Original Article
Serious psychiatric outcome of subjects prenatally exposed to diethylstilboestrol in the E3N cohort study
- HELENE VERDOUX, JACQUES ROPERS, DOMINIQUE COSTAGLIOLA, FRANÇOISE CLAVEL-CHAPELON, XAVIER PAOLETTI
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- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 04 April 2007, pp. 1315-1322
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Background
Prenatal exposure to diethylstilboestrol (DES) may induce neurodevelopmental disturbances potentially mediating an increased risk of psychiatric disorders in exposed subjects. Most findings of an increased prevalence of psychiatric disorders in men and women prenatally exposed to DES are not easy to interpret because of selection biases.
MethodInformation on hormonal treatment during pregnancy and on offspring's medical outcome was collected from women participating in the Etude Epidemiologique de femmes de la Mutuelle Générale de l'Education Nationale (E3N) prospective cohort who completed consecutive postal questionnaires on a range of medical events since 1990. Information on hormonal treatment during pregnancy was collected in 1992 and on offspring's medical outcome in 2004. The psychiatric outcome of subjects prenatally exposed to DES was compared to that of their unexposed siblings.
ResultsA total of 1352 mothers with DES treatment for at least one pregnancy provided information on 1680 exposed children and 1447 unexposed siblings. After adjustment for duration of follow-up, educational level, history of obstetric complication, prenatal exposure to progestagen drugs or other hormones and parental history of psychiatric hospitalization, no association was found between prenatal exposure to DES and occurrence of strictly defined serious psychiatric outcome (suicide or psychiatric hospitalization) [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 0·8, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0·5–1·2], or of broadly defined serious psychiatric outcome (same events plus psychiatric or psychological consultation) (adjusted OR 1·0, 95% CI 0·8–1·2).
ConclusionsThese findings suggest that the impact of prenatal DES exposure on foetal brain development, if any, is unlikely to increase the risk of serious psychiatric disorders.
Corpus callosum areas in first-episode patients with bipolar disorder
- MURAD ATMACA, HUSEYIN OZDEMIR, HANEFI YILDIRIM
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- 16 January 2007, pp. 699-704
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Background. Morphological changes in the corpus callosum (CC) have been described in bipolar disorder, but with inconsistencies among the reports. We investigated the CC areas by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 12 first-episode patients with bipolar disorder and 12 controls.
Method. Twelve medication-naive patients with bipolar I disorder (six males, six females; aged 28·2±6·5 years) with manic or mixed episodes and 12 age- and gender-matched healthy controls (six males, six females; aged 26·8±7·6 years) were recruited to the study. MRI scans was obtained using a 1.5-T GE Signa Excite high-speed scanner. Anatomical measurements were conducted on a computer workstation with the software Scion Image Beta-3b for Windows. Statistical analysis was performed using an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), the t test, χ2 and partial correlation analyses.
Results. Bipolar patients had significantly smaller areas of total CC, anterior body posterior body and isthmus compared with healthy control subjects by ANCOVA, with age, gender and intracranial volume (ICV) as covariates. There was a negative correlation between total CC, posterior body and isthmus areas and Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) scores.
Conclusion. The findings suggest that CC morphology may be associated with the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder.
Cerebral blood flow changes during retrieval of traumatic memories before and after psychotherapy: a SPECT study
- JULIO F. P. PERES, ANDREW B. NEWBERG, JULIANE P. MERCANTE, MANOEL SIMÃO, VIVIAN E. ALBUQUERQUE, MARIA J. P. PERES, ANTONIA G. NASELLO
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- 09 February 2007, pp. 1481-1491
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Background
Traumatic memory is a key symptom in psychological trauma victims and may remain vivid for several years. Psychotherapy has shown that neither the psychopathological signs of trauma nor the expression of traumatic memories are static over time. However, few studies have investigated the neural substrates of psychotherapy-related symptom changes.
MethodWe studied 16 subthreshold post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) subjects by using a script-driven symptom provocation paradigm adapted for single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) that was read aloud during traumatic memory retrieval both before and after exposure-based and cognitive restructuring therapy. Their neural activity levels were compared with a control group comprising 11 waiting-list subthreshold PTSD patients, who were age- and profile-matched with the psychotherapy group.
ResultsSignificantly higher activity was observed in the parietal lobes, left hippocampus, thalamus and left prefrontal cortex during memory retrieval after psychotherapy. Positive correlations were found between activity changes in the left prefrontal cortex and left thalamus, and also between the left prefrontal cortex and left parietal lobe.
ConclusionsNeural mechanisms involved in subthreshold PTSD may share neural similarities with those underlying the fragmented and non-verbal nature of traumatic memories in full PTSD. Moreover, psychotherapy may influence the development of a narrative pattern overlaying the declarative memory neural substrates.
Emotional bias and waking salivary cortisol in relatives of patients with major depression
- MARISA LE MASURIER, PHILIP J. COWEN, CATHERINE J. HARMER
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- 17 November 2006, pp. 403-410
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Background. Biases in the processing of emotional information have been shown to be abnormal in subjects with major depression, both during an episode and after full recovery. However, it is unclear whether these biases are a cause or an effect of the depression. This study set out to explore whether such biases represent a vulnerability factor for depression by looking at unaffected first-degree relatives of those with major depressive disorder. We also measured waking salivary cortisol, as the regulation of the hypothalamo–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis is thought to be impaired in depressive disorder.
Method. Twenty-five female relatives and 21 age-matched controls completed a facial expression recognition task, an emotional categorization task with positive and negative personality characteristics, and had their waking salivary cortisol measured on a work day and a non-work day.
Results. The depressed relative group was significantly faster to recognize facial expressions of fear than controls. The depressed relative group also showed significantly increased reaction time to recognize positive versus negative personality characteristics in the categorization task. There was no difference in waking salivary cortisol between groups, although there was an effect of work day versus non-work day.
Conclusions. Subtle biases in the processing of emotional information may exist in the unaffected first-degree relatives of those with depression. As such, this may represent a familial vulnerability factor to developing a depressive illness.
An epidemiological investigation of affective disorders with a population-based cohort of 1023 adults with intellectual disabilities
- SALLY-ANN COOPER, ELITA SMILEY, JILLIAN MORRISON, ANDREW WILLIAMSON, LINDA ALLAN
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- 05 February 2007, pp. 873-882
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Background. Intellectual disabilities (ID) are common and lifelong. People with ID have health inequalities compared with the general population, but little is known about the epidemiology of affective disorders in this population. This study was undertaken to determine the point prevalence of affective disorders, and to investigate factors associated with depression.
Method. This population-based study (n=1023) included comprehensive individual assessments with each person. A two-stage process was used for diagnosis of affective disorders. Factors independently associated with depression were investigated through logistic regression analysis.
Results. The point prevalence was higher than that reported previously for the general population; DC-LD yielded 3·8% for depression and 0·6% for mania. Additionally, 1·0% had bipolar disorder currently in remission, and 0·1% first episode of mania currently in remission. Similar to general population findings, depression was associated with female gender, smoking, number of preceding family physician appointments, and preceding life events. Important differences were the association of not having a hearing impairment, and the trends for not living in deprived areas, and being married. Unlike general population findings, not having daytime occupation and obesity were not independently associated; nor was previous long-stay hospital residence, severity of ID, or sensory impairments.
Conclusions. This study has found a high point prevalence of affective disorders in adults with ID. The factors associated with depression have differences to general population findings. An understanding of this is important in order to develop appropriate interventions, public strategy and policy, to reduce existing health inequalities.
Sex differences in brain activation patterns during processing of positively and negatively valenced emotional words
- ALEX HOFER, CHRISTIAN M. SIEDENTOPF, ANJA ISCHEBECK, MARIA A. RETTENBACHER, MICHAEL VERIUS, STEPHAN FELBER, W. WOLFGANG FLEISCHHACKER
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- 12 October 2006, pp. 109-119
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Background. Previous studies have suggested that men and women process emotional stimuli differently. In this study, we used event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate gender differences in regional cerebral activity during the perception of positive or negative emotions.
Method. The experiment comprised two emotional conditions (positively/negatively valenced words) during which fMRI data were acquired.
Results. Thirty-eight healthy volunteers (19 males, 19 females) were investigated. A direct comparison of brain activation between men and women revealed differential activation in the right putamen, the right superior temporal gyrus, and the left supramarginal gyrus during processing of positively valenced words versus non-words for women versus men. By contrast, during processing of negatively valenced words versus non-words, relatively greater activation was seen in the left perirhinal cortex and hippocampus for women versus men, and in the right supramarginal gyrus for men versus women.
Conclusions. Our findings suggest gender-related neural responses to emotional stimuli and could contribute to the understanding of mechanisms underlying the gender disparity of neuropsychiatric diseases such as mood disorders.
Prevalence of depression in older people in England and Wales: the MRC CFA Study
- FIONA A. McDOUGALL, KARI KVAAL, FIONA E. MATTHEWS, EUGENE PAYKEL, PETER B. JONES, MICHAEL E. DEWEY, CAROL BRAYNE
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- 04 April 2007, pp. 1787-1795
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Background
Depression in old age is an important public health problem. The aims of this study were to report the prevalence of depression in the Medical Research Council Cognitive Function and Ageing Study (MRC CFAS), a community-based, cohort.
MethodFollowing screening of 13 004 people aged 65 and over from a population base, a stratified random subsample of 2640 participants received the Geriatric Mental State (GMS) examination and were diagnosed using the Automated Geriatric Examination for Computer-Assisted Taxonomy (AGECAT) algorithm.
ResultsThe prevalence of depression was 8·7% [95% confidence interval (CI) 7·3–10·2], increasing to 9·7% if subjects with concurrent dementia were included. Depression was more common in women (10·4%) than men (6·5%) and was associated with functional disability, co-morbid medical disorder, and social deprivation. Prevalence remained high into old age, but after adjustment for other associated factors, it was lower in the older age groups.
ConclusionsThe prevalence of depression in the elderly is high and remains high into old age, perhaps due to increased functional disability.
Differentiation of executive and attention impairments in affective illness
- SAMUEL D. R. STODDART, NICK J. CRADDOCK, LISA A. JONES
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- 02 May 2007, pp. 1613-1623
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Background
Executive impairments have been reported in affective illness, but the influence of attention on executive performance has not been fully considered. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether executive impairments in affective illness were independent of attention impairments, and whether independent executive impairments were specific to bipolar (BP) affective illness.
MethodForty-two individuals with major affective disorders [20 unipolar (UP) depression and 22 BP disorder] were compared with 40 healthy controls on measures of attention and executive function. None of the patients were currently experiencing an episode of affective illness.
ResultsAs expected, both UP and BP patient groups showed significant neuropsychological impairments relative to controls. Significant differences in performance on executive function measures were also observed between UP and BP patients, even after the influence of attention had been taken into account. These impairments were not attributable to current levels of affective symptomatology or to medication.
ConclusionsA single neuropsychological dissociation appears to be present between UP and BP affective illness, with BP individuals showing a specific executive deficit that is independent of attention impairment on the Hayling Sentence Completion Test (HSCT).
Corrigendum
Corrigendum
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- 06 December 2006, p. 269
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Riese, H., Rosmalen, J. G. M., Ormel, J., Van Roon, A. M., Oldehinkel, A. J. & Rijsdijk, F. V. The genetic relationship between neuroticism and autonomic function in female twins. Psychological Medicine. Published online 9 November 2006. doi:10.1017/S0033291706009160.
Original Article
False memory and schizophrenia: evidence for gist memory impairment
- YUH-SHIOW LEE, LAI-SANG IAO, CHUNG-WEI LIN
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- 01 November 2006, pp. 559-567
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Background. In this study we examined patients' false memory, that is memory for a non-presented event, to search for a further source of converging evidence for the impairment of semantic memory in individuals with schizophrenia. In two experiments we compared the pattern of false memory created by the Deese–Roediger–McDermott (DRM) paradigm between individuals with schizophrenia and those of a normal control group.
Method. Experiment 1 tested participants on both recall and recognition of lists of semantically related words. Experiment 2 adopted the meaning recognition test, in addition to the standard recognition test, to assess the participants' gist memory.
Results. Individuals with schizophrenia performed worse than normal controls on both recall and recognition of studied words. The schizophrenia patients had higher rates of false recall and false recognition for semantically unrelated words than did the normal controls, suggesting an abnormal pattern of semantic activation in the former group. More importantly, no differences were found between the two groups with regard to false recall and false recognition of semantically related words. When the participants were tested for meaning recognition, however, the schizophrenia patients gave fewer ‘old’ responses to non-studied semantically related words than did the control group, indicating an impaired gist memory in schizophrenia patients.
Conclusions. When asked to consciously retrieve word lists, individuals with schizophrenia showed impairment not only in item-specific memory but also in gist memory. The pattern of results is consistent with the storage deficit view of semantic memory in schizophrenia.
A longitudinal study of personality and major depression in a population-based sample of male twins
- AYMAN H. FANOUS, MICHAEL C. NEALE, STEVEN H. AGGEN, KENNETH S. KENDLER
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- 04 April 2007, pp. 1163-1172
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Background
The relationship between personality and psychiatric illness is complex. It is not clear whether one directly causes the other.
MethodIn a population-based sample of male twins (n=3030), we attempted to predict major depression (MD) from neuroticism (N) and extraversion (E) and vice versa, to evaluate the causal, scar, state, and prodromal hypotheses. In a longitudinal, structural equation twin model, we decomposed the covariation between N and MD into (a) genetic and environmental factors that are common to both traits, as well as specific to each one and (b) direct causal effects of N at time 1 on subsequent MD, as well as between MD and subsequent N.
ResultsE was negatively correlated with lifetime and one-year prevalence of MD. N predicted the new onset of MD, and was predicted by both current and past MD. It did not predict the time to onset of MD. All of the covariation between N and MD was due to additive genetic and individual-specific environmental factors shared by both traits and a direct causal path between MD and N assessed later. No genetic factors were unique to either trait.
ConclusionsIn men, N may be a vulnerability factor for MD but does not cause it directly. However, MD may have a direct causal effect on N. The genetic overlap between N and MD in men may be greater than in women.
Can the 12-item General Health Questionnaire be used to measure positive mental health?
- YONGJIAN HU, SARAH STEWART-BROWN, LIZ TWIGG, SCOTT WEICH
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- 05 February 2007, pp. 1005-1013
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Background. Well-being is an important determinant of health and social outcomes. Measures of positive mental health states are needed for population-based research. The 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) has been widely used in many settings and languages, and includes positively and negatively worded items. Our aim was to test the hypothesis that the GHQ-12 assesses both positive and negative mental health and that these domains are independent of one another.
Method. Exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory (CFA) factor analyses were conducted using data from the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) and the Health Survey for England (HSE). Regression models were used to assess whether associations with individual and household characteristics varied across positive and negative mental health dimensions. We also explored higher-level variance in these measures, between electoral wards.
Results. We found a consistent, replicable factor structure in both datasets. EFA results indicated a two-factor solution, and CFA demonstrated that this was superior to a one-factor model. These factors correspond to ‘symptoms of mental disorder’ and ‘positive mental health’. Further analyses demonstrated independence of these factors in associations with age, gender, employment status, poor housing and household composition. Statistically significant ward-level variance was found for symptoms of mental disorder but not positive mental health.
Conclusions. The GHQ-12 measures both positive and negative aspects of mental health, and although correlated, these dimensions have some independence. The GHQ-12 could be used to measure positive mental health in population-based research.
Addendum
CORRIGENDUM
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- 05 July 2007, p. 1796
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Original Article
Prefrontal cortex dysfunction in patients with suicidal behavior
- AURELIE RAUST, FRÉDÉRIC SLAMA, FLAVIE MATHIEU, ISABELLE ROY, ALAIN CHENU, DIEGO KONCKE, DAMIEN FOUQUES, FABRICE JOLLANT, ERIC JOUVENT, PHILIPPE COURTET, MARION LEBOYER, FRANK BELLIVIER
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- 19 October 2006, pp. 411-419
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Background. Abnormal serotonergic neurotransmission has long been demonstrated in suicidal behavior. The dorsal and median raphe nuclei housing the main serotonergic cell bodies and the prefrontal cortex (PFC), particularly the ventral part innervated by the serotonergic system, have therefore been studied extensively in suicidal behavior research. However, only a few studies have described neuropsychological function impairment in suicidal patients. We investigated PFC-related neuropsychological function in patients with suicidal behavior, separating dorsolateral PFC (DLPFC)- and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC)-related functions.
Method. We compared 30 euthymic patients with suicidal behavior aged 18–65 years with 39 control subjects, for the following neuropsychological domains: global intellectual functioning, reward sensitivity, initiation, inhibition, and working memory. Patients and controls were compared by means of univariate and multivariate analyses, adjusting for age at interview, level of education and mood state at the time of evaluation. Trait impulsivity, measured with the Barratt Impulsivity Scale version 10 (BIS-10), was also included as a covariate in a subset of analyses.
Results. Multivariate comparisons demonstrated significant executive function deficits in patients with suicidal behavior. In particular, we observed impairment in visuospatial conceptualization (p<0·0001), spatial working memory (p=0·001), inhibition (Hayling B–A, p=0·04; go anticipations, p=0·01) and visual attention (or reading fluency) (p=0·002). Similar results were obtained following adjustment for motor impulsivity as a covariate, except for spatial working memory.
Conclusions. These deficits are consistent with prefrontal dysfunction in patients with suicidal behavior. Differentiation between DLPFC- and OFC-related neuropsychological functions showed no specific dysfunction of the orbitofrontal region in patients with suicidal behavior in our sample.
The role of perinatal problems in risk of co-morbid psychiatric and medical disorders in adulthood
- YOKO NOMURA, JEANNE BROOKS-GUNN, CHARLES DAVEY, JACOB HAM, WILLIAM P. FIFER
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- 02 May 2007, pp. 1323-1334
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Background
Perinatal problems may be associated with an increased risk for psychological and physical health problems in adulthood, although it is unclear which perinatal problems (low birthweight, preterm birth, low Apgar scores, and small head circumference), or what clusters of problems, are more likely to be associated with later health problems. It is also not known whether perinatal problems (singly or together) are associated with co-morbidity between psychological and physical health problems.
MethodA regional random sample (from Baltimore) of mothers and their children (n=1525) was followed from birth to adulthood (mean age 29 years). Perinatal conditions were measured at delivery. Psychological problems (depression and suicidal ideation) were measured with the General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28) and physical problems (asthma and hypertension) with the RAND-36 Health Status Inventory.
ResultsChildren with perinatal problems were generally at increased risk for depression, suicidal ideation and hypertension, and co-morbid depression and hypertension even after controlling for confounders. One possible underlying condition, preterm low birthweight (LBW), extracted by cluster analysis, considering all of the four perinatal problems, was associated with increased risk for psychological and physical health outcomes as well as co-morbidity of the two.
ConclusionsLBW, preterm birth and small head circumference singly increased the risk for both psychological and physical health problems, as well as co-morbid depression and hypertension, while low Apgar scores were only associated with psychological problems. Delineating different etiological processes, such as preterm LBW, considering various perinatal problems simultaneously, might be of benefit to understanding the fetal origin of adult illness and co-morbidity.
The long-term course of depressive disorders in the Lundby Study
- CECILIA MATTISSON, MATS BOGREN, VIBEKE HORSTMANN, POVL MUNK-JÖRGENSEN, PER NETTELBLADT
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- 19 February 2007, pp. 883-891
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Background. The Lundby Study is a longitudinal cohort study on a geographically defined population consisting of 3563 subjects. Information about episodes of different disorders was collected during field investigations in 1947, 1957, 1972 and in 1997. Interviews were carried out about current health and past episodes since the last investigation; for all subjects information was also collected from registers, case-notes and key informants. This paper describes the course and outcome of 344 subjects who had their first onset of depression during the follow-up.
Method. In this study individuals who had experienced their first episode of depression were followed up. Their course was studied with regard to recurrence of depression related to duration of follow-up, transition to other psychiatric disorders including alcohol disorders, as well as incidence and risk factors of suicide.
Results. Median age at first onset of depression was around 35 years for individuals followed up for 30–49 years. The recurrence rate was about 40% and varied from 17% to 76% depending on length of follow-up. Transition to diagnoses other than depression was registered in 21% of the total sample, alcohol disorders in 7% and bipolar disorder in 2%. Five per cent committed suicide; male gender and severity of depression were significant risk factors.
Conclusion. The low rates of recurrence and suicide suggest a better prognosis for community samples than for in- and out-patient samples.
Prognostic indices with brief and standard CBT for panic disorder: I. Predictors of outcome
- MICHAEL G. T. DOW, JUSTIN A. KENARDY, DEREK W. JOHNSTON, MICHELLE G. NEWMAN, C. BARR TAYLOR, AILEEN THOMSON
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- 10 May 2007, pp. 1493-1502
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Background
Although the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) in the management of panic disorder (PD) is now well established, there have been few studies of predictors of outcome with this patient group using clinical effectiveness trial data, a hypothesis-testing model, and a dependent measure of clinically significant change.
MethodThe data for this study came from a randomized controlled trial of three forms of CBT delivery for PD with and without agoraphobia (two 6-week CBT programmes, one of which was computer assisted, and one therapist-directed 12-week CBT programme), comprising a total of 186 patients across two sites. Based on previous related research, five hypothesized predictors of post-treatment and follow-up outcome were identified and examined, using a series of bivariate and multivariate analyses.
ResultsThe results in general supported the hypotheses. Strength of blood/injury fears, age of initial onset of panic symptoms, co-morbid social anxieties and degree of agoraphobic avoidance were predictive of both measures of post-treatment outcome. Degree of residual social difficulties and the continued use of anxiolytics at post-treatment were also shown to predict poor outcome at the 6-month follow-up. However, strength of continuing dysfunctional agoraphobic cognitions by the end of active treatment did not predict outcome at follow-up for the sample as a whole.
ConclusionsThe identification of consistent predictors of outcome with CBT has many clinical and research benefits. As CBT, however, is being delivered increasingly in a variety of brief formats, further research is required to identify moderators of response to these ‘non-standard’ treatment formats.
Genetic and environmental factors affecting self-esteem from age 14 to 17: a longitudinal study of Finnish twins
- ANU RAEVUORI, DANIELLE M. DICK, ANNA KESKI-RAHKONEN, LEA PULKKINEN, RICHARD J. ROSE, AILA RISSANEN, JAAKKO KAPRIO, RICHARD J. VIKEN, KARRI SILVENTOINEN
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- 31 May 2007, pp. 1625-1633
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Background
We analysed genetic and environmental influences on self-esteem and its stability in adolescence.
MethodFinnish twins born in 1983–1987 were assessed by questionnaire at ages 14 (n=4132 twin individuals) and 17 years (n=3841 twin individuals). Self-esteem was measured using the Rosenberg global self-esteem scale and analyzed using quantitative genetic methods for twin data in the Mx statistical package.
ResultsThe heritability of self-esteem was 0·62 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0·56–0·68] in 14-year-old boys and 0·40 (95% CI 0·26–0·54) in 14-year-old girls, while the corresponding estimates at age 17 were 0·48 (95% CI 0·39–0·56) and 0·29 (95% CI 0·11–0·45). Rosenberg self-esteem scores at ages 14 and 17 were modestly correlated (r=0·44 in boys, r=0·46 in girls). In boys, the correlation was mainly (82%) due to genetic factors, with residual co-variation due to unique environment. In girls, genetic (31%) and common environmental (61%) factors largely explained the correlation.
ConclusionsIn adolescence, self-esteem seems to be differently regulated in boys versus girls. A key challenge for future research is to identify environmental influences contributing to self-esteem during adolescence and determine how these factors interact with genetic influences.
Verbal self-monitoring in psychosis: a non-replication
- DAGMAR VERSMISSEN, ILSE JANSSEN, LOUISE JOHNS, PHILIP McGUIRE, MARJAN DRUKKER, JOOST A CAMPO, INEZ MYIN-GERMEYS, JIM VAN OS, LYDIA KRABBENDAM
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- 25 January 2007, pp. 569-576
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Background. Current cognitive models of positive symptoms of psychosis suggest a mechanism of defective self-monitoring that may be relevant for (i) expression of psychosis at the clinical and subclinical level and (ii) transmission of risk for psychosis.
Method. The study included 41 patients with psychosis, 39 non-psychotic first-degree relatives, 39 subjects from the general population with a high level of positive psychotic experiences, and 52 healthy controls with an average level of positive psychotic experiences. All subjects performed a speech attribution task in which single adjectives with a complimentary or derogatory meaning were presented to them on a computer screen; subjects had to read aloud and determine the source (self/other/uncertain) of the words they heard. In some of the trials, participants’ speech was distorted, in others they heard someone else's voice (alien feedback condition) that could also be distorted.
Results. No large or significant differences in errors in the speech attribution task were found between the four groups in any of the conditions.
Conclusions. Contrary to previous work using this paradigm, this study found no evidence that either expression of psychosis or risk for psychosis was associated with impairment in self-monitoring.
Hippocampal 1H MRS in patients with bipolar disorder taking valproate versus valproate plus quetiapine
- MURAD ATMACA, HANEFI YILDIRIM, HUSEYIN OZDEMIR, ERKIN OGUR, ERTAN TEZCAN
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- 09 November 2006, pp. 121-129
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Background. No study to date has examined the effects of mood stabilizer alone and the combination of mood stabilizer and atypical antipsychotic, quetiapine, on hippocampal neurochemical markers of bipolar disordered patients concurrently. We therefore undertook a proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) study of drug-free patients with bipolar disorder (drug-free group), patients undergoing valproate treatment (valproate group), patients administered valproate+quetiapine (valprote+quetiapine group) and healthy controls, focusing on the in vivo neuroanatomy of the hippocampus.
Method. Thirty patients from the Firat University School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and 10 healthy controls gave written informed consent to participate in the study. The patients and controls underwent proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (1H MRSI), and measures of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), choline-containing compounds (CHO), and creatine+phosphocreatine (CRE) in hippocampal regions were obtained.
Results. The drug-free patients had significantly lower NAA/CRE and NAA/CHO ratios compared with the valproate and valproate+quetiapine groups and the healthy controls. The lower NAA/CRE and NAA/CHO ratios remained statistically significant even after covarying for age or whole brain volume compared with the valproate and valproate+quetiapine groups and healthy controls. In post hoc comparisons, a significant difference was found between the valproate+quetiapine group and the valproate group only with regard to NAA/CHO.
Conclusion. Our findings suggest that valproate has a neuroprotective effect. In post hoc comparisons, a significant difference was found between the valproate+quetiapine and the valproate group with regard to NAA/CHO, indicating that the addition of quetiapine further increases the level of NAA and provides an additional neuroprotective effect.