bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Separation of Subtypes of Depression using Discriminant Analysis
Authors: Feinberg Michael , Carroll Bernard J. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryWe derived a discriminant function based on clinical features to classify patients with endogenous depression (‘melancholia’) and non-endogenous (‘neurotic’) depression. The difference between the groups was not one of overall severity of illness alone. Bipolar melancholic patients were classified less well than were unipolars, supporting previous findings of clinical differences between these groups.The discriminant function (DF) was reduced to a discriminant index (DI) which classified a separate group of unipolar melancholic and non-endogenous patients with comparable accuracy. Approximately 80 per cent of all cases received a definite classification by the DI. The agreement between the 105 definite DI classifications and the clinical diagnoses was 90 per cent when results from the derivation and validation groups were combined.The DI classification was then validated against an objective biological marker, the dexamethasone suppression test (DST). The diagnostic discriminant index predicted the DST result with the same accuracy as the clinical diagnoses. The discriminant index can serve as an operational definition of the patients diagnosed as endogenous or nonendogenous unipolar depression in future studies by ourselves and other groups of investigators.
Season of Birth in High and Low Genetic Risk Schizophrenics
Authors: Shur Eric 
Published: August 2008

SummaryHypotheses which have been proposed to account for the unusual seasonal birth pattern observed in schizophrenic populations are discussed. These competing hypotheses were tested by retrospectively studying season of birth in 975 schizophrenics divided according to family history of psychiatric illness. Information was obtained from case notes, item sheets, and questionnaires sent to general practitioners. The results were inconclusive, but there was a trend for high genetic risk cases to be born less often in the first quarter of the year. Although no clear support could be provided for one or other season of birth hypothesis, it is tentatively suggested that a seasonal constitutional damage factor may be responsible for the excess of births described in schizophrenic populations in the early months of the year.
Reality Orientation: A Critical Appraisal
Authors: Powell-Proctor Linda , Miller Edgar 
Published: August 2008

SummaryReality orientation is now extensively used with psychogeriatric patients. The evidence for its effectiveness is reviewed and the underlying philosophy and assumptions are critically examined. Whilst reality orientation does appear to have some effect the benefits are small and restricted in range. It can be argued that it is not directed at the most appropriate therapeutic goals. Reality orientation should be seen as the starting point for the development of more effective intervention techniques for use with this client population and not as an end in itself.
Fluctuations of Free Choline Levels in Plasma of Alzheimer Patients Receiving Lecithin: Preliminary Observations
Authors: Chuaqui Paz , Levy Raymond 
Published: August 2008

SummaryPlasmas of 12 patients currently taking part in a double-blind trial of lecithin in senile or presenile dementia of Alzheimer type were analysed for plasma choline levels at fixed intervals during lecithin treatment. The values were not maintained at a constant level and showed a decline after one or two months of treatment, often followed by a subsequent rise. Possible explanations for this observation are given, and its significance to the treatment of dementia discussed.
Phenelzine and Amitriptyline: Effects on Symptoms of Neurotic Depression
Authors: Rowan P. R. , Paykel E. S. , Parker R. R. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryA double-blind controlled trial of phenelzine, amitriptyline and placebo was carried out in out-patients suffering from depression or mixed anxiety and depression. After six weeks treatment both active drugs were clearly superior to placebo and of similar efficacy; therapeutic effects started to appear at two weeks. Comparisons on symptom ratings showed that both drugs acted as true antidepressants, producing their greatest effects on ratings of depressive mood and thought content. There were additional weak differences, phenelzine producing more improvement on anxiety ratings, while amitriptyline gave greater effects on depressive impairment of work and interests and anergia. Analyses showed little evidence of clinical subgroups responding preferentially to either drug. The findings indicate that MAO inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants have more closely similar clinical effects than has been thought and that either may be a useful treatment for these patients who are often considered to respond poorly to antidepressant drug treatment.
Evaluation of Different Forms of Community Meeting in a Psychiatric Unit in Hong Kong
Authors: Ng M. L. , Tam Y. K. , Luk S. L. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryIn an in-patient psychiatric unit attached to a teaching general hospital in Hong Kong, community meetings went through doctor-directed and nurse-directed forms to develop into a non-directive one. The therapeutic value of these different forms was tested by retrospective and prospective studies. In the retrospective study the rates of ward incidents and discharge rates of inpatients before and during the three stages were compared. In the prospective study an ABA design was used with ten-week blocks of regular non-directive meetings, cessation of meetings and then resumption; ward incidents, discharge rates and ward atmosphere during these blocks were compared. Both the non-directive and nurse-directed forms were equally associated with a reduction in ward incidents, aggressive incidents showing the greatest tendency to change; ward atmosphere and patient discharge rates did not change with community meetings.
A New Clinical Scale for the Staging of Dementia
Authors: Hughes Charles P. , Berg Leonard , Danziger Warren , Coben Lawrence A. , Martin Ronald L. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryAccurate clinical staging of dementia in older subjects has not previously been achieved despite the use of such methods as psychometric testing, behavioural rating, and various combinations of simpler psychometric and behavioural evaluations. The Clinical Dementia Rating (CRD), a global rating device, was developed for a prospective study of mild senile dementia—Alzheimer type (SDAT). Reliability, validity, and correlational data are discussed. The CDR was found to distinguish unambiguously among older subjects with a wide range of cognitive function, from healthy to severely impaired.
Plasma Lithium Levels and Therapeutic Outcome in the Prophylaxis of Affective Disorders: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Sashidharan S. P. , McGuire R. J. , Glen A. I. M. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryPatients receiving prophylactic lithium therapy for primary affective disorder during a four year period were studied for recurrence of affective illness. Patients who had affective episodes during this period did not differ from those who remained well in age, sex or diagnosis. Those with a favourable outcome had spent significantly less time at serum lithium levels above 0.9 mmol/litre than those who had a recurrence of affective episodes.
Seasonal Variation in Depressive Disorders and Suicidal Deaths in New South Wales
Authors: Parker Gordon , Walter Stephen D. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryMonth of admission data to psychiatric facilities in New South Wales, 1971–76, were examined for some 23, 000 patients with a depressive disorder to determine if seasonal variations in admissions, described in the northern hemisphere, exist there. In addition, data were examined on month of occurrence of some 3, 000 deaths due to suicide and self-inflicted injury, over the same period. Seasonality was demonstrated for three ‘psychotic’ depressive disorders, but not found for neurotic depression, further supporting the binary view of depression. A peak incidence in spring was found for MDP-mania and reactive depressive psychosis, while the peak incidence for MDP-depression was was in late winter. It is suggested that the increase in certain affective disorders around spring may follow a rapid increase in luminance, and in stimulation of the pineal gland. Suicidal deaths of males did not show significant seasonality, while those of females showed two incidence peaks, the significant one occurring in spring.
Phantom Limb: A Phenomenological Study
Authors: Shukla G. D. , Sahu S. C. , Tripathi R. P. , Gupta D. K. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryPhantom limb phenomena during the post-operative period were studied in 72 amputees. All were right handed. Phantom limb was present in 86.1 per cent of the cases, significantly more commonly following amputation of the right arm. Nearly half of the phantoms developed within the first 24 hours and another quarter in the next 24 hours, appearing earlier in lower limb amputees. Movements in the phantom were felt by three-quarters of the cases, an incidence unaffected by site or side of amputation. Telescopy was present in nearly two-thirds and phantom limb pain in over two-thirds, significantly more commonly in the upper limb amputees but uninfluenced by the side of amputation. Thirty-one of the patients dreamed that their limbs were intact.
Mania Secondary to Procyclidine (‘Kemadrin’) Abuse
Authors: Coid Jeremy , Strang John 
Published: August 2008

SummaryA case of procyclidine abuse is described in which the clinical presentation was indistinguishable from mania. The patient was a long-standing poly-drug abuser and was obtaining the drugs from medical sources. Controlled exposure on the ward to drugs of abuse, including a double-blind comparison with placebo, confirmed that procyclidine caused a manic response in this patient.
A Controlled Trial of Social Intervention in the Families of Schizophrenic Patients
Authors: Leff Julian , Kuipers Liz , Berkowitz Ruth , Eberlein-Vries Rosemarie , Sturgeon David 
Published: August 2008

SummaryA study is reported of a controlled trial of social intervention in the families of schizophrenic patients at high risk of relapse. The patients were selected for being in high contact with high Expressed Emotion relatives. All patients were maintained on neuroleptic drugs. One half of the 24 families were randomly assigned to routine out-patient care, while the other half received a package of social interventions. This comprised a programme of education about schizophrenia, a group for the relatives, and family sessions for relatives and patients.The relapse rate in the control group was 50 per cent compared with nine per cent in the experimental group (P = 0.04). The stated aims of the therapeutic interventions were achieved in 73 per cent of experimental families. In these families, no patient relapsed. The results provide evidence for the causal role of relatives' expressed emotion (EE) in schizophrenic relapse, as well as for the therapeutic effectiveness of social intervention combined with drug treatment.
The Season of Birth of Schizophrenic, Neurotic and Psychiatrically Normal Twins
Authors: Kendler Kenneth S. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryThe quarter of birth of 536 schizophrenic, 1,991 neurotic and 12,085 psychiatrically normal twin pairs from the National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council Twin Registry was compared. When either all twin pairs, or only monozygotic or dizygotic twin pairs, were considered, no significant differences were found in the quarter of birth between the 3 groups. No difference in quarter of birth was found for twin pairs concordant versus discordant for schizophrenia. Despite the increased risk for intrauterine and perinatal complications in twin births, schizophrenic twins appear (at least) to be no more vulnerable than schizophrenic singletons to the seasonal gestation and birth-related insults which probably underlie the seasonality in schizophrenic births. Controlling for season of birth probably has little effect on the results of twin studies of schizophrenia.
Parental Representations of Hypochondriacal Patients from a Psychiatric Hospital
Authors: Baker Brian , Merskey Harold 
Published: August 2008

SummaryThis study investigated parental bonding patterns of hypochondriacal patients using the Parental Bonding Instrument. Hypochondriacal patients and a matched control group were drawn from in and out-patients of a psychiatric hospital. Maternal over-protection was found much more frequently (P <.005) in the hypochondriacal group than in the control group. This offers support for previous clinical observations on hypochondriacal patients. The implications of this and other findings of the study are discussed.
Temper Tantrums, Epilepsy and Episodic Dyscontrol
Authors: Leicester Jon 
Published: August 2008

SummarySeventeen patients were seen by a neurologist for diagnosis of temper tantrums. The referring psychiatrist had thought that they might have been caused by organic disease, either epilepsy or the episodic dyscontrol syndrome. The final diagnosis in every case was temper tantrums due to psychological causes. The patients had a wide range of psychiatric disorders. Theories that might explain the tantrums are discussed.
Impairment of the Blood-Brain Barrier as an Aetiological Factor in Paranoid Psychosis
Authors: Axelsson Rolf , Martensson Erik , Alling Christer 
Published: August 2008

SummaryPossible psychiatric implications of impairment of the blood-brain barrier were studied in 25 patients with paranoid psychosis. Determination of the ratio between the albumin concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid and serum showed increases, indicating impairment of the blood-brain barrier, in seven patients and normal values in 18. The two groups were compared for clinical, pharmacokinetic, neurophysiological and anamnestic variables. The highly significant finding that onset of psychosis had occurred, on average, 20 years earlier in the patients with impairment of the blood-brain barrier than in those without suggests that such impairment might influence the development of psychosis in predisposed individuals.
Motivational Aspects of Deliberate Self-Poisoning in Adolescents
Authors: Hawton Keith , Cole Deborah , O'Grady John , Osborn Madeline 
Published: August 2008

SummaryA systematic study of 50 adolescent self-poisoners aged from 13 to 18 demonstrated considerable discrepancies between the reasons chosen by the subjects to explain the overdoses and those chosen by clinical assessors. Most adolescents indicated that they had been feeling lonely or unwanted, or angry with someone, and had taken the overdose to alleviate or demonstrate this distress. A third said they had wanted to die. In contrast, clinical assessors tended to attribute the overdose to punitive or manipulative reasons and suggested that only seven out of the 50 had wished to die.The adolescents rarely indicated that they had taken the overdose to get help; this may explain the resistance that may be shown to psychiatric intervention, and casts doubt on the possible effectiveness of preventive agencies. Modification of attitudes to both self-poisoning and early help-seeking may be a more effective means of prevention.
Conjugal Bereavement amongst the Huli People of Papua New Guinea
Authors: Frankel Stephen , Smith David 
Published: August 2008

SummaryThe Huli people of the Southern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea mourn in culturally patterned ways that differ for men and women. One difference is that women are expected to express their emotions, while men are discouraged from doing so. In this study the mortality of bereaved spouses was determined by following 100 widowers and 208 widows for four years following their bereavements. Widowers showed an excess mortality in the first year following bereavement while widows showed no such tendency. The possible relationship between these findings and Huli mourning practices is discussed.
A Double-Blind Controlled Comparison of the Therapeutic Effects of Low and High Energy Electroconvulsive Therapies
Authors: Robin Ashley , De Tissera Sanath 
Published: August 2008

SummaryPatients were randomly allocated to treatment with either low energy pulses, high energy pulses, or high energy sinusoidal wave ECT and, despite the induction of convulsions of similar duration, were found to respond at different rates and to a different degree, depending on whether low or high energy currents were used. It is suggested that the quantity of current, as well as the induction of a convulsion, is relevant to therapeutic outcome with ECT. A reexamination of previous work shows that this is not necessarily inconsistent with these findings, which also explain the contradictory results in recent controlled trials of ECT.
The Effect of Desipramine upon Central Adrenergic Function in Depressed Patients
Authors: Glass Ilana B. , Checkley Stuart A. , Shur Eric , Dawling Sheila 
Published: August 2008

SummaryEleven drug free patients meeting Research Diagnostic Criteria for Major Depressive Disorder have been treated with desipramine and given a clonidine infusion after 0, 1 and 3 weeks of treatment. The sedative and hypotensive effects of clonidine were significantly inhibited after three weeks of treatment with desipramine: a similar interaction was seen after one week of treatment although this just failed to reach statistical significance. The growth hormone (GH) response to clonidine was initially impaired, but increased significantly after one week of treatment. A significant reduction in the GH response occurred during the second and third weeks of treatment with desipramine. This last finding is interpreted as evidence of adaptive change of α2 adrenoceptors: the other changes can be explained by the known ability of desipramine to block the re-uptake of noradrenaline.
Lithium Treatment in Schizophrenia and Schizo-Affective Disorders
Authors: Delva N. J. , Letemendia F. J. J. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryBetween one third and one half of schizophrenic patients appear to benefit from treatment with lithium carbonate. An even higher proportion of schizo-affective patients benefit some showing complete recovery. Current unfavourable views on the use of lithium in schizophrenia are contested. Lithium as well as neuroleptics have a place in the treatment of schizophrenia.
The Dexamethasone Suppression Test in Affective Disorder
Authors: Mendlewicz J. , Charles G. , Franckson J. M. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryPlasma Cortisol suppression after dexamethasone administration in 113 consecutively hospitalized patients (54 patients with primary depression, 41 with secondary depression and 18 non-depressed controls) showed early morning hypersecretion of Cortisol and Cortisol non-suppression after dexamethasone mainly in patients with primary depression. The sensitivity of the dexamethasone suppression test was 79 per cent in unipolar and bipolar primary depressed patients, specificity 79 per cent and diagnostic confidence of a positive test 82 per cent. Non-suppression to dexamethasone was observed in 81 per cent of patients with psychotic depression but only 37 per cent of those with non-psychotic depression. Age, sex and severity of depression, menopausal status, or benzodiazepines did not influence results. There was no association between Cortisol non-suppresssion and any genetic subgroup of affective disorder.
Plasma and CSF Gaba in Affective Illness
Authors: Berrettini Wade H. , Nurnberger John I. , Hare Theodore , Gershon Elliott S. , Post Robert M. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryCSF and plasma GABA was measured in patients with bipolar affective illness and matched controls. There was no correlation between CSF and plasma GABA in 10 pairs of simultaneously obtained samples. Plasma GABA was significantly lower in a group of 10 euthymic medication-free bipolar patients compared to 41 normal volunteers (P <.02). This finding was replicated in a second study involving 6 patients and 10 normal volunteers. Twin studies showed a high correlation between members of 11 monozygotic twin pairs (P <.008). Diurnal variation was minimal, but bimonthly sampling over one year revealed somewhat higher values in the late summer compared to late winter.
The Syndrome of Schizophrenia: Relations Between Electrodermal Response, Lateral Asymmetries and Clinical Ratings
Authors: Gruzelier J. H. , Manchanda R. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryForty-eight undrugged hospital admissions with a present state examination (PSE) diagnosis of schizophrenia were subdivided by the direction of lateral differences in electrodermal response amplitudes to tones. The 29 with larger right-hand responses and the 19 with larger left-hand responses were compared on CATEGO syndromes and brief psychiatric rating scale (BPRS). The larger group had symptoms like those of classical Bleulerian schizophrenia—blunted affect emotional withdrawal, impaired social functioning, disorganized thought and retarded motility. The other group manifested florid symptoms including hypomanic affect pressure of speech, ideas of reference, depressive hallucinations and delusions, hypochondriasis, grandiosity and situational anxiety. The psychophysiological measures may provide an objective aid to diagnosis and implications for altered cerebral organization in psychotic patients.
The Clinical Anxiety Scale: An Instrument Derived from the Hamilton Anxiety Scale
Authors: Snaith R. P. , Baugh S. J. , Clayden A. D. , Husain A. , Sipple M. A. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryThe Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAS) was administered to 51 patients with anxiety neurosis along with an independent criterion of severity. Each item from the HAS was significantly correlated with severity, and those items with the highest correlations were combined to form new anxiety scales. These scales were then used on a new group of 27 patients suffering from anxiety neurosis. All the new scales had better correlations with severity than the full HAS. The six-item scale was selected as being the most suitable to be a new Clinical Anxiety Scale.
The Pharmacological Management of Epilepsy Associated with Psychological Disorders
Authors: Reynolds E. H. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryThe anticonvulsant treatment of epilepsy associated with psychological disorders is reviewed in the light of modern knowledge of the clinical pharmacology and adverse mental effects of the drugs. Careful monitoring of individual drug therapy from the onset of treatment improves compliance and seizure control and avoids unnecessary and harmful polypharmacy, and some of the neurological and psychosocial problems of chronic epilepsy. In chronic patients on polypharmacy cautious rationalization may improve mental function but can be hazardous due to withdrawal seizures. A clearer perception of the limits of anticonvulsant therapy will allow more attention to appropriate psychosocial measures.
The Clinical Picture of Bipolar Affective Disorder in its Depressed Phase
Authors: Brockington Ian F. , Altman Edward , Hillier Valerie , Meltzer Herbert Y. , Nand Surinder 
Published: August 2008

SummaryUsing structured psychiatric interviews, we searched for differences between depressed patients with bipolar affective disorder, and with other types of depression. The patients were taken from 2 large series, collected in London and Chicago. Some differences were found, but few more than would be expected by chance, in view of the large number of variables examined. The possible reasons for this failure are discussed. They include contamination of the groups, and the insensitivity of structured mental state inventories.
Identical Twins Concordant for the Progression of Affective Illness to Schizophrenia
Authors: Kendler Kenneth S. , Tsuang Ming T. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryA pair of identical twins for whom long-term follow-up information was available progressed concordantly from typical ‘affective illness' to process schizophrenia. We discuss a possible genetic basis for a certain form of schizophrenia which may present typical affective features in the initial phase of process schizophrenia.