[Medico-biological and psychopathologic aspects of substance dependence]. / Aspetti medico-biologici e psicopatologici delle tossicodipendenze.

The paper examines the phenomenon of drug addiction from a bio-socio-pathological point of view. Neurophysiological advances in the field of drug addiction reveal the correlations between biology and behaviour, thus allowing the creation of numerous synergic strategies at different levels of intervention.

[Emergency psychiatric services in Torino. Presentation of the activities]. / Il servizio di urgenza psichiatrico a Torino. Presentazione della attività.

The paper reports on the emergency psychiatric Unit (EPU) that has been instituted in Turin. A period of transformation in the philosophy of psychiatric departments, has led, among other things, to the approval of a regional law that can be considered as a local interpretation, of national legislation. The EPU is an experimental model that codifies the emergency level of intervention to stand alongside existing emergency medical facilities, including first-aid stations. The purpose of this first investigation is to examine the number and type of calls studying the data obtained so far is a fundamental stage in our understanding of the "emergency" phenomenon and in the construction of other levels of intervention aimed to optimise available resources.

[Relationship between type A behavior and the other risk factors in chronic disease]. / Rapporto fra il comportamento di tipo A e gli altri fattori di rischio per la malattia cronica.

The relationship between psychological features and coronary heart disease (CHD) have long been investigated. Type A behaviour consists of psychological, behavioral and cognitive features and represents an important risk factor for CHD. The present report is a review of the international literature on the subject. In particular we have taken into account the relationships among type A and other risk factors and the possible biological mechanisms through which type A behaviour may promote CHD.

[Time in depression]. / Il tempo nella depressione.

Subjective estimation of time varies according to age, to physical state and to the activity we are occupied with. The relationship between time and major depression can be considered from two different point of view. From a clinical-psychological point of view normal subjects with major depression estimate time intervals differently. Future, past and present change their meaning in major depression. These alterations cause important consequences in the cognitive structure of subjects with major depression and therefore influence depressive symptoms. On the other hand also the "biological time" is altered in major depression. Subjects with major depression suffer from many chronobiological alterations. The relationship between these two aspects are considered in the present report.

[Stress and the psychological profile of the cancer patient]. / Stress e profilo psicologico del paziente oncologico.

The results of a retrospective study on the personality traits of a patient with cancer are reported. The research was carried out on a group of cancer patients and on 2 control groups, one consisting of carriers of chronic non-tumoral disease, the other of patients with acute accidental pathology. Statistical processing of the data obtained has permitted the detection of interesting personological details in the 3 groups studied.

[The physiognomic semeiotics of anxiety. A critical review]. / Semeiotica fisiognomica dell'ansia. Revisione critica.

This study analyses the physical and physiognomic semiotics characteristic of anxious persons which, together with other symptoms, lead to the diagnosis of the disorder caused by anxiety. The theories of several authors concerning physiognomy, an ancient science based on the assumption that an individual's character and personality traits may be distinguished from his physical form and appearance, are discussed. It is clear that the symptoms apparent in the behaviour and body of the anxious person, such as tremor, sweating, tachycardia and numerous other psychosomatic symptoms, form an important element of assessment in psychiatric diagnosis.

[Psychoimmunology. I. Relationships between neuroendocrine and immune systems]. / Psicoimmunologia. I: I rapporti fra sistema neuroendocrino e sistema immunitario.

Recently a lot of studies have pointed to the relationships between the major homeostatic systems of the human body: the neuroendocrine system and the immune system. There is considerable evidence that they make up a psychoneuroendocrine immunologic network. In the present review the most interesting data concerning the relationships between the neuroendocrine system and the immune system are taken into account.

[Psychoimmunology. II. The neuroendocrine system and the immune system in autism and schizophrenia]. / Psicoimmunologia. II: Il sistema neuroendocrino e il sistema immunitario nell'autismo e nella schizofrenia.

In this paper the Authors report on the immunologic alterations in two psychiatric disease: schizophrenia and infantile autism. While a lot of researches have been concluded on the immunologic alterations in schizophrenia, only a few data on infantile autism are available. Based on data from international literature the Authors advance some hypotheses on the role possibly played by the immune system in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia and infantile autism.

[Clinical usefulness of dexamethasone test in depression]. / Utilità clinica del test al desametazone nella depressione.

The paper stresses the importance of the dexamethasone suppression test in the diagnosis of severe depression (major psychiatric disorders). For some decades researchers have been aware of the importance of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal gland axis in the physiological response to stress, and likewise the importance of possible correlations between emotional and biological factors in psychiatric disorders. Several studies have sustained that in major psychiatric disorders, and in particular in depression, not only is there a hypersecretion of cortisol, but also a resistance to the suppression of cortisol secretion which normally follows the injection of an exogenous steroid, for example dexamethasone. This laboratory test is therefore of value both for diagnostic purposes and for identifying severe depression from other morbid conditions; it may also be usefully employed for prognostic and therapeutic purposes.

[The role of opioid antagonists in the treatment of obesity. Results of a clinical trial with naltrexone]. / Il ruolo degli antagonisti oppioidi nel trattamento dell'obesità. Risultati di una sperimentazione clinica con naltrexone.

On the basis of literature data relative to the alteration of beta-endorphin tone in obese subjects, we conducted a clinical trial employing Naltrexone (a receptorial antagonist of endogen opioids) in order to evaluate its efficacy in increasing the compliance of these subjects on dietary treatment. The drug dosage was 50 mg/daily (100 mg/die). The clinical study was carried out following the double-blind crossover method for a period of 4 months in a group of 17 obese subjects who also underwent to psychodiagnostic interviews. Significant weight reduction was observed in the 9 patients who carried out the treatment by assuming Naltrexone (kg 4.00 +/- 3.97) rather than with placebo (kg 0.96 +/- 4.95). The drug was subjectively well tolerated and it did not alter the endocrine, metabolic, psychometric, and cardiovascular monitored parameters. The insulin secretion during OGTT did not show significant alterations. Our data emphasize the Naltrexone efficacy in improving the compliance of the obese subjects during dietary treatment.

[Psychometric evaluations in a group of obese patients]. / Valutazioni psicometriche in un gruppo di pazienti obesi.

Several reported cases point out significant alterations in the psychologic profile of obese subjects and the utility of a psychotherapeutic support to the dietetic or pharmacological therapy. Each patient underwent a psychodiagnostic interview and the following rating-scales were applied: QPF (Psychophysiological Test); STAI X-1 and X-2 (State and Trait Anxiety Inventory); Hamilton-D (Depression); ZUNG (Self-administered Depression Test); TSR (Reaction Schemes Test). We observed an increase in the answer of the blocked projection (in the 40% of subjects), of negation (26.6%), of guilt (13.3%), a decrease in the projection answer (33.3%), high scores of QPF (21%). The STAI, the Hamilton, and the Zung were altered in the 10% of the examined subjects. Our data emphasize the importance of an individual psychotherapeutic support in a subgroup of obese subjects.

[Therapeutic treatment of drug dependence during hospital recovery]. / Trattamento terapeutico delle tossicodipendenze in condizioni di ricovero ospedaliero.

The purpose of the research was to ascertain whether hospitalization makes it easier to treat heroin addiction and to what extent. Eighty-six subjects hospitalised in two Turin hospitals were considered. Two different therapeutic protocols were applied. Results obtained are discussed and some interpretation of resulting data are advanced.

[Epidemiologic study of functional disorders in the elderly]. / Studio epidemiologico sui disturbi funzionali della terza età.

Numerous observations have evidenced the high prevalence of psychosomatic disturbances in the third age, so much so that this type of pathology is second in order of frequency in the elderly. In the light of these data a study has been carried out on functional disturbances in the third age related to certain psychological and sociobiological variables. The purpose of the research was to assess the effective influence of these "extrinsic" variables in the psychosomatic disturbance observed through the psychophysiological test carried out in the different groups examined. The results of the study are discussed and some keys for interpreting the data observed are put forward.