摘要:

Spontaneous motor activity measured by actigraphy and subjectively experienced intensity of symptoms were investigated in 16 unipolar depressed inpa-tients with melancholic features. Patients felt significantly less active, awake, and more depressed in the morning compared to the evening. However, morning activity levels appeared significantly higher compared to evening levels. Diurnal variations of symptoms were reflected by actigraphically measured motor activity, which was negatively correlated with subjectively experienced symptom intensity. Increased motor activity may represent an observable, psychobiological, behavioral equivalent of self-experienced depressive symptoms in major depression with melancholic features.

ISSN:0302-282X    

DOI:10.1159/000119362

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1997

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmitter system has been implicated in the pathogenesis of mood disorders. To test this hypothesis we carried out an association study between a dinucleotide repeat polymorphism in the GABAA receptor α5 subunit gene and bipolar and unipolar mood disorders. Our results suggest a possible involvement of this gene in unipolar but not in bipolar disorder

ISSN:0302-282X    

DOI:10.1159/000119363

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1997

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Studies reported in recent years have indicated that the level of nerve growth factor (NGF), in both the brain and in the bloodstream, increases following stressful events and anxiety-associated behaviour. These observations prompted us to investigate whether an anti-arousal drug would induce an opposite effect. We have reported that the administration of haloperidol (HA), a neuroleptic drug clinically used for psychiatric disorders, decreases NGF levels in the hypothalamus of adult male mice. In the present study, we showed that HA reduced the basal NGF plasma levels in 8 neuroleptic-free schizophrenic patients. These observations strengthen the hypothesis that NGF may play a functional role in stress-coping responses.

ISSN:0302-282X    

DOI:10.1159/000119364

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1997

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Anticholinergic drugs such as biperiden are used for the treatment of extrapyramidal side effects (EPS) induced by neuroleptics such as haloperidol. The effects of biperiden and haloperidol plasma levels on EPS were studied in 29 chronically ill schizophrenics. The results show relationships between biperiden dose and biperiden plasma levels (BPL), and between BPL and haloperidol plasma levels (HPL). Neither BPL nor HPL seem to influence EPS.

ISSN:0302-282X    

DOI:10.1159/000119365

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1997

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Two doses of idebenone were studied in a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicentre study in patients suffering from dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) of mild to moderate degree. Diagnosis was based on DSM-III-R (primary degenerative dementia) and NINCDS-ADRDA criteria (probable Alzheimer’s disease). A total of 300 patients were randomized to either placebo, idebenone 30 mg t.i.d. or 90 mg t.i.d. (n = 100, each) and treated for 6 months. The primary outcome measure was the total score of the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS-Total) at month 6. Secondary outcome measures were the ADAS cognitive (ADAS-Cog) and non-cognitive scores (ADAS-Noncog), the clinical global response (CGI-Improve-ment), the MMSE, the Digit Symbol Substitution test (DSS) and several scales for the assessment of daily activities (the self- and observer-rating scales NAA and NAB of the Nuremberg Age Inventory NAI and Greene’s Assessment). Safety parameters were adverse events, vital signs, ECG and clinical laboratory parameters. Clinical and psychometric evaluations were performed at baseline, and after 1, 3 and 6 months of treatment. After month 6 idebenone 90 mg t.i.d. showed statistically significant improvement in the primary efficacy variable ADAS-Total and in ADAS-Cog. An analysis of therapy responders performed for 3 outcome measures (CGI-global improvement, ADAS-Cog, ADAS-Noncog), selected to represent different domains of assessment, revealed significant superiority of idebenone 90 mg t.i.d. with respect to placebo in each of the 3 variables and in the concordance of responses across the 3 measures. Exploratory results for a subgroup of patients (ADAS-Total > 20) showed dose-related superiority of idebenone additionally on ADAS-Noncog and the CGI-Improvement scale. Safety results were inconspicuous for all assessments. The study results demonstrate the efficacy and safety of idebenone in the treatment of DAT pat

ISSN:0302-282X    

DOI:10.1159/000119366

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1997

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The purpose of this research was to examine changes in the ratio and amplitude of the N40 component of the auditory event-related potential (ERP) in the paired conditioning (C) test (T) stimulation paradigm following subchronic cocaine/vehicle administration. Free moving rats received cocaine (47.5 mg/ kg) or saline for 7 consecutive days in a longitudinal crossover design. ERPs were recorded 4 and 7 days after each treatment and again 4 and 7 days following withdrawal of the drug/vehicle. Cocaine led to a progressive increase in the T/C ratio indicating impaired inhibition of the test response. This trend continued throughout the 7-day drug regimen. Following withdrawal of the drug the T/C ratio gradually normalized over the next 7 days but remained elevated at 4 days postdrug. A significant increase in the test response accompanied by a less pronounced decrease in the conditioning response accounted for the observed results. Behavioral state as measured on a rating scale during ERP sampling did not differ across experimental conditions.

ISSN:0302-282X    

DOI:10.1159/000119367

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1997

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Cholecystokinin (CCK)-like peptides, such as ceruletide, have been found to improve selective attention as indicated by the processing negativity (PN) of the event-related brain potential. The present study compared effects of ceruletide and placebo after intravenous administration of ceruletide on the PN in healthy subjects classified into two groups scoring high versus low on self-reported activation. Following placebo, PN (at Fz) was somewhat larger in subjects with low than high activation (p < 0.1). Administration of the CCK analog decreased PN in low-activation subjects but increased PN in the highly activated group (p < 0.01). Results suggest that the effects of CCK on selective attention depend on a modulation of central nervous mechanisms underlying activation.

ISSN:0302-282X    

DOI:10.1159/000119368

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1997

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

In this pilot study, we examined the effect of the intravenous administration of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on the activity of spontaneously active A10 dopamine (DA) neurons of anesthetized, male albino rats. This was accomplished using the technique of in vivo extracellular single-unit recording. The administration of THC (0.05–1.6 mg/kg i.v.) did not significantly alter either the basal firing rate or the firing pattern of spontaneously active A10 DA neurons compared to vehicle controls. Our findings suggest that, unlike a number of drugs of abuse, THC does not alter the activity of A10 DA neurons and that the previously reported THC-induced increase in brain DA levels is not due to its action on firing rate or pattern in A10 DA neuron

ISSN:0302-282X    

DOI:10.1159/000119369

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1997

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

During the last few years, the working group ‘Psychophysiology’ of the Association for Methodology and Documentation in Psychiatry (AMDP) discussed the possibility of the establishment of defined EEG modules in psychiatry. It was the aim to create a common data pool in order to be able to have access to larger data sets. The installation of such a common data pool was regarded as an important prerequisite for a future diagnostic application of EEG and EP data in clinical practice. The most relevant arguments are: From a statistical point of view, multivariate investigations can be improved when relatively large data sets are available. Subgrouping of patients is facilitated. Different centers have access to different populations of patients. Furthermore, compliance with the recommendations contributes to a reduction in misunderstanding and false interpretation of other investigators’ results. The working group ‘Psychophysiology’ of the AMDP now recommends EEG modules to be registered in psychiatry. The recommendations are based on investigations using these modules in clinical research and practice as well as several years of discussion within the working group. Four AMDP modules (I–IV) are presented: MI: resting EEG (closed eyes), Mil: resting EEG (eyes open), MIll: EEG during videotracking, and MIV: EEG during choice reaction time. Recommendations for additional modules are planned in the near future: MV: EEG during geometry test, MVI: EEG during labyrinth test, and MVII: amplitude stimulus intensity function. MIII–MVI is paralleled by an EEG recording so that psychomotor performance can be measured and EEG data under different activation conditions are available. Compliance with the recommendations guarantees the possibility of access to the common data pool. Computer software is availa

ISSN:0302-282X    

DOI:10.1159/000119370

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1997

数据来源: Karger