ABSTRACT
To assess the relationship of baseline cortisol to the 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test (DST), 4 p.m. baseline and 4 p.m. postdexamethasone blood samples were drawn on 52 consecutive depressed outpatients. Baseline cortisol correlated significantly with post-DST values, and baseline levels above 15 micrograms/dl predicted DST nonsuppression with 90.4% accuracy. These data lend some support to the usefulness of baseline cortisol determination in depressed outpatients in whom a full DST may be difficult.
Subject(s)
Depressive Disorder/blood , Dexamethasone , Hydrocortisone/blood , Ambulatory Care , Depressive Disorder/diagnosis , Humans , Patient Compliance , Probability , Time FactorsABSTRACT
The Carroll Depression Rating Scale (CRS) was developed as a self-administered variant of the widely used Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). This study is a replication. The CRS and HDRS total and item correlations are compared for a sample of 64 outpatients. The CRS is shown to be a reliable and convenient alternative to the HDRS, suitable for routine office practice.
Subject(s)
Ambulatory Care , Depressive Disorder/diagnosis , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Adult , Bipolar Disorder/diagnosis , Bipolar Disorder/psychology , Depressive Disorder/psychology , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , PsychometricsABSTRACT
Using split sample discriminant function analysis on a series of 63 consecutive depressed outpatients, the authors identified several items on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale that were associated with dexamethasone resistance (late and middle insomnia, retardation, somatic and psychic anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms), and several items that were associated with dexamethasone suppression (genital symptoms, somatic-general symptoms, hypochondriasis, early insomnia, and depersonalization). The accuracy of the classification function was 100% for the index split sample, 84% for the overall sample, and 72% for the other split sample. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Subject(s)
Depressive Disorder/diagnosis , Dexamethasone , Adult , Depressive Disorder/psychology , Female , Humans , Hydrocortisone/blood , Male , Middle Aged , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , PsychometricsSubject(s)
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone/blood , Depressive Disorder/blood , Dexamethasone , Adult , Aged , Depressive Disorder/diagnosis , Female , Humans , Hydrocortisone/blood , Male , Middle AgedSubject(s)
Depressive Disorder/diagnosis , Dexamethasone , Hydrocortisone/blood , Adult , Aged , Ambulatory Care , Depressive Disorder/blood , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Psychiatric Status Rating ScalesSubject(s)
Depressive Disorder/urine , Glycols/urine , Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol/urine , Adult , Depressive Disorder/psychology , Female , Humans , RecurrenceSubject(s)
Lithium/adverse effects , Mood Disorders/drug therapy , Adult , Female , Humans , Lithium/blood , Lithium Carbonate , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Personality InventoryABSTRACT
The authors studied the use of seclusion and restraint on an inpatient unit in a state psychiatric hospital. Of 69 randomly selected inpatients, 51% experienced seclusion or restraint at least once. More psychotic than nonpsychotic patients required seclusion or restraint. However, neither psychosis/nonpsychosis nor voluntary/involuntary admission status predicted the likelihood of violent threats or actions. Patients experiencing seclusion and restraint showed a nonsignificant trend toward longer mean length of stay in the hospital. The frequency of patient behavior leading to seclusion or restraint appeared to be directly related to the stimulation caused by the presence of many staff members and other patients.
Subject(s)
Mental Disorders/psychology , Restraint, Physical , Social Isolation , Violence , Adolescent , Adult , Commitment of Mentally Ill , Female , Hospitalization , Hospitals, Psychiatric , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Probability , Psychotic Disorders/psychology , Social EnvironmentABSTRACT
On the basis of a report that serum DBH activity was significantly decreased in schizophrenics, we reexamined this relationship. Serum DBH activity was studied in 90 normal controls and 78 schizophrenics. No significant differences were found for the groups as a whole. The incidence of serum DBH activity below the median for normal controls was significantly less in chronic paranoid schizophrenics than in normal controls.
Subject(s)
Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase/blood , Schizophrenia/enzymology , Antipsychotic Agents/therapeutic use , Humans , Schizophrenia/drug therapy , Schizophrenia, Paranoid/enzymologyABSTRACT
Several authors have attempted to establish a correlation between glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency and chronic schizophrenia, and the results were contradictory. We propose that the correlation between G-6-PD deficiency and schizophrenia is to be found in the form of an acute delirium.
