The elevated gradient of aversion: a new apparatus to study the rat behavior dimensions of anxiety, fear, and impulsivity

Few behavioral tests allow measuring several characteristics and most require training, complex analyses, and/or are time-consuming. We present an apparatus based on rat exploratory behavior. Composed of three different environments, it allows the assessment of more than one behavioral characteristic in a short 3-min session. Factorial analyses have defined three behavioral dimensions, which we named Exploration, Impulsivity, and Self-protection. Behaviors composing the Exploration factor were increased by chlordiazepoxide and apomorphine and decreased by pentylenetetrazole. Behaviors composing the Impulsivity factor were increased by chlordiazepoxide, apomorphine, and both acute and chronic imipramine treatments. Behaviors composing the Self-protection factor were decreased by apomorphine. We submitted Wistar rats to the open-field test, the elevated-plus maze, and to the apparatus we are proposing. Measures related to exploratory behavior in all three tests were correlated. Measures composing the factors Impulsivity and Self-protection did not correlate with any measures from the two standard tests. Also, compared with existing impulsivity tests, the one we proposed did not require previous learning, training, or sophisticated analysis. Exploration measures from our test are as easy to obtain as the ones from other standard tests. Thus, we have proposed an apparatus that measured three different behavioral characteristics, was simple and fast, did not require subjects to be submitted to previous learning or training, was sensitive to drug treatments, and did not require sophisticated data analyses.

Increased sexual arousal in patients with movement disorders / Exacerbação do impulso sexual em pacientes com distúrbios do movimento

ABSTRACT Increased of sexual arousal (ISA) has been described in different neurological diseases. The purpose of this study was present a case series of ISA in patients with movement disorders. Method Fifteen patients with different forms of movement disorders (Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, Tourette´s syndrome, spinocerebellar ataxia type 3), were evaluated in the Movement Disorders Unit of the Federal University of Paraná. Results Among Parkinson’s disease patients there were seven cases with different forms of ISA due to dopaminergic agonist use, levodopa abuse, and deep brain stimulation (DBS). In the group with hyperkinetic disorders, two patients with Huntington’s disease, two with Tourette’s syndrome, and four with spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 presented with ISA. Conclusions ISA in this group of patients had different etiologies, predominantly related to dopaminergic treatment or DBS in Parkinson’s disease, part of the background clinical picture in Huntington’s disease and Tourette’s syndrome, and probably associated with cultural aspects in patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 3.

RESUMO A exacerbação do impulso sexual (EIS) tem sido descrita em diversas doenças neurológicas. O objetivo deste estudo foi apresentar uma série de casos de EIS em pacientes com distúrbios do movimento. Métodos Quinze pacientes com diferentes formas de distúrbios do movimento (Doença de Parkinson, doença de Huntington, síndrome de Tourette, ataxia espinocerebellar tipo 3), foram avaliados na Unidade de Distúrbios de Movimento-Universidade Federal do Paraná. Resultados Entre os pacientes com doença de Parkinson houve sete casos com diferentes formas de EIS devido ao uso de agonista dopaminérgico, abuso de levodopa ou estimulação cerebral profunda (DBS). No grupo com distúrbios hipercinéticos, dois pacientes com doença de Huntington, dois com síndrome de Tourette, e quatro com ataxia espinocerebelar tipo 3 apresentaram EIS. Conclusões EIS nesses pacientes decorreu de diferentes etiologias, relacionadas com o tratamento dopaminérgico ou DBS na doença de Parkinson, parte do quadro clinico na doença de Huntington e síndrome de Tourette, e provavelmente relacionado com aspectos culturais em pacientes com ataxia espinocerebelar tipo 3.

Utilidad farmacoclínica de los antidepresivos ISRS en la impulsividad y la agresividad / Utility of SSRI antidepressants in the treatment of impulsivity and aggression

Introducción: Estudios preliminares sobre neurobiología de la agresividad impulsiva destacaron el papel de la serotonina para inhibir la conducta violenta que se relacionaría con la impulsividad, pero no con la agresividad. En el ámbito carcelario las conductas agresivas e impulsivas presentan una alta prevalencia y requieren su abordaje por el equipo interdisciplinario de Salud Mental. Objetivos: Determinar la utilidad farmacoclínica de antidepresivos ISRS en el tratamiento de la impulsividad y la agresividad, y sus especificidades clínicas y poblacionales. Material y Método: Estudio observacional y transversal mediante evaluación de historias clínicas de 104 masculinos con pena privativa de la libertad. Se evaluaron psicopatológicamente y se valoraron los resultados obtenidos en 4 escalas de seguimiento clínico para impulsividad y agresividad. Al subgrupo con resultado positivo en al menos 2 escalas y en la evaluación clínica (n=30) se les indicó un ISRS (paroxetina o sertralina) a su plan farmacológico y se los reevaluaron en 2 tiempos posteriores. Se aplicaron parámetros estadísticos y se cumplimentó con requisitos ético-legales. Resultados: Al analizar las subescalas de la ABS hallamos que el parámetro de agresividad y el de desinhibición fueron los que más respondieron de forma significativa (25.96%, 21.43%; p<0.01). El análisis de la escala IRS arrojó que las subescalas de tiempo para toma de decisiones y de capacidad para diferir disminuyeron significativamente (p<0.01), mientras que la de agresividad y de paciencia/impaciencia tuvieron menor significación estadística (p<0.05). Conclusiones: Los inhibidores selectivos de recaptación de serotonina tienen eficacia y utilidad clínica en el tratamiento de pacientes con comportamientos impulsivo-agresivos con particularidades asociadas a otros fármacos, diagnóstico psicopatológico y tipo de agresividad.

Introduction: Preliminary Studies on neurobiology of impulsive aggression highlighted the role of serotonin to inhibit violent behavior that would be related to impulsivity, but not aggressive. In prisons, aggressive and impulsive behaviors have a high prevalence and require interdisciplinary team approach for Mental Health. Objectives: To determine the utility of SSRI antidepressants in the treatment of impulsivity and aggression, and its clinical and population specific. Material and method: Observational and transversal study through evaluation of medical records of 104 men in prision. Psychiatrically evaluated and the results obtained in four scales for clinical follow-up were evaluated impulsivity and aggressiveness. The subgroup with a positive result in at least 2 scales and clinical evaluation (n = 30) were prescribed an SSRI (paroxetine or ser traline) to your drug plan and the re-evaluated in two later times. Statistical parameters were applied and complied with ethical and legal requirements. Results: to analyze ABS ́s subscales we found that aggressiveness and disinhibition settings were the ones that responded significantly (25.96%, 21.43%; p<0.01). The analysis of the IRS scale showed that time for decision making scale and ability to differ subscales decreased significantly (p<0.01), while aggressiveness and patience/impatience ones had less statistical significance. Conclusions: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have clinical utility and effectiveness in the treatment of patients with impulsive-aggressive behavior associated with drugs other particularities, psychopathological diagnosis and aggressive type