Psychometric study of dysthymic patints and their first-degree relatives

Psychometric evaluation of severity of depression and personality characteristics of 20 dysthymic patients [mean age 29.05 +/- 7.08 ys.] was carried out using Hamilton Depression Rating Scale [HDRS] and Eysenck Personality Questionnaire [EPQ] and was compared with that of 20 major depressive patients [mean age 33.60 +/- 7.7ys.] and 20 normal controls [mean age 32.85 +/- 6.17 ys.]. Psychosocial stressors that might trigger depression were also looked for. All first-degree relatives [118 persons] were subjected to clinical interview for detection of dysthymia. EPQ was also applied to assess their personality characteristics. Depression among dysthymic patients was mainly of mild degree. Severe depression was found in about 55% of major depressive and none of dysthymic patients. Application of EPQ revealed high neuroticism among dysthymics and high psychoticism among major depressives. Lie scale was high for both groups. Psychosocial stressors were more reported by dysthymic patients; however they were of mild or moderate degrees. Stressors reported by major depressive patients were mainly acute and severe. Assessment of the first-degree relatives revealed that 66% of dysthymics relatives had dysthymia or high EPQ scores compared to 36% of major depressives and 22% of normals

Observation of group psychotherapy

The observer's role in group therapy is an important part in the training of the prospective group leader. Some of the important issues between leader and observer; patients and observer are discussed. Much flooded with feelings the observer needs post-group discussion with the leader and supervisor

Post-traumatic epilepsy, clinical electroencephalography and psychometric study

Thirty eight of post traumatic epilepsy patients [P.T.E.] were investigated, their average age at the time of trauma to the head was 10.8 +/- 8.14 years, male to female sex ratio was 2.1:1. The most common type of injury was accidental falls [65.8%]. Grand mal fits were the most frequently encountered [71.1%]. Clinical neurological deficits were encountered in [13.2%]. The latent period for occurrence of fits was shorter for the older age group. Electroencephalographic abnormalities were positive in 86.5% of the cases. Benton test showed more positivity for organicity than Bender Gestalt. P.T.E. patients showed a significant lower level of I.Q. than a control group of idiopathic epilepsy