Schizophrenia and Evoked Potentials: Maximum Amplitude, Frequency of Peaks, Variability, and Phenothiazine Effects

The purpose of this study was to compare averaged visual evoked potentials AVEPs) in normal subjects and in schizophrenics off and on phenothiazine medication. Flashes of 4 intensities were used. Ss were tested 3 times within a 1 month period. Measures of maximum amplitude (Am), frequency of peaks I FOP), and variability (V) were obtained- With increases in stimulus intensity all Ss showed increases in Ams and decreases in FOPs and V. Schizophrenics had smaller Ams. greater FOPs, and grear V than normals. Schizoprenies on phenothiazines generally had less FOPs initially and after 1 wk mi medication but not after about I month on medication. There was no consistently significant effect of phenothiazines on maximum amplitude. NO drug effect on variability was observed. Schizophrenics showed a decrease in FOPs over time while normals showed an increase. A relationship was found between variability and overall thought disturbance. Changes in clinical condition over a month were not associated with discernible AVEP changes. Relationships between Am, FOP, unit V are presented.     

音乐疗法治疗慢性精神分裂症疗效分析

目的 观察音乐疗法对慢性精神分裂症的治疗效果。方法 住院慢性精神分裂症患者64例，随机分为实验组和对照组，各32例，观察8周，以BPRS、SANS量表评定疗效。结果 两组患者BPRS、SANS评分差异均有显著性意义。结论 音乐疗法对慢性精神分裂症病人的康复治疗有一定疗效。     

首发精神分裂症患者精神药物使用调查

目的 了解首发精神分裂症患者精神药物使用情况。方法 采用回顾性调查研究方法对我院2001年1-6月住院的206例首发精神分裂症患者精神药物使用情况进行调查。结果 单一用药到出院者114例，因用药后疗效不好致换药者24例，合并用药者68例；单一用药频度排列前4位的是氯氮平，氯丙嗪、舒比利，维思通；联用抗胆碱药物者63例。结论 非典型抗精神病药物氯氮平仍是一线抗精神病药物，我院对首发精神分裂症患者精神药物使用基本合理，但应减少联合用药。     

HLA-DR、DQ等位基因与精神分裂症相关性的研究

目的 证明HLA-DR、DQ等位基因与精神分裂症的发病密切相关。方法 HLA-DR、DQ等位基因检测：PCR-SSP分型。结果 发现在大连地区随机选择的精神分裂症患者的HLA-DQ8基因的频率(9．0％)明显高于正常对照(2．5％)。精神分裂症患者的HLA-DR、DQ等位基因的某些位点与免疫指标的改变有相关性。结论 ①HLA-DQ8基因与精神分裂症有关联，可以认为HLA-DQ8基因可能是精神分裂症的易感基因。②HLA-DR、DQ等位基因的某些组合可能是精神分裂症发病的危险组合模式，对预测精神分裂症的基因易感性具有潜在的应用价值。③精神分裂症的免疫指标的改变与HLA-DR、DQ等位基因的某些位点有相关性，说明精神分裂症与它的免疫指标的变化可能有内在的联系。     

精神分裂症的自知力与执行功能的关系

目的 :探讨精神分裂症患者的自知力与执行功能的关系。方法 :应用阴性和阳性症状量表 (PANSS) ,韦氏康量卡片分类测验 (WCST)对 6 3例精神分裂症的自知力及执行功能进行了评定。结果 :在WCST测验中自知力有损害组较自知力无损害组持续错误多 ,分类完成数少 ,具有显著差异性 (P <0 .0 5 )。结论 :精神分裂症自知力的恢复受执行功能水平的影响。     

Association analysis of polymorphisms in the upstream region of the human dopamine D4 receptor gene (DRD4) with schizophrenia and personality traits

The human dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) is of major interest in molecular studies of schizophrenia and personality traits. We examined the association of schizophrenia and polymorphisms in the upstream region of the DRD4 gene (−768G>A in the negative modulator region; −521C>T, −376C>T, and −291C>T in the cell type-specific promoter region; and −616C>G between the two regions) in 208 schizophrenic patients and 210 normal controls. No significant difference in genotype and allele frequencies was observed between the two groups, indicating that these polymorphisms do not make a major contribution to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. We also studied the association of polymorphisms in the upstream region and a 48-bp repeat polymorphism in exon III of the DRD4 gene with personality traits in 173 Japanese individuals who completed the temperament and character inventory (TCI). The −768G>A polymorphism was significantly associated with reward dependence (P = 0.044), while no significant association was observed between novelty seeking and polymorphisms in the upstream region or the exon III repeat polymorphism of the DRD4 gene. Received: August 28, 2000 / Accepted: October 25, 2000     

Effects of selective NMDA and non-NMDA blockade in the nucleus accumbens on the plus-maze test

Effect of blocking N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) and non-NMDA-glutamatergic receptors on performance in the plus-maze was studied in male rats bilaterally cannulated into the nucleus accumbens (Acc). Rats were divided into seven groups that received either 1 microl injections of saline, (+/-)2-amino-7-phosphonoheptanoic acid (AP-7, 0.2, 0.5, or 1 microg) or 2,3 dioxo-6-nitro-1,2,3,4,tetrahydrobenzo-(f)quinoxaline-7-sulphonamide disodium (NBQX, 0.2, 0.5, or 1 microg) 15 min before testing. Time spent in open arm, time per entry, end arrivals, open, closed, and total arm entries, relationship between open-, closed-, and total arm entries, rearing, face-, head-, and body grooming, and number of fecal boli were recorded. Time spent in the open arm increased under AP-7 (0.5 and 1 microg; P<.01) and NBQX (1 microg; P<.05) treatment, whereas time per entry was increased only with AP-7 (1 microg; P<.05). Open arm entries were increased by the intermediate doses of AP-7 (0.5 microg; P<.01) and NBQX (0.5 microg; P<.05); end arrivals were increased by the intermediate dose of AP-7 (0.5 microg/1 microl, P<.05). The frequency of rearing, grooming, and closed arm entries was not affected by the treatment. We conclude that NMDA and non-NMDA-glutamatergic blockade in the Acc lead to a behavioral disinhibition of cortical influences with the median doses, but that at higher doses the blockers have an anxiolytic-like effect.     

Bilateral Skin Conductance and Skin Potential in Schizophrenic and Normal Subjects: The Identification of the Fast Habituator Group of Schizophrenics

Chronic schizophrenics from three different hospitals were compared to normal subjects on skin conductance parameters. In addition to “Responders” and “Nonresponders” as reported by Gruzelier and Venables (1972), a group of “Fast Habituator” schizophrenics was found. These subjects produce one or at most two responses before habituation in an orienting series. The SC waveform of fast habituator subjects shows long latency, slow risetime and long recovery, although the amplitude of response is within normal limits.     

Phenomenology and family history in DSM-III psychotic depression

Depressed inpatients with psychotic features were compared to those without them in terms of demographic features, depressive symptoms at intake and family history. These variables were then used to compare patients with mood-congruent psychotic features to those with mood-incongruent psychotic features. Patterns of familial psychopathology were similar for psychotic and non-psychotic patients. In accord with other studies, the families of mood-incongruent patients had slightly more schizophrenia and significantly less depression than did the families of mood-congruent patients. Depressive symptoms, particularly those used to define major depression and melancholia, were more severe in psychotic patients. Moreover, these particular depressive symptoms were more likely to distinguish mood-congruent from mood-incongruent patients than were other depressive symptoms. Thus mood-congruent psychotic features accompanied a more typical depressive syndrome than did mood-incongruent psychotic features.     

DTNBP1 haplotype influences baseline assessment scores of schizophrenic in-patients

Dysbindin gene (DTNBP1) has been associated with schizophrenia, but literature findings are inconsistent, and further analyses are required. This study is aimed to investigate if a set of DTNBP1 variations might influence clinic psychotic phenotype or treatment response in a sample of 240 Korean schizophrenic in-patients. Four variants have been selected (rs3213207; rs1011313; rs16876759; rs2619522) on the basis of previous findings of association with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and antidepressant response. Single marker analysis gave marginal results. Haplotype analysis identified a significant association between A–A (rs3213207(A/G), rs1011313(A/G)) haplotype and lower PANSS total and positive scores at baseline (p = 0.01; 0.02) and at discharge (p = 0.008; 0.005). Covariate analysis revealed a more stable significant association between A–A haplotype and baseline scores. These results suggest a protective effect of A–A haplotype on psychotic positive symptoms at baseline.