艾司西酞普兰改善创伤后应激障碍症状及脑结构的磁共振研究

目的 探讨艾司西酞普兰对创伤后应激障碍(PTSD)核心症状、伴发症状及脑结构的影响.方法 收集符合美国精神障碍诊断与统计手册第四版诊断标准的12例PTSD患者,单独应用艾司西酞普兰治疗3个月.采用临床应用的PTSD诊断量表(CAPS)、汉密尔顿抑郁量表(HAMD)、汉密尔顿焦虑量表(HAMA)、威斯康星分类卡片(WCST)、韦氏记忆量表(WMS)对PTSD患者治疗前后进行评估.治疗前后,所有患者进行核磁共振扫描.采用基于体素的形态学分析(VBM)技术,用统计参数 图5(SPM5)软件包分析治疗前后脑灰质体积的差异.结果 PTSD患者经艾司西酞普兰治疗后CAPS、HAMD、HAMA、WCST、WMS评分均较治疗前明显下降(P＜0.05).磁共振结果显示,经艾司西酞普兰治疗后PTSD患者额叶、颞叶等部分脑区灰质体积明显恢复.结论 艾司西酞普兰能有效改善PTSD患者的核心症状,以及伴发的抑郁、焦虑及认知功能损害症状；并明显促进脑灰质体积的恢复.     

双相情感障碍抑郁发作与单相抑郁发作患者的记忆功能比较

目的 探讨双相情感障碍抑郁发作患者与单相抑郁发作患者的记忆功能损害的差异.方法 收集符合DSM-IV-TR的30例双相情感障碍抑郁发作患者和30例单相抑郁发作患者.采用韦氏记忆量表（WMS）评定两组记忆功能,汉密尔顿抑郁量表17项版（HAMD-17）评定抑郁严重程度.结果 双相情感障碍抑郁发作组理解记忆、延迟理解记忆、视觉再生、延迟视觉再生得分均明显低于单相抑郁发作组,两组比较差异有统计学意义（t分别为14.54,7.99,18.69,9.93;P＜0.05）.结论 抑郁症状严重程度相同时,双相情感障碍抑郁发作对记忆功能的损害比单相抑郁发作对患者的影响更重.     

早期创伤后应激障碍的执行功能与额叶损害

目的探讨创伤后应激障碍(Post-traumatic stress disorder,PTSD)患者的执行功能损害特点以及结构性核磁共振的变化。方法收集12例病程小于1年的首发PTSD患者为PTSD组,16名健康志愿者为对照组。PTSD组应用艾司西酞普兰治疗3个月,治疗前后均使用临床应用的PTSD诊断量表(Clinician AdministeredPTSD Scale,CAPS)评估临床症状,威斯康星卡片分类测验(Wisconsin Card Sorting Test,WCST)评定PTSD组执行功能,对照组WCST只评估一次。采用基于体素的形态学分析技术比较PTSD组治疗前后及对照组的脑结构形态。结果 PTSD组治疗前、治疗后总应答数(Ra)、错误应答数(Re)及持续性错误数(Rpe)评分均差于对照组,差异有统计学意义(均P0.05);治疗前Ra、Cc、Re及Rpe评分均差于治疗后,差异有统计学意义(均P0.05)。PTSD组治疗前和治疗后CAPS得分均与执行功能(Ra、Cc、Re、Rp及Rpe)无统计学相关性(P0.05)。PTSD组治疗前额叶部分脑区灰质体积小于对照组[P0.01(uncorrected)],治疗后PTSD患者额叶部分脑区灰质体积较治疗前恢复[P0.01(uncorrected)],但仍小于对照组[P0.01(uncorrected)]。结论 PTSD患者存在明显执行功能障碍,临床症状恢复后,执行功能障碍依然存在。大脑额叶部分脑区灰质体积治疗后不能完全恢复,可能为其认知功能损害的病理基础。     

儿童期受虐对抑郁症患者临床表现的影响

目的:探讨抑郁症患者的临床表现与儿童期受虐的关系. 方法:120例抑郁症患者根据世界卫生组织(WHO)的儿童虐待定义分为受虐组44例,非受虐组76例;以100名健康志愿者为对照组.采用汉密尔顿抑郁量表(HAMD)评定抑郁症状严重度;韦氏记忆量表(WMS)评估认识功能;儿童期虐待史自评量表(PRCA)对患者儿童期受虐史进行测评. 结果:与非受虐组相比,受虐组以女性较多,首次发病年龄较小,有偶者较少,单亲家庭、慢性病程及有自杀倾向较多;HAMD总分、焦虎/躯体化、认知障碍、绝望感因子评分均较非受虐组显著为高(P<0.05或P<0.01).受虐组WMS中倒数、视觉再认、图片回忆、联想学习、触觉记忆、长时记忆、短时记忆及记忆商数得分显著低于非受虐组及对照组(P<0.05或P<0.01);PRCA中情感虐待、性虐待、忽视及虐待总分与HAND总分及多个因子分、WMS总分及多个因子分呈负相关(P<0.05或P<0.01). 结论:有儿童期受虐史的抑郁症患者,其临床症状、记忆力损害较无儿童期受虐史的患者严重;临床症状的严重度与儿童期虐待有关.     

失独伴慢性创伤后应激障碍患者脑基于体素形态学及功能连接分析

目的探讨失独伴慢性创伤后应激障碍(posttraumatic stress disorder,PTSD)患者脑灰质体积和功能连接改变及其与PTSD症状的关系。方法2017年10月至2019年5月共纳入19例伴慢性PTSD失独者(伴PTSD组)、28例不伴PTSD失独者(不伴PTSD组)及27例健康对照者(对照组),3组年龄、性别比例及受教育年限匹配。所有受试者均接受3.0T磁共振成像扫描,应用DSM-ⅣPTSD诊断量表(Clinician Administered PTSD Scale,CAPS)评估失独者PTSD诊断及症状严重程度。基于体素形态学(voxel-based morphology,VBM)分析受试者灰质体积,并进一步将伴PTSD组与不伴PTSD组中灰质体积存在显著差异的脑区作为种子点,基于种子点做全脑功能连接分析。采用单因素ANOVA和双样本t检验比较组间灰质体积及功能连接性的差异,并进行AlphaSim校正且P<0.05为差异有统计学意义;相关性分析伴PTSD患者脑区灰质体积及功能连接值与临床量表评分之间的相关性。结果与不伴PTSD组比较,伴PTSD组左侧额上回、右侧楔前叶灰质体积减小,左侧梭状回灰质体积增大;与对照组相比,不伴PTSD组右侧海马、右侧中央沟盖及右侧楔前叶灰质体积增大。基于种子点全脑功能连接分析显示,与不伴PTSD组比较,伴PTSD组右侧角回、右侧岛叶功能连接增强,相应功能连接值与CAPS评分均呈正相关;双侧眶额回、左侧小脑、左侧海马功能连接降低,相应功能连接值与CAPS评分均呈负相关(均P<0.01)。伴PTSD组左侧梭状回灰质体积增大与回避/麻木症状评分呈显著相关(r=-0.555,P=0.014),与失独持续时间呈正相关(r=0.457,P=0.049)。结论失独伴慢性PTSD患者多个脑区灰质体积及其功能连接异常,其中前额叶-内侧颞叶环路功能连接减弱及恐惧网络重要结点脑区异常激活可能导致PTSD发生,而与视觉信息处理相关的脑区结构代偿性改变可能是缓解PTSD症状重要因素,且与PTSD的持续时间相关。     

伴发睡眠障碍首发抑郁症认知功能损害及影响因素分析

目的探讨伴发睡眠障碍首发抑郁症患者的认知功能损害特点及其影响因素。方法纳入318例首发抑郁症患者,根据睡眠情况分为伴发睡眠障碍组(202例)和不伴发睡眠障碍组(116例),并纳入243名正常对照。采用重复性成套神经心理状态测验(repeatable battery for the assessment of neuropsychological status,RBANS)评估所有被试的认知功能(即刻记忆、视觉广度、言语功能、注意、延迟记忆),并采用17项汉密尔顿抑郁量表(Hamilton depression rating scale,HAMD-17)评估患者的抑郁症状。结果伴发睡眠障碍组即刻记忆、视觉广度、言语功能、延时记忆得分及量表总分均比不伴发睡眠障碍组及对照组差(均P<0.05);而不伴发睡眠障碍组的即刻记忆、言语功能、延时记忆得分及量表总分比对照组差(均P<0.05)。多因素线性回归分析示,伴发睡眠障碍组中,RBANS量表总分与HAMD认知障碍因子相关联(β=6.29,P=0.04),即刻记忆得分与年龄相关联(β=-0.24,P=0.04),视觉广度得分与HAMD睡眠变化因子相关联(β=2.33,P=0.01),言语功能得分与婚姻(β=-5.74,P=0.01)及HAMD阻滞因子(β=-1.20,P=0.03)相关联;不伴发睡眠障碍组中,RBANS的言语功能得分与年龄相关联(β=-0.32,P=0.04),注意得分与HAMD阻滞因子相关联(β=2.52,P=0.01)。结论伴发睡眠障碍组患者存在多方面的认知功能损害,抑郁相关症状(睡眠变化、认知障碍、阻滞等)、年龄及婚姻状况可能是伴发睡眠障碍抑郁患者认知功能损害的影响因素。     

首发抑郁症患者与正常对照认知功能的比较研究

目的 探讨首发抑郁症的认知功能损害特点.方法 对112例首发抑郁症患者和47例正常对照采用韦氏成人智力量表、韦氏记忆量表、威斯康星卡片分类测验(WCST)进行检测.采用汉密尔顿抑郁量表(HAMD)对抑郁症患者进行抑郁状态评估.结果 抑郁症组的心智、图片、再认、再生、联想、理解、背数、记忆商数、言语智商数、操作智商数、智商数均明显低于对照组(P＜0.05).抑郁症组的WCST完成分类数明显低于对照组,总测验数明显高于对照组, 差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05).相关分析显示, HAMD总分和心智、图片、再认、再生、联想、触觉、理解、背数、记忆商数、言语智商、操作智商、智商和完成分类数呈负相关(P＜0.05);焦虑/躯体化因子和再认、再生、背数呈负相关(P＜0.05);体重因子和图片、触觉呈负相关(P＜0.05);认识障碍因子和图片、再生、联想、触觉、背数、完成分类数呈负相关(P＜0.05);阻滞因子和心智、图片、再生、联想、理解、背数、记忆商数、言语智商、完成分类数呈负相关(P＜0.05);睡眠障碍因子和心智、图片、再认、再生、联想、触觉、理解、背数、记忆商数、言语智商、操作智商、智商、完成分类数、概念化水平、百分数呈负相关(P＜0.05).结论 首发抑郁症患者可能存在比较严重的全面认知功能损害,范围比较广,且抑郁症症状能够影响患者的认知能力.     

癌症相关创伤后应激障碍患者心率变异性研究

目的:探讨癌症相关创伤后应激障碍(PTSD)患者的心率变异性(HRV). 方法:采用临床用创伤后应激功能障碍诊断量表(CAPS)对150例癌症患者进行诊断性访谈,并分为PTSD组(37例)和非PTSD组(nPTSD组,30例);应用PTSD自评量表(PCL-C)对两组患者进行评估;采用生理相干与自主神经平衡系统对PTSD组、nPTSD组、健康对照(NC)组(30名)进行短时HRV检测,分析HRV指标与PTSD核心症状的相关性. 结果:与nPTSD组和NC组比较,PTSD组平静状态下R-R间期标准差(SDNN)和高频功率(HF)较显著下降,低频功率(LF)/HF显著升高(P均＜0.001);应激状态下PTSD组SDNN应激差值明显降低,HF和LF/HF应激差值显著增高(P均＜0.001);HRV指标与PTSD核心症状的严重程度显著相关(P均＜0.05). 结论:癌症相关PTSD患者自主神经功能紊乱,其核心症状的严重程度与自主神经功能紊乱显著相关.     

老年与非老年抑郁症的临床特征差异

目的:探讨老年期抑郁症的临床特征。方法:以60例老年期抑郁症患者作老年组,选60例非老年期抑郁症患者为非老年组。对两组分别用汉密尔顿抑郁量表和汉密尔顿焦虑量表进行评定。结果:老年组抑郁症状中激越和疑病症状显著高于非老年组(P<0.01),老年组的躯体症状中自主神经系统症状、心血管系统症状和消化系统症状显著高于非老年组(P<0.05或P<0.01);躯体性焦虑和认知障碍、焦虑/躯体化和睡眠障碍的严重程度均显著高于非老年组(P<0.05或P<0.01)。结论:老年期抑郁症激越、疑病、躯体症状、焦虑、睡眠障碍及认知障碍等更加突出。     

血清S100B蛋白水平与首发抑郁症关系的研究

目的 探讨首发抑郁症患者的血清S100B蛋白水平与抑郁症及其认知功能的关系.方法 纳入符合美国精神障碍诊断与统计手册第四版(DSM-Ⅳ)抑郁症诊断标准的首发抑郁症患者30例和正常对照30名,检测血清S100B蛋白水平,同时应用17项版本汉密尔顿抑郁量表(HAMD)和威斯康星卡片分类测验(WCST)评定患者的病情和认知功能.并进行两组间比较.结果 患者组血清S100B蛋白水平明显高于对照组[(0.109±0.032)μg/L与(0.033±0.014)μg/L,P<0.01].患者组WCST的完成分类数得分低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01),而错误应答数、完成第一个分类所需应答数、持续性错误数、持续性应答和持续性错误百分数均高于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.01).患者组血清S100B蛋白水平与HAMD的总分、阻滞因子分及睡眠障碍因子分呈正相关(r为0.46、0.41和0.37,P均小于0.05),与WCST中的持续性错误数、持续性应答及持续性错误百分数呈正相关(r为0.39、0.37和0.37,P均小于0.05).结论 首发抑郁症患者血清S100B蛋白水平升高,其升高程度与抑郁症的严重程度和认知损害程度正相关.     

Lifetime posttraumatic stress disorder in Turkish alcohol-dependent inpatients: relationship with depression, anxiety and erectile dysfunction

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of lifetime posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Turkish male alcohol-dependent inpatients, and to investigate the relationship of lifetime PTSD diagnosis with anxiety, depression, hopelessness, erectile dysfunction and psychosocial problems related with alcohol dependency. Eighty-two male inpatients who met DSM-IV criteria for alcohol dependence and 48 subjects without substance use disorder as a control group were included in the study. Subjects were applied the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST), the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) and the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF). Rate of lifetime PTSD diagnosis was found to be 26.8% among alcohol-dependent inpatients. The mean age of patients with lifetime PTSD was lower than in patients without this diagnosis, while there were no significant differences between these two groups in terms of age of first alcohol use, lifetime major depression, current depression, presence and severity of erectile dysfunction. Mean scores of HAM-D, HAM-A, BHS and MAST in the group with lifetime PTSD were significantly higher than the group without this diagnosis. There was a positive relationship between lifetime PTSD diagnosis and depression, anxiety, hopelessness and severity of psychosocial problems related to alcohol dependency, while there was no relationship between lifetime PTSD comorbidity and erectile dysfunction in alcohol-dependent patients.     

Triiodothyronine augmentation of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in posttraumatic stress disorder

BACKGROUND: There is considerable comorbidity of major depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and antidepressants have been reported to be effective in treating PTSD. Addition of triiodothyronine (T3) to ongoing antidepressant treatment is considered an effective augmentation strategy in refractory depression. We report the effect of T3 augmentation of antidepressants in patients with PTSD. METHOD: T3 (25 microg/day) was added to treatment with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) (paroxetine or fluoxetine, 20 mg/day for at least 4 weeks and 40 mg/day for a further 4 weeks) of 5 patients who fulfilled DSM-IV criteria for PTSD but not for major depressive disorder (although all patients had significant depressive symptoms). The Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale, the 21-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, and the Clinical Global Impressions-Severity of Illness scale were administered every 2 weeks, and self-assessments were performed with a 100 mm visual analog mood scale. RESULTS: In 4 of the 5 patients, partial clinical improvement was observed with SSRI treatment at a daily dose of 20 mg with little further improvement when the dose was raised to 40 mg/day. This improvement was substantially enhanced by the addition of T3. Improvement was most striking on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. CONCLUSION: T3 augmentation of SSRI treatment may be of therapeutic benefit in patients with PTSD, particularly those with depressive symptoms. Larger samples and controlled studies are needed in order to confirm this observation.     

Treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder with phenytoin: an open-label pilot study

BACKGROUND: Phenytoin is an anticonvulsant used in the treatment of epilepsy. Its mechanism of action is incompletely understood but most likely involves modulation of glutamatergic transmission. The neurobiology of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been hypothesized to involve, at least in part, alterations in glutamatergic transmission in the hippocampus and possibly other brain regions. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of phenytoin on symptoms of PTSD. METHOD: Phenytoin was administered in an open-label fashion for 3 months to 9 adult male and female patients with DSM-IV PTSD related to a variety of traumas including childhood abuse, combat, and car accidents. Dosage was adjusted to maintain the therapeutic blood levels used in the treatment of epilepsy. Subjects were assessed before, during, and after treatment for PTSD with standardized dimensional measures of disease severity including the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS), the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D), and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAM-A). Data were collected from November 2001 through June 2003. RESULTS: Phenytoin treatment resulted in a significant decrease in PTSD symptoms as measured with the CAPS (mean score = 65 pretreatment vs. 38 posttreatment) with reductions in each of the symptom clusters of intrusions, avoidance, and hyperarousal (p < .05). There were no significant decreases in symptoms of depression severity as measured with the HAM-D or anxiety severity as measured with the HAM-A. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that phenytoin may be efficacious in the treatment of PTSD, possibly mediated through its antiglutamatergic effects. Randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical trials are indicated to further evaluate this medication in the treatment of PTSD.     

Memory, attention, function, and mood among patients with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder

We report a study of memory, attention, function, and mood among 36 male Vietnam War Veterans suffering from chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD subjects (N = 36) were in good physical health, suffering from moderate depression, and not knowingly suffering from other mental disorders. Control subjects (N = 18) were in good physical health, not knowingly suffering from a mental disorder, and matched with PTSD subject for age, sex, and level of education. Assessment instruments for PTSD subjects included the PostTraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale (clinician administered), the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (clinician administered), and the Cognitive Evaluation Protocol (CEP), a touchscreen computer assessment instrument that is self-administered by subjects. CEP was administered twice to PTSD subjects 1 month apart; other instruments were administered at the beginning of the study. Control subjects took CEP once and were administered the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the PostTraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale once. Compared with control subjects, PTSD subjects performed significantly less well on CEP for the three cognitive domains of attention, memory, and function and had highly elevated depression scores. An interaction between depression and memory was found but not with depression and attention. There was no evidence of reduced information processing speed among PTSD subjects. Comparisons between the three assessment instruments showed a high degree of cross-assessment agreement. The findings are consistent with reports that chronic PTSD is associated with compromised memory, attention, and function. The study documents the feasibility of using self-administrated touchscreen computer programs to evaluate and track features of mental disorders.     

创伤后应激障碍患者远期认知功能损害的随访研究

目的探讨创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）患者远期认知功能损害的特点。方法选取2004年1月～2005年12月来河北医科大学第一医院精神科就诊的38例符合DsM—IV—TR诊断标准的PTSD患者（PTSD组）,同期在本院就诊的40例广泛性焦虑症患者（焦虑组）,本院常规体检的37名正常人群（健康对照组）。入组时及9年后随访分别完成汉密尔顿焦虑量表（HAMA）、汉密尔顿抑郁量表（HAMD）、威斯康星卡分类测验（WCST）、韦氏记忆测试（wPS—R）的测评。结果3组对象入组时性别、年龄、受教育年限差异均无统计学意义（P〉o．05）。入组时焦虑组患者HAMA、HAMD评分高于PTSD组及健康对照组,PTSD组HAMA、HAMD评分高于健康对照组,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。9年后随访,3组间HAMA和HAMD评分差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。入组时和9年后随访PTSD组韦氏记忆测查成绩均低于焦虑组及健康对照组,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）。入组时和9年后随访PTSD组患者WCST7项目因子中的总应答数（Ra）、错误应答数（Re）显著高于焦虑组及健康对照组,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）,各组完成分类数（cc）、正确应答数（Rc）、持续错误数（Rpe）、非持续性错误数（nRpe）、完成第一个分类所需的应答数（Rf）的差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论PTSD患者发病时存在认知功能损害,主要表现为记忆功能和执行功能损害,且记忆及执行功能损害较广泛性焦虑症患者严重。PTSD患者9年后随访仍存在认知功能损害,提示PTSD的认知功能损害长期持续存在。     

An open-label, 12-week clinical and sleep EEG study of nefazodone in chronic combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder

BACKGROUND: We examined the effects of nefazodone on polysomnographic sleep measures and subjective reports of sleep quality and nightmares. as well as other symptoms, in patients with chronic combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) during a 12-week, open-label clinical trial. To our knowledge, this is the first polysomnographic study of treatment in patients with PTSD. METHOD: The subjects were 12 male veterans (mean age = 54 years) who met DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for PTSD (mean duration = 30 years). All but I patient also met DSM-IV criteria for major depressive disorder. Patients were evaluated weekly with clinical ratings in an open-label clinical trial. Polysomnographic recordings for 2 consecutive nights were obtained before treatment and at 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks. The dose of nefazodone was adjusted according to individual clinical needs. Final mean daily dose was 441 mg. RESULTS: The patients reported significantly fewer nightmares and sleep problems during treatment. Nevertheless, contrary to studies in depressed patients, nefazodone did not significantly affect polysomnographic sleep measures compared with baseline. In addition, the patients showed significant improvement in the Clinical Global Impressions of PTSD symptoms (global score, hyperarousals and intrusions subscales), the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (global, hyperarousal, and intrusions subscales), the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D). and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). CONCLUSION: These patients with chronic, treatment-resistant, combat-related PTSD showed significant improvement of subjective symptoms of nightmares and sleep disturbance, as well as depression and PTSD symptoms. in this 12-week open-label clinical trial. Nevertheless, objective polysomnographic sleep measures did not change. Further studies, including double-blind. placebo-controlled trials, are needed to extend these findings and to understand the relationships between the physiology of sleep and symptoms of poor sleep and nightmares.     

Posttraumatic stress disorder, cognitive function and quality of life in patients with schizophrenia

The purpose of the present study was to assess posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), cognitive function, and quality of life in patients with schizophrenia who had a self-reported history of trauma exposure. Outpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were referred to the study. Each patient was assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ), a cognitive assessment battery, Heinrich's Quality of Life Scale (QLS), and the Behavior and Symptom Identification Scale (BASIS). Eighty-seven subjects who reported experiencing at least one traumatic event were included in the study. Fifteen of 87 (17%) met the DSM-IV criteria for PTSD. The PTSD group had significantly worse overall cognitive performance than the non-PTSD group, especially in the domains of attention, working memory and executive function. In addition, the PTSD group showed significantly worse self-rated quality of life as measured by the BASIS total score. The development of PTSD is associated with poor cognitive function and subjectively, but not objectively, rated low quality of life in patients with schizophrenia. Evaluating PTSD in patients with schizophrenia could have important implications from both clinical and research perspectives.     

Levetiracetam for treatment-refractory posttraumatic stress disorder

OBJECTIVE: To assess the use of levetiracetam, a novel anticonvulsant agent, in the treatment of refractory posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). METHOD: Retrospective analysis was conducted of 23 patients with DSM-IV diagnosis of PTSD who, after being deemed partial or nonresponders to antidepressant therapy, received levetiracetam in a naturalistic fashion. The primary outcome measure was the PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C). Secondary outcome measures included the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAM-A), the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D), Clinical Global Impressions-Severity of Illness scale (CGI-S), and Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement scale (CGI-I). RESULTS: Levetiracetam at a mean+/-SD dose of 1967+/-650 mg/day for 9.7+/-3.7 weeks was generally well tolerated. Nineteen patients (83%) were taking at least 1 concomitant medication. Patients were severely ill with a mean baseline PCL-C score of 67.2+/-9.4, CGI-S score of 6.0+/-0.7, and HAM-A score of 26.8+/-4.9. Patients improved significantly on all measures (p<.001). Thirteen patients (56%) met responder criteria at endpoint (PCL-C mean change=23.5, CGI-I score相似文献   

Cognitive function across manic or hypomanic, depressed, and euthymic states in bipolar disorder

OBJECTIVE: The study aims were to address neuropsychological functioning across different states of bipolar illness and to determine relationships among clinical features, neuropsychological performance, and psychosocial functioning. METHOD: Several domains of cognitive function were examined in 30 depressed bipolar patients (DSM-IV criteria for major depression, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score > or = 17), 34 manic or hypomanic bipolar patients (DSM-IV criteria for manic or hypomanic episode, Young Mania Rating Scale score > or = 12), and 44 euthymic bipolar patients (6 months of remission, Hamilton depression scale score < or = 8, and Young Mania Rating Scale score < or = 6). The comparison group consisted of 30 healthy subjects without history of neurological or psychiatric disorders. A neuropsychological battery assessed executive function, attention, and verbal and visual memory. RESULTS: The three groups showed cognitive dysfunction in verbal memory and frontal executive tasks in relation to the comparison group. Low neuropsychological performance was associated with poor functional outcome. Impairment of verbal memory was related to the duration of illness and the numbers of previous manic episodes, hospitalizations, and suicide attempts. CONCLUSIONS: A poorer performance was observed in all bipolar groups regarding executive function and verbal memory in relation to the healthy comparison subjects. These cognitive difficulties, especially related to verbal memory, may help explain the impairment regarding daily functioning, even during remission. Further studies should focus on testing, whether optimizing prophylactic pharmacological treatment and psychoeducation might reduce cognitive impairment, and whether bipolar patients would benefit from neuropsychological rehabilitation in order to reduce the impact of cognitive impairment in their overall functioning.