Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

H E Klein

Publications and source records attributed to H E Klein.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

[Dexamethasone suppression test: a biologic marker of endogenous depression?].

In the past few years there have been numerous publications, which have stressed the value of the Dexamethasone Suppression Test (DST) as a diagnostic marker of endogenous depression. Our own studies in 333 psychiatric inpatients and 121 healthy subjects did not reveal a differential diagnostic use for the DST. This result is in good agreement with recent results published in the literature. Our own data demonstrate, however, that intervening variables, such as severity of illness, weight loss, sleep disturbances, situational stress, drug and alcohol withdrawal and the pharmacokinetics of dexamethasone, have an important influence on the DST results, regardless of the diagnostic classification.

Depressive Disorder↗
PubMed1984

Postdexamethasone prolactin and cortisol: a biological state variable in depression.

In 70 inpatients with major depressive disorder postdexamethasone cortisol and prolactin, but not baseline cortisol and prolactin, was found to correlate significantly with various state variables of depression. Postdexamethasone prolactin appeared to be a more specific state variable of depression compared with postdexamethasone cortisol. While prolactin was decreased following dexamethasone in controls and nonendogenous depressed patients, in endogenous depressed patients prolactin was increased by 30%. Due to this inverse prolactin response to dexamethasone, the sensitivity of this test should be considerably increased by using a higher dexamethasone dosage. The DST failed to be a diagnostic marker for any subgroup of depression.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

The DST and its relationship to psychiatric diagnosis, symptoms and treatment outcome.

The dexamethasone suppression test (DST) was administered shortly after admission to 102 consecutive in-patients with a Hamilton depression score greater than or equal to 16. Post-dexamethasone cortisol exceeded 6 micrograms/dl in 16 cases, and levels correlated significantly with Hamilton scores; with the AMP syndromes 'hypochondria', 'apathy' and 'catatonia'; and with the IMPS 'retarded depressive' syndrome. The criterion of suppression/non-suppression did not distinguish significantly between diagnostic categories (RDC or ICD), nor between endogenous and neurotic depression. (Newcastle scale). Both base-line and post-dexamethasone cortisol levels were reduced by prior treatment with minor tranquillisers, but not by major tranquillisers or antidepressants. DST results cannot be used as straightforward indicators of prognosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Racial and geographic differences in the psychopathology of schizophrenia.

The authors compared the psychopathology of black and white and of rural and urban schizophrenic patients. Using a structured interview, psychiatrists rated 273 schizophrenic patients consecutively admitted to seven hospitals and mental health centers over 3 1/2 years. Results indicate that important symptoms were more severe in black than in white schizophrenic patients: black patients were more angry, impulsive, hallucinating, dysphoric, and asocial. A greater number of important symptoms were found to be more intense in rural than in urban schizophrenic patients: rural patients were more angry, aggressive, silly, negativistic, and uncooperative, but urban patients were more anxious, rigid, ambivalent, and asocial.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Symptomatology differentials between urban and rural schizophrenics.

The frequency of symptoms between urban and rural schizophrenic patients was compared in 275 consecutive admissions of schizophrenics, who were rated on two rating scales by psychiatrists, using a structured interview. There were significant differences between urban and rural schizophrenics; rural patients were more frequently apathetic, blunted, labile, angry, aggressive, negativistic and uncooperative, while urban schizophrenics were more often anxious, rigid, ambivalent, disoriented, conceptually disorganised and asocial. Significant symptom differences were also found for only older or younger schizophrenics.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Hallucinations and delusions in black psychiatric patients.

A higher incidence of hallucinations has been previously reported among blacks, as compared to whites, in both psychiatric and nonpsychiatric populations. In contrast to these reports, which relied on hospital records, the present study utilized standardized research rating scales, and confirmed the above observation among schizophrenic patients. Some blacks, irrespective of diagnosis, probably experience a variety of non-schizophrenic hallucinations, may lead to erroneous diagnoses of schizophrenia. Current ignorance regarding the content of hallucinations in normal and non-schizophrenic, and in schizophrenic blacks is a source of diagnostic confusion which may have dire consequences for many individuals.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

[Psychometry of depression in patients undergoing haemodialysis (author's transl)].

Over a period of 8 days, 32 haemodialysis out-patients were studied. Psychometric alien- and self-rating questionnaires were completed twice a day. The aim of the study was to produce a survey of the frequency and severity of depression in haemodialysis patients. It was speculated that the potency of haemodialysis in producing depression might be a helpful model in searching for biochemical factors in this disorder. Self-ratings showed short-term depressive changes in mood in about 15% of cases, which were not confirmed by alien-rating scales. It is concluded that neither incidence and severity nor longitudinal and cross-sectional profiles support a biochemical determination of depression in haemodialysis patients.

Depressive Disorder↗
PubMed1980

Norm qualities and alcoholism.

This study examined the relationship between three types of norms and chronic alcoholism. Three types of norms-proscriptive, prescriptive, and nonscriptive-were used as categories to investigate the norms of American chronic alcoholics. Five sources of norms were used to investigate the norms of American chronic alcoholics. Five sources of norms were used to identify the reference groups who were perceived as influencing the alcoholics' drinking patterns. The reference groups included co-workers, church, family, friends, and parents. Among 85 American subjects, chronic alcoholism tended to be highest in a proscriptive environment, lower in a prescriptive environment, and lowest in a nonscriptive environment. Proscriptive norms were those which were perceived as stating directly that a person should not drink excessively at all. The sources of the proscriptive norms were analyzed. Church and parents were found to be the perceived sources of proscriptive norms for the chronic alcoholics studied. The data suggest that both parents and church members need to be taken into consideration when planning rehabilitation programmes for chronic alcoholics.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

[Therapeutic effect and plasma level of thioridazine in schizophrenic patients (author's transl)].

1. In 18 Patients the plasma concentration of the neuroleptic drug thioridazine was measured twice a week by a fluorometric method during a period of treatment lasting for an average of 27 days. At the same time the psychopathological findings were recorded by means of the AMP system. 2. A significant correlation was found both between dosage per kg body weight and plasma level, and between age and plasma level. No connection with the sex of the patient could be demonstrated. 3. A curve-linear correlation appears to exist between plasma concentration and remission of symptoms. 4. In the course of the trial the plasma concentrations of thioridazine declined though the dosage was kept constant. This observation indicates an increased metabolism of the drug probably brought about by enzyme induction. In two cases where previous liver damage could be assumed, the plasma concentrations were found to be above the average level.

Adolescent↗