Subject(s)
Mental Disorders/psychology , Personality Tests , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , PsychometricsABSTRACT
The Comrey Personality Scales (CPS) were administered to 394 psychiatric outpatients. The 40 subscales that define the eight CPS factors were intercorrelated and factor analyzed to determine if the same structure of personality traits fits beth normal and psychologically disturbed individuals. The factor structure in this study was very close to that found previously in six other widely different kinds of populations. These results support a previously stated conclusion that tests of normal personality traits are appropriate for use in assessment with psychologically disturbed individuals.
Subject(s)
Mental Disorders/diagnosis , Personality Disorders/diagnosis , Personality Tests , Adult , Ambulatory Care , Female , Humans , Male , PsychometricsABSTRACT
In an attempt to begin to establish minimum effective dosage requirements for the maintenance treatment of schizophrenia, we undertook a double-blind comparison of low-dose fluphenazine decanoate (1.25 to 5.0 mg/2 wk) with the standard-dose regimen (12.5 to 50.0 mg/2 wk) in outpatient schizophrenics. For the first 126 patients studied, cumulative relapse rates at one year for the low dose were 56% and for the standard dose 7%, a significant difference. Despite the fact that very little dyskinetic symptomatology developed in the sample as a whole, the low-dose treatment appeared to have a significant advantage in producing fewer early signs of tardive dyskinesia. Severity of relapse and total cumulative dosage were also considered.
Subject(s)
Ambulatory Care , Fluphenazine/analogs & derivatives , Schizophrenia/drug therapy , Adult , Clinical Trials as Topic , Double-Blind Method , Drug Administration Schedule , Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced/etiology , Female , Fluphenazine/administration & dosage , Fluphenazine/adverse effects , Humans , Male , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Recurrence , Schizophrenic PsychologyABSTRACT
Changes in the perceptual-cognitive and affective components of the body image were studied in ten women who had undergone jejuno-ileal bypass surgery. As weight loss occurs, the cognitive body schema adjusts readily to the patients' new reality, whereas the affective component remains essentially unchanged during the first year after surgery. Implications of findings are discussed.
Subject(s)
Body Image , Ileum/surgery , Jejunum/surgery , Obesity/therapy , Adolescent , Adult , Affect , Body Weight , Cognition , Female , Humans , Obesity/psychology , Projective Techniques , Self Concept , Time FactorsABSTRACT
The authors studied 12 superobese women for 10 months to 3 years following jejuno-ileal bypass surgery. All patients had significant weight loss to near normal levels and were pleased with their newfound capabilities in the areas of physical, social, and sexual activities. Enhanced self-esteem, initiative, and assertiveness were noted. Although there were no serious postoperative psychiatric complications, patients experienced more mood lability and greater awareness of anxiety, depression, and irritability; their necessary adjustments in lifestyle strained relationships with spouses and parents in some cases. The principal drawback of the procedure was the occurrence in 7 patients of major somatic complications, with concomitant discouragement and apprehension.
Subject(s)
Obesity/surgery , Adaptation, Psychological , Adolescent , Adult , Appetite , Body Weight , Feeding Behavior , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Ileum/surgery , Jejunum/surgery , Postoperative Complications , PsychopathologyABSTRACT
Forty-one exhibitionists were examined clinically and thirty-four psychometrically. The data does not support any definitive character type or evidence of severe pathology. If specific reference to their symptom of exhibiting is omitted they do not appear to be strikingly abnormal. Exhibiting was viewed as a unique way of expressing unconscious aggressive strivings, without provoking the retaliatory response that more direct aggression might stimulate.
Subject(s)
Exhibitionism , Paraphilic Disorders , Personality , Adolescent , Adult , Aggression , Group Processes , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Personality Assessment , Personality Inventory , Sexual Behavior , VoyeurismABSTRACT
Close study of twelve superobese women revealed the following principal characteristics. None had a serious psychiatric illness, but most showed moderate personality disturbances with predominant passive-aggressive traits. Depressive features, though common, were not severe. Food typically had been used to allay feelings of emotional deprivation present since early childhood and historically associated with the unstable marriages of these patients' parents. The label "oral character" is not sufficient to provide even a capsule description; stubbornness, defiance, needs for autonomy and wariness of entangling relationships as well as conflicts over exhibitionism also were prominent. These characteristics contribute to the traditional reputation of the obese as "difficult" patients and deserve greater attention to help improve the effectiveness both of standard medical management and of psychotherapy.
