Somatotyping of schizophrenic and affective disorder patients

INTRODUCTION: Constitutional traits have been found to show a distinct relevance to major psychiatric disorders. Syndromal modified expressivity is also closely related to somatotypic constitution. In this view somatotyping appears valuable in diagnosis and prognosis of mental disorders. AIM: The present study was conducted in an attempt to outline somatotypic characteristics of schizophrenia and affective disorders with the aim of providing a logical basis for diagnosis of these major psychiatric disorders. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The somatotype of 54 schizophrenic and 68 affective disorder inpatients who fulfil the DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia (subjects with schizophreniform, schizoaffective, schizoid and schizotypal personality disorders were excluded from the sample) and affective disorder (bipolar and unipolar) was assessed using the Health-Carter anthropometric method. RESULTS: The overall assessment of the somatotypes determined both groups as endomorphs mesomorphs with somatotype components 4.50-4.44-1.90 for schizophrenic patients and 5.87-5.40-0.36 for affective disorder patients. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant for any of the somatotype components. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that the constitutional and somatotypic characterization appears reasonable element in the multifactorial analysis of diagnostic decisions in these major psychiatric disorders.     

Influence of genes and family environment on adult smoking behavior assessed in an adoption study.

Twin studies suggest that genetic factors influence smoking behavior. However, in these studies, genetic and environmental influences may be confounded. We examined whether smoking behavior of adoptees is associated with smoking behavior in adoptive and biological relatives in a design in which this confounding is minimized. Data on smoking status were collected using a mailed questionnaire in a sample of 840 adoptive families from the Danish Adoption Register including all non-familial adoptions from 1924 through 1947. Smoking data were available for 706 adoptees, 451 biological fathers, 580 biological mothers, 641 adoptive fathers, 693 adoptive mothers, 199 biological full-siblings, 684 maternal half-siblings, and 576 paternal half-siblings. Adoptees' status as ever, current, heavy, or former (ex-)smokers was related to their relatives' smoking status. Adoptees ever smoking was associated with their full-siblings' status as ever smokers (OR = 3.6 [1.5-8.7]). Adoptees' current smoking was also associated with their full-siblings' ever (OR = 3.2 [1.5-7.7]) and current (OR = 2.6 [1.3-5.0]) smoking, whereas adoptees' heavy smoking was associated with their full-siblings ever (OR = 5.5 [2.1-14.3]), current (OR = 4.0[1.9-8.6]) and heavy (OR = 2.0[1.0-4.2]) smoking. Compared with current smokers, adoptee ex-smokers had full-siblings who were ex-smokers more often (OR = 3.5 [1.0-11.6]), current (OR = 0.4 [0.2-0.8]), and heavy (OR = 0.3 [0.1-0.9]) smokers less often. Adoptees' smoking behavior was not associated with adoptive or biological parents' status as current smokers. This study of smoking behavior in adult adoptees and their biological and adoptee family supports the finding in twin studies of a genetic influence on smoking within the same generation.     

Genetic epidemiology utilizing the adoption method: studies of obesity and of premature death in adults

Genetic epidemiology gives no priority to genes or environment in the search of disease causation. However, a major problem in this field is the disentangling of the effects of environment and genes. The study of subjects separated very early in life from their biologic parents and adopted by unrelated parents provide a strong tool for estimation of genetic and familial environmental influences. The degree to which the trait or disease frequency of the adoptees is similar to that seen among the biologic relatives is an indication of the strength of the genetic influence. Similarity to the adoptive relatives suggests influences of the family environment shared between them. Adoption studies of adult obesity show that it is genes, and not the family environment, that is responsible for the familial aggregation of obesity. A study of the mortality of adult adoptees and their biologic and adoptive parents indicates a genetic influence on the risk of premature death from all causes, from natural causes, infections, and cardio- and cerebrovascular conditions, and suggests familial environmental influences on death from the vascular causes and from cancer.     

Auditory P300 studies in schizophrenic subjects and their first degree relatives.

Nineteen subjects with schizophrenia, 6 subjects with related disorders (schizophrenic spectrum disorders (S.S.D.)), and 20 unaffected first degree relatives from a sample of schizophrenic pedigrees, together with 35 normal control subjects, had auditory P300 evoked responses measured, using the "odd-ball" paradigm for stimulation. Bipolar recording on the midline (CZOZ) and two contralateral sites (CZ-mastoid) was carried out. It was found that approximately 40% of schizophrenics/S.S.D.'s had abnormal P300 responses. Abnormalities were seen in latency, RMS response voltage and in the left side response--right side response cross correlation coefficient. Schizophrenics/S.S.D.s showed responses which were topographically different than those of normal controls. Significant left-side/right-side response voltage asymmetry was not observed. In our study, only 10% of unaffected relatives of schizophrenics/S.S.D.'s showed abnormal P300 responses.     

Case-control study of genetic and environmental influences on premature death of adult adoptees

Genetic and environmental influence on risk of premature death in adulthood was investigated by estimating the associations in total and cause-specific mortality of adult Danish adoptees and their biological and adoptive parents. Among all 14,427 nonfamilial adoptions formally granted in Denmark during the period 1923 through 1947, we identified 976 case families in which the adoptee died before a fixed date. As control families, we selected 976 families where the adoptees were alive on that date, and matched to the case adoptees with regard to gender and year and month of birth. The data were viewed as a cohort of case parents and a cohort of control parents, and lifetime distributions in the two cohorts were compared using a Cox regression, stratified with regard to the matching variables: gender and year of birth. In the main analyses, the sample was restricted with regard to birth year of the adoptees, and age of transfer to the adoptive parents, and age at death was restricted to the same range for parents and offspring (25-64 years) in order to consider a symmetric lifetime distribution. This reduces the sample to 459 case families and 738 control families. Various truncations, restrictions, and stratifications were used in order to examine the robustness of the results. The results showed a higher mortality among biological parents who had children dying in the age range 25 through 64 years, and this was significant for death from natural causes, infectious causes, vascular causes, and from all causes combined. There were no significant effects for the adoptive parents. This study supports that there are moderate genetic influences on the risk of dying prematurely in adulthood, and only a small, if any, effect of the family environment.     

精神分裂症患者和一级亲属全血23种微量元素含量的测定与分析

采用等离子体发光法测定６６例精神分裂症病人、２４例精神分裂症病人的健康一级亲属和５０例正常对照３组人群全血２３种微量元素含量。结果显示：精神分裂症病人铝（Ａｌ）、铜（Ｃｕ）、锌（Ｚｎ）、钡（Ｂａ）和铬（Ｃｒ）的含量显著低于对照组（Ｐ＜００５），铁（Ｆｅ）、镁（Ｍｇ）和硼（Ｂ）含量显著高于对照组（Ｐ＜００５），一级亲属铁（Ｆｅ）、镁（Ｍｇ）和硼（Ｂ）含量显著高于对照组（Ｐ＜００５）；同时铜（Ｃｕ）、钙（Ｃａ）和钡（Ｂａ）低于对照组（Ｐ＜００５）；精神分裂症病人与其一级亲属组相比无明显差异（Ｐ＞００５）。提示精神分裂症病人存在微量元素代谢异常，这种异常可能是精神分裂症病理过程的表现，同时遗传因素对精神分裂症的发生有一定作用。     

人性化护理管理对恢复期精神分裂症患者的影响

目的分析人性化护理管理对恢复期精神分裂症患者的影响。方法择取2017年2月-2018年3月期间于该院收治的68例处于恢复期精神分裂症患者作为研究对象,将其随机划分为两组后采取不同的护理管理模式。实验组患者使用人性化护理管理模式,常规组患者采取普通护理管理模式,比较两组患者护理效果。结果经护理后实验组患者精神病评定量表得分(41.2±4.7)分低于常规组患者(t=9.753,P<0.05);实验组患者社会功能缺陷筛选量表评分低于常规组患者(P<0.05)。结论人性化护理管理模式应用于恢复期精神分裂症患者中可促使患者精神状况得到有效改善,具有现实借鉴意义。     

Assessment of personality traits and psychiatric symptoms in workers in a computer manufacturing plant in Japan

To investigate personality traits and psychiatric symptoms, we administered the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R Personality Questionnaire (SCID-II Screen), the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), and the 30-item version of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-30) to 781 male computer engineers and 214 male clerical workers in a computer manufacturing factory. Subjects, aged from 20 to 49 years, were divided into university and high school graduates. Among the university graduates, scores for schizotypal and avoidant personality traits were significantly higher in computer engineers than in clerical workers (the effect of age was controlled by analysis of covariance). No significant correlation between personality traits and years employed was found in the university-graduate computer engineers. In high school graduates, scores for borderline and dependent personality traits were significantly lower in computer engineers than in clerical workers (the effect of age was controlled by analysis of covariance). Because of the lack of significant association of personality traits and symptoms with duration of employment in the university-educated computer engineers, the greater prevalence of schizotypal and avoidant personality traits might be related to their process of self-selection of job rather than to computer manufacturing work. In summary, these data suggest that computer engineering work does not cause abnormal personality traits or psychiatric symptoms. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Premature death of adult adoptees: analyses of a case-cohort sample

Genetic and environmental influence on risk of premature death in adulthood was investigated by estimating the associations in total and cause-specific mortality of adult Danish adoptees and their biological and adoptive parents. Among all 14,425 non-familial adoptions formally granted in Denmark during the period 1924 through 1947, we selected the study population according to a case-cohort sampling design. As the case-control design, the case-cohort design has the advantage of economic data collection and little loss in statistical efficiency, but the case-cohort sample has the additional advantages that rate ratio estimates may be obtained, and re-use of the cohort sample in future studies of other outcomes is possible. Analyses were performed using Kalbfleisch and Lawless's estimator for hazard ratio, and robust estimation for variances. In the main analyses the sample was restricted to birth years of the adoptees 1924 and after, and age of transfer to the adoptive parents before 7 years, and age at death was restricted to 16 to 70 years. The results showed a higher mortality among adoptees, whose biological parents died in the age range of 16 to 70 years; this was significant for deaths from natural causes, vascular causes and all causes. No influence was seen from early death of adoptive parents, regardless of cause of death.     

齐拉西酮与喹硫平治疗精神分裂症的对照研究

目的探讨齐托西酮对精神分裂症的临床疗效及安全性。方法分析61例用齐托西酮治疗8周的精神分裂症病例,并用61例喹硫平治疗精神分裂病例作对照。采用阳性及阴性症状量表（PANSS）的减分率评价疗效,用副反应量表（TESS）评价8周的副反应。结果治疗后,两组患者PANSS评分均明品下降,两组之间无碌著性差异（P〉0．05）,但齐托西酮组的副反应发生率低于喹硫平组,但差异无显著性,两组药物引起的副反应均为轻度和中度,表现有所不同,患者耐受性好。结论两药治疗精神分裂症均有明确疗效,且安全性相对较高,齐托西酮对症状的改善町能更好。     

Fluctuating asymmetry in dermatoglyphic traits in schizophrenic patients

AIM: The aim of the present study was to establish the validity of fluctuating asymmetry in dermatoglyphic traits as a sign of prenatal injury of schizophrenic patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS. The subjects for this study were 76 schizophrenic inpatients (43 men, 33 women, mean age 31.47 yrs) who satisfied DSM-IV criteria for a diagnosis of schizophrenia and 82 mentally healthy subjects of Bulgarian origin (mean age 39.24 yrs). Fingerprint variables obtained by the ink technique were examined. The fingerprints were read using the method of Cummins and Midlo. RESULTS: The schizophrenics tended to show higher degree of discordance in the fingerprint patterns and ridge counts on homologous fingers than the control subjects. There were evident sex-related differences between the schizophrenic patients and the control group of subjects. CONCLUSION: Fluctuating asymmetry appears a promising method for study of schizophrenia, which could contribute to the establishment of connection between prenatal exogenous influences and structural brain alterations.     

Concepts of mental health and care according to mentally-ill patients and their relatives

This study aimed at 1) identifying social, demographic and clinical characteristics of mentally-ill patients and their relatives and 2) analyzing their conceptions concerning mental illness and psychiatric care. The Attitude Measurement Scale (AMS) was used. Quantitative and qualitative analyses of the data were carried out. The 104 study subjects comprised 35 patients and 69 relatives (n=104). The Mann-Whitney Test was used for comparing the opinions of patients X relatives and the Wilcoxon Test for comparing Concept and Care. There was homogeneity in the distribution of the subjects' scores for both Concept and Care. No questions stood out or were concentrated in either group. The subjects' profile shows the transition from asylum care to innovative experiences, although there is still a concentration of drug treatments and dependence on the psychiatric institution.     

Dermatoglyphics in schizophrenia: qualitative aspects

OBJECTIVE: The study was designed to analyse the value of specific dermatoglyphic characters in assessing prenatal injuries in schizophrenic patients. Analysis of pattern frequency in schizophrenics and normal controls, sex related differences in hand-print patterns in schizophrenic patients, and relationship between dermatoglyphic characters and age of onset of the disease was made. METHOD: Hand-prints of 42 schizophrenic inpatients meeting the DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia and 36 normal controls were obtained using the ink method. To avoid possible confounding, patients with diagnoses of the schizophrenic spectrum, i.e., schizophreniform and schizoaffective, schizotypal and schizoid personality disorder were excluded from the study. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences in the finger-print patterns were found between the schizophrenic patients and controls. In males this was largely attributed to the increase of whorls and in females--to the increase of arches. Patients with early age of onset showed higher frequency of Lr pattern in the hypothenar area. In terms of dermatoglyphic characters and season of birth the differences did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION: The results show an association between the frequency of certain dermatoglyphic characters and schizophrenia. The nature of association can be better evaluated by using the schizophrenia types in further analyses.     

人性化护理对精神分裂患者心理及恢复效果的影响

目的探讨人性化护理对精神分裂患者心理及恢复效果的影响。方法选取我院收治的50例精神分裂患者,按就诊顺序将其分为对照组(n=25)和观察组(n=25)。对照组给予常规护理,观察组则在对照组基础上给予人性化护理,采用简明精神病评价量表(BPRS)、住院精神病人康复疗效评定量表(IPROS)对两组患者护理30 d后的心理状态和恢复效果进行评价。结果护理后,观察组BPRS中焦虑忧郁、缺乏活力、思维障碍、激活性、敌对猜疑得分均明显低于对照组(P<0.05);观察组IPROS中工疗情况、生活能力、社交能力、讲究卫生能力、关心和兴趣得分均显著低于对照组(P<0.05)。结论人性化护理可有效改善精神分裂患者的心理状态,对患者恢复有积极作用,具有较高的临床推广价值。     

基于微信平台的健康教育对精神分裂症患者服药依从性、精神症状及再住院率的影响

目的 探讨基于微信平台的健康教育对社区精神分裂症患者服药依从性、精神症状及再住院率的影响。方法通过简单随机抽样的方法从上海市虹口区精神卫生信息管理系统中选取160例社区精神分裂症患者,按随机数字表法分为观察组和对照组。对照组给予常规健康教育干预,观察组在常规健康教育干预的基础上,实施微信健康教育干预。分别在干预前(入组时)、干预6个月及12个月,对两组患者的药物依从性量表(medication adherence rating scale,MARS)和阳性与阴性症状量表(positive and negative symptom scale, PANSS)的评分及再住院率进行比较,以t检验或χ²检验进行统计分析。结果 160例患者中观察组和对照组各80例,干预前两组患者MARS和PANSS评分差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),干预6个月和12个月时,观察组患者MARS评分均高于对照组[(6.84±2.68)vs(5.90±2.16)和(7.26±2.33)vs(5.97±1.77)]、PANSS评分均低于对照组[(46.33±7.50)vs(50.52±6....     

精神发育迟滞合并精神分裂症的临床研究

目的:探讨精神发育迟滞合并精神分裂症的临床特征.方法:收集38例精神发育迟滞合并精神分裂症患者与38例正常精神分裂症患者进行临床比较.结果:精神发育迟滞合并精神分裂症组与精神分裂症患者一级症状(FRS)中逻辑推理、妄想、情感平淡、思维贫乏等症状的差异具有显著性(P＜0.01).结论:精神发育迟滞合并精神分裂症患者的一级症状(FRS)明显减少,这有助于临床诊断与鉴别.     

Validation of the French version of the Raine schizotypal personality questionnaire in a population of Tunisian students

Schizotypal personality disorder is considered as a marquer of schizophrenia proneness. In opposition at other self report measures of schizotypal personality disorder, the "Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire" (SPQ) developed by Raine, assesses all nine features of this disorder. The aims of this study is to present the validation on the French version of the SPQ on Tunisian student sample. It consists on a transversal study directed from April to may 2000. The sample was compound of 198 healthy and voluntary students from the medical university of Monastir. The questionnaire has a high internal reliability (SPQ total: Cronbach's alpha = 0.91; SPQ nine subscales: Cronbach's alpha = 0.59 to 0.74). The ten percent high and low cutoffs for the top and the bottom ten percents of SPQ scores were respectively 42/74 and 10/74 for women, 42/74 and 7/74 for men and 42/74 et 9/74 for total sample. A principal component analysis revealed two main factors or dimensions of schizotypal personality disorder in our sample: positive dimension (made up of ideas of reference, magical thinking and unusual perceptual experiences) and a negative dimension (made up of no close friends, social anxiety and blunted affect). Our results were closely similar to these found by Raine and, other validation studies with SPQ. However some sociocultural aspects were found in our study.     

Parental Bonding and Identity Style as Correlates of Self‐Esteem Among Adult Adoptees and Nonadoptees*

Abstract: Adult adoptees (n= 100) and nonadoptees (n= 100) were compared with regard to self‐esteem, identity processing style, and parental bonding. Although some differences were found with regard to self‐esteem, maternal care, and maternal overprotection, these differences were qualified by reunion status such that only reunited adoptees differed significantly from nonadoptees. Moreover, hierarchical regression analyses indicated that parental bonding and identity processing style were more important than adoptive status per se in predicting self‐esteem. Implications for practitioners who work with adoptees are discussed.     

Gene–Environment Interaction in the Intergenerational Transmission of Asthma

Researchers have found strong linkages between parent and child health, but the mechanisms underlying intergenerational health transmission are not well understood. This paper investigates how the importance of genetic health transmission mechanisms varies by environmental conditions in the case of pediatric asthma, the single most common chronic health condition among American children. Using a sample that includes approximately 2000 adoptees and a large number of similar biological families, I find that the relative importance of genetic transmission differs strongly by socioeconomic status (SES). In high SES families, parent–child asthma associations are approximately 75% weaker among adoptees than biological children, suggesting a dominant role for genetic transmission. In lower SES families, parent–child asthma associations are virtually identical across biological and adoptive children, suggesting a negligible role for genetic transmission. A potential interpretation of this difference is that as environmental conditions affecting asthma improve among higher SES children, an increasingly large share of asthma variation is due to genetics. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.