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D Bernard

Publications and source records attributed to D Bernard.

192 records · Page 11Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

[Psychometric properties of French version of the Calgary depression scale for schizophrenics (CDSS)].

The Calgary Depression scale for schizophrenia (CDSS) is a 9 items scale, simple, quick and easy to use. It allows a quantitative approach of the subjective (or cognitive) dimension of the depression, and was developed by Addington et al. (1-5). In this work, we studied the psychometric properties of the CDSS in a population of 95 schizophrenic patients, and 41 non schizophrenic depressed patients. The CDSS was compared with commonly used hetero-questionnaires as the Hamilton Depression Scale (HDRS), the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Scale (MADRS), the Widlöcher depressive slowness scale (ERD), and auto-questionnaires as the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Beck Hopelessness scale (H). In the schizophrenic group, psychotic symptoms were evaluated with the Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale (PANSS), and the extrapyramidal symptoms with the Extrapyramidal symptoms scale (EPRS). In the two populations, the CDSS has similar psychometric properties. The principal component analyses accounts for a unifactorial structure in both groups. In schizophrenics the total score of the CDSS is strongly correlated with the total scores of the HDRS, the MADRS, the ERD, and the G6 item of the PANSS. In non schizophrenic depressed patients, the total score of the CDSS is highly correlated to the total scores of the HDRS, the MADRS and the BDI, with a weaker correlation with the ERD and the H total scores. In these patients, a cut-point strictly superior to 13 may be proposed as a severity criterion for depression in these patients. The internal consistency is satisfactory in both groups, with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.82 in schizophrenics and 0.59 in non schizophrenic depressed subjects. In schizophrenics, items C4 (guilty ideas of reference) and C7 (early awakening) are not necessary to the constitution of the scale. In depressed patients, the deletion of item C6 (morning depression) might increase the internal consistency. Inte-raters agreement is high, with weighted kappas all superior to 0.75 in schizophrenics and to 0.61 in depressed patients. Stability over time is good, and the 72 hours test-retest total score of the CDSS is independent from negative and extrapyramidal symptoms. On the other hand, the positive sub-score and the positive factor of the PANSS are correlated to the CDSS total score. The validation of the CDSS is still not complete: sensitivity to change and stability of the factorial structure remain to be explored. Nevertheless, the CDSS is an interesting tool for a quantitative approach of the subjective dimension of depression in both schizophrenic and non schizophrenic patients.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Intestinal bilharziasis in Guadelupa].

The author studies the significance of intestinal bilharziosis in Guadeloupe. Immunologic methods have been used because of their greater sensitivity: a complement fixation micromethod using a delipidated antigen is described. The study of about 8,500 sera taken in various areas showed the significance of bilharziosis: the mean level of positive sera was 35%, a figure much higher than those obtained with parasitologic methods. The percentage observed in the various regions showed sometimes very great differences, which may be explained by various factors, the most important ones being the population density, the disposition of the hydrographic network and its relationships with habitat. Such a study, if it could be carried out during the next years, should allow to appreciate the efficiency of the control measures of the endemia.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Bilharziasis in Martinique (author's transl)].

A study of 4,600 sera by means of a micro-method of complement fixation with a delipidated antigen allowed to evaluate the significance of intestinal bilharziosis at la Martinique and to precise its geographical distribution in the various areas of the island. The mean infestation ratio (about 27 0/0) is much higher than that obtained with parasitologic techniques; it confirms the great sensitivity of immunological methods and the high percentage of infested people in these areas. On the other hand the study of infestation ratio in the various places shows the role played by the hydrographic system and its relationship with the habitat: a fundamental opposition is observed between two areas: the North of the island, which is damp, with many rivers and highly infested, and the South, dry, with a much lower infestation ratio.

Complement Fixation Tests↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Stress antecedents and immune status in recently diagnosed type I (insulindependent) diabetes mellitus.

It has been speculated that stressful life events can precipate some autoimmune diseases by altering the immune system. This study was undertaken to test this hypothesis in type I (insulindependent) diabetes. Thirty-two young patients (less than 40 years) with a recently diagnosed IDDM and 53 age-matched controls were interviewed according to a standardized questionnaire designed to identify, date, and weigh past stressful life events. In patients immunological status was assessed during the six months following the first manifestation of the disease by measuring anti-organ and anti-islet cell antibodies, T lymphocyte subsets, PHA mitogenic activity, IL2 production by blood mononuclear cells, IgG, IgA, IgM, and C3, C4 component fraction levels. The diabetic population experienced fewer life events, stressful or non-stressful, but in the 12 months preceding the onset of the disease, 50% of the diabetics endured at least one stressful life event as against only 18.8% of the controls (p less than 0.01). The only difference in the immunological status of the patients who had experienced a stressful life event in the previous twelve months and those that had not, involved PHA mitogenic activity which was significantly lower after a stressful event. While these findings do attest to a temporal relation between stress and type I diabetes in at least 1 out of 2 patients, they do not establish a causative connection.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[N-acetyl-aspartate abnormalities in internal-temporal epileptic foci using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy].

The aim of this study was to characterize the neurochemical abnormalities related to N-acetyl-aspartate which is a neuronal marker, within an epilepticus focus located in the internal-temporal area, using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Eleven patients with a mono-hippocampal epileptics focus on clinical and per-critical electroencephalographical criteria, were matched with 11 controls by age, sex and laterality. Proton spectroscopy of a volume of 8 cm3 was performed within the ipsilateral and the contralateral internal-temporal area and within the 2 hippocampus of controls. Volumetry of the ipsilateral and the contralateral hippocampus and of the 2 hippocampus of controls was performed using resonance magnetic imaging. All these measurements were performed during the interictal stage. The results were concordant to show a decrease of the ratio N-acetyl-aspartate/choline and N-acetyl-aspartate/creatine within the epilepticus focus, in relation with a hippocampal atrophy. This study finds similar results to those of other previous works. The decrease of N-acetyl-aspartate levels within the epilepticus focus could be related to a decrease of the neuronal cell density. This procedure is able to show a decrease of the levels of this metabolite within an internal temporal epilepticus focus and associated with a hippocampal atrophy.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Attention models in evaluating schizophrenia].

Models of information processing, a part of cognitive psychology, have influenced theories of schizophrenia in the past few years. Study of attention disorders is an original approach of schizophrenics' cognitive disturbances. The authors have reviewed the literature of attention disorders in schizophrenia. Disorders of attention are analysed in different points of view. 'Subtype, syndromic (positive and negative forms) and symptomatic levels of analysis are documented. Subtype approach of attention disorders is not confirmed in the literature. Symptomatic approach of attention disorders in schizophrenia is actually well documented (especially for hallucination and delusion), but very heterogenous. Attention disorders are different in positive and negative syndromes of schizophrenia. Positive patients are more distractible and an early disorder of information processing is a part of cognitive disturbances of negative patients. Some neurobiological and information processing disturbances are discussed in reference of this syndromic approach.

Attention↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Fluoxetine, akathisia and suicide].

Several cases of suicidal thinking or suicidal behavior during fluoxetine treatment are described in the literature. Akathisia or dysphoric extrapyramidal reactions may explain the emergence of suicidal ideation during fluoxetine treatment. Retrospective and controlled studies found no relationship between fluoxetine and the emergence of suicidal ideation. Some cases reports of akathisia or suicidal ideation with other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) suggest that same mechanisms (pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic interactions) are involved in extrapyramidal effects during treatment with SSRIs. The clinical use of SRIs is discussed.

Akathisia, Drug-Induced↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Depression scales in schizophrenia: a critical review].

Depressive syndromes frequently occur during the evolution of schizophrenia. The evaluation of depression in schizophrenic patients is difficult because of an overlap between depressive, negative and extrapyramidal symptoms. The scales usually employed to evaluate depression have not been validated in schizophrenic populations, therefore, some authors developed specific depression scales for schizophrenics. In this work, we present the available data about the metrologic and psychometric properties of the Hamilton (HDRS), Montgomery Asberg (MADRS) and Widlöcher (ERD) depression scales in schizophrenic populations. We further present the validation works of the Psychotic Depression Scale (PDS) and the Calgary Depression Scale (CDSS). Non specific depression scales are unsatisfactory, since negative and extrapyramidal symptoms overlap with depressive symptoms. The ERD allows a distinction of the three symptom groups, when motor, ideic and subjective subscores are used. The two specific scales actually distinguish depression with a minimal level of contamination. Nevertheless, the factorial structure of the PDS comprises several non depressive factors that are of questionable interest. The CDSS is a well documented and validated tool, with an unidimensional structure, a good internal consistency, a high inter-rater reliability, and good external validity and specificity.

Depressive Disorder↗