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D C Watt

Publications and source records attributed to D C Watt.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Prognostic models for subgroups of melanoma patients from the Scottish Melanoma Group database 1979-86, and their subsequent validation.

For the past 20 years thickness of the primary tumour has been accepted as the most important guide to prognosis for patients with primary cutaneous malignant melanoma. The changing epidemiology of melanoma with an increasing number of patients with thin tumours has necessitated a reappraisal of this, with particular reference to interactions among tumour thickness, the patients' sex and the presence or absence of ulceration of the primary tumour. All primary cutaneous malignant melanomas diagnosed in Scotland between 1979 and 1986 were used as the test group (1978 patients). The proportional hazards model was used on all potential risk factors in the database and their two-way interactions, and the resulting models based on stepwise procedures were subsequently validated on 289 melanoma patients first diagnosed in 1987 in the same geographic area. Four distinct subgroups of males and females with ulcerated or non-ulcerated lesions were identified. For females with ulcerated lesions, tumour thickness, mitotic count and anatomical site of primary all gave valuable prognostic information, whereas for females with non-ulcerated lesions only tumour thickness was of prognostic value. For males with ulcerated lesions, level of invasion was the only prognostic guide, while for males with non-ulcerated lesions both tumour thickness and level of invasion contributed significantly to prediction of prognosis. Prognosis markedly different across subgroups of the melanoma population, even to the extent that essential prognostic factors are not the same in the distinct subgroups. Verification of these prognostic guides derived from 1979-86 patients has been achieved for all patients diagnosed with melanoma in 1987 from the same geographic area. These data will therefore be useful aids for clinicians managing patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

A clinico-genetic study of psychiatric disorder in Huntington's chorea.

The introduction in 1985 of a genetic linkage test programme to identify asymptomatic heterozygotes among subjects at 50% initial risk for Huntington's chorea required a review of all cases of Huntington's chorea and their families referred to the Department of Medical Genetics of the Oxford Regional Health Area (population 2.5 million). From a representative sample of these subjects, psychiatric data were collected to estimate the frequency and time of onset of functional psychiatric illness and behaviour disorder. The rationale and method of the linkage test is described. The frequency of functional psychiatric disorder found was compared with that reported for the general population and for Alzheimer's disease. The role in relation to the aetiology of functional psychiatric disorder (1) of the Huntington's chorea gene and (2) of the family disturbance produced, was investigated by comparison between the frequency of functional psychiatric disorder in populations containing different proportions of heterozygotes as shown by (a) the manifestation of Huntington's chorea, and (b) the result of the genetic linkage analysis. In order to investigate the influence of the onset of Huntington's chorea on the production of functional psychiatric disorder the time of onset of the various functional psychiatric disorders was compared between asymptomatic subjects at 50% risk for Huntington's chorea and their cohabiting spouses who were assumed to be at zero risk and who shared their environment. It is concluded that possessing the Huntington's chorea gene: (1) has no influence on the production of functional psychiatric disorder in asymptomatic subjects at risk for Huntington's chorea; and (2) increases the tendency to major depressive disorder in subjects already affected with physical signs of Huntington's chorea.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Stage II melanoma in the west of Scotland, 1976-1985: prognostic factors for survival.

The outcome of 142 patients undergoing therapeutic lymphadenectomy for clinical stage II malignant melanoma was retrospectively assessed. 5 year survival was 26%, and survival was not altered in the 25 patients who received two courses of adjuvant combination chemotherapy after lymphadenectomy. On univariate analysis, the most significant determinants of survival were the number of malignant nodes removed at lymphadenectomy (P = 0.00004), the age of the patient (P = 0.009) and the disease-free interval between primary and stage II disease (P = 0.01). The following features were not significantly related to survival: sex, site, histogenetic type of primary tumour, tumour thickness and level of invasion. The number of malignant lymph-nodes was confirmed on multivariate analysis as the single most useful and significant predictor of survival, with the patient's age providing an additional significant contribution. In future adjuvant trials in stage II melanoma after therapeutic lymphadenectomy, patients should be stratified for both age and number of malignant nodes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

A study of genetic linkage in schizophrenia.

Families with more than one member affected by schizophrenia were identified and their members were interviewed. Four standardized diagnostic definitions (PSE, DSM-III, ICD-9, Feighner) were applied to all subjects who were classified as schizophrenic or not schizophrenic according to each definition. Non-schizophrenic psychiatric disorders which have been shown to be familially associated with schizophrenia were also identified. Twenty blood markers were ascertained for all subjects and evidence of co-segregation with schizophrenia was sought. No selective segregation was found and therefore there was no evidence suggesting linkage or supporting a monogenic theory of transmission of susceptibility to schizophrenia.

Genetic Linkage↗
PubMed1985

Platelet monoamine oxidase: specific activity and turnover number in schizophrenics and their families.

Monoamine oxidase specific activities and molecular turnover numbers have been measured in families with at least two schizophrenic members. Neither measure of monoamine oxidase was different in schizophrenics compared with their first degree relatives. Molecular turnover number was remarkably similar in males and females and when the group was considered by age, diagnosis, drug status and family membership. Neither specific activity nor turnover number could be used in risk estimation for the development of schizophrenia in members of these families.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Hypercalcemia in the etiology of puerperal psychosis.

The serum calcium of 53 recently delivered mothers hospitalized for severe puerperal psychiatric illness, which represented the whole intake from a defined catchment area, was compared with that of 35 female psychiatric patients and that of 49 normal postnatal women. The mean corrected and ionized serum calcium values of the puerperal psychiatric patients with no personal or family history of psychiatric disorder were markedly above the normal range. They were also significantly higher than those of the puerperal psychiatric patients with a personal or family history of psychiatric illness and those of the two control groups. There was a modest positive correlation between the degree of hypercalcemia and the severity of the psychiatric illness. The follow-up of 16 puerperal psychiatric patients indicated that the fall in ionized serum calcium levels correlated positively and significantly with the improvement in rated symptomatology. Patients with severe puerperal psychiatric disorder can be divided etiologically into two groups. The larger proportion is psychiatrically vulnerable, but in the remainder (about a third of the total number), the psychiatric illness appears to be related to a disorder of calcium homeostasis in the puerperium.

Calcium↗
PubMed1983

The natural history of schizophrenia: a 5-year prospective follow-up of a representative sample of schizophrenics by means of a standardized clinical and social assessment.

A comprehensive, representative cohort of 121 schizophrenics from a delimited catchment area, hospitalized in the course of 20 months (1973--4) and who met PSE criteria, was collected for a therapeutic trial (1976--6) in which, during the year after discharge, standardized clinical and social assessments has been made by personal interview at home. Standardized observations were repeated 4 years later. Follow-up was 99% complete. 48% of the cohort and 58% of the first admissions had a good outcome. Females fared significantly better than males.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗
PubMed1981

Social psychiatry.

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Community Psychiatry↗
PubMed1979

The effect of sex, marriage and age at first admission on the hospitalization of schizophrenics during 2 years following discharge.

Two hundred and eighty-two schizophrenics discharged from St John's Hospital, Stone, were followed-up. The reliability of the diagnosis was measured by the extent of agreement among the hospital clinicians. The number of readmissions and the time spent in hospital were ascertained and correlated with the sex, civil state and age at first admission of the subjects. It was found that a higher proportion of males than of females was readmitted; that the proportion of single persons among male schizophrenics is higher than among comparable age groups in the general population; that single males are more frequently admitted than single females; that the peak age of first admission for males is 10 years earlier than for females and that men whose age at first admission is below the median are more frequently readmitted than those whose age at first admission is above it. Women are more frequently married than men at the onset of schizophrenia, giving rise to the suggestion that marriage has a protective effect in schizophrenia. This hypothesis was not supported by our findings. The bearing of these findings on the course, genetics and marital handicap of schizophrenia is discussed.

Adolescent↗