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Biomedical subjects

B Graber

Publications and source records attributed to B Graber.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1981

Difference in brain densities between chronic alcoholic and normal control patients.

The densities of the brains of 11 chronic alcoholics were compared with those of 11 age-matched normal control subjects. Densities were determined from the density numbers generated by computerized tomography at three levels of the brain-the highest level of the lateral ventricles and the next two higher levels-with adjustments made to control for possible artifacts in the data. The advantage of the dominant hemisphere over the nondominant hemisphere was lessened in alcoholics.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Structural brain deficits in schizophrenia. Identification by computed tomographic scan density measurements.

Research has suggested the presence of brain damage as a cause or concomitant of chronic schizophrenia. The most recent research in this area has been the identification of abnormalities in schizophrenia by computed tomographic (CT) scans. A study was done to investigate localized changes in CT scan density numbers in the brains of schizophrenic patients, as opposed to the brains in normal control subjects. Twenty-four normal subjects and 23 schizophrenic patients were tested with CT scans. Density measurements in each area of the brain (left, right, anterior and posterior) were compared to three separate CT scan levels. Of six measurements of anterior left-hemisphere density, it was found that five showed lower density in schizophrenic brains, as compared with normal brains. Of the remaining 18 measurements that evaluated other areas of the brain, only three differentiated between schizophrenic patients and normal subjects. The results support the hypothesis that there are primary structural deficits in some schizophrenic patients, and these deficits are centered in and around the anterior area of the left (dominant) hemisphere. The results also demonstrated further implications.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed1981

Time factors and orgasmic response.

A retrospective review of data from a 619-member female sample presenting for treatment of sexual dysfunction was conducted to determine if foreplay and intromission duration variables were related to sexual dysfunction. Patients were assigned to coitally anorgasmic and noncoitally anorgasmic, coitally anorgasmic and noncoitally orgasmic, or coitally and noncoitally orgasmic categories on the basis of interview data collected by a nurse-physician team. Duration measure differences are not found between diagnostic categories. However, significant differences are reported for the duration measures between status of relationship groupings: married, single, divorced, or cohabitating (p less than 0.05). Data from the sexually dysfunctional sample are compared with data from the surveys of Kinsey, Fisher, and Hunt. The importance of extended foreplay and intromission in enhancing female coital orgasmic response is not supported.

Female↗
PubMed1981

Effects of long-term neuroleptic use on brain density.

Mean density values of the brain in four quadrants were determined for a sample of 16 chronic schizophrenic patients who had received between 0 and 3,000 grams of lifetime neuroleptics. Significant correlations were found between the measures of density in the posterior quadrants of both hemispheres and total lifetime medication usage. Correlations with anterior density were insignificant. Corrections for age and current severity of the disorder (as measured by the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale) did not alter the significant finding. Possible explanations for the results are discussed as well as their possible implications.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed1981

Circumvaginal musculature and female sexual function: the past, present and future.

The circumvaginal musculature had been of interest to sex researchers and therapists dating back at least as far as Dickinson and Van de Velde. Until recently, much of the information in this area was anecdotal and theoretical. Recent advances in instrumentation and neurophysiology are beginning to make advances in a scientific understanding of this area. This paper presents a review of past and present work in this area and uses this information to make some theoretical speculations.

Female↗
PubMed1981

Research criteria for male erectile failure.

Although the spectrum of psychosexual disorders is rather broad, there is a specific subgroup of sexual function disorders which has recently received wide attention due to the increased treatment success reported with the use of primarily behavioral means. Classification in this area, however, has been quite variable making replication of studies quite difficult. Although this is somewhat improved in the new psychiatric nomenclature DSM III, that nomenclature is still not physiologically based and does not allow the specificity necessary for replication of studies for research. We present here a nosology for the sexual function disorders based on physiology and with the capability of specificity necessary for replication. It is adaptable to the current edition of DSM III.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Demystifying "sex therapy".

A mystique has grown around sex therapy in the belief that "sex therapists" possess some specialized skills unavailable to the otherwise competent psychiatrists or trained psychotherapists. The use of movies, gadgetry, and neologisms such as "sexological examination" aid greatly in creating this impression. Careful evaluation of a sexual function disorder requires evaluation of four areas: physical, intrapsychic, interpersonal, and learning. There is nothing in the "sexual therapist's" armamentarium that makes him more of an expert in any of these four except the last. However, the gadgetry and gimmickry attached to sex therapy is used to accomplish the basic principle of desensitization. There is no systematic evidence yet available that demonstrates that any particular set of films, exercises, drills, etc. are more or less successful in accomplishing this task. Specific skill training is the only area that might require additional postgraduate education for the trained psychotherapist who wants to treat diagnosed sexual function disorders.

Behavior Therapy↗
PubMed1981

Factor analysis of the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery: IV. Intelligence and Pathognomonic Scales.

This paper examined the factor structure of the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery Scales Intelligence and Pathognomonic. The subjects for the study were 270 patients, including 90 normal patients, 90 psychiatric patients, and 90 neurological patients. A principal factor analysis with communalities on the diagonal and iterated to the most ideal solution was used, followed by rotation to the simplest factor structure. The analysis yielded 4 subfactors for each of the two Luria scales. On the Intelligence scale, factors were general verbal intelligence, arithmetic, a frontal verbal factor, and a right frontal sequencing factor. Analysis of the Pathognomonic scale yielded a simple perceptual/expressive factor, a construction speed factor, a basic visual/spatial factor, and a higher cognitive factor. These results were generally in accord with Luria's theories.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

A circumvaginal muscle nomogram: a new diagnostic tool for evaluation of female sexual dysfunction.

Female orgasmic capacity was previously shown to vary significantly with the condition of the pubococcygeus muscle as evaluated by an extensive digital examination and readings from a perineometer, a pressure sensitive device inserted into the vagina. Subsequently, a discriminant analysis was applied to 6 types of perineometer readings to determine if an optimal combination of readings could alone serve as an accurate evaluation of muscle condition. Initial strength resting and initial strength contracting predicted "good" versus "bad" muscle with 73.4% accuracy. A nomogram is presented for clinical use.

Female↗
PubMed1980

Cerebral ventricular size and neuropsychological impairment in young chronic schizophrenics. Measurement by the standardized Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery.

The relationship between size of cerebral ventricles in chronic schizophrenics and performance on a comprehensive neuropsychological battery, the Standardized Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery, was investigated. Ventricular size was determined by using a planimeter to measure the size of the lateral ventricles and the ventricular body, if present, on the computerized tomographic (CT) scan image that showed the largest lateral ventricles. This number was divided by the size of the brain as a whole on the same image of the CT scan to yield a ventricular brain ratio. This ratio was then correlated with the scores on the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery. Eight of the 14 scales of the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery correlated significantly at the .05 level with the ventricular brain ratio in a sample of 42 chronic schizophrenics with an average age of 32.3 years. Overall, there was a multiple correlation of .72 between the ventricular brain ratio and Luria scores. The overall ventricular brain ratio for the schizophrenics was significantly above that found in normal populations. Changes in the size of the ventricles in schizophrenics appear to have significant correlates with measures of neuropsychological performance.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Factor analysis of the Luria-Nebraska neuropsychological battery. II: Visual, receptive, expressive and reading scales.

In recent years, Golden and his associates have devised and presented a standardized version of Luria's neuropsychological examination. One of the main advantages of this battery over Luria's more qualitative approach is the possibility of examining a number of the theoretical statements made by Luria concerning the relationship of basic psychological skills which make up the tests in each of ten major areas of neuropsychological function. The present paper is the second in a series attempting to examine some of the interrelationships among items on the standardized battery and compare these to Luria's theoretical structures. To do this, the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery was administered to a mixed neurological, psychiatric and normal population of 272 individuals. From the results of these tests, principle axis factor analyses (with communalities on the diagonal) were done on four scales (Visual, Expressive, Receptive, Reading) and obliquely rotated to the simplest solution. The resulting factors were found generally to conform to the factors predicted by Luria's theory. The interpretation of each factor found is discussed, as well as its implication.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Factor analysis of the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery III: Writing, arithmetic, memory, left, and right.

In recent years, Golden and his associates have devised and presented a standardized version of Luria's neuropsychological examination. One of the main advantages of this battery over Luria's more qualitative approach is the possibility of examining a number of the theoretical statements made by Luria concerning the relationship of basic psychological skills which make up the tests in each of ten major areas of neuropsychological function. The present paper is the third in a series which examined some of the interrelationships among items on the standardized battery and then compared them to Luria's theoretical structures. To do this, the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery was administered to a mixed neurological, psychiatric and normal population of 270 individuals. From the results of these tests, principle axis factor analyses (with communalities on the diagonal) were done on five scales (Writing, Memory, Arithmetic, Left, and Right) and obliquely rotated to the simplest solution. The resulting factors were found, in general, to conform to the factors predicted by Luria's theory. The interpretation of each factor found is discussed, as well as its implication.

Adult↗