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In the present review paper by members of the collaborative research center "Register: Language Users' Knowledge of Situational-Functional Variation" (CRC 1412), we assess the pervasiveness of register phenomena across different time periods, languages, modalities, and cultures. We define "register" as recurring variation in language use depending on the function of language and on the social situation. Informed by rich data, we aim to better understand and model the knowledge involved in situation- and function-based use of language register. In order to achieve this goal, we are using complementary methods and measures. In the review, we start by clarifying the concept of "register", by reviewing the state of the art, and by setting out our methods and modeling goals. Against this background, we discuss three key challenges, two at the methodological level and one at the theoretical level: (1) To better uncover registers in text and spoken corpora, we propose changes to established analytical approaches. (2) To tease apart between-subject variability from the linguistic variability at issue (intra-individual situation-based register variability), we use within-subject designs and the modeling of individuals' social, language, and educational background. (3) We highlight a gap in cognitive modeling, viz. modeling the mental representations of register (processing), and present our first attempts at filling this gap. We argue that the targeted use of multiple complementary methods and measures supports investigating the pervasiveness of register phenomena and yields comprehensive insights into the cross-methodological robustness of register-related language variability. These comprehensive insights in turn provide a solid foundation for associated cognitive modeling.
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BACKGROUND: Suicide cases are the end product of a combination of biological, clinical, psychological, social, and cultural risk/protective factors, and attempts to remain unpredictable. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 43-year-old male presented to the hospital with jaundiced skin/eyes of 7 days' duration. He had a history of a major depressive disorder and chronic alcohol consumption (e.g., 3-5 alcoholic drinks/day for the past 15 years). Studies documented acute hepatic disease (e.g., biopsy-documented hepatocellular alcoholic hepatitis), accompanied by a cholestatic disease. The patient was discharged on clonidine, iron multivitamin, folic acid, gabapentin, and prednisone. Eight days postdischarge from the hospital, he committed suicide (e.g., self- inflicted gunshot wound to the head). CONCLUSION: Concomitant administration of gabapentin, prednisone, and clonidine, especially if used for the first time, may play a synergistic effect in increasing a patient's suicide risk.
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BACKGROUND: The opioid epidemic in America is real and is estimated to be the number one cause of death in adults under 50 years of age. Finding alternative analgesic medications is part of the effort to decrease the prescription of narcotics, with gabapentin being at the top of the list. CASE DESCRIPTION: In the present case, we discuss the side-effects of gabapentin, used as part of the multimodal treatment approach of painful spinal degenerative disease. The patient stated that he had noticed personality changes after gabapentin was initiated, and that he had become more depressed, frustrated, and aggressive. His uncontrolled pain and acute mood changes led him to attempt suicide by hanging himself. Gabapentin was discontinued and the patient's suicidal ideation completely subsided. CONCLUSION: It is imperative to screen, identify, and appropriately manage patients with underlying psychiatric disorders prior to initiating pain management with gabapentin. Therefore, it is crucial to raise awareness of gabapentin as a potential cause of depression, aggressive behavior, and suicidal ideation.
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Occipital neuralgia is the third most common headache syndrome after migraine and tension type headaches. There is no well-established treatment regimen for a reliable cure. The current case presents a 39-year-old woman, diagnosed with occipital neuralgia of idiopathic cause. The condition was difficult to control by conservative or interventional approaches. The patient was started on conventional transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, 3 sessions per week. After the procedure, the patient achieved significant pain relief: 1-2/10 on the numeric rating scale, pain initially being 10/10. With maintenance therapy consisting of physical therapy, deep tissue massage, and muscle relaxants, 12 months after starting transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation therapy, she is pain free.
