bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Lifetime Comorbidity of Panic Attacks and Major Depression in a Population-Based Study
Authors: Andrade Laura , Eaton William W. , Chilcoat Howard 
Published: October 2008

BackgroundThe co-occurrence of panic disorder and major depression in the same individual is common. A question to be answered is whether the comorbid disorder is a distinct one or may resemble one or other disorder. In this paper we examine whether the comorbid disorder is a distinct condition.MethodWe examined the symptom profiles and rates of comorbidity of panic attacks and DIS/DSM–III major depressive disorder in a population-based sample from four sites of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Epidemiologic Catchment Area Program (n= 12 668).ResultsThe co-occurrence of panic attacks and major depression over the lifetime was 11 times higher than expected by chance (OR = 11.4, 95% CI 9.5 to 13.6). Subjects with both panic and depression had worse symptoms than those who had only one disorder. However, the pattern of symptoms was remarkably similar, after overall severity was taken into account. Depressive symptoms associated with more severe forms of depression (e.g. guilt, suicidal thoughts or attempts, and motor disturbance) were more frequent in the comorbid group.ConclusionsThese findings may indicate a worse severity when the two disorders occur in the same individual.
Seasonal and Weather Factors in Parasuicide
Authors: Barker Andrew , Hawton Keith , Fagg Joan , Jennison Chris 
Published: October 2008

BackgroundSeasonal variation in suicide and parasuicide has previously been reported. Few investigations have examined whether meteorological factors could influence suicidal behaviour, and the inconclusive results produced may be due to a variety of methodological problems. The present study overcomes some previous difficulties and tested whether parasuicide admisson rate is related to weather variables.MethodOver 12 000 admissions for parasuicide were analysed by month, season, and in relation to meteorological data, which were measured close to the admitting hospital.ResultsMarked seasonal (P < 0.001) and monthly (P < 0.001) variations in mean daily parasuicide numbers were seen in women but not men. Small but highly significant correlations were demonstrated between parasuicide rate and weather parameters (P < 0.01), which were more marked in women (P < 0.01). These effects were additional to the monthly variation (P < 0.05).ConclusionsWeather has a small influence on parasuicide. Gender differences in body temperature regulation might account for the sex difference seen.
Childhood Sexual Experiences with Adults: Adult Male Psychiatric Patients and General Practice Attenders
Authors: Palmer Robert L. , Bramble David , Metcalfe Michael , Oppenheimer Rhoda , Smith Jennifer 
Published: October 2008

BackgroundSexual abuse of male children is now believed to be common, and there may be links to adult psychiatric disorders.MethodRecollections of sexual experiences with adults in childhood were studied systematically in 115 men attending general practice surgeries and 100 male psychiatric patients.ResultsThe latter reported more frequent and more serious events before the age of 13 than the general practice attenders. No significant difference was detected for events between the ages of 13 and 15.ConclusionsChildhood sexual abuse before the age of 13 may be associated with later psychiatric disorders, although the nature of the association remains uncertain.
Amok
Authors: Kon Yan 
Published: October 2008

BackgroundAmok is reviewed from a historical standpoint, tracing how it has changed from the Hindu states of India where it was a war tactic to the sudden incomprehensible violence and mass murder by a single individual associated with the syndrome today.MethodA typical amok attack is described and the criteria for amok discussed. Amok in Malaysia, New Guinea, Laos, North America and other countries are presented. The possible motives for such violent killings and a possible psychiatric diagnosis in relation to contemporary diagnostic criteria is discussed.ConclusionClassification of amok remains unresolved. The reason for its frequency in and around Malaysia remains unknown.British Journal of Psychiatry (1994),165, 685–689
Formal Communication Disorder
Authors: Thacker Alice. J. 
Published: October 2008

BackgroundThis study investigates whether anomalies in the sign language of prelingually deaf schizophrenics can be elicited and described systematically.MethodThirty schizophrenic and seven manic adults were recruited on the basis of a British Sign Language (BSL) version of the Present State Examination. Thirty-seven controls were matched for sex, age and ethnicity. Each participant became deaf before the age of two, and uses BSL as the primary means of communication.ResultsAnalysis reveals: (a) anomalies which are similar to those occurring in the spoken language of hearing schizophrenics; and (b) another series which is closely related to the life experience of deaf subjects and to the visuo-spatial medium itself.ConclusionsThere is evidence that formal communication disorder does occur in sign language. This has implications for more efficient diagnosis and management of deaf persons presenting to psychiatric services, as well as for the mechanisms of schizophrenic symptomatology itself.
Depot Antipsychotics in the Prophylaxis of Bipolar Affective Disorder
Authors: Littlejohn R. , Leslie F. , Cookson J. 
Published: October 2008

BackgroundThe efficacy of depot antipsychotic drugs in the prophylaxis of bipolar affective disorder was investigated.MethodLife charts were constructed for 18 outpatients with bipolar disorder receiving prophylactic treatment with depot medication. The durations of affective episodes were compared during periods on or off medication.ResultsThe subjects suffered fewer relapses and spent significantly less time in hospital (P = 0.001) for treatment of manic, depressive and mixed affective illness during treatment with depot antipsychotics.ConclusionsDepot antipsychotic medication may be a useful prophylactic treatment for certain patients with bipolar affective disorder.British Journal of Psychiatry (1994), 165, 827–829
Suicide in Oxford University Students, 1976–1990
Authors: Hawton Keith , Simkin Sue , Fagg Joan , Hawkins Michael 
Published: October 2008

BackgroundThe aim was to determine the extent, characteristics and timing of suicide in Oxford University students.MethodStudents who died from suicide or undetermined cause between October 1976 and September 1990 were identified through University records and individual colleges. Information about each student was sought from coroners, college staff, general practitioners and hospital case notes.ResultsThere were 21 suicides (16 men and 5 women) and one open verdict (female). The observed number of suicides (0) was greater than the number expected (E = 11.09) on the basis of mortality statistics for England and Wales (O/E = 1.89; 95% CI 1.17 to 2.90). When deaths due to undetermined cause were included, however, the difference between O and E (17.03) was much reduced (O/E = 1.29; 95% CI 0.81 to 1.95). There was no evidence of an association with the Finals examination but two-thirds of the students had been worried about academic achievement or their courses. Nearly half appeared to have had a psychiatric disorder (mostly depression).ConclusionsThe much publicised apparent excess of Oxford University student suicides may be partly artefactual. Measures for preventing student suicides include careful induction upon arrival at university, means of alleviating academic stress and worries, and readily available and closely associated student counselling and psychiatric services.
Use of Drugs in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Authors: Kaplan Carole A. , Hussain Sharafat 
Published: October 2008

BackgroundThe prescription of psychotropic drugs for children is a sensitive and highly contentious subject which may explain the apparent lack of uniformity and consistency in clinical practice.MethodThis review is based on Medline and manual search of the literature.ResultsMore than 1000 relevant references were found, and information has been culled from all these. Fifty particularly relevant articles have been selected for the reference list.ConclusionRecent years have seen considerable research in this field, and a clearer picture of the benefits and limitations of drug use in children is emerging.Clinicians practising in the UK are generally conservative in their prescribing of psychotropic drugs for children. This cautious approach is generally justified by concern about toxic side-effects, the potential effects on growth and development, and the paucity of relevant clinical research.
Defining Subgroups of Dieting Disorder Patients by Means of the Eating Disorders Examination (EDE)
Authors: Beumont P. J. V. , Kopec-Schrader E. , Touyz S. W. 
Published: October 2008

BackgroundIt is important to determine the optimal manner of categorising eating disorder patients so as to aid in the understanding of their specific psychopathological state.MethodWe compared subgroups of eating disorder patients divided according to different sets of factors, using a structured interview which elicits the specific psychopathological features of these illnesses. The patients, comprising 116 consecutive women admitted to two university-affiliated eating disorder clinics, were grouped according to DSM–III–R criteria, clinical presentation (purging, binge eating), nutritional status, and age.ResultThe clearest separation of groups was afforded by the clinical dimension of purging as opposed to not purging. This was superior to DSM–III–R criteria. Other systems, such as presence of binge eating, and various levels of nutritional status and of age, were clearly inferior.ConclusionThe presence or absence of purging behaviour appears to offer the most heuristic means of categorising eating disorder patients with respect to their specific psychopathological state.
Towards a Sociobiological Model of Depression a Marsupial Model (Petaurus breviceps)
Authors: Jones I. H. , Stoddart D. M. , Mallick J. 
Published: October 2008

BackgroundThis is a sociobiological approach to depression using hierarchy and its hypothesised relevance to self-esteem in the marsupial sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps).MethodDifferential access to resources between the dominant and submissive animal is measured by observation in four stable colonies. The dominant animals from two of these colonies are then introduced into the other two, resulting in the transferred former dominants becoming subordinate. Behavioural and biochemical measures relevant to depression and involving access to resources are then repeated. These measures include eating, drinking, social and sexual access, motility, grooming and biochemical estimates of cortisol and testosterone.ResultsSubordinate animals have significantly less access to resources, both in the stable colony and when the formerly dominant animals become subordinate.ConclusionsA sociobiological approach using a hierarchy model equating resource-holding potential with self-esteem, exemplified by this study, may provide new concepts and insights into the phenomenology and pathophysiology of depression. It allows comparisons to be made between animal behaviour and cognition: the lack of such has been a major difficulty in animal studies hitherto. The findings are possibly more relevant to dysthymia than to affective disorder and imply a relationship between low resource-holding potential in sub-human animals as a phylogenetic antecedent of some of the cognitive and affective aspects of depression in man.
Schizophrenia – a Brain Disease? a Critical Review of Structural and Functional Cerebral Abnormality in the Disorder
Authors: Chua S. E. , McKenna P. J. 
Published: October 2008

BackgroundWith genetic and neurochemical findings pointing to a biological aetiology, considerable effort has been devoted to finding direct evidence of brain abnormality in schizophrenia.MethodT, MRI, post-mortem and functional imaging studies are reviewed to assess which structural and/or functional brain abnormalities have been consistently demonstrated.ResultsThe only well-established structural abnormality in schizophrenia is lateral ventricular enlargement; this is modest and there is a large overlap with the normal population. There is no consensus on the presence of any localised structural abnormality from MRI and post-mortem studies, but the most promising findings concern temporal lobe limbic structures. Hypofrontality is not a well-replicated finding in schizophrenia under resting conditions, but the evidence is stronger for a selective association with negative symptoms. A number of studies have found hypofrontality under conditions of neuropsychological task activation. However, findings in these studies are divided and a recent methodologically sophisticated study has failed to confirm it, although this study suggested a decoupling of prefrontal and temporal function.ConclusionSchizophrenia is characterised by minor structural abnormality which, in the case of lateral ventricular enlargement, may be better understood as a risk factor than a causative lesion. The functional imaging findings are not transparent but suggest that, as a disorder, schizophrenia shows complex alterations in regional patterns of activity rather than any simple deficit in prefrontal function.
Socio-economic Mobility among Patients with Schizophrenia or Major Affective Disorder a 17-Year Retrospective Follow-Up
Authors: Aro Seppo , Aro Hillevi , Keskimäki Ilmo 
Published: October 2008

BackgroundSocial mobility among patients with schizophrenia or major affective disorder was compared with that among the general population.MethodMobility was studied retrospectively from 1970 to 1987. Socio-economic status (SES) was defined by occupation as in the population census (upper white-collar, lower white-collar, blue-collar, entrepreneur, farmer, unemployed). All patients aged 30–60 years at discharge (2901 men and 3620 women) in 1987–88 in Finland were included in the study. The SES structure of the general population was used for comparisons.ResultsAmong patients with schizophrenia there was a constant downward drift, commonly to unemployment. This risk was higher among men than women. In the youngest age group a marked decline from the parents' social status was observed. Among patients with major affective disorder the distribution of SES in 1970 was similar to that of the general population. By 1987, a downward drift was again observed, mainly to unemployment regardless of the initial SES group. The number of patients in occupational categories were usually 30–50% lower than expected.ConclusionsSchizophrenic patients had a high risk of social drop-out. Among patients with major affective disorder the downward drift was much less.
Autonomic Failure, Depression and Anxiety in Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Berrios G. E. , Campbell C. , Politynska B. E. 
Published: October 2008

BackgroundThe study tested the hypothesis that subjects with Parkinson's disease (PD) have more autonomic complaints and more attenuation of autonomic reflexes than controls, and that both clusters of variables are related to the presence of anxiety and depression.MethodThirty-two subjects and 32 healthy controls matched by age and sex were prospectively compared on psychiatric, cognitive and autonomic tests.Results‘Autonomic’ symptoms: were more frequent in PD patients than in healthy controls; were not related to age or changes in autonomic reflexes; were significantly associated with depression and anxiety (medication was not relevant to the association); and did not correlate with motor symptoms.ConclusionsThe diagnosis of anxiety and depression in some PD subjects is likely to be a behavioural phenocopy caused by autonomic failure. This explains why antidepressant medication is often unhelpful in PD subjects diagnosed as depressed.
Termination of Pregnancy and Psychiatric Morbidity
Authors: Gilchrist Anne C. , Hannaford Philip C. , Frank Peter , Kay Clifford R. 
Published: October 2008

BackgroundWe investigated whether reported psychiatric morbidity was increased after termination of pregnancy compared with other outcomes of an unplanned pregnancy.MethodThis was a prospective cohort study of 13 261 women with an unplanned pregnancy. Psychiatric morbidity reported by GPs after the conclusion of the pregnancy was compared in four groups: women who had a termination of pregnancy (6410), women who did not request a termination (6151), women who were refused a termination (379), and women who changed their minds before the termination was performed (321).ResultsRates of total reported psychiatric disorder were no higher after termination of pregnancy than after childbirth. Women with a previous history of psychiatric illness were most at risk of disorder after the end of their pregnancy, whatever its outcome. Women without a previous history of psychosis had an apparently lower risk of psychosis after termination than postpartum (relative risk RR = 0.4, 95% confidence interval CI = 0.3–0.7), but rates of psychosis leading to hospital admission were similar. In women with no previous history of psychiatric illness, deliberate self-harm (DSH) was more common in those who had a termination (RR 1.7, 95%CI 1.1–2.6), or who were refused a termination (RR 2.9, 95%CI 1.3–6.3).ConclusionsThe findings on DSH are probably explicable by confounding variables, such as adverse social factors, associated both with the request for termination and with subsequent self-harm. No overall increase in reported psychiatric morbidity was found.
Psychotherapy for Bipolar Disorder
Authors: Scott Jan 
Published: October 2008

BackgroundPsychosocial factors may contribute 25–30% to the outcome variance in bipolar disorders. Sufferers have identified benefits from psychotherapy, but biological models and treatments dominate the research agenda. The author reviews research on psychosocial issues and interventions in this disorder.MethodResearch on adjustment to the disorder, interpersonal stressors and obstacles to treatment compliance were located by computerised searches and the author's knowledge of the literature. All published outcome studies of psychosocial interventions in bipolar disorder are reviewed.ResultsThere is an inadequate database on psychosocial factors associated with onset and maintenance of bipolar disorder. While the outcome studies available are methodologically inadequate, the accumulated evidence suggests that psychosocial interventions may have significant benefits for bipolar sufferers and their families.ConclusionsGiven the significant associated morbidity and mortality, there is a clear need for more systematic clinical management that addresses psychosocial as well as biological aspects of bipolar disorder. The author identifies appropriate research strategies to improve knowledge of effective psychosocial interventions.
Psychiatric Patients and HIV Infection: a New Population at Risk?
Authors: Stefan Martin D. , Catalán José 
Published: October 2008

BackgroundWe assess the evidence that psychiatric patients are at increased risk of infection with HIV and discuss some of the clinical implications.MethodSurveys of HIV seroprevalence and risk behaviours among psychiatric patients were obtained from a manual and computer search (Medline and AIDSline).ResultsMost studies report an increased prevalence of HIV infection among psychiatric patients compared to the general population. Risk behaviours, and obstacles to risk reduction, are identified.ConclusionsThere is a strong case for investigating the seroprevalence of HIV in psychiatric settings in the UK. Issues relating to HIV and AIDS are likely to assume increasing importance in general psychiatric practice.
Effectiveness of Clozapine in Hospitalised People with Chronic Neuroleptic-Resistant Schizophrenia
Authors: Avnon Moshe , Rabinowitz Jonathan 
Published: October 2008

BackgroundClozapine's effectiveness in reducing symptoms and facilitating discharge among patients with chronic schizophrenia who were resistant to neuroleptics was studied.MethodAll 169 such patients in a public psychiatric hospital were given clozapine. BPRS ratings (0–5 scale) were completed before treatment and 21 months later. Patients were followed for about 2.5 years.ResultsClozapine was discontinued in 37.8% of cases due to non-compliance, non-response, or side-effects. At follow-up 41 % of clozapine recipients and 25.9% of the drop-outs were discharged and remained so, and 33% of recipients and 24.1% of drop-outs were being prepared for discharge. Longer treatment was associated with more improvement. Decline in average BPRS total scores of recipients was significantly more than drop-outs (32.7, s.d. 16.8 v. 12.1, s.d. 14.1, d.f. = 155, t = 7.5, P = 0.000).ConclusionsClozapine appears to be effective for treating some chronic neuroleptic non-responding schizophrenic patients.
Pathways to Care for Patients with a First Episode of Psychosis
Authors: Cole Eleanor , Leavey Gerard , King Michael , Johnson-Sabine Eric , Hoar Amanda 
Published: October 2008

BackgroundIt is reported that patients from ethnic minority groups, in particular Afro-Caribbeans, are more likely to enter less desirable pathways to psychiatric care. We aimed to determine whether ethnicity significantly affected time to presentation, type of first contact, rates of compulsory admission and police and primary care involvement, in patients with their first episode of psychosis.MethodAs part of a prospective epidemiological study, patients and their carers were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire to trace the various persons and agencies seen en route to their first contact with psychiatric services.ResultsWhile compulsory admission was more likely for Black patients, the excess was less striking than in previous studies. Black patients were no more likely than other patients to have police involvement. The most important factors in avoiding an adverse pathway were having a supportive family member or friend and the presence of a general practitioner to assist in gaining access to psychiatric services.ConclusionsThe routes to psychiatric services for first onset patients are different to those for chronic patients. Variables associated with social support were more important than ethnicity in determining pathways to care. Police involvement and compulsory admissions were strongly associated with the absence of GP involvement and the absence of help-seeking by a friend or relative. It may be that ethnicity becomes an important variable after the patient has come into contact with psychiatric services.
Community Attitudes to Mental Illness
Authors: Wolff Geoffrey , Pathare Soumitra , Craig Tom , Leff Julian 
Published: October 2008

BackgroundThe baseline findings from a controlled study of the effect of a public education campaign on community attitudes to mental illness are presented.MethodA census of attitudes to mental illness was conducted in two areas, prior to the opening of supported houses for the mentally ill Factor analysis of the Community Attitudes toward the Mentally III (CAMI) inventory revealed three components: Fear and Exclusion, Social Control and Goodwill.ResultsThe only determinant of Fear and Exclusion was having children. The main determinants of Social Control were social class, ethnic origin, age, having suffered mental illness and having children. The main determinant of Goodwill was educational level The attitude factors were predictive of respondents' behavioural intentions toward the mentally ill. Respondents with children and non-Caucasians were more likely to object to the mentally ill living in their neighbourhood.ConclusionsAny intervention aimed at changing attitudes to mentally ill people in the community should be targeted at people with children and non-Caucasians, as these groups are more likely to object.