Temperament,character and personality disorders

ObjectiveTo study, whether temperament and character remain stable over time and whether they differ between patients with and without personality disorder (PD) and between patients with specific PDs.MethodsPatients with (n = 225) or without (n = 285) PD from Jorvi Bipolar Study, Vantaa Depression Study (VDS) and Vantaa Primary Care Depression Study were interviewed at baseline and at 18 months, and in the VDS also at 5 years. A general population comparison group (n = 264) was surveyed by mail.ResultsCompared with non-PD patients, PD patients scored lower on self-directedness and cooperativeness. Cluster B and C PDs associated with high Novelty Seeking and Harm Avoidance, respectively. In logistic regression models, sensitivity and specificity of Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) dimensions for presence of any PD were 53% and 75%, and for specific PDs from 11% to 41% and from 92% to 100%, respectively. The 18-month test-retest correlations of TCI-R dimensions ranged from 0.58 to 0.82.ConclusionsMedium-term temporal stability of TCI in a clinical population appears good. Character scores differ markedly between PD and non-PD patients, whereas temperament scores differ only somewhat between the specific PDs. However, the TCI dimensions capture only a portion of the differences between PD and non-PD patients.     

Importance of ‘inflammatory molecules’, but not necessarily of inflammation,in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder and in the mechanisms of action of anti-bipolar drugs

It is often supposed that inflammation plays a major role in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder and that reduction of inflammation by the classical anti-bipolar drugs, the lithium ion (lithium), carbamazepine and valproic acid, partly explain their therapeutic effect. The present mini-review summarizes data for enhanced expression in bipolar patients of ‘inflammatory molecules’, i.e., cytokines and metabolites of arachidonic acid (e.g., prostaglandins) and the enzymes (e.g., COX2) that catalyze this metabolism. However, it points out that enhanced transmitter activity during manic phases may play a major part in this upregulation. It also shows that chronic treatment with any of the 3 anti-bipolar drugs, known to decrease expression of the enzyme that releases arachidonic acid (cPLA₂) in whole brain, has this effect only in neurons, whereas it upregulates cPLA₂ expression in astrocytes. Literature data are presented that this upregulation may have therapeutically beneficial effects in bipolar disorder, supporting increasing evidence for involvement of not only neurons but also astrocytes in bipolar disorder and anti-bipolar drug action.     

阻塞型睡眠呼吸暂停综合征患者情绪障碍的研究进展

在临床中睡眠呼吸暂停综合征患者患抑郁、焦虑的概率较高,而且同时患有抑郁、焦虑及OSAS的患者比仅患有OSAS患者病情更重。尽管许多研究评估了OSAS与情绪障碍间的关系,OSAS及情绪障碍之间一些可能的因果机制也已被提出,但是OSAS在情绪障碍的因果关系仍不清楚。对于OSAS伴焦虑抑郁状态的患者,情绪障碍的干预治疗有助于改善OSAS患者的嗜睡、疲劳症状及认知功能,提高患者生活质量。     

脑深部电刺激治疗运动障碍性疾病的疗效观察

目的探讨脑深部电刺激（DBS）治疗运动障碍性疾病（MD）的疗效及安全性。方法对49例运动障碍性疾病的患者进行丘脑底核（STN）、苍白球内侧部（Gpi）、丘脑腹中间核（Vim）刺激电极植入术,术前采用1.0 TMR和3.0 TMR T2加权靶点扫描,在直视下行靶点直接定位。手术前后应用统一帕金森病评分量表评分（UPDRS）及Burke Fahn-Marsden运动障碍评分（BFMs）评价临床效果。结果本组手术前帕金森病患者UPDRS：药物＂关＂状态25-80分,平均55分;药物＂开＂状态19-53分,平均34分。术后在开机的情况下UPDRS：药物＂关＂状态17-24分,平均22分,改善率60.0%;药物＂开＂状态15-24分,平均19分,改善率44.0%。4例肌张力障碍患者BFMs平均改善率55.0%。41例患者术后症状迅速改善,肌张力降低,震颤及异动症消失。结论DBS能明显改善MD患者的临床症状,改善其生活质量,且具有安全性。     

PentaD、PentaE基因座基因频率在军人主、被动攻击行为群体分布的比较

目的通过比较PentaD、PentaE基因座等位基因及基因型频率在军人主、被动攻击行为群体中的分布,来推测与主、被动攻击行为发生相关的遗传因素。方法采用PCR结合毛细管电泳的方法对华东地区273例男性军人主动攻击行为者与163例男性军人被动攻击行为者进行PentaD、PentaE基因座的基因型分析,观察两组在PentaD、PentaE基因座的等位基因及基因型分布差异。结果PentaD、PentaE基因座均符合Hardy-Weinberg平衡;PentaE基因座基因型频率在主、被动军人攻击行为群体分布差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）;单因素分析显示两组在PentaE基因座的基因型16-18的频率分布差异有统计学意义（P=0．0001）;PentaE基因座等位基因频率及PentaD基因座等位基因频率和基因型频率在两个群体中分布差异均无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论PentaE基因座可能与攻击行为的发生有关;在人攻击行为群体中PentaE基因座的基因型16-18为被动攻击行为的易感因素。     

舒肝颗粒治疗焦虑障碍的疗效

目的观察舒肝颗粒对焦虑障碍的疗效。方法采用开放性病例对照研究,将177例焦虑障碍患者分为舒肝组、联合组和西药组,分别治疗观察6周,于治疗前、治疗后2、4、6周分别采用HAMA、CGI及TESS量表评价3组患者的I临床疗效及不良反应情况。结果选择入舒肝组的患者平均年龄偏大,女性占79％,治疗前HAMA总分较低,平均病程偏短,接受舒肝颗粒治疗后6周HAMA总分均显著下降（P〈0．05）;联合组与西药组均于治疗4周后HAMA总分显著下降（P〈0．05或P〈0．01）,两组HAMA降分值比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）;3组患者疗效指数（E1）评分比较,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）,第2周西药组低于于舒肝组和联合组,第4周舒肝组患者E1评分低于其他两组,差异均有统计学意义（P均〈0．05）;3组治疗的安全性比较发现,舒肝组各类不良事件的发生率明显低于其他两组,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）;临床观察发现治疗早期舒肝组、联合组的苯二氮革类药使用率明显低于西药组（P〈0．05）。结论舒肝颗粒对轻中度焦虑患者有一定的治疗作用,虽然其临床起效缓慢,但其不良反应发生率低,与抗焦虑或抗抑郁药联合使用可减少苯二氮革类药的滥用。     

Development and validation of a revised short version of the working alliance inventory

Abstract

Although countertransference phenomena have been given much attention within psychotherapy theory, single-case studies and clinical anecdotes, empirical research is still conspicuous by its absence. To assess the therapists’ emotional reactions, which are understood to be part of the countertransference (CT), we used the Feeling Word Checklist 58 (Røssberg, Hoffart, &; Friis, 2003); a self-report questionnaire, comprising 58 feeling words. The aims of the present study were to examine the underlying factor structure and psychometric properties of these factors, and to validate the factors by exploring the relationships between countertransference feelings and the following variables: therapeutic alliance, patient personality pathology, suitability for psychodynamic therapy, interpersonal problems, level of general functioning, and symptoms. Six therapists, who treated 75 patients, with weekly, psychodynamic therapy, over 1 year, completed the checklist after each session. To establish the number of subscales in the checklist, a principal component analysis with promax rotation was conducted. The analysis revealed four clinically meaningful factors named Confident, Inadequate, Parental and Disengaged. The psychometric properties of all subscales proved to be acceptable. Alliance as reported by both patient and therapist showed differential correlations with the subscales. The patients’ relational functioning showed stronger correlations with the CT feelings than the patients’ symptoms and level of functioning. The four subscales found in the Feeling Word Checklist-58 seem to capture clinically meaningful aspects of the therapeutic dyad, and countertransference feelings are systematically related to different relational variables.     

High‐dose buprenorphine for treatment of high potency opioid use disorder

A 29‐year‐old woman presented to detox for treatment of an opioid use disorder with illicit fentanyl. While in detox, she was started on opioid agonist treatment with buprenorphine/naloxone. Unfortunately, she continued to have withdrawal symptoms despite being optimised to a dose of 32 mg. She was given additional PRNs of buprenorphine/naloxone to a total daily dose of 40 mg, which helped to alleviate her symptoms of withdrawal and cravings. She was stabilised on buprenorphine/naloxone 40 mg daily without any side effects and was discharged to a rehabilitation centre.