Dexamethasone suppression test in geriatric depression.
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Adult↗
Biomedical subjects
G S Alexopoulos
Publications and source records attributed to G S Alexopoulos.
Plasma immunoreactive beta-endorphin levels in depression. Effect of electroconvulsive therapy.
Immunoreactive (ir) plasma beta-endorphin level was assayed in ten symptomatic patients with a unipolar major depressive disorder and in 16 psychiatrically normal controls matched for age and sex. Plasma ir-beta-endorphin level in depressed patients was similar to that in controls. All depressed patients was similar to that in controls. All depressed patients had a transient, approximately threefold increase in ir-beta-endorphin after each use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). The increase of plasma ir-beta-endorphin level after ECT parallels the transient elevation of adrenocorticotropic hormone level reported by others and probably reflects a hypothalamic response to ECT.
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
Platelet MAO activity in alcoholic patients and their first-degree relatives.
The authors studied 49 alcoholic in patients in remission, 18 first-degree relatives of 10 of these alcoholics, and 25 normal control subjects. Alcoholic patients had significantly lower platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity than control subjects. There was an inverse relationship between platelet MAO levels in the alcoholic patients and prevalence of reported alcoholism in their first-degree relatives. First-degree relatives of alcoholics had lower platelet MAO activity than control subjects. The data suggest a relationship between low platelet MAO activity and predisposition to familial alcoholism.
Adult↗
Tricyclic antidepressants and cardiac patients with pacemakers.
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Aged↗
Electroconvulsive therapy in patients on anticoagulants.
Despite studies in the early literature showing that ECT may lead to CNS bleeding, it is unclear whether unmodified ECT increases the risk for hemorrhage in patients taking anticoagulants. The authors report two cases of depressed patients who required ECT while on coumarin derivatives. Both patients were switched to heparin. Heparin's short duration of action allowed temporary discontinuation 6-8 hours prior to each ECT with return of coagulation function close to normal when the stimulus was administered. No complications were observed in any of the patients. The authors believe that this technique minimizes any possible risks from ECT in patients on anticoagulants.
Anticoagulants↗
Rubidium uptake into red blood cells compared with that of lithium.
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Adult↗
Managing alcoholic medical patients: the psychiatrist's role.
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Adult↗
Platelet MAO during the alcohol withdrawal syndrome.
The authors explored platelet MAO activity in alcoholism and focused on the impact of the alcohol withdrawal syndrome on MAO values. They found that platelet MAO activity is relatively increased in alcoholic patients who are experiencing withdrawal symptoms from alcohol and that it does not appear to be stable during the period of withdrawal.
Adult↗
ECT and cardiac patients with pacemakers.
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Aged↗
Lack of complaints in schizophrenics with tardive dyskinesia.
Eighteen of a population of 518 outpatients were found to fulfill diagnostic criteria for tardive dyskinesia. None of these patients complained to their therapists of their symptoms, and eight of them were not even aware of them. Five of the unaware patients were actively delusional or hallucinating. Since all eighteen were chronic schizophrenics on neuroleptics, these findings suggest that this group may not report their symptoms. The findings are important because early diagnosis of tardive dyskinesia allows more chance for intervention with satisfactory results.
Adult↗
Increase in CSF protein in association with ECT.
In this case report we describe a 44 year old man who developed a transient increase of CSF protein in association with a course of electroconvulsive therapy for depression. Neurological evaluation failed to show any other abnormalities. The finding seems to reflect a transient dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier.
Adult↗
State specificity of DST abnormalities in geriatric depression.
Pre-treatment and posttreatment dexamethasone suppression test (DST) results in physically healthy elderly major depressives without dementia demonstrated an association between treatment and DST normalization. Sixty percent of subjects were nonsuppressors at baseline compared to 17% after intensive treatment. DST results normalized in 75% of initial nonsuppressors; none of the initial suppressors converted to nonsuppression. A strong correlation between clinical improvement and decreases in afternoon cortisol levels was identified. Initial suppression status did not influence this association. There was a nonsignificant trend for very high (> 15 micrograms/dl) afternoon cortisol levels to be associated with delusional depression. The advantage of using continuous rather than categorical measures to assess the relationship between reversal of depression and DST results is discussed.
Aged↗