A recurrent neural network: Limitations and training

A recurrent, synchronous neural network is treated as a collection of independent perceptrons. The dynamics of the network can be described by a mapping: a finite set of transitions in the state space of the network. We define legal mapping as a mapping that a synchronous neural network is able to perform, and state the necessary and sufficient conditions for a mapping to be legal. A learning algorithm for the network, based on the perceptron's learning algorithm, is guaranteed to converge to a solution when the network is trained to realize a legal mapping. It is shown that the algorithm performs a gradient descent search for a minimum of a cost function that is a certain error measure in the weight space. Performance of the algorithm for the associative memory application and for temporal sequences production is illustrated by numerical simulations. A method is proposed for legalizing any given mapping at the expense of adding a finite number of neurons to the network. It is also shown that when the number of transitions in a random mapping is less than the number of neurons in the network, the probability that such a mapping is legal approaches unity.     

Challenges and opportunities for children with disabilities in Europe: The future role and development of the voluntary sector

The most important thing to remember is that ichen a disabled child is born, that child is a child first to hisor her Jamily. My son John is not a congenital abnormality he is not a burden (though he is sometimes a challenge);he is not my fault. I do not want professionals toocer-burden me with programmes, interventions, promises they cannot keep.I want realism;sensitivity; recognition of our, family life styles and alxrce all else, a regard for Johnasa child. It is his well-be. Ivgnothis disablity. Which affects all oure rery day lives We handle,) need professionals but we also nee a "ordinary lives'. It is hard to adapt to a lift' which has no pricacy, where, we know we. will be carers for life, and when we fear that our child may always facelmc expectations and stigma because, he. is disabled.     

A commingling analysis of platelet monoamine oxidase activity

The distribution of platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity is examined in a large cohort of 18-year-olds from a college setting. A mixture of three distributions is needed to describe the data, even when a power transformation is used to remove skewness in the distribution. This is compatible with MAO activity being controlled by a single major locus with a gene frequency of 0.02 for high-MAO activity. Accordingly, it is unlikely that such a locus could serve as a genetic marker for a disorder which is associated with low activity. However, this finding does not rule out the possibility that MAO activity is an associated risk factor in disease.     

Addiction Doesn’t Exist,But it is Bad for You

There is a debate about the nature of addiction, whether it is a result of brain damage, brain dysfunction, or normal brain changes that result from habit acquisition, and about whether it is a disease. I argue that the debate about whether addiction is a disease is much ado about nothing, since all parties agree it is “unquestionably destructive.” Furthermore, the term ‘addiction’ has disappeared from recent DSM’s in favor of a spectrum of ‘abuse’ disorders. This may be a good thing indicating more nuance in typing the heterogeneous phenomena we used to call ‘addiction’.     

Awaking and sleeping of a complex network.

A network with a logistic-like local dynamics is considered. We implement a mean-field multiplicative coupling among first-neighbor nodes. When the coupling parameter is small, the dynamics is dissipated and there is no activity: the network is turned off. For a critical value of the coupling, a non-null stable synchronized state, which represents a turned on network, emerges. This global bifurcation is independent of the network topology. We characterize the bistability of the system by studying how to perform the transition, which is now topology dependent, from the active state to that with no activity, for the particular case of a scale-free network. This could be a naive model for the wakening and sleeping of a brain-like system, i.e., a multi-component system with two different dynamical behaviors.     

On the etiology of syndromes of dementia (author's transl)

Some new aspects of dementia are discussed. It is emphasized that the idea of dementia as a primary entity is obsolete. The following classification is proposed: dementia as a sign of a (still) unknown illness; dementia is a sign of a known, but not yet treatable illness and dementia as a sign of a known and also treatable illness. The differential diagnosis of the last group is described. Finally, some tests are proposed for the examination of demented patients to diagnose early treatable illnesses.     

Punishment — viewed as a dignified alternative

Punishment is clearly defined and re-examined as a treatment technique in a positive and not negative light. A treatment setting involving handicapped children is described and a system of punishment is outlined as an essential part of the regime. The objections to punishment are considered and, in conclusion, a philosophical basis is provided on which it is contended that punishment is a dignified alternative.     

The linkages between gender and victimhood

Victimhood, it is argued, is a term that is preferentially applied to and adopted by women. Victimhood is not a psychiatric diagnosis although psychological factors, such as gender development and sociological factors influence the acquisition of the victim role. This article reviews the sociological and psychological contributions to the labeling of a person as "victim." Victimhood is relevant to psychiatry because psychiatric patients often describe themselves, or are described as victims. Victimhood is generally seen as a negative identification, but this article will argue that identification as a victim is the first step in identifying the need for services.     

Tick-bite meningoradiculitis (author's transl)

Meningoradiculitis due to tick-bite is rare and poorly documented. Its etiology remains hypothetical, but is thought to be caused by a viral infection carried by the tick. It is characterized by a striking clinical picture, especially symptoms of a subjective nature. The involved area extends asymmetrically from the site of the bite with variable latency. The CSF is characteristic, showing definite lymphocytosis and a moderate protein reaction. The prognosis is excellent although recovery may take several months. In the event of facial paralysis, there is a risk of postparalytic spasms. Treatment is symptomatic; no drug has proved effective.     

Entre sexe et genre,qui suis-je ?

The existence of a disharmony between body and mind, that is to say between sex and gender, is a very old problem and the desire to change sex is not new. What is recent is that such a transition has become hormonal and surgical feasible and, in some countries, a change in civil status is available. But this subject did not enter medicine until the 19th century and for the alienists, it was a real delirium. Today, in France, it is a psychiatric condition whose treatments are 100 % covered. At the same time, there has recently been a societal movement focusing on gender fluidity or non-binarity, accompanied by a new vocabulary that may interfere with gender dysphoria that it corresponds to a personal problem that is the source of genuine suffering in connection with the incompatibility between the lived and the preassigned gender. His diagnosis, often a self-diagnosis, must be established by a multidisciplinary team before proceeding with a nearly irreversible hormono-surgical transformation. His etiology remains an enigma but the results of this transition are really encouraging. Finally, it is a subject that should advance us on what truly differentiates women and men, by listening to those who are in the best position to speak about it.     

Mestizo spirituality: toward an integrated approach to psychotherapy for Latina/OS

Development of culturally syntonic models for treatment that are consistent with belief systems of ethnically diverse populations is at a beginning stage of evolution. This paper is a step toward laying a new conceptual and psychotherapeutic approach with Latina/o clients, specifically those of Mexican American and Mexican backgrounds. It is argued that a psychospiritual belief system is at the base of these populations, and that a culturally consistent framework must appropriately address theory, skills, and practice. Mestizo spirituality is presented and described, and a review of those forces that have impacted this understanding is offered. Key concepts, therapeutic goals, and relationship assumptions of the model, two case examples, application, and limitations of this framework are provided. Lastly, implications for professional practice are given.     

Pneumocephalus at the cerebellopontine angle secondary to chronic otitis media

Intracranial air is usually asymptomatic but carries a potential risk of increased intracranial pressure or meningitis which require immediate therapy. Although pneumocephalus is quite common following trauma, especially with a fracture involving paranasal sinuses it is a rare manifestation of chronic otitis media. In this report, a case with a tension pneumocephalus at the cerebellopontine angle following a chronic mastoid infection is presented and the possible mechanism, diagnostic measures and the surgical management is discussed.     

Bipolar II disorder: a review

OBJECTIVES: To review the current knowledge of bipolar II disorder. METHODS: Literature was reviewed after conducting a Medline search and a hand search of relevant literature. RESULTS: Bipolar II disorder is a common disorder, with a prevalence of approximately 3-5%. Distinct clinical features of bipolar II disorder have been described. The key to diagnosis is the recognition of past hypomania, while depression is the typical presenting feature of the illness. This is responsible for a significant rate of missed diagnosis, and consequent management according to unipolar guidelines. It is unclear if bipolar II disorder is over-represented amongst resistant depression populations and if abrupt offset of antidepressant action is a phenomenon over represented in bipolar II disorder, reflecting induction of predominantly depressive cycling. A few mood-stabilizer studies available provide provisional suggestion of utility. A supportive role for psychosocial therapies is suggested, however, there is a sparsity of published studies specific to bipolar II disorder cohorts. A small number of short-term antidepressant trials have suggested efficacy, however, compelling long-term maintenance data is absent. CONCLUSIONS: An emerging literature on the specific clinical signature and management of the disorder exists, however, this is disproportionately small relative to the epidemiology and clinical significance of the disorder.     

The interrupt distraction procedure: a brief hypnotic intervention for belief change and diminishing distress

The Interrupt Distraction Procedure (IDP) is a brief therapeutic technique for cognitive and emotional change. It is comprised of a hypnotic induction, several 20-sec iterations during which the person concentrates on distressing thoughts or imagery or a thought they would like to believe, as well as on a neutral distracting image. It is simple to administer for clinicians familiar with other hypnotic techniques. IDP is useful when a change in beliefs is desired by a client, but some internal process is preventing such a change, and it lessens concomitant distress. It appears to be a simple therapeutic intervention that decreases emotional reactions that accompany certain thoughts or imagery providing some alleviation of symptoms in somatoform, mood and anxiety disorders.     

Diagnostic reasoning and treatment planning: I. Diagnosis

Information-processing research into the natural process of clinical reasoning is reviewed and the University of Vermont diagnostic reasoning research project is described. Experienced psychiatric diagnosticians use a hypothetico-deductive logic. The development of a profile of diagnostic competencies is outlined and a course in diagnostic reasoning for medical students, which specifically objectified the tactics and strategy of reasoning and resulted in a significant improvement in the profile of competencies, is described. Finally, the organisation of a diagnostic formulation is discussed.     

Homicidality in a woman with a 47,XXX karyotype

The 47,XXX karyotype is a rare sex chromosome anomaly. A female with this karyotype is called a triple X or superfemale. This karyotype is usually not associated with a characteristic mental or physical phenotype. A 19-year-old female who committed homicide and was found to have a 47,XXX karyotype is described, and the possible correlation between sex chromosome anomalies and psychopathology or criminality is discussed.     

Adult central core disease. Clinical, histologic and genetic aspects: case report and review of the literature

Central core disease (CCD) is mainly a disease of infancy and childhood and represents a member of a group of muscular disorders known as "congenital, benign (non-progressive) myopathies". It is an uncommon disease of infancy and early childhood, and presentation is rare in adulthood. The disease is mainly familial with an autosomal-dominant pattern of inheritance, yet sporadic cases can occur. The diagnosis is based on a muscle biopsy, which documents unique morphological abnormalities of focal loss of oxidative enzyme in type I muscular fibers. The basis for this loss of such activities is represented by a near-total absence of mitochondria and sarcoplasmic reticulum in the cores. We describe a 58-year-old man diagnosed with CCD, who is one of the oldest individuals reported with CCD diagnosed by a muscle biopsy. The clinical, pathological and genetic features of this rare entity are discussed herein.     

A periodogram-based test for weak stationarity and consistency between sections in time series

In one approach to spectral estimation, a sample record is broken into a number of disjoint sections, or data is collected over a number of discrete trials. Spectral parameters are formed by averaging periodograms across these discrete sections or trials. A key assumption in this approach is that of weak stationarity. This paper describes a simple test that checks if periodogram ordinates are consistent across sections as a means of assessing weak stationarity. The test is called the Periodogram Coefficient of Variation (PCOV) test, and is a frequency domain test based on a technique of spectral analysis. Application of the test is illustrated to both simulated and experimental data (EMG, physiological tremor, EEG). An additional role for the test as a useful tool in exploratory analysis of time series is highlighted.     

Obsessive compulsive disorders: part of anxiety disorders or another family of mental disorders?

This article reviews four separate conceptions of obsessional compulsive disorder (OCD). The first is a movement disorder, the second is part of a wider OCD spectrum including impulsive and compulsive disorders, the third is currently classified in the DSM-IV-TR, as an anxiety disorder, and the fourth and final view that OCD is a belief disorder and forms a continuum with other belief disorders such as delusional ideation. Although there is support for the four viewpoints, and OCD is distinct from movement, anxiety and impulsive disorders, it seems reasonable to conceptualize OCD as a belief disorder which creates anxiety as a consequence of the obsessional belief.