Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

B Saletu

Publications and source records attributed to B Saletu.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Therapy for sleep disorders in depressives.

The treatment of sleep disorders in depressives depends basically on the nature of the underlying affective disorder (endogenous, organic, psychogenic or constitutional depression). Therapeutic approaches may be categorized in: psychological, somatic and pharmacological ones. The former include psychotherapies and behavioral treatments which are useful in psychogenic and constitutional depressions with sleep-onset insomnia but may also be supportive in endogenous depressions. The basic therapeutic factor common to all is anxiety reduction. Somatic therapies, such as ECT, total, partial and REM-sleep deprivation, sleep schedule shifts and bright light (EL) are utilized mostly in endogenous depressions. Sleep laboratory findings and different hypotheses concerning the mode of action of these alternative treatment methods are reviewed. Somnopolygraphic, psychometric, and neuroendocrinological data of our comparative trial with BL and partial sleep deprivation in normals and patients are discussed. The similarity of changes after BL, antidepressants and lithium points to a chronobiological factor in the pathogenesis and treatment of affective disorders. Electrosleep is still controversial, hydro-, ergo- and physical therapy are supportive therapies and as such indicated in all depressions. Exercise, fatigue and nutritional factors may influence sleep. Psychopharmacological treatment has to be regarded as the most important therapeutic approach for sleep disorders in depressives. Antidepressants are the drugs of choice for most patients. Based on their effects on sleep-induction, -maintenance, and -architecture and REM measures, one may differentiate at least two subtypes: sedative antidepressants of the amitriptyline type and nonsedative antidepressants of the desipramine type. Bedtime infusions of antidepressants may have sleep promoting properties, which was objectivated by an EEG spectral analysis during infusion and subsequently by all night sleep studies. Measures indicative of therapeutic outcome are still controversial. Tranquilizers, hypnotics, neuroleptics and serotonin precursors are utilized if the antidepressants alone do not ameliorate insomnia. However, as evidence of a shared diathesis of origin of depressive and anxiety disorders is building up, benzodiazepines are increasingly prescribed as monotherapy too. Finally, sleep laboratory data concerning the hypnotic properties of a pharmacological 80 mg doses of melatonin are demonstrated.

Depressive Disorder↗
PubMed1986

Evaluation of encephalotropic and psychotropic properties of gabapentin in man by pharmaco-EEG and psychometry.

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study the encephalotropic and psychotropic properties of gabapentin - a new gaba-analogue with anticonvulsant and antispastic properties penetrating the blood brain barrier easily - were studied in 10 normal subjects by means of quantitative pharmaco-EEG and psychometric analyses. They received randomized and in weekly intervals single oral doses of 50 mg, 100 mg, 200 mg and 400 mg gabapentin as well as placebo. EEG recordings and evaluation of pulse, blood pressure and side effects were carried out after 0, 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 hours; psychometric tests were done at the same times except for the first hour. Computer-assisted spectral analysis of the EEG showed moderate though significant central effects of gabapentine in doses of 200-400 mg as compared with placebo, which were maximally pronounced in the 2nd hour post drug. These alterations were generally characterized by an attenuation of total power, augmentation of delta and theta activity and a decrease of alpha activity indicating CNS-inhibitory properties. Only at the late hours did the type of changes shift towards a vigilance-promoting one. Beta activity showed alternating changes. Psychometric and psychophysiological evaluations demonstrated subtle psychotropic effects as compared with placebo characterized mostly by an improvement in concentration, numerical memory, complex reaction and performance in the alphabetical reaction test while performance variability increased as well. Subjectively experienced well-being changed dose-dependently. CFF decreased after 100 mg as did pupil size after 50-200 mg. Evaluation of pulse, blood pressure and side effects demonstrated good tolerability of the drug.

Acetates↗
PubMed1986

Early clinical pharmacological trials with a novel partial benzodiazepine agonist/antagonist Ro 17-1812 using pharmaco-EEG and psychometry.

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study the encephalotropic and psychotropic properties of a new partial benzodiazepine agonist Ro 17-1812 were investigated as compared to the pure agonist diazepam utilizing quantitative EEG and psychometric analysis as well as clinical observations. Ten normal volunteers received randomized (latin square) and at weekly intervals single oral doses of placebo, 0.05 mg, 0.1 mg and 0.2 mg Ro 17-1812 and 10 mg diazepam as reference drug. EEG recordings, psychometric tests and evaluation of pulse, blood pressure and side effects were carried out at the hours 0,1,2,3,4, and 6. Computer-assisted spectral-analysis of the EEG demonstrated after 10 mg diazepam a typical "anxiolytic" pharmaco-EEG profile characterized by an increase of beta activity, decrease of alpha activity and acceleration of the centroid of the total activity. Total power tended to decrease while delta activity tended to increase, although only in the resting condition. Ro 17-1812 induced in the vigilance controlled recordings a similar profile thereby exhibiting tranquilizing properties. However, in the resting condition the most consistent change was an increase of delta/theta activity along with a decrease of alpha activity, whereas only in the higher dosage range was beta activity also augmented. These data indicate a selective sedation after the novel partial agonist but are also reminiscent of changes seen after neuroleptic drugs. Dose/treatment efficacy calculations demonstrated 10 mg diazepam as the most CNS-effective drug followed closely by 0.2 mg Ro 17-1812, 0.1 and 0.05 mg while-placebo induced the least changes. Time-efficacy calculations showed a peak effect after 10 mg diazepam in the 1st hour with a gentle decline up to the 4th hour and thereafter again an increase (active metabolites), while the peak of Ro 17-1812 was consistently found in the 2nd hour with a steady decline thereafter as the encephalotropic effect in the 6th hour was less marked than in the 1st hour. Psychometric investigations showed the same time course of both compounds, with the most psychoactivity observed after 0.2 mg Ro 17-1812 and the least after placebo. The fact that the partial agonist induced more decrement in the noopsyche, but specifically in the thymopsyche, of the normal volunteers than the pure agonist may indicate a lower dependency risk of the former than the latter. Evaluation of pulse and blood pressure showed no clinically relevant findings.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Quantitative EEG: investigation in children with end stage renal disease before and after haemodialysis.

Changes in brain function of 9 children (6 males and 3 females) ages 7 to 14 years (mean 12 years) with end stage renal disease (ESRD) were investigated before and after haemodialysis treatment, utilizing computer assisted spectral analysis of the scalp-recorded EEG. A control group of age-matched healthy children was studied as well. Statistical analyses demonstrated that ESRD children exhibited more Delta and Theta activity, less Beta activity, a slower dominant frequency of the Alpha activity as well as a slower centroid of the total activity before treatment than the controls. These findings suggest a deterioration of vigilance as characterized by Head. Haemodialysis decreased slow activity and increased Alpha and Beta activity, thereby inducing an improvement of brain function.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

[Pupillometry in psychopharmacologic experiments].

Considering data of various clinical pharmacological studies, in which computer-assisted pupillometry was utilized, we investigated the following questions: What are the effects of drugs of 7 psychopharmacological classes on the human pupil? Do dose-efficacy and time-efficacy curves based on pupillary variables provide cues about pharmacodynamic properties of psychotropic substances? Is there a relationship between pupillometric and critical flicker frequency measures? Is there a relation between pupillometric and quantitative electroencephalographic changes? Are there correlations between static pupillometric and pharmacokinetic (e.g. blood levels) variables? Our investigations demonstrated that static pupillometry-utilized in the described manner and under certain experimental conditions - provide valuable information about effects of psychotropic drugs on the central and autonomous nervous system.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

[Computer-assisted static and light-evoked dynamic pupillometry in psychosomatic patients].

Microprocessor-assisted pupillometry was used in this psychophysiological study to investigate the pupillary diameter (static pupillometry) and visual-evoked pupillary reactions (dynamic pupillometry) in psychosomatic patients (duodenal ulcers, ulcerative colitis, cardiac phobia, anorexia nervosa, bronchial asthma) as compared with age-and sex-matched normal controls. Statistical analyses including multivariate methods demonstrated interesting differences between psychosomatic patients and normal controls, as well as between various subtypes of psychosomatic disorders and elucidated also the influence of a 6 weeks' course of psychotherapy. The data give valuable clues to symptom/syndrome-specific psychophysiological reaction types, which may be of considerable relevance for the characterization of psychosomatic diseases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

[Therapy of organic psychosyndromes of cerebrovascular origin with a vasoactive drug combination].

Concrete cross-sectional studies of the organic brain syndrome, carried out periodically, attempt to establish for the parameters evaluation of substrate damage--and different noopsychopathological rating-scales for the measurement of brain capacity impairment. Beyond the level of the purely correlative-statistical point of view of the relationship between parameter and score changes, demanding for a quantitative model which could provide not only a description, but also an explanation for such a relationship. The fact that there can only be a question here of a "quantitative causality" embracing non-specificity of toxic substances and relative to acute and chronic diffuse organic brain syndromes. It results, that quantitative causality meets the requirements of an exponential function model and that one can validate such models through correlative-statistical methods. This has already been carried out by Ball and Taylor.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Memory dysfunction and vigilance: neurophysiological and psychopharmacological aspects.

Human brain function as measured by the computer-assisted spectral analyzed electroencephalogram (EEG) shows significant alterations in normal and pathological aging characterized by an increase of delta and theta activity and by a decrease of alpha and alpha-adjacent beta activity as well as by a slowing of the dominant frequency. These changes are indicative of deficits in the vigilance-regulatory systems. By the term vigilance we understand the availability and grade of organization of man's adaptive behavior, which in turn is dependent of the dynamic state of the total neural activity. An impairment of vigilance was found to be significantly correlated with the clinical symptomatology of the organic brain syndrome (OBS) as well as with mnestic performance deficits. Elderly subjects with bad memory exhibit slower activity and less alpha and alpha-adjacent beta activity than those with good memory. This was found to be true for both the time of acquisition and recall. Antihypoxidotic/nootropic drugs, such as the ergotalkaloids dihydroergotoxine and nicergoline, vincamine-alkaloids, piracetam, aniracetam, etiracetam, piridoxilate and others, induce interestingly just oppositional changes in human brain function, thereby improving vigilance. Other methods for proving therapeutic efficacy in man, like experimentally induced hypoxic hypoxidosis and the reversible alcoholic OBS, are discussed.

Alpha Rhythm↗
PubMed1985

Double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical, psychometric and neurophysiological investigations with oxiracetam in the organic brain syndrome of late life.

The therapeutic efficacy and safety of oxiracetam (ISF 2522), a new nootropic cyclic GABA derivative, were investigated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 40 patients with organic brain syndrome in late life. The psychopathology was characterized by memory deficits, intellectual dysfunction, lack of drive, and disturbance of affectivity. Patients were randomly assigned to a 4-week treatment with either 2 X 400 mg oxiracetam capsules t.i.d. or identical placebo capsules in the same dosing schedule. Evaluation of the psychopathology and side effects was carried out at weeks 0, 1 and 4; laboratory tests (hematology, blood chemistry and urinalysis), a battery of psychometric tests and quantitative EEG investigations were done at weeks 0 and 4. In the oxiracetam group a slight but significant improvement in global symptomatology was observed within 1 week, with further improvement after 4 weeks. In the placebo group, an improvement was seen only in the 4th week. Evaluation of the detailed psychopathology by means of the Sandoz clinical assessment geriatric scale (SCAG) showed in the oxiracetam group significant improvements in loss of appetite and vertigo after 1 week and in short-term memory, anxiety, emotional lability, fatigue, loss of appetite and vertigo after 4 weeks. In contrast, not a single item improved significantly during placebo treatment. Although the differences in SCAG scores between the two groups failed to reach statistical significance, the overall trend towards improvement was significantly better in the oxiracetam group. The tolerability of the drug was good.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Classification and determination of cerebral bioavailability of fluoxetine: pharmacokinetic, pharmaco-EEG, and psychometric analyses.

In a double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over study, the pharmacokinetic, encephalotropic, and psychotropic properties of fluoxetine were investigated in 8 normal volunteers. Subjects received in randomized order, at 2-week intervals, single oral doses of placebo and 30, 60, and 75 mg of fluoxetine. Data were obtained at baseline and 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 hours after drug administration. There was a dose-dependent rise in plasma levels up to the 4th to 6th hour, followed by a slow decline, consistent with the reported long half-life. Digital computer period EEG analysis showed only mild encephalotropic effects of fluoxetine compared with placebo. The EEG changes, especially in the vigilance-controlled recordings, were similar to those seen after antidepressants of the desipramine type; changes in resting EEGs after the highest dose resembled those seen after imipramine-like drugs. Maximal CNS efficacy occurred between the 8th and 10th hours postdrug. The hysteresis between peak blood levels and maximal pharmacodynamic effects suggests formation of an active metabolite. Psychometric investigations showed behavioral changes after fluoxetine that are known to occur after the administration of antidepressants to normal subjects. The drug was well tolerated.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

On acute and chronic CNS effects of antidepressants in normals: neurophysiological, behavioral and pharmacokinetic studies with pirlindol.

In a double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over study the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of acutely and chronically administered prilindol--a new antidepressant possessing both catecholamine-uptake and MAO-inhibitory properties--were investigated in ten normal healthy volunteers. Each subject had a treatment period of two weeks with 3 X 75 mg pirlindol daily and another period of two weeks with placebo. A treatment-free inverval of one week was introduced in between. For comparison purposes a single dosis of 300 mg pirlindol was given as well. Blood level determination, quantitative EEG recordings, psychometric analyses and evaluation of pulse, blood pressure and side effects were carried out at hrs 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 after the administration of one single dosis of 75 mg and 300 mg pirlindol, after one week's and two week's chronic administration of 3 X 75 mg pirlindol, as well as after one additional superimposed dosage of 75 mg and 225 mg on days 8 and 15 of chronic treatment, respectively. Pharmacokinetic analyses by HPLC method with fluorescence detection demonstrated a dose-dependent rapid rise in plasma concentrations peaking in the 1st hr and declining rapidly thereafter (t1/2 TERM = 3 hrs). Computer-assisted spectral analysis of the EEG demonstrated after single doses of 75 mg pirlindol only slight and after 300 mg marked changes in brain activity characterized after the latter by an increase of slow, a decrease of alpha and an increase of beta activity (imipramine-type profile). After one week treatment with 3 X 75 pirlindol, and more so after a superimposed dosage of 75 mg, a significant decrease of delta and increase of alpha activity and slow beta activity occurred (desipramine-type profile). Surprisingly, after two weeks of pirlindol treatment CNS changes were again less marked, suggesting adaptive phenomena. Psychometric analysis demonstrated significant changes after both acute and chronic pirlindol with the latter somewhat superior to the former, as on day 15 a significant improvement of concentration, cognitive function and complex reaction was noted along with a decrease in critical flicker frequency, increase of the total score of the affectivity polarity profile and increase of skin conductance. Time-efficacy calculations demonstrated the pharmacodynamic peak effect in the 4th-6th hr. The time lag between kinetic and dynamic data is discussed. Evaluation of blood pressure, pulse rate and side effects demonstrated good tolerability of pirlindol.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

[Effect of nootropic drugs on normal and disturbed sleep of the elderly: controlled studies with pyridoxilate and street noise].

The effect of the nootropic drug, piridoxilate on normal and on exogenously (by traffic noise) disturbed sleep and awakening quality was investigated in a double-blind placebo-controlled study. 10 elderly subjects with a mean age of 62 years spent 13 nights in the sleep laboratory: 2 adaptation nights, 1 baseline night, 3 drug nights (placebo, 300 and 600 mg piridoxilate), as well as 2 drug nights with nocturnal traffic noise (placebo and 600 mg piridoxilate) and the subsequent wash-out nights. Polysomnographic recordings (including EEG, EMG and EOG) were carried out between 10:30 p.m. and 6.00 a.m. Traffic noise was pre-recorded at a busy Viennese street and presented continuously by a loudspeaker with a sound pressure level at the ear of between 68 and 83 dB (A) [mean 75.6 dB (A)]. In the morning the subjects completed a sleep questionnaire for the subjective evaluation of their quality of sleep and awakening. Thereafter objective awakening quality was measured by a psychometric test battery. Piridoxilate did not induce any significant changes in objective and subjective sleep variables. Nocturnal traffic noise produced a decrease in total sleep time and sleep efficiency, an increase in wakefulness and drowsiness (stage 1), as well as a decrease in REM and deep sleep stages, the last-mentioned being of statistical significance. Subjectively, the elderly subjects reported a deterioration in sleep quality due to traffic noise, an increase in middle and late insomnia, as well as a deterioration in awakening quality (dizziness, tiredness, headaches). Piridoxilate did not ameliorate these sleep disturbances.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗
PubMed1984

[Duration of spiral after-effects in psychosomatic patients (a psychophysiologic study and analysis of data using multivariate procedures)].

In a psychophysiological study the spiral after-effect, as measured by means of the Archimedes spiral, was investigated in 182 patients with psychosomatic disorders including duodenal ulcers, ulcerative colitis, anorexia nervosa, asthma and heart neurosis and compared with the results obtained in a control group of healthy volunteers (n = 30). Using multivariate data analysis it was possible to divide the total group of psychosomatic patients into various different subgroups which parallelled the subdivision from the clinical point of view. Moreover, the objectivation of the influence of psychotherapy lasting for 6 weeks on the duration of the after-effect was shown by this technique. These results suggest that the determination of the duration of the spiral after-effect may be of value in clinical psychodiagnostics.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

[Clinical psychodiagnosis using psychophysiologic procedures].

The present paper presents several new psychophysiological test methods and measures, which have been developed by the authors for utilization in the field of psychopathology and psychopharmacology. The main advantage of these new techniques seems to lie in the fact, that control and evaluation procedures are microprocessor-assisted which ensures objectivity, reliability and validity. The multidimensionality, e.g. the possibility to concomitantly evaluate several variables at the same time, and the economics, e.g. the short time effort involved in completing the tests, are further advantages. By means of the newly developed techniques several sensitive measures may be obtained which are of great value in the diagnostic process as well as in the assessment of drug effects in clinical psychopharmacology.

Arousal↗
PubMed1984

Classification and determination of pharmacodynamics of a new antihypoxidotic drug, vinconate, by pharmaco-EEG and psychometry.

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study the encephalotropic and psychotropic properties of both orally and intravenously administered doses of vinconate (OC 340)--a new vincamine analogue--were studied in 10 elderly subjects in their sixties by means of quantitative EEG and psychometric analyses. They received at weekly intervals randomized single oral doses of placebo, 40 mg, 80 mg and 160 mg vinconate orally as well as placebo and 30 mg vinconate intravenously. EEG recordings and the monitoring of blood pressure, heart rate and side effects were carried out at the hours 0, 1, 2, 4 and 6. Psychometric tests were performed at the hours 0, 2, 4 and 6. Computer-assisted spectral analysis of the EEG showed a significant CNS effect of vinconate as compared with placebo characterized by a decrease of delta activity, increase of alpha and specifically of alpha-adjacent slow beta activity as well as an acceleration of the centroid of the total activity. Such changes were described previously by us after several other antihypoxidotics and are indicative of improvement in vigilance in the sense of Head (Br. J. Psychol., 14, 125-147). The encephalotropic effect was most pronounced after 160 mg vinconate p.o. followed by 80 mg and 40 mg vinconate orally, which timewise could be observed best in the 6th hour after drug administration. Changes after the i.v. injection of vinconate peaked as early as the 2nd hour post-drug. Psychometric investigations demonstrated only small psychotropic effects, which rarely reached the level of statistical significance as compared with placebo. Generally, the orally administered vinconate induced a trend towards an improvement of psychomotor activity, complex reaction and cognitive function as well as a significant improvement in attention and concentration, while the von Zerssen score increased as compared with placebo. 30 mg vinconate i.v., however, induced an improvement in mood as well as a shortening of reaction time and activation in the after-effect as compared with placebo in addition to a trend towards improvement in psychomotor activity, complex reaction and Pauli test. Evaluation of pulse rate, blood pressure and side effects showed a good tolerance of the drug. The findings are discussed.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

Cerebral function in hyperthyroid patients. Psychopathology, psychometric variables, central arousal and time perception before and after thyreostatic therapy.

Psychopathology, psychometric variables, central arousal and time experience were studied in 30 hyperthyroid female outpatients. While these patients could be significantly discriminated in several of the above-described measures during the acute state of the disease, the intergroup differences disappeared after thyreostatic therapy. The thyroxine level was correlated with elevated beta-activity and the latter with variables of psychopathology and time experience. Hormonal dysbalance in hyperthyroidism is discussed as a biological substrate for neurophysiological changes which in turn causes deterioration in mood and behavior.

Adult↗