situation in England, and some modifications in forensic psychiatric procedure are suggested.
Abuse of Indigenous Psilocybin Mushrooms: A New Fashion and Some Psychiatric Complications
Authors: Hyde C. , Glancy G. , Omerod P. , Hall D. , Taylor G. S. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryThe use for hallucinogenic purposes of an indigenous mushroom, Psilocybe semilanceata indigenous to Britain is reported in three patients. Typical psychedelic, transient psychotic and more prolonged schizophrenia-like states were seen, with sympathomimetic signs noted in two cases, in one being prolonged. Enquiry about such mushroom abuse should be considered in individuals presenting to medical or psychiatric emergency clinics.
Serum Calcium and Magnesium in Schizophrenia: Relationship to Clinical Phenomena and Neuroleptic Treatment
Authors: Alexander Paul E. , van Kammen Daniel P. , Bunney William E. 
Published: August 2008

SummarySerum calcium and magnesium were studied in drug-free and neuroleptic-treated schizophrenic patients. Calcium and magnesium were not significantly different in 31 unmedicated schizophrenic patients compared with normal controls. Serum calcium was altered, however, in two subgroups: (1) Patients who remitted after neuroleptic withdrawal were significantly lower in calcium than those who did not remit; (2) catatonic schizophrenic patients appeared to have an increased calcium at the onset of catatonic stupor.Patients treated with pimozide were found to have a significant decrease in both calcium and magnesium compared with their drug-free values. These same patients showed a similar decrease in both electrolytes during treatment with fluphenazine, a structurally different neuroleptic drug.
Clinical Laboratory Abnormalities and their Follow-up in a Mental Hygiene Clinic
Authors: Shatin Leo , Kymissis Pavlos , Brown William 
Published: August 2008

SummaryIn a retrospective study, there were clearly abnormal laboratory findings in 4.8 per cent of 4,994 adults who attended for psychiatric evaluation at a mental hygiene clinic. In particular high fasting blood sugars, abnormal blood counts, eosinophilia, VDRL and abnormalities of chest X-ray or urinalysis were found. Just under half of these abnormalities led to further medical follow-up. Old and young, schizophrenic and neurotic were equally likely to be followed up, but tests which were clinically not alarming might be ignored. The implications are discussed.
Token Economy, Pimozide and Chronic Schizophrenia
Authors: McCreadie Robin G. , Main Christopher J. , Dunlop Rosalyn A. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryResponse to a token economy was assessed in male chronic schizophrenic in-patients who were given, in a double-blind cross-over trial, pimozide (up to 20 mg daily) or chlorpromazine (up to 1,000 mg daily), each for three months. After six months there was little change in the patients' mental state, but general ward behaviour and token-rewarded target behaviours improved significantly. There were no statistically significant between-drug differences, but the trend was that general ward behaviour, but not token-rewarded behaviour, improved more on pimozide. The patients who showed initiative and cooperated best with staff were those whose token-rewarded behaviour was most satisfactory.
Obsessive Thoughts: The Problem of Therapy
Authors: Stern R. S. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryEleven patients with obsessive thoughts were treated in two pilot studies. In the first of these patients were given thought-stopping, and this was contrasted with relaxation therapy. In the second study patients were treated by a technique described here as ‘satiation’, and this was followed by thought-stopping and finally a course of amitriptyline. The overall results were poor, but one type of obsessive thought responded well to satiation.
Thyrotoxicosis and the Course of Manic-Depressive Illness
Authors: Checkley S. A. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryThe effect of thyrotoxicosis upon the recurrence of manic-depressive psychoses has been studied by the use of a routine follow-up system. In this system 267 patients had three or more affective illnesses. Five of these patients had eight well-documented episodes of thyrotoxicosis. Only three of these eight episodes coincided with an affective illness, and in each case an alternative explanation for the association was available. These findings suggest that thyrotoxicosis has little effect upon the occurrence of a manic-depressive episode.
Central Actions of Benzodiazepines: General Introduction
Authors: Haefely W. E. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryAfter a brief review of the characteristic somatic and psychotropic effects of benzodiazepines evidence is presented which supports a specific facilitatory action of these drugs on GABA ergic synapses within the mammalian central nervous system. Benzodiazepines enhance presynaptic inhibition in the spinal cord and dorsal column nuclei as well as postsynaptic inhibition in dorsal column nuclei, hippocampus, hypothalamus, cerebral cortex, cerebellar cortex, which are all examples of recurrent and collateral inhibition mediated by GABA ergic intrinsic neurones. In addition, the compounds also enhance the inhibitory effect of GABA ergic long projection neurones in the substantia nigra and the lateral vestibular nucleus of Deiters. Several problems remain to be solved, such as the exact site at which benzodiazepines initiate their action (pre-synaptically at GABA ergic nerve endings or postsynaptically at the target cells) and the possible existence of endogenous ligands for the benzodiazepine receptor. Some suspected implications which studies on benzodiazepine binding sites could have for a deeper understanding of the mode of action of these drugs are discussed.
Brain Specific Benzodiazepine Receptors
Authors: Bræstrup Claus , Squires Richard F. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryBrain membranes from rat and human contain a single class of brain specific binding sites for pharmacologically and clinically active benzodiazepines. There is good correlation between the pharmacological effects of benzodiazepines and the affinity for the 3H-diazepam binding site.Benzodiazepine binding sites are not present on glial cells. Selective neuronal degeneration experiments in rats indicate a neuronal localization. 3H-Flunitrazepam is a very suitable ligand for affinity binding and it binds to the same class of binding sites as 3H-diazepam.Our results indicate that the in vitro3H-diazepam and 3H-flunitrazepam binding sites are the receptors which in vivo mediate various pharmacological and clinical effects of benzodiazepines.
Clinical Research upon Mentally Ill Subjects Who Cannot Give Informed Consent
Authors: Pryce I. G. 
Published: August 2008

The ProblemOver the last two decades increasing attention has been paid to the rights and safety of the subjects of clinical research. A key safeguard against any abuse has been the requirement to obtain the subject's informed, valid or true consent, which has been defined by the Medical Research Council as ‘consent freely given with proper understanding of the nature and consequences of what is proposed’ (M.R.C., 1962–3). However, it has been recognized by the M.R.C. that it may not be possible to obtain such consent from, among others, some subjects who are mentally ill. Whether or not a research project should be carried out on such subjects should depend, they say, on whether or not ‘there are reasonable grounds for believing that a particular new procedure will contribute to the benefit of that particular patient…’, and further, ‘when true consent cannot be obtained, procedures which are of no direct benefit and which might carry a risk of harm to the subject should not be undertaken’ (M.R.C., 1962–3).
A New Distinction between the Euphoric and the Anti-Depressant Effects of Methylamphetamine
Authors: Checkley S. A. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryThe psychological effects of an injection of methylamphetamine have been measured in 22 drug-free patients with endogenous depressive illness and in 9 patients with other psychiatric illness. A new distinction between the time course of the euphoric and anti-depressant effects is described. The euphoric effects were seen in the first hour after the injection, but the anti-depressant effects were delayed for 1–3 hours and then lasted for as long as 36 hours. These findings are at variance with the noradrenaline depletion hypothesis of depressive illness which (in its simplest form) predicts an immediate alleviation of depression as a result of an immediate rise in the concentration of noradrenaline at central receptor sites.
Cognitive Functions in Manic-Depressives: Effects of Lithium and Physostigmine
Authors: Telford Rosemary , Worrall Ernest P. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryCognitive functions were investigated in seven manic-depressive patients while on lithium, after two weeks off lithium, and after a subcutaneous injection of physostigmine while on lithium. Test performance was unaffected by lithium, but after physostigmine the I.Q. score of a shortened version of the WAIS was significantly increased.
A Rating Scale for Mania: Reliability, Validity and Sensitivity
Authors: Young R. C. , Biggs J. T. , Ziegler V. E. , Meyer D. A. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryAn eleven item clinician-administered Mania Rating Scale (MRS) is introduced, and its reliability, validity and sensitivity are examined. There was a high correlation between the scores of two independent clinicians on both the total score (0.93) and the individual item scores (0.66 to 0.92). The MRS score correlated highly with an independent global rating, and with scores of two other mania rating scales administered concurrently. The score also correlated with the number of days of subsequent stay in hospital. It was able to differentiate statistically patients before and after two weeks of treatment and to distinguish levels of severity based on the global rating.
Lithium Accumulation in Erythrocytes of Manic-Depressive Patients: Anin vivoTwin Study
Authors: Mendlewicz Julien , Verbanck Paul , Linkowski Paul , Wilmotte Jean 
Published: August 2008

SummaryGenetic factors play an important role in drug metabolism and drug response. In order to investigate genetic variables in lithium prophylaxis and lithium distribution across the erythrocyte in manic-depression, we have examined forty-two pairs of twins monozygotic (n = 25) and dizygotic (n = 17) with manic-depression. Concordant twins as a group show better lithium prophylaxis than do discordant twins. These results are consistent with previously published family studies of affective illness suggesting a positive relationship between genetic background and success of lithium prophylaxis.Lithium distribution across the red blood cell (RBC) was assessed by estimating lithium RBC/plasma ratios. The lithium ratio's intrapair differences in both groups of twins were minimal with a high heritability index suggesting that genetic factors play a role in lithium ion distribution. A high linear correlation was found between lithium ratio and plasma lithium and there was no difference in lithium ratios according to sex, affective state and response to lithium. The distribution of lithium ratios was homogenous in the lithium responders' population but this was not the case in the non-responders, suggesting biological heterogeneity of lithium distribution in lithium failures. The implications of these results are discussed as they relate to the genetic determinates of lithium prophylaxis in manic-depressive illness.These results indicate that lithium ratios are of limited value in lithium maintenance therapy. Our lithium kinetic data, however, are consistent with the concept of a lithium extrusion mechanism from red blood cells.
A Psychiatric Clinic in a Probation Office
Authors: Bowden Paul 
Published: August 2008

SummaryA weekly clinic was held for one year in a London probation office with 41 probation officers. Only 23 cases were referred but the clinic was found to be a valuable forum for discussion of problems with the officers, 10 per cent of whose clients were estimated to be receiving psychiatric treatment elsewhere. Suggestions are made to improve collaboration between psychiatrists and probation officers.
Lithium Treatment of Chronic Cluster Headaches
Authors: Lieb Julian , Zeff Arnold 
Published: August 2008

SummaryOn the basis of reports of reduced MAO activity in migraine and cluster headaches and on a report that lithium carbonate activates MAO, the authors administered lithium carbonate to two patients whose cluster headaches had brought them to the point of contemplating suicide. Both patients responded quite dramatically. Case 1 has now been virtually free of headaches for over two years and Case 2 has been in remission for over twelve months.
Changes in Self-Rating of Symptoms: A Comparison of Questionnaire Graphic Scales with Test Cards
Authors: Bedford A. , Edington A. , Kellner R. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryForty-five in-patients, with primary diagnoses of neurosis or personality disorder, completed the test cards and booklet versions of the Symptom Rating Test—Day (SRT). In order to facilitate retroactive interference the Manifest Anxiety Scale (MAS) and the Maudsley Personality Inventory (MPI) were administered between the two forms of the SRT. On the next day the patients were given the SRT (Week). The initial SRT, MAS and MPI testing was repeated one week later.On the assumption that positional set is an important consideration predictions were made as to the expected differences between the test cards and booklet modes of SRT administration.The results add support to the practical use of the SRT in its more recent standardized format.
Suicide in Prison
Authors: Topp D. O. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryRecords of 186 suicides among male prisoners in England between 1958 and 1971 emphasize the differences between the prison population and the population at large. The suicide rate may well be three times greater. The records show that sentence of more than 18 months' duration, whether anticipated or actually received, is associated with a greater risk of suicide than shorter sentence, and that suicide is most likely to be committed during the first few weeks in custody.
Psychotic and Neurotic Depression: 2. Clinical Characteristics
Authors: Bhrolcháin Máire Ní , Brown G. W. , Harris T. O. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryA series of discriminant function analyses based only on clinical symptomatology suggests that psychotic and neurotic depressives do not differ globally but at a fairly specific level and that the principal, if not only, clinical difference between the groups is one of severity. This interpretation is reinforced by the fact that there are few symptoms more common in the neurotic group. There is suggestive evidence that symptoms generally thought to characterize neurotic depression may conduce to referral to psychiatric services. The neurotic depressive syndrome as classically conceived may therefore be an artificial one, created by selective factors bringing patients with particular symptoms into hospital populations.
Diagnostic Accuracy in Presenile Dementia
Authors: Ron M. A. , Toone B. K. , Garralda M. E. , Lishman W. A. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryA follow-up study of patients diagnosed as suffering from presenile dementia has revealed a high incidence of erroneous diagnoses. Of 52 patients discharged from hospital with this diagnosis, information was obtained 5–15 years later on 51. Eighteen were alive and the diagnosis was rejected in 16 (31 per cent). Possible reasons for the mistaken diagnoses are discussed.