Risk factors for experiencing psychosis during cocaine use: a preliminary report

Cocaine induced psychosis (CIP) is a common, but not universal side effect of cocaine abuse. Factors underlying the development and severity of CIP remain poorly understood. This study tests the hypothesis that earlier age of initiation of regular use may increase the likelihood of developing CIP, or the severity of CIP symptoms. METHODS: Cocaine use history and severity of CIP (if any) were assessed with the Cocaine Experience Questionnaire in 51 abstinent (3 weeks-1 year) cocaine dependent individuals. Subjects were divided into those with high and low CIP severity, and into those with early age of initiation of regular cocaine use, and later age of initiation. Various cutoffs between early and late age of initiation were used, ranging from 15 to 22 years. RESULTS: From ages 17 through 20, controlling for cumulative duration of use, severity scores were significantly higher for the early initiation group than for the later initiation group (p values ranged from 0.031 to 0.036). Cumulative duration of use, but not age of initiation, significantly predicted initial development of CIP (p=0.044). CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that early age of initiation of regular cocaine use occurring during vulnerable periods of brain development, may lead to increased severity of CIP.     

Joint effects of OSA and self-reported sleepiness on incident CHD and stroke

BackgroundAlthough excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is a common symptom of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and both EDS and OSA have separately been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), their joint association with CVD risk is unknown.MethodsAmong 3874 Sleep Heart Health Study (SHHS) participants without prevalent CVD, moderate to severe OSA was defined by an apnea hypopnea index (AHI) ≥ 15 on an in-home polysomnography. EDS was defined as an Epworth Sleepiness Scale score ≥11. Incident CVD events included total CVD events (coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke), as well as CHD and stroke separately. Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for age, sex, alcohol, smoking, and body mass index.ResultsCompared to those with AHI <15, the hazard ratios (95% CI) for the association of moderate-severe OSA (AHI ≥15) were as follows: CVD 1.06 (0.85–1.33); CHD 1.08 (0.85–1.33); and stroke 1.18 (0.75–1.84). Weak associations between EDS and CVD risk = [1.22 (1.01–1.47)] and CHD risk [1.25 (1.02–1.53)] were present, however there were none for stroke risk [1.10 (0.75–1.63)]. When jointly modeled, both AHI ≥15 and EDS (compared with having AHI <15 and no EDS) was associated with HRs of 1.26 (0.91–1.73) for CVD, 1.24 (0.87–1.75) for CHD and 1.49 (0.78–2.86) for stroke. There were no statistically significant interactions between daytime sleepiness and OSA on the multiplicative or additive scales.ConclusionsHaving both EDS and moderate-severe OSA was not associated with an increased risk of CVD in the SHHS data.     

Child physical abuse: factors influencing the associations between self-reported exposure and self-reported health problems: a cross-sectional study

Background

Child physical abuse (CPA) is an extensive public health problem because of its associations with poor health outcomes. The aim of this study was to examine which of the background factors of CPA committed by a parent or other caregiver relates to self-reported poor health among girls and boys (13; 15 and 17 years old): perpetrator, last year exposure; severity and frequency; socioeconomic load and foreign background.

Methods

In a cross-sectional study in a Swedish county (n?=?8024) a path analysis was performed to evaluate a model where all background variables were put as predictors of three health-status variables: mental; physical and general health problems. In a second step a log linear analysis was performed to examine how the distribution over the health-status categories was different for different combinations of background factors.

Results

Children exposed to CPA reported poor health to a much higher extent than those who were not exposed. In the path analysis it was found that frequency and severity of abuse (boys only) and having experienced CPA during the last year, was significantly associated with poor health as well as socioeconomic load in the families. Foreign background was significantly negatively associated with all three health indicators especially for girls. Neither mother nor father as perpetrator remained significant in the path analysis, while the results from the log linear analyses showed that mother-abuse did in fact relate to poor general health and mental as well as physical health problems among boys and girls. Father-abuse was associated with poor mental health if severe abuse was reported. Poor mental health was also associated with mild father-abuse if exposure during the last year was reported.

Conclusion

Despite the limitations that cross-sectional studies imply, this study provides new knowledge about factors associated with poor health among physically abused children. It describes details of CPA that have significant associations to different aspects of poor health and thus what needs to be addressed by professionals within mental health providers and social services. Understanding how different factors may contribute to different health outcomes for exposed children is important in future research and needs further studies.

     

Redefining critical incidents: a preliminary report

This pilot study was conducted to describe how some traumatic events become "critical incidents" and to generate a new understanding of the term critical incident. The qualitative research design utilized content analysis of structured interviews of six emergency nurses. The nurses were interviewed regarding the ways they think about certain patient care events, the reasons that specific events are remembered and the changes that occurred following the experience of an event they considered to be critical. The definitions of a critical incident as described in the literature--as an event, as a professional's reaction and as a professional's performance--are included in the nurses' comments. None of them, however, offers a comprehensive way of describing a critical incident. The results of this pilot study suggest one, two or all three elements may be present when a traumatic event is experienced. The interaction of these elements helps to produce a fourth "critical" component, the meaning a nurse gives to an event, which can trigger cognitive, affective and/or behavioral changes. This study acknowledges the importance of all the definitions of a critical incident and proposes a more comprehensive definition that results from the interaction among the other components and the generation of personal meaning and change.     

Experimental porphyric neuropathy: a preliminary report

An experimental model for the study of porphyric neuropathy is presented. Injection of either tetraphenyl-porphinesulfonate (TPPS), hematoporphyrin derivative (HpD), or delta-amino-levulinic acid (ALA) into mice resulted in markedly decreased motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV). THe MNCV returned to normal within one week following the injection of large doses of ALA, and within three weeks following the injection of close to lethal doses of HpD, but there was no recovery of nerve function within 50 days following injection of substantially smaller doses of TPPS. Ultrastructural examination of motor nerves at various times following TPPS injection revealed the gradual development of structural abnormalities. Ultrastructural examination of the same nerves after a single dose of either ALA or HpD failed to demonstrate any abnormalities. The present observations call for precaution as to the use of TPPS as photosensitizer in human cancer treatment.     

Electroconvulsive therapy and the diencephalon: a preliminary report

In a double-blind controlled study of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), 30 patients with endogenous depression were randomly assigned to receive one of three treatment methods: two nondominant unilateral ECT's each session; one nondominant followed by one dominant unilateral ECT each session; one conventional bilateral ECT each session.No differences in therapeutic effect were found among the three treatment methods as measured by depression rating scores obtained before ECT and after the fourth treatment session, or by the rater's global estimate of treatment response.The possible roles of temporal-lobe and diencephalic stimulation for the depression-relieving effects of ECT are discussed, and the suggestion is made that direct stimulation of the diencephalon is a critical variable for the fully developed therapeutic effect of ECT.     

Social skills and irrational beliefs: a preliminary report

Recent studies have suggested that irrational beliefs, as measured by the Irrational Beliefs Test (IBT), may contribute to social skills deficits. However, studies evaluating the correspondence between irrational beliefs and behavioral indices of social skills and social anxiety have yet to be reported. IBT data obtained from social skill deficit patient populations also have yet to appear in the literature. The present study addresses these issues by presenting IBT data obtained from a sample of 63 psychiatric patients referred for assessment of social skills deficits and evaluating the relationship of these data and patients' performance on a standardized behavioral measure of social skills and social anxiety, the Simulated Social Interaction Test (SSIT); and, presenting a comparison between IBT subscale scores obtained from the psychiatric sample and those obtained from a large (n = 897) student sample. A weak relationship was found between two IBT subscales and the SSIT. A mean level difference between patients' performance and student norms was also found on four subscales of the IBT. Implications for further assessment and treatment research with the IBT, social anxiety and social skills are discussed.     

Akathisia and exacerbation of psychopathology: a preliminary report

Akathisia has previously been reported to exacerbate psychopathology and to be associated with noncompliance, suicidality, and violence. One previous study found brisk decrements in psychopathology after acute treatment of akathisia with intramuscular biperiden. This study assessed changes in akathisia and psychopathology in 19 patients after separate one-day treatments with intramuscular benztropine and oral propranolol. Benztropine and propranolol led to clinically meaningful and statistically significant decrements in ratings of subjective and objective measures of akathisia and in psychopathology scores. Changes in psychopathology correlated significantly with changes in subjective measures of akathisia after benztropine and with subjective and objective measures of akathisia after propranolol. Changes in akathisia accounted for 9%-42% of the variance in changes in psychopathology. After treatment, statistically significant decrements in Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) positive symptoms were noted, and individual items not directly related to the akathisia syndrome, such as conceptual disorganization, hallucinatory behavior, and unusual thought content declined, although not significantly. These findings, taken together with the results of a similar previous study, indicate that the effect of akathisia in exacerbating psychopathology is large. If suspected, akathisia should be treated promptly.     

Leukoencephalopathy and major depression: a preliminary report.

The comparative prevalence of leukoencephalopathic changes in 119 young and old inpatients and outpatients with major depression was examined. Patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations with T1- and T2-weighted pulse sequences. Leukoencephalopathic changes were uncommon in depressed patients and medical control subjects younger than 45 years of age. Such changes were, however, seen in approximately 44% of older depressed patients and 30% of elderly medical control subjects.     

Affective illness and S-adenosyl methionine: a preliminary report

S-Adenosyl methionine may well have an antidepressant action beyond a placebo effect but this is virtually confined to endogenous depression. This should be subjected to further study. Our own double-blind placebo-controlled study is still incomplete. The indications are that SAM specifically affects folate, dopamine, and serotonin metabolism as well as activating and switching brain mechanisms. This suggests exciting prospects for further investigations. SAM is a nontoxic physiological metabolite virtually free of side effects.     

Assessing the perceived predictability of anxiety-related events: a report on the perceived predictability index

Predictability, or lack thereof, is believed to play a critical role in the development and maintenance of anxiety, with unpredictability being associated with heightened levels of anxious and fearful responding. Despite the potential importance of predictability in theoretical accounts of emotional dysregulation, currently no standardized assessment instrument exists to assess predictability perceptions for anxiety-related events. The present series of four investigations report on an initial attempt to develop a self-report instrument (i.e., Perceived Predictability Index, PPI) that can measure predictability perceptions for the occurrence, duration, and termination of anxiety-related events. Initial item selection and factor structure of the instrument was based on a large sample of participants and yielded a two-factor solution: (1) prediction of anxiety-related environmental events and (2) prediction of internal events. Our subsequent studies show that the PPI possesses adequate levels of internal consistency and temporal stability over time. Additionally, the PPI demonstrated adequate divergent and convergent validity relative to other standard anxiety and fear measures. The internal dimension of the scale also demonstrated predictive validity for emotional responding during a biological challenge test. We discuss these findings in relation to the role of perceived predictability in the study of anxious and fearful responding, and offer directions for future research.     

Recording psychiatric consultations: a preliminary report.

Two new forms, specifically designed for computer processing of data from a contemporary consultation-liaison service, are described. The need for such data and their immediate applicability to problems currently facing this psychiatric subspecialty are discussed. Clinical, administrative, and evaluation uses are reviewed. It is hoped that this work will provide a stimulus to consultation-liason practitioners to use this system or to develop similar systems that will permit documentation, exploration, and enhancement of the consultation-liaison effort.     

Psychotherapy for postpartum depression: a preliminary report

A postpartum depression treatment efficacy study showed both a mother-infant psychotherapy group and interpersonal psychotherapy to be superior to a waiting-list comparison group in reducing maternal depressive symptoms, improving mothers' perceptions of their infants' adaptability and reinforcement value, and increasing mothers' positive affect and verbalization with their infants. Clinical implications regarding the importance of early intervention for women experiencing major depression in the postpartum period and their families are discussed.