The course of schizophrenia: Some remarks on a yet unsolved problem of retrospective data collection

Summary The retrospective assessment of symptoms and syndromes is a basic measure in research of the longitudinal course of schizophrenia. In spite of its importance there have been few studies evaluating the standard of quality of instruments for retrospective data collection. Combining retrospectively and cross-sectionally collected data on schizophrenic symptomatology in a cohort study over a period of 5 years revealed a significant underestimation of symptoms when assessed in retrospect. The need for studies on the validity of instruments for the retrospective assessment of symptoms is stressed.     

精神分裂症患者的记忆功能障碍与精神症状和疗效的关系

目的　探讨精神分裂症记忆功能与精神症状和疗效的关系。方法　对 88例精神分裂症患者分别给予奎的平、舒必利、维思通治疗。采用PANSS量表评定精神症状 ,修订韦氏成人记忆量表 (WMS -RC)测查记忆功能(治疗前用甲式 ,治疗后用乙式 )分别于治疗前、治疗后第 6周末各评一次 ,并采用Pearson相关分析和多元逐步回归进行分析。结果　治疗前记忆商数与阴性症状、一般病理性症状、PANSS总分呈显著负相关 ,与阳性症状无相关性 ;多元逐步回归分析显示治疗前记忆商数与阴性症状关系最密切 ;治疗后记忆商数增加值与阴性症状的减分值呈显著正相关 (r=0 337,P <0 0 1,88例 ) ;治疗前记忆商数与治疗第 6周末的阴性症状减分值、一般病理性症状减分值呈显著负相关 (r =- 0 2 6 5 ,P <0 0 5 ;r =- 0 2 35 ,P <0 0 5 ,88例 )。结论　本研究支持精神分裂症记忆损害与阴性症状存在相似的病理机制假说。     

A controlled study of a specific MAO A reversible inhibitor (R011-1163) and amitriptyline in depressive illness

A double blind comparative study of amitriptyline and a new reversible MAO A inhibitor R011-1163 was conducted in 25 depressed inpatients over 4 weeks. Response to treatment was assessed with the Hamilton depression rating scale, the Carroll depression self rating scale and the Visual analogue scale. Both drugs produced significant changes in depressive symptomatology (P less than 0.01, MANOVA) and there were no statistically significant differences between drugs (P greater than 0.05 MANOVA). Side effects were of mild to moderate severity with dry mouth the most commonly reported side effect of amitriptyline and vague, generalised headache in patients, treated with R011-1163.     

Correlates of insight with symptomatology and executive function in patients with first-episode schizophrenia-spectrum disorder: A longitudinal perspective

The present study aimed to examine the relationships of insight with symptomatology and executive function, both cross-sectionally and longitudinally in patients with first-episode schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. Ninety-two medication-naïve patients were recruited and 71 completed the assessments. Insight, symptoms and executive function were assessed at baseline, 6 months and 1 year. Insight was measured with the abridged version of Scale of Unawareness of Mental Disorder (SUMD). Symptoms were assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Executive function was measured with the Modified Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (MCST). The most significant improvement of insight and symptomatology was found over the first 6 months, whereas the perseverative errors of MCST were significantly improved between 6 and 12 months. Differential correlations of perseverative errors of the MCST and PANSS scores with SUMD were found at different time points. This suggests the involvement of different mechanisms in insight deficit at different stages of the illness. The baseline MCST perseverative errors were correlated significantly with the SUMD total score at 6 months and the change of SUMD scores over the first 6 months. Although the variance explained was small, it suggests better set-shifting capacity facilitates the improvement of insight at an early stage of the illness.     

Age-dependent symptomatology of depression in hospitalized patients and its implications for DSM-5

Background

We investigated effects of current age and age at onset on symptomatology of depression with reference to proposed revisions in DSM-5.

Methods

The study entailed medical records of 326 inpatients diagnosed with major depressive disorder, including 520 depressive episodes, with 113 first episodes lifetime. Subjects were divided into three groups: young-adults, middle-aged adults and older adults.

Results

In young-adults, active suicidal ideation, lifetime suicidal attempts, irritability, anhedonia and persistent depressive symptoms between the episodes were more frequent than in the other groups. Among older adults, depression was associated with insomnia, hypochondriasis, somatization, decreased appetite, weight loss, memory impairment and decreased activity. The older age was not associated with higher number of previous episodes of depression, bigger severity or duration of a single episode or a different degree of remission. Early-onset depression was associated with more suicidal attempts.

Limitations

The study was retrospective and the sample may be treated only as representative for hospitalized depressed patients.

Conclusions

Age and age at onset are important factors influencing the course and symptomatology of a depressive episode. Depressive episodes with anxiety and with suicide risk severity are important specifiers that vary with the age at onset and/or age of the patient and should be considered for inclusion in the DSM-5 revision.     

Pain and Depression: A Neurobiological Perspective of Their Relationship

Remarkable progresses have been achieved regarding the understanding of the neurobiological bases of pain and depression. The principal role of neurotransmitters, neuromodulators, and neurohormones has been proposed in the development of pain and depression. With the progression of molecular biology, an intricate interaction among biological factors accountable to the development and management of pain and depression has been also shown in a numerous preclinical and clinical researches. This mini-review will briefly describe the current issues and future research direction for better understanding of the relationship between pain and depression.     

越鞠丸联合盐酸氟西汀胶囊治疗抑郁症临床研究

目的:观察越鞠丸联合盐酸氟西汀胶囊治疗抑郁症的临床效果及对血清脑源性神经营养因子(BDNF)水平的影响。方法:纳入因抑郁症就诊的64例患者,随机分为对照组与治疗组各32例。对照组给予盐酸氟西汀胶囊抗5-羟色胺(5-HT)治疗,治疗组在对照组基础上联合越鞠丸治疗。比较2组治疗前后汉密尔顿抑郁量表(HAMD-24)评分、抑郁症状学快速自评量表(QIDS-SR16)、血清BDNF水平及总体疗效。结果:治疗前后比较,2组HAMD-24评分、QIDS-SR16评分均下降,血清BDNF水平升高(P<0.05),组间比较,治疗组2项评分下降更多,血清BDNF水平升高更多(P<0.05)。治疗后,治疗组总体疗效为90.63%,优于对照组的68.75%,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:越鞠丸联合盐酸氟西汀胶囊治疗抑郁症,可更加有效减缓患者抑郁症状,升高血清BDNF水平,增加临床疗效,有效保护患者脑功能,值得临床推广。     

Factor structure and dimensionality of the two depression scales in STAR*D using level 1 datasets

Background

The factor structure and dimensionality of the HAM-D₁₇ and the IDS-C₃₀ are as yet uncertain, because psychometric analyses of these scales have been performed without a clear separation between factor structure profile and dimensionality (total scores being a sufficient statistic).

Methods

The first treatment step (Level 1) in the STAR*D study provided a dataset of 4041 outpatients with DSM-IV nonpsychotic major depression. The HAM-D₁₇ and IDS-C₃₀ were evaluated by principal component analysis (PCA) without rotation. Mokken analysis tested the unidimensionality of the IDS-C₆, which corresponds to the unidimensional HAM-D_6.

Results

For both the HAM-D₁₇ and IDS-C₃₀, PCA identified a bi-directional factor contrasting the depressive symptoms versus the neurovegetative symptoms. The HAM-D₆ and the corresponding IDS-C₆ symptoms all emerged in the depression factor. Both the HAM-D₆ and IDS-C₆ were found to be unidimensional scales, i.e., their total scores are each a sufficient statistic for the measurement of depressive states.

Limitations

STAR*D used only one medication in Level 1.

Conclusions

The unidimensional HAM-D₆ and IDS-C₆ should be used when evaluating the pure clinical effect of antidepressive treatment, whereas the multidimensional HAM-D₁₇ and IDS-C₃₀ should be considered when selecting antidepressant treatment.     

丘脑卒中为主的汉语失语症临床特征

目的观察以丘脑卒中为主的汉语失语症患者的言语障碍特点。方法在患者发病入院时及发病后3个月,采用中国康复研究中心的汉语标准失语症检查表对19例患者进行评价和影像学资料分析。结果19例丘脑损伤的汉语失语症患者与传统的丘脑性失语的语言障碍表现有部分共性,但由于个体差异,出现了各具特点的语言损伤特征。结论从语言学、心理学、解剖学等方面,分析失语症状学及影像学资料特点,有利于指导语言康复。