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Biomedical subjects

A Rifkin

Publications and source records attributed to A Rifkin.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1976

Prophylaxis of affective disorders. Current status of knowledge.

A review of all properly controlled studies clearly indicates that lithium carbonate is prophylactic for mania in bipolar patients; it is suggestive of prophylaxis for depression in both bipolar and unipolar patients. Studies are outlined that would clarify lithium carbonate's prophylactic effect for depression in these two patient groups. Continuation therapy with antidepressants reduces incidences of recurrence in unipolar depressives. The only controlled study indicates that tricyclic antidepressants may have prophylactic effect in unipolar patients. This finding needs confirmation. Data are insufficient for conclusions on prophylactic treatment for schizoaffective disorders.

Antidepressive Agents↗
PubMed1976

Neurologic soft signs in schizophrenia and character disorders. Organicity in schizophrenia with premorbid asociality and emotionally unstable character disorders.

Previous studies indicated that for two subgroups of patients, schizophrenics with premorbid asociality (SPA) and individuals with emotionally unstable character disorders (EUCD), central nervous system damage may have etiologic significance. It was hypothesized that these two patient groups would also have an increased number of neurologic soft signs. The relationship of neurologic examination, tests of auditory-visual integration, and intelligence quotient, and diagnoses was studied for 350 patients. Tests of reliability and persistence for all observed signs were performed. The EUCD and SPA groups had increased evidence of neurologic soft signs. Differences in patterns of IQ scores also suggest that different forms of brain damage may be present in these two groups. When the two groups were removed from the larger patient sample, those patients with other types of schizophrenia and character disorder did not exhibit evidence of neurologic impairment. This study of neurologic soft signs adds to the validity of considering SPA and EUCD as separate diagnostic entities.

Central Nervous System Diseases↗
PubMed1975

A study of abrupt lithium withdrawal.

Twelve patients were abruptly switched from lithium to placebo as part of a double-blind cross-over study. In contrast to other drugs effective in mood disorders, lithium produced no withdrawal syndrome.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

Very high dosage vs standard dosage fluphenazine in schizophrenia. A double-blind study of nonchronic treatment-refractory patients.

Previous work with chronic schizophrenic patients and a pilot study with nonchronic treatment-refractory schizophrenic patients indicated that very high doses of fluphenazine hydrochloride (1,200 mg/day) have a greater antipsychotic effect than do standard doses. Increased side-effects were not reported. In a double-blind six-week random assignment study, 18 nonchronic treatment-refractory patients received the very high dose and 13 the standard dose. The standard-dose treated patients had greater improvement on a variety of measures. Analysis of Inpatient Multidimensional Psychiatric Scale scores indicate that some patients taking very high doses had akinesia, and extrapyramidal side-effect that in part accounted for their inferior response.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

Atypical signs of relapse in affective disorders.

The authors have observed that patients with previous well documented evidence of affective illness can have an atypical relapse of depression precipitated by environmental or interpersonal stress. These patients present with complaints centered around problems resulting from current life stress. They deny sad mood and resist the idea that they are having recurrence of depression. It is suggested that the presence of anhedonia be used as a clinical guide to differentiate "understandable" preoccupation with reality problems from emergent depressive relapse. Patients with atypical relapses respond to antidepressants with a disappearance of anhedonia and an ability to place realistic problems in their proper perspective. Cases are presented illustrating this phenomena.

Adult↗