Identification of interacting neural populations: methods and statistical considerations.

As improved recording technologies have created new opportunities for neurophysiological investigation, emphasis has shifted from individual neurons to multiple populations that form circuits, and it has become important to provide evidence of cross-population coordinated activity. We review various methods for doing so, placing them in six major categories while avoiding technical descriptions and instead focusing on high-level motivations and concerns. Our aim is to indicate what the methods can achieve and the circumstances under which they are likely to succeed. Toward this end, we include a discussion of four cross-cutting issues: the definition of neural populations, trial-to-trial variability and Poisson-like noise, time-varying dynamics, and causality.

Oscillating neural circuits: Phase, amplitude, and the complex normal distribution.

Multiple oscillating time series are typically analyzed in the frequency domain, where coherence is usually said to represent the magnitude of the correlation between two signals at a particular frequency. The correlation being referenced is complex-valued and is similar to the real-valued Pearson correlation in some ways but not others. We discuss the dependence among oscillating series in the context of the multivariate complex normal distribution, which plays a role for vectors of complex random variables analogous to the usual multivariate normal distribution for vectors of real-valued random variables. We emphasize special cases that are valuable for the neural data we are interested in and provide new variations on existing results. We then introduce a complex latent variable model for narrowly band-pass-filtered signals at some frequency, and show that the resulting maximum likelihood estimate produces a latent coherence that is equivalent to the magnitude of the complex canonical correlation at the given frequency. We also derive an equivalence between partial coherence and the magnitude of complex partial correlation, at a given frequency. Our theoretical framework leads to interpretable results for an interesting multivariate dataset from the Allen Institute for Brain Science.

Les séries temporelles à oscillations multiples sont généralement étudiées dans le domaine fréquentiel, où la cohérence est souvent considérée comme l'amplitude de la corrélation entre deux signaux à une fréquence spécifique. Cette corrélation est à valeurs complexes et présente des similitudes avec la corrélation de Pearson pour les valeurs réelles, tout en présentant des différences distinctes. Dans cette étude, les auteurs explorent la dépendance entre les séries oscillantes en utilisant la distribution normale complexe multivariée. Cette distribution est l'équivalent de la distribution normale multivariée classique, mais adaptée aux vecteurs de variables aléatoires complexes plutôt qu'aux vecteurs de variables aléatoires réelles. Les auteurs mettent l'accent sur des cas spécifiques qui revêtent une importance particulière pour les données neuronales qui les intéressent, tout en proposant de nouvelles approches et des variations des résultats existants. Ils introduisent un modèle de variables latentes complexes pour les signaux filtrés en bande passante étroite à une fréquence donnée. Ils démontrent ensuite que l'estimation du maximum de vraisemblance dans ce modèle produit une cohérence latente équivalente à l'amplitude de la corrélation canonique complexe à la fréquence spécifiée. Ils établissent également une équivalence entre la cohérence partielle et l'amplitude de la corrélation partielle complexe, toujours à une fréquence donnée. Leur approche théorique conduit à des résultats interprétables pour un ensemble de données multivariées intéressant provenant de l'Allen Institute for Brain Science.

Influence of drugs on prison suicide - A retrospective case study.

The prevalence of mental disorders and comorbidity with substance abuse and personality disorders is high in prisoners. Furthermore, drug abuse in prison is a widespread problem throughout prisons around the world. In this retrospective study, we analyzed the prison deaths over six years (2012-2017). For each death, we collected data of the Berlin prison system, the prison hospital and the State Institute for Forensic and Social Medicine Berlin and the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, Charité Medical University Berlin. In total, 33 prisoners died during our study period, of which 24 committed suicide. In 25% of the suicide cases, forensic toxicology reports were positive for drugs without cases of lethal intoxication. A direct influence of drug intoxication on prisoner deaths and suicide was not common in our data. Small sample size, a missing control group, and the retrospective study design limit generalizability of the results.

Violent Behavior During Psychiatric Inpatient Treatment in a German Prison Hospital.

Violent behavior in correctional facilities is common and differs substantially in type, target, implication, and trigger. Research on frequency and characteristics of violent behavior in correctional facilities and psychiatric hospitals is limited. Results from recent research suggest that comorbidity of severe mental disorder, personality disorder, and diagnosis of substance abuse is related to a higher risk of violent behavior. In the Berlin prison hospital, a database was created to collect data from all violent incidences (n=210) between 1997 and 2006 and between 2010 and 2016. In a retrospective, case-control study, we analyzed specific socioeconomic data and psychiatric diagnosis and compared the group of prisoners with violent behavior with randomly selected prisoners of the same department without violent behavior (n = 210). Diagnosis of schizophrenia, non-German nationality, no use of an interpreter, no children, and no previous sentence remained significantly associated with the dependent variable violent behavior. There were no significant differences regarding age and legal statuses. Practical implications for clinical work are discussed.

Corrigendum: Violent Behavior During Psychiatric Inpatient Treatment in a German Prison Hospital.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00762.].

[Compulsory treatment under legal uncertainty: part 1: the current legal situation on compulsory treatment of patients with psychiatric disorders incapable of consenting]. / Zwangsbehandlungen unter Rechtsunsicherheit : Teil 1: Die aktuelle Rechtslage zu Zwangsbehandlungen einwilligungsunfähiger Patienten mit psychischen Erkrankungen.

A series of recent court decisions have been concerned with the compulsory treatment of patients with mental disorders who are incapable of giving consent. This article describes the current legal situation on compulsory treatment for different cases to achieve the aim of internment, endangerment to third parties, self-endangerment, for intercurrent diseases and to achieve the aim of therapy. The verdicts contribute on the one hand to strengthen patient autonomy against governmental or medical paternalism. On the other hand the verdicts have effected a substantial legal uncertainty with the undesired indirect consequence that fixation will probably be used more often.

[Compulsory treatment under legal uncertainty: part 2: consequences of legal uncertainty in clinical practice - suggestions for improvement]. / Zwangsbehandlungen unter Rechtsunsicherheit : Teil 2: Folgen der Rechtsunsicherheit in der klinischen Praxis - Vorschläge zur Verbesserung.

The current legal uncertainty on compulsory treatment of mentally ill patient incapable of giving consent favors the practice of defensive treatment, such as the increased use of isolation and fixation instead of medication. Such a stance runs the risk of acute or chronic health damage for patients. The dissent between legal practitioners and psychiatrists on compulsory treatment is obviously based on a different understanding of autonomy and its prerequisites. We advocate an individual centered, preferably open form of treatment by medicinal and milieu therapeutic approaches in association with intensified relationships with the aim to restore or improve the ability for self-determination. We also call upon the legislative authorities to establish legal certainty. It is decisive that the characteristics of mental diseases and the possibilities of modern treatment are taken into consideration in order to suitably respect patient autonomy without neglecting the necessary help.

[Sexual offending in schizophrenia - a comparative trial]. / Sexualdelinquenz bei Schizophrenie - eine Vergleichsstudie.

Studies suggest a complex relationship between schizophrenia and sexually offensive behaviour. The mental disorder itself, antisocial personality traits, drug abuse and adverse childhood experiences are suggested to have an impact on sexual offending in mentally disordered offenders. Similarities in psychosexual variables for schizophrenic and sexual offenders in general are found. This study aimed to preserve first findings of sex offence features and behaviours exhibited by psychotic men in Germany. Furthermore a typology of the schizophrenic offenders was developed. Records of 64-male restricted hospital order in-patients (32 patients with and 32 patients without an ICD-10 psychotic disorder) examined at the Institute for Forensic Psychiatry or resident in the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy of the prisons in Berlin from 1980 - 2006 with an index conviction for a contact sex offence against a woman provided the material for research. A comparative trial design was used to differentiate the psychotic and non psychotic offender group. A check list which based on the method of a content analysis containing items related to the offender and the index offence was developed and applied to the records of men. A similar extent of social isolation, psychosexual variables and adverse childhood experiences are found for schizophrenic and non schizophrenic offenders. Negative symptoms of schizophrenia as well as antisocial traits had a great impact on schizophrenic sexual offending. Solely the occurrence of bizarre behaviour was influenced by positive symptoms. Different offence characteristics appeared in the four outlined schizophrenic subgroups such as bizarre behaviour of the psychotic, assaultive behaviour of the dissocial, chaotic behaviour of the substance abusive and negative childhood experiences of the sadistic schizophrenic offenders. The partly controversial findings underline the need for further studies to understand sexual offending in the heterogeneous group of schizophrenic men.

Torsion of a lumbar nerve root schwannoma.

We report a very rare case of a lumbar nerve root schwannoma presenting with torsion and infarction. The patient was a 16-year-old male presenting with severe low back pain and urinary retention following an aggressive game of hockey. Subsequent MRI of the lumbar spine revealed a nonenhancing lumbar intradural lesion at the level of L3. The patient was taken to the operating room where he underwent a bilateral L2 and L3 laminectomy and gross total resection of an intradural nerve root tumor, which appeared to have undergone torsion and infarction. Subsequent histopathological examination of the surgical specimen verified the diagnosis of infarcted schwannoma. This is a unique case of lumbar nerve root schwannoma, with atypical MRI findings, presenting with infarction due to torsion of the involved nerve root.

A clinical trial of tailored office systems for preventive service delivery. The Study to Enhance Prevention by Understanding Practice (STEP-UP).

BACKGROUND: The potential of primary care practice settings to prevent disease and morbidity through health habit counseling, screening for asymptomatic disease, and immunizations has been incompletely met. This study was designed to test a practice-tailored approach to increasing preventive service delivery with particular emphasis on health habit counseling. DESIGN: Group randomized clinical trial and multimethod process assessment. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: Seventy-seven community family practices in northeast Ohio. INTERVENTION: After a 1-day practice assessment, a nurse facilitator met with practice clinicians and staff and assisted them with choosing and implementing individualized tools and approaches aimed at increasing preventive service delivery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Summary scores of the health habit counseling, screening and immunization services recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force up to date for consecutive patients during randomly selected chart review days. RESULTS: A significant increase (p=0.015) in global preventive service delivery rates at the 1-year follow-up was found in the intervention group (31% to 42%) compared to the control group (35% to 37%). Rates specifically for health habit counseling (p=0.007) and screening services (p=0.048) were increased, but not for immunizations. CONCLUSIONS: An approach to increasing preventive service delivery that is individualized to meet particular practice needs can increase global preventive service delivery rates.

[Psychiatric treatment of prisoners in general psychiatric wards exemplified by North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Pfalz]. / Psychiatrische Behandlung von Gefangenen in allgemeinpsychiatrischen Einrichtungen am Beispiel von Nordrhein-Westfalen und Rheinland-Pfalz.

OBJECTIVE: The study was intended to provide information on the frequency and general condition of inpatient and outpatient treatment of mentally disturbed prisoners in general psychiatry in Germany. METHODS: Directors of psychiatric institutions and chief physicians of prisons in Nordrhein-Westfalen and Rheinland-Pfalz were interviewed via a standardized questionnaire. RESULTS: The use of inpatient psychiatric treatment was approximately 0.1 to 2.3% in 1997 with reference to the total admissions in 1997. CONCLUSION: The rare use of psychiatric beds in general psychiatry may reflect obstacles concerning the status of prisoners and reservations regarding difficult patients.

[Mental illness in prisons--view of forensic psychiatrists]. / Psychisch Kranke im Justizvollzug--Sicht des forensischen Psychiaters.

To the extent to which comparisons have been undertaken with the general population, a greatly raised prevalence of psychiatric illness amongst prisoners has been found across countries and across diagnostic groups. Thus, one would expect a greater level of need for treatment in the penal system. In accordance with the conditions of modern psychiatric care, cooperation between impatient, part-impatient and outpatient services in the sense of integration should be guaranteed.

[Transsexual development after committing an offense]. / Transsexuelle Entwicklungen in der Folge delinquenten Verhaltens.

Connections between transsexualism and delinquency have been considered in only a few publications to date. The authors report on a forensic psychiatric case with a transsexual development after committing an offence based on sexual deviations. Transsexualism in this context seems to represent an attempt for the symbolic solution of a conflict of identity. This should be interpreted in the context of psychotherapy and not be misunderstood as a symptom proving the diagnosis of manifest transsexualism by orientation on pure phenomenological criteria.

Vascular access for hemodialysis in children.

In the light of many years' experience in hemodialysis access surgery, the different methods of creating vascular access for dialysis treatment in the pediatric population are described. After presenting the various access types using autologous blood vessels and also heterologous grafts, their specific spectrum of complications is discussed in detail. Summarizing our experience it has to be emphasized that there is no specific angioaccess for children and adolescents, and that most vascular access procedures used in adults are also suitable for use in the young.

[Psychiatric-psychologic evaluation of neurotic disorders in the pension process based on a structural-social illness concept]. / Die psychiatrisch-psychologische Beurteilung neurotischer Störungen im Rentenverfahren auf der Basis eines strukturell-sozialen Krankheitsbegriffs.

The psychiatric-psychological judging neurotic disorders is presented under following aspects: the diagnostical guidelines considering international classification systems and the definition of disease given by the jurisdiction. In order to judge the degree of severity of a neurotic disorder with regard to professional fitness this paper proposes Raschs structural social conception of disease.

[Respiratory function in children with alveolitis]. / Funktsiia dykhaniia pri al'veolitakh u detei.

External respiratory function was examined in 27 patients aged 5 to 17 years suffering from alveolitis. Of these, 10 children were diagnosed to have idiopathic fibrosing alveolitis and 17 exogenous allergic alveolitis. The functional examination included investigation of the static pulmonary volumes by helium dilution method, spirography, body plethysmography, measurements of lung elasticity, diffusion capacity of the lungs and blood gases. It has been established that in alveolitis, restrictive ventilatory disorders prevail, whereas in acute and subacute exogenous allergic alveolitis, obstructive disorders may occur. In all the patients examined, lung diffusion capacity was found to be reduced.

[Family therapy in forensic psychiatry]. / Angehörigenarbeit in der forensischen Psychiatrie.

Patients in forensic psychiatry and their relatives are both doubly stigmatized by the labels psychiatric disturbance and delinquency. In an expert-guided group for relatives of forensic patients at Karl-Bonhoeffer-Psychiatric Hospital Berlin choice of topic and frequency of attendance indicated enormous guilty feelings. Defense against these guilty feelings could only be kept up by great effort. Support of relatives in forensic psychiatry seems advisable also for the rehabilitation of the patients themselves and prevention of relapse.