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Biomedical subjects

I Iancu

Publications and source records attributed to I Iancu.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

A general hospital study of attempted suicide in adolescence: age and method of attempt.

Attempted suicide in adolescence is a major health problem and recent reports indicate a dramatic increase in the frequency of attempted and completed suicide among adolescents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of adolescent admissions with attempted suicide in a large general hospital. The files of all children and adolescents admitted due to a suicide attempt between the years 1984 and 1994 were examined retrospectively, with regard to age, sex, method of attempt, season, year and length of hospitalization. Four hundred and four admissions with attempted suicide were recorded. The majority (83.7%) were females and drug overdose was the most common (92.8%) method used. Thirty patients (7.5%) repeated the attempt during the study period. No specific time of the year was associated with an increase in adolescent suicide attempt admissions. The most remarkable finding was that younger adolescents had a higher probability of performing a violent suicide attempt. Hypotheses for these trends are examined together with possible ramifications for treatment provision.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Epidemiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder: a world view.

The worldwide prevalence of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is approximately 2% of the general population. Symptoms of OCD include fear of contamination by dirt or germs; constant checking; repetitive, intrusive thoughts of a somatic, aggressive, or sexual nature; extreme slowness; and an inordinate concern with orderliness and symmetry. Differential diagnosis is sometimes complicated by the overlap between OCD and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD). The most common complication of OCD is depression. However, while both serotonergic and nonserotonergic antidepressants are effective in treating patients with depression, only serotonergic medications are effective in treating OCD patients. Because OCD patients often attempt to conceal their symptoms, it is incumbent on clinicians to screen for OCD in every mental status examination, since appropriate treatment can often result in improved quality of life.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

The pathogenesis and treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

The outlook for patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) began to change in the early 1980s with the introduction of clomipramine (CMI), a serotonergic antidepressant. The observation that only drugs with a serotonergic profile are effective in OCD has been the basis for the serotonergic hypothesis of OCD. The serotonin-selective reuptake inhibitors are effective alternatives for CMI and can be used when the patient cannot use or tolerate CMI. In this review, we examine the pathophysiology of OCD, based on drug response profile, peripheral markers of serotonergic function, pharmacologic challenge studies, and neuroimaging. We also consider the medications found to be effective in OCD, the length of treatment, with special regard for maintenance therapy, and such issues as the approach for the treatment-resistant patient, augmentation strategies, and nonpharmacological treatments.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗
PubMed1996

Seven-year follow-up of child survivors of a bus-train collision.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the long-term effects of a traumatic bus-train collision and to examine the effect of levels of exposure and immediate reactions on long-term adjustment. METHOD: Seven years after the accident, 389 subjects, all doing compulsory army service, filled out self-report questionnaires assessing symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), psychiatric symptomatology, and military functioning. In addition, subjects were questioned about their immediate reactions to the traumatic event. RESULTS: The most highly exposed subjects reported the highest levels of somatization, depression, phobic anxiety, and psychoticism and more PTSD symptoms. Acute stress symptoms and manifestations of fear immediately after the accident were strongly related to long-term maladjustment CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the investigation and assessment of long-term adjustment after traumatic events should take into account both contextual factors, such as the level of exposure to the event, and personal factors, such as the victims' immediate reactions.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1996

Coping styles and suicide risk.

A total of 30 psychiatric in-patients admitted because of suicidal behaviour were compared with 30 non-suicidal psychiatric in-patients and 32 healthy controls on measures of suicide risk and coping styles. The three groups were similar with regard to demographic variables, but the suicidal group scored higher on the suicide risk scale. Suicidal patients were significantly less likely to use the coping styles of minimization and mapping. They were unable to de-emphasize the importance of a perceived problem or source of stress. They also lacked the ability to obtain new information required to resolve stressful life events. Four coping styles correlated negatively with the suicide risk (minimization, replacement, mapping and reversal), while another three (suppression, blame and substitution) correlated positively. These findings may have important implications for therapists and primary prevention workers, and might pave the way towards recognition of the role played by coping styles in predicting suicide and its use for cognitive intervention in these high-risk patients.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1996

Is caffeine involved in the pathogenesis of combat-stress reaction?

The role of caffeine in the pathogenesis of combat-stress reaction is discussed in light of the expanding literature on caffeine's influence on stress reactions in animals and in humans, and in regard to the two clinical entities concerning caffeine: caffeinism and caffeine withdrawal. It is proposed that caffeine is a contributing factor to the development of combat-stress reaction and that the use of decaffeinated coffee in military settings might reduce the prevalence of the various anxiety reactions, including combat-stress reaction.

Caffeine↗
PubMed1995

Valproic acid in ultra-rapid cycling: a case report.

Valproic acid has been proven to be efficient in the treatment of bipolar affective disorders as an adjunctive agent to lithium and carbamazepine. Recently, its efficacy in rapid cycling states has attracted interest. We present the case of a male patient with bipolar affective disorder who developed an extreme state of ultra-rapid cycling (48-h cycles). Only the addition of valproic acid therapy to prior lithium treatment succeeded in curtailing the ultra-rapid cycling. Several issues regarding ultra-rapid cycling and valproate's efficacy in bipolar disorder are discussed.

Bipolar Disorder↗
PubMed1995

Nightmares related to fluoxetine treatment.

Sleep disturbances are found in most depressive patients. Serotonin reuptake inhibitors, such as fluoxetine hydrochloride, seem to improve sleep by changing the depressive affect and the underlying biological mechanisms. Insomnia is an occasional adverse effect of the medication, but it was shown that only 2-3% of the patients with fluoxetine-induced insomnia discontinued the drug for this reason. We could not find any report of nightmares or night terrors under fluoxetine treatment. We report on four patients who experienced nightmares on fluoxetine monotherapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

The belief in the transmigration of souls as a presenting symptom of generalized anxiety disorder in a military setting.

Transmigration of souls is one of the central beliefs of the Druze religion and culture. However, in rare cases this belief can represent psychopathology. A case of an 18-year-old Druze soldier suffering from generalized anxiety disorder whose presenting symptom was a belief in transmigration of souls is described. This case illustrates the interaction between cultural and religious beliefs with psychopathology.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Obsessive-compulsive disorder limited to pregnancy.

The relationship between obsessive-compulsive disorder and pregnancy is reviewed in the light of recent reports concerning the frequent onset and exacerbation of obsessive-compulsive disorder during pregnancy. We present the case of a young woman who developed obsessive-compulsive disorder during a pregnancy and recovered completely after delivery. Five years afterwards she is still symptom-free. Several possible explanations for this unusual occurrence are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

The sociocultural theory in the development of anorexia nervosa.

The relationship between anorexia nervosa (AN) and sociocultural factors is examined. Anorexia nervosa was first described in the West and was reported as particularly rare or absent in Eastern cultures. However, the frequency of its presentation has increased worldwide over the past two decades, probably as a consequence of changes in cultural norms and concepts of feminine beauty and an increasing inflow of Western values into other countries. Sociocultural factors are important in the development of AN in psychologically vulnerable young females, although other factors may also be implicated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Psychiatric aspects of hyperemesis gravidarum.

Hyperemesis gravidarum is a potentially dangerous disorder of pregnancy characterized by severe and protracted vomiting. It is suggested that psychosocial factors may have a role in determining whether the pregnant woman experiences a transient spell of mild vomiting or progresses towards the much rarer but more significant pernicious vomiting. Psychotherapy, hypnotherapy and behavior therapy have been reported to contribute to the treatment of patients with hyperemesis gravidarum. A review of the etiological factors as well as of the therapeutic approaches is presented.

Behavior Therapy↗