Marital status and depression: a study of English national admission statistics

Data are presented from the English national statistics for first admissions with affective disorders during the years 1982-1985. Overall rates per 10(5) of the population aged over 15 years were 36.1 for men and 59.1 for women. The peak incidence for depressive neurosis was middle adulthood, that for affective psychosis much later. The widowed and divorced showed much higher rates than the single and married for all types of disorder. Marriage appeared less protective for women than for men. The age-incidence relationship among the divorced and widowed was exaggerated for depressive neurosis and reversed for psychosis. The results are interpreted in terms of a (possibly biological) releasing effect of age upon affective psychosis that could be overwhelmed by severely adverse social circumstances. The findings support the validity of the distinction between affective psychoses and depressive neurosis.     

Serum and red blood cell folate in depression

Serum folate concentrations were estimated in patients with major depressive disorders, lithium-treated patients, detoxified alcoholic patients and normal controls. Red blood cell (RBC) folate concentrations were also estimated in subgroups of patients with major depressive disorder and normal controls. Results showed significantly lower serum and RBC folate concentrations in patients with major depressive disorder than in normal controls. Lower serum folate concentrations were associated with greater severity of depression. There was no association between serum and RBC folate concentrations and endogenicity of depression or the presence of weight loss.     

Applying item response theory to enhance health outcomes assessment

Background Health-related quality of life (HRQL) is an accepted outcome measure in patients with mood and anxiety disorders. Yet, surprisingly little attention has been paid to the determinants. In this paper we test the hypothesis that it is associated with personality traits while controlling for mental disorders. Methods A large sample of outpatients (n=640) with mood and anxiety disorders was studied. The empirically supported five factor model of normal personality traits was assessed using the NEO-FFI and includes: neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. Mental disorders were assessed with the CIDI, and HRQL with the SF-36. Results Regression analyses revealed that the NEO-FFI scores, with the exception of conscientiousness, were significantly associated with SF-36 subscales and summary scores, independently from the mental disorders. The percentage of explained variance due to the personality traits was highest for the subscales Vitality (10.0%), Mental Health (13.3%) and the Mental Health Summary Score (9.5%). Furthermore, specific personality traits were related to specific SF-36 subscales. Conclusions A low HRQL of patients with mood or anxiety disorders is not only determined by the disease or the current health but is also shaped by personality traits that are relatively stable throughout an individual's life time.     

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目的通过对比合并与不合并注意缺陷多动障碍(ADHD)的阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征(OSAHS)儿童的多导睡眠监测指标,试图从睡眠结构和睡眠主要参数的层次上来探讨ADHD的发病机制。方法选择2004-01—2006-10于广州市儿童医院就诊的OSAHS患儿36例作为OSAHS组,合并有OSAHS的ADHD患儿20例作为观察组,选取无OSAHS及ADHD的儿童30例作为对照组,三组之间在年龄、性别、体重指数等方面相比,差异无显著性。通过多导睡眠监测(PSG),并由神经康复科专科医生对其是否患有ADHD作出诊断。采用相应的统计学方法,对OSAHS组、观察组及对照组的睡眠结构进行比较,并对OSAHS组和观察组进行呼吸事件及血氧状况的比较。结果(1)与对照组相比,OSAHS组及观察组睡眠Ⅰ期增加,睡眠Ⅱ期、SWS及REM睡眠减少,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),OSAHS组的REM%为8.66±3.94,观察组的REM%为5.65±5.41,REM%的改变有统计学意义(P<0.05)。(2)观察组儿童呼吸事件的次数与持续时间及血氧饱和度下降较OSAHS儿童严重,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论观察组儿童REM%及血氧饱和度的下降可能在ADHD的发病中起一定的作用。     

Narrowband UVB therapy for vitiligo: does the repigmentation last?

BACKGROUND: Since 1997, a number of trials have shown promising results in treating generalized vitiligo with narrowband ultraviolet B (UVB) both in adults and children. However, there is little knowledge concerning the duration and permanency of the treatment-induced repigmentation. OBJECTIVE: Our main objective was to perform a follow-up trial of successfully treated patients receiving narrowband UVB for generalized vitiligo. METHODS: We have investigated to what degree the treatment-induced repigmentation remains stable for up to 2 years post-treatment. We performed an initial open trial including 31 patients with generalized vitiligo. They received narrowband UVB thrice weekly for up to 12 months. Patients experiencing > 75% repigmentation were defined responders and were included in the follow-up trial. Responders were followed every 6 months for up to 2 years after cessation of treatment. We observed the pigmentation status and registered any changes indicating loss of pigmentation and relapse. RESULTS: Eleven of the 31 treated patients were included in the follow-up trial. Six patients had relapse and five patients had stable response 24 months after cessation of treatment. Four out of six relapses were within 6 months post-treatment. CONCLUSION: In our study population of 31 patients with generalized vitiligo, five patients (16%) experienced > 75% stable repigmentation 2 years after cessation of a treatment programme of up to 1 years narrowband UVB therapy.     

认知疗法合并黛力新治疗脑卒中后焦虑的疗效

目的评价认知疗法合并黛力新(氟哌噻吨/美利曲辛)治疗脑卒中后焦虑的疗效。方法将80例脑卒中后焦虑患者随机分为治疗组(n=40)和对照组(n=40),分别给予认知疗法合并黛力新、单用黛力新治疗8周。用汉密顿焦虑量表、副反应量表分别评定疗效和副反应。结果治疗4、8周时,治疗组汉密顿焦虑量表评分(16.08±7.45,8.80±4.73)明显低于对照组(19.80±8.26,11.35±5.03),P<0.05;临床总疗效无论治疗4、8周,治疗组均优于对照组,P<0.01。结论认知疗法合并黛力新治疗脑卒中后焦虑的疗效较好。     

惊恐障碍临床特征及误诊分析

目的 :分析惊恐障碍的临床特征 ,探讨其误诊原因。方法 :回顾性分析惊恐障碍 78例在精神科确诊前的临床资料。结果 :全部多次误诊为躯体疾病 ,尤其易误诊为心血管疾病。误诊时间 1.5～ 5 6个月 ,平均 ( 9.6 5± 13.2 1)个月。结论 :惊恐障碍极易误诊 ,综合医院应提高临床医生对惊恐障碍的认识以减少误诊率。     

Bipolar disorder in children and adolescents: obstacles to early diagnosis and future directions

Aim: This article reviews research centred around juvenile bipolar disorder with particular reference to diagnostic difficulties. Putative deficits are scrutinized with respect to trait likelihood and the roles of neuropsychology and neuroimaging in enhancing our understanding of juvenile bipolar disorder are discussed. Methods: Search terms including childhood, adolescent, youth and juvenile combined with the terms ‘bipolar disorder’, mania, depression and hypomania were used to identify relevant studies in MEDLINE and PsychLit. Results: Over recent years research into this relatively new disorder has increased phenomenally. Key issues within the field include diagnostic specificity, the heritability of the disorder, the impact of comorbidity and the implications of neuropsychological and neuroimaging findings. Conclusion: Despite concerning controversies in literature the diagnosis of bipolar disorder in children and adolescents as compared with adults, promising future research directions include better neurological characterization of the disorder through the application of findings from clinical populations, neuropsychological and neuroimaging research.