[Type C personality (cancer personality): current view and implications for future research]. / Osobnost typu C (cancer personality): soucasný stav poznatku a implikace pro dalsí výzkum.

The paper provides an outline of the present state of knowledge of the 'C-type' or cancer-prone personality. Links between personality and cancer have been studied approximately since the mid 1960's. Opinions on the role of personality dispositions and other psychosocial factors in the development of cancer have been changing over the last 50 years. There are basically two periods marking the evolution of thought on the subject. While in the early 1990's, results of research were interpreted in favour of the existence of the C-type personality, in spite of a lack of consistency (and often contradictory findings), currently they are interpreted in disfavour of the C-type personality due to continuing uncertainty. The current view is primarily based on the fact that specific links between cancer and certain personality traits have not been confirmed. In conclusion, the authors reflect over what could have been done better from the methodological point of view in studies carried out so far, and suggest suitable study design options.

[Use of EEG in electroconvulsive therapy]. / Moznosti uzití EEG u elektrokonvulzivní terapie.

BACKGROUND: From the point of view of time we can divide the use of EEG in the electroconvulsive therapy into 1) screening before starting the treatment, 2) the EEG correlates of the ECT: recording of the paroxysm, immediate postparoxysmal recording, interparoxysmal recording during a series of ECT, and persistent changes after finishing the series of ECT. METHODS AND RESULTS: EEG screening has shown that the patients with abnormal EEG do not respond well to ECT. In the recording of the paroxysm EEG correlates with therapeutic effect of ECT are looked for--particularly the length of the paroxysm on the EEG, intensity and pattern of the paroxysmal activity, and the suppression of the EEG curve in the terminal part of the paroxysm. The suppression models are in the focus of interest also in the immediate postparoxysmal recording. In the interparoxysmal recordings during a series of ECT the associations of the generalised slowing in the range of the theta and delta activity with the therapeutic effect were looked for, particularly in the past. Persistent changes after finishing the ECT are usually examined especially to look if ECT does not cause persistent abnormalities of the EEG recording which would be an evidence for brain damage or for epileptic kindling. The results in this direction have been negative so far.

[EEG correlates of therapeutic effects of electroconvulsive therapy]. / EEG koreláty terapeutického úcinku elektrokonvulzivní lécby.

In a group of 52 patients electroconvulsive treatment by means of a Thymatron apparatus was provided under simultaneous EEG control. In addition to parameters of the EEG curve (type of curve according to intensity of the paroxysmal process, duration of electroconvulsion on EEG, type of termination of paroxysm of EEG) also other variables were investigated in relation to the therapeutic effect. The following were identified as significant predictors for marked clinical improvement: type of EEG curve with more marked paroxysmal activity, shorter cumulative duration of electroconvulsions on EEG before first clinical improvement of the patient and a higher CGI entering score. Other variables proved unimportant, e.g. the patient's age, total number of electroconvulsions, total cumulative duration of electroconvulsions on EEG and type of termination of electroconvulsions on EEG.

EEG in electroconvulsive therapy: is more intensive paroxysmal activity associated with a higher therapeutic response?

EEG records of electroconvulsions were evaluated according to a five-point semiquantitative scale grading the intensity of the paroxysmal activity. A more favorable therapeutic effect of ECT was found to be associated with more pronounced paroxysmal activity on the EEG. The role of this finding for the dosage of energy in the convulsive stimulus is discussed.

[Experience with the Thymatron DG apparatus in determining the duration of electroconvulsions]. / Zkusenosti s prístojem Thymatron DG pri stanovení délky elektrokonvulze.

Electroconvulsive therapy was administered, using a Thymatron apparatus DG in a group of 29 female patients with a total number of 150 convulsions. The apparatus makes it possible to take an EEG reading and to evaluate it automatically. Moreover, the paroxysm were evaluated clinically and visually from EEG tracings. The authors proved a significant disagreement as regards evaluation of the length of electroconvulsions assessed by the three methods of evaluation (clinical, automatic EEG analyzer and visual EEG evaluation). They identified moreover in the group, using the automatic EEG analyzer, 11.7% abortive convulsions, by visual EEG evaluation 10.3%, while according to clinical evaluation the rate was as high as 59.2%. Conversely on clinical evaluation no convulsion appeared to be protracted, while according to EEG this was the case in 9.6% (automatic analyzer) and in 10.3% (visual evaluation). On qualitative discrimination of abortive and protracted convulsions and convulsions with a satisfactory duration the automatic and visual EEG evaluation did not differ significantly, and the function of the automatic analyzer seems satisfactory for this basic evaluation of electroconvulsions.