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Biomedical subjects

J Ananth

Publications and source records attributed to J Ananth.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Psychopharmacological agents in physical disorders.

Psychotropic drugs act on multiple organ systems, but their intended action is related to their effect on neurohormones and receptors in the limbic area of the brain. These drugs are also employed with benefit in a number of diverse physical disorders including immunological (arthritis), gastrointestinal (peptic ulcer, ulcerative colitis), neurological (epilepsy), and hematological (leukopenia) conditions. While their clinical efficacy enhances our armamentarium to treat these disorders, understanding their mode of action in treating the physically ill patients may yield the missing link between the psyche and the soma.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMed1992

Psychotropic and medical drug interactions.

In a number of situations, drugs used to treat psychiatric and physical illnesses are coadministered to patients suffering primarily from a psychiatric illness. Hence, coadministration of medical and psychiatric drugs is not uncommon. With increasing use of multiple drugs, our ability to treat a number of disorders has increased, but simultaneously, the problem of drug interactions has also assumed importance. A number of factors contribute to such drug interactions in psychiatric patients. All these interactions are both pharmacologically and genetically determined. Genetic susceptibility is not practical to determine. It is therefore essential for the physician to employ drug combinations only when necessary, be aware of the known clinically significant interactions, anticipate and watch for them, avoid dangerous combinations, and monitor the patients receiving combination of drugs with vigilance.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1991

Negative symptoms: psychopathological models.

The psychopathological manifestations of schizophrenia have been broadly divided into positive and negative symptom groups. Even though there is no definitive consensus, psychomotor agitation, motor excitement, hallucinations, delusions and thought disorder constitute positive and psychomotor retardation, amotivation, apathy and decreased emotional expression are grouped into negative symptoms. The negative symptoms have been reported to appear late in the course of the illness and resistant to treatment with neuroleptics. While these claims have not been substantiated, the current interest on negative symptoms is related to the fact that many nonfunctioning institutionalized as well as ambulatory schizophrenics manifest negative symptoms. As chronic psychiatric beds have become scarce, many patients with negative symptoms who were harbored in the chronic mental hospitals have been released to the community care and some of these patients live on the streets. Thus their visibility has challenged psychiatry to focus its efforts on the etiology and treatment of negative symptoms.

Deinstitutionalization↗
PubMed1990

Subjective neuroleptic response and treatment outcome under open and double-blind conditions--a preliminary report.

1. A patient's early subjective response to a neuroleptic was recorded in 17 schizophrenic patients following a fixed dose of neuroleptic under both open and double-blind placebo-controlled conditions. 2. High correlations were found between a patient's subjective response at 2.5, 24 and 48 hours after the initial dose, suggesting that the timing of the initial subjective response rating is not critical. 3. The relationship between the psychiatric improvement and subjective response was not significant under double-blind conditions (r = 0.004), while the relationship under the open condition showed a trend towards significance comparable to earlier reports (r = 0.32). 4. The findings question the usefulness of applying early subjective response to a neuroleptic to predict clinical improvement.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Intermittent lithium therapy in a bipolar patient.

A 35 year old married male who had previously had manic episodes twice, during winter months, was treated with intermittent lithium therapy between November and February of each year and was well for a period of five years. The case report and the findings are discussed to demonstrate the possibility of intermittent lithium therapy in some patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Simultaneous Folie à Deux and Capgras syndrome.

A young male presented both Capgras syndrome and Folie à Deux. Both of his parents shared the same delusions with the patient. A dynamic explanation is provided for the simultaneous occurrence of both syndromes. The case report and the management of this patient may be of interest to clinicians.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Rapid tranquilization: a reevaluation.

Years of experience have indicated that the widespread and frequent use of rapid tranquilization is not based on demonstrated efficacy. Multiple high-dose administration of neuroleptics parenterally does not produce rapid relief of psychosis and, at the same time, exposes the patient to risk of severe side effects. Rapid tranquilization may only have a limited and specific applicability; therefore, it is important to reexamine its clinical indications and to search for safer alternatives.

Antipsychotic Agents↗
PubMed1989

Immune dysfunctions in psychiatric patients.

Alterations in the serum proteins and immunoglobulins have been investigated in the search for the possible etiological causes of schizophrenic patients. The results, so far, have been varied and inconclusive. We assayed serum immunoglobulins, and antinuclear antibody (ANA) titres in 94 randomly selected, recently hospitalized, psychotic patients. A complete physical, neurological, laboratory and electrophysiological examination was conducted on each patient. Systems survey and family, as well as past histories were obtained. Our results indicated that 12 patients had high titres of ANA and none of them had any other clinical evidence of autoimmune disease. This finding did not correlated with age, sex, diagnosis, or duration if illness, but an association with the medications that the patients were receiving, was noted. The elevation in ANA titres seems to be related to use of lithium as well as neuroleptics. Our data suggests that all neuroleptics can produce high ANA titres. Systematic study of this phenomenon and their long-term consequences warrant further exploration.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Safety of maprotiline in treatment of cardiac patients with left anterior hemiblock.

Based on the reports that maprotiline has a relatively low cardiotoxicity, two depressed patients who had conduction abnormalities of the heart were treated with this medication. In both patients the conduction abnormalities were not affected adversely by maprotiline 100 to 150 mg daily for six weeks. In one patient premature ventricular beats disappeared after maprotiline treatment. In modest dosages, maprotiline seems relatively safe in depressed cardiac patients.

Anthracenes↗
PubMed1988

Meige's syndrome associated with neuroleptic treatment.

Meige's syndrome is characterized by blepharospasm and oromandibular dystonia. Three cases are presented; two were associated with long-term neuroleptic administration. This drug-induced syndrome may be a variant of tardive dystonia, and prompt discontinuation of neuroleptic treatment may be therapeutic.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Lithium and memory: a review.

This paper reviews systematic clinical studies suggesting memory and cognitive impairment in patients suffering from unipolar and bipolar affective disorders treated with lithium. A number of studies failed, however, to demonstrate lithium induced memory deficits. Thus, the results of studies were equivocal. This lack of empirical consensus was in part due to the heterogeneity of samples and a variety of methodological and design problems. The definition of short- and long-term memory was often arbitrary and lacked standard criteria. Some studies revealed a stability of the memory test scores over time and showed that subjective complaints of memory impairment were correlated with depression. The authors also reviewed studies examining the effects of lithium on cognition and memory of healthy control subjects. In animal research it was difficult at times to distinguish between toxic and pharmacologic effects of lithium. There is a need for prospective studies of the effect of lithium in large samples of patients using refined memory tests.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Specific effects of cyclandelate on memory.

In an uncontrolled clinical trial of 6 weeks' duration conducted in 20 male patients, aged 49 to 68 years, with memory disorders, cyclandelate 1200 to 1600 mg daily was found to be effective in improving memory as reflected by psychiatric, psychometric and psychophysiological measurements. Treatment with cyclandelate produced clinical effects which were selective for the Wechsler Memory Scale items of visual reproduction and orientation--indicators of the declarative memory. Moreover, the improvements seen in the average auditory reaction and critical flicker fusion frequency demonstrates its effect on procedural memory. Thus, our results indicate that this drug may be therapeutically useful in memory disorders of various aetiology, and that further exploration of the place of cyclandelate in this clinical area is needed.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Midazolam in acute psychotic patients with hyperarousal.

Three acutely psychotic patients with psychomotor excitement and agitation were rapidly sedated following intramuscular injections of 2.5 mg to 3 mg of midazolam. The use of midazolam, a short- and rapid-acting benzodiazepine preparation, in a psychiatric emergency room setting is discussed.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1986

Propranolol in psychiatry. Therapeutic uses and side effects.

There are speculations that beta-adrenergic blocking agents are useful in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Clinically, propranolol, an agent of this group, has been investigated in the treatment of various clinical disorders including schizophrenia, other psychoses, anxiety disorders, and stress reactions. This paper critically evaluates its efficacy in these disorders and provides a useful clinical perspective. In addition, propranolol produces a number of psychiatric side effects which are due to its central action or due to the peripheral receptor blockade. In addition, idiosyncratic reactions as well as withdrawal effects have also been reported to produce psychiatric side effects. It is important that the physician who wishes to use this drug know the existing knowledge of its usefulness in the treatment of psychiatric disorders as well as its psychiatric side effects.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Physically ill and mentally ill.

Undetected physical illnesses in psychiatric patients are common. Why do so many physical illnesses go undetected? These disorders are difficult to detect and need an elaborate consultatory process. Some of the problems may be related to the fact that psychiatrists do not do physical examinations. Clues suggesting an organic etiology may be attributed to psychodynamic issues by many physicians. In this paper, seven case reports are presented to illustrate the following: perform your own physical examination; do not attribute physical signs to dynamic issues; all physical signs should be explained; be alert to atypical presentations; conduct relevant laboratory workup; avoid bias against unattractive patients; and pose specific questions to consultants.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗