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Biomedical subjects

C Hallstrom

Publications and source records attributed to C Hallstrom.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Stigma of anxiety.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Anti-Anxiety Agents↗
PubMed1996

The role of coping strategies in protecting individuals against long-term tranquillizer use.

This research examined the influences of social circumstances, coping and level and length of drug intake on dependence and withdrawal from benzodiazepine use. A sample of long-term benzodiazepine users were followed up over a period of six months. At first interview the participants' drug intake and anxiety and depression levels were established and the Life Events and Difficulties Schedule (LEDS) was administered. At follow up these measures were repeated and individuals' coping strategies for dealing with dependence were also assessed. By the time of the follow-up interview slightly more than half of the participants (57 per cent) had either withdrawn completely from benzodiazepine medication or had reduced their daily dose. Analyses showed that reduction was unrelated to factors associated with the drugs themselves, to the severity of life-events and difficulties, to lessening of difficulties or to the occurrence of positive life-events. Significant associations, however, were found between participants' coping responses in relation to long-term benzodiazepine use and the individuals' reduction or cessation of benzodiazepine use in the six month study period. The study showed that in the absence of positive life-events and in spite of ongoing difficulties actively confronting the problems of benzodiazepine use can have a positive effect on outcome. The findings suggest that interventions which encourage cognitive, behavioural and affective aspects of coping are those which would appear to be most likely to succeed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1994

Comparison of long-term benzodiazepine users in three settings.

BACKGROUND: Most studies of chronic benzodiazepine users consider selected populations which may be unrepresentative. This study was undertaken to examine possible differences between groups. METHOD: Subjects chosen were benzodiazepine users in general practice, a hospital clinic, and attending TRANX trials. Descriptive data were collected on characteristics and outcome. RESULTS: TRANX trial patients had the best outcome (P = 0.027). Hospital cases used high doses of anxiolytic benzodiazepines; concomitant mental disorder, including schizophrenia, was common. General practice cases were older and mainly used hypnotics (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Because groups of benzodiazepine users are different, there cannot be one single management approach. Cases require individual medical assessment.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Self-help and benzodiazepine withdrawal.

Despite an increased understanding of the potential dangers of benzodiazepines among doctors and patients, and a decline in anxiolytic prescribing, motivating and supporting current benzodiazepine users through withdrawal can be difficult and time consuming for medical services. Self-help organisations offer another approach. This is a study of one such organisation, TRANX (UK), which examined the characteristics of its members and their outcome. The results suggest that this organisation did provide effective counselling and support for its members, and implies that self-help is a realistic alternative or adjunct to orthodox health care for those wishing to withdraw from benzodiazepines.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Inadequate treatment response to des-enkephalin-gamma-endorphin compared with thioridazine and placebo in schizophrenia.

The possibility of an involvement of peptidergic systems in schizophrenia has been under investigation for a number of years. Studies of the efficacy of des-tyr-gamma-endorphin were equivocal; more recent studies with des-enkephalin-gamma-endorphin have reported some activity but the peptide has only been investigated as an adjunct to neuroleptic medication, apart from one very small active reference comparator study. In the multicentre study reported here, 96 patients suffering from schizophrenia (DSM-III with a current exacerbation if chronic) were allocated randomly to double-blind treatment with either des-enkephalin-gamma-endorphin (DE-gamma-E) (Org 5878) 10 mg given as a once daily intramuscular injection for 4 weeks, thioridazine 400 mg orally in 2 divided doses or placebo using a double-dummy technique to preserve blindness. There was a significant advantage for thioridazine compared with placebo registered on all measures at weeks 3 and 4. There was no difference between DE-gamma-E and placebo. There was a significant difference between thioridazine and DE-gamma-E at weeks 3 and 4 registered on the MSS and at week 3 registered on the BPRS. The lack of efficacy of DE-gamma-E suggests that the theories that the endorphins have an important role in schizophrenia have to be revised. The need for well designed placebo controlled studies for assessing efficacy in schizophrenia is emphasized.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Benzodiazepine dependent patients and their psychological treatment.

1. 91 patients were referred to a tranquilizer withdrawal clinic. 44 of these entered a withdrawal programme. The characteristics of the patients are described. 2. 72% of patients accepted for benzodiazepine withdrawal had a history of previous psychiatric contact. They also had significantly higher scores on S.T.A.I. than control groups of non-psychotic psychiatric out-patients indicating a considerable psychiatric morbidity prior to withdrawal. 3. 12 patients were treated with psychological group therapy using anxiety management techniques. The outcome of this pilot study showed that 50% of subjects were able to discontinue their benzodiazepines despite previous failures. 4. Patients found learning to cope with symptoms, sharing problems with others and learning to change thoughts the most useful components of the anxiety management package during withdrawal.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1982

Will amitriptyline prevent the "cheese" reaction of monoamine-oxidase inhibitors?

Administration of amitriptyline greatly diminished the pressor response to intravenous tyramine in patients receiving monoamine-oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). Dothiepin and trimipramine, however, produced little change in sensitivity to tyramine. It is suggested that a combination of amitriptyline and an MAOI, started together in a modest dose that is then increased, may protect patients against the potential dangers of eating tyramine-containing foods. However, because MAOIs allow a high proportion of ingested tyramine to be absorbed into the systemic circulation, patients treated with MAOIs, even in combination with amitriptyline, should not be encouraged to eat foods containing tyramine.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

A stable isotope dilution assay for the antiparkinsonian drug benztropine in biological fluids.

A quantitative gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) assay was developed for the determination of benztropine in human urine and plasma. The assay utilizes selected ion focusing to monitor in a GC effluent a specific fragment ion of benztropine generated by electron-impact ionization. Benztropine-d3 was the internal standard. The assay can measure 5 ng/ml of benztropine/ml with about 6% precision. The curve relating the amounts of benztropine added versus the amounts found over a large range of benztropine concentrations was a straight line with a nearly zero intercept and a slope of 0.98 +/- 0.02. The method was used for the analysis of benztropine in urine and plasma of patients on therapeutic dose of the drug.

Benztropine↗
PubMed1981

Benzodiazepine withdrawal phenomena.

A withdrawal syndrome is described in 10 patients who claimed to be unable to discontinue benzodiazepines. A high dose group took the equivalent of a mean of 135 mg diazepam/day, and the normal dose group of 20 mg/day. Associated with the gradual reduction of medication was the emergence of severe symptoms of anxiety as well as sensory intolerance, perceptual disturbances and weight loss. The withdrawal syndrome subsided after 2 weeks and was similar in both groups of patients. EEG changes were detected on withdrawal opposite to those known to be associated with initiation of diazepam treatment. The measures tended to revert to the baseline after a drug-free period. One reason why chronic users of diazepam experience difficulty in stopping medication may be the development of a withdrawal syndrome even after moderate dosage.

Adult↗