Naturalistic change after 2 years in neurotic depressive disorders (RDC categories).
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Adolescent↗
Biomedical subjects
J E Barrett
Publications and source records attributed to J E Barrett.
Effects of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and MK-771 on schedule-controlled behavior of squirrel monkeys, rabbits and pigeons.
The effects of TRH (0.001-10.0 mg/kg) and a more potent TRH analog, MK-771 (0.001-5.6 mg/kg), were studied on comparable schedule-controlled performances of squirrel monkeys, rabbits and pigeons. Responding was maintained in the presence of different stimuli by a multiple fixed-ratio (FR), fixed-interval (FI) schedule of food presentation (monkeys and pigeons) or 0.25% saccharin solution (rabbits). Generally, TRH and MK-771 produced decreases in responding under both schedules and in all three species. TRH and MK-771 were roughly equipotent in the squirrel monkey, whereas in the pigeon and rabbit MK-771 was approximately 20 times more potent than TRH in decreasing responding to 50 percent of control levels. The duration of action of doses of TRH and MK-771 that reduced responding to 50 percent of control was approximately 3 hr in the squirrel monkey; recovery of performance occurred twice as fast under the FR schedules. With the pigeon, TRH effects that produced 50 percent decreases in responding lasted over 6 hours, whereas behaviorally comparable doses of MK-771 lasted about 4 hours. With few exceptions, TRH and MK-771 appear to produce similar effects of schedule-controlled behavioral performances of the squirrel monkey, rabbit and pigeon. Compared to the effects of other behaviorally-active substances under these procedures, TRH and MK-771 exert a distinctive array of effects.
Animals↗
Effects of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and MK-771 on behavior of squirrel monkeys controlled by noxious stimuli.
The effects of TRH (0.1-30 mg/kg) and an enzyme-resistant analogue, MK-771 (0.1-10 mg/kg), were characterized in squirrel monkeys on responding maintained in the presence of different visual stimuli by a multiple 3-min fixed-interval (FI), 30-response fixed-ratio (FR) schedule of stimulus-shock termination or by a multiple 5-min FI schedule of food or shock presentation. Under the termination schedule, the first response at the end of 3 min in the FI component or the completion of the 30-response requirement in the FR component terminated the visual stimulus in the presence of which shocks occurred (escape schedule). Under the schedule of food or shock presentation, the first response at the end of the 5-min FI produced food in the presence of red stimulus lights or shock in the presence of white lights. TRH and MK-771 produced large, dose-related increases in responding maintained under the FR stimulus-shock termination schedule whereas these peptides produced smaller increases or did not affect responding under the FI schedule. TRH and MK-771 also produced marked increases in responding maintained by shock presentation at doses that did not alter or decreased food-maintained responding in the same subject. Thus, performances maintained by noxious stimuli are uniquely sensitive to the rate-increasing effects of TRH and MK-771. These findings suggest that the behavioral effects of the neuropeptides, TRH and MK-771, can depend on the specific consequences of behavior and, as such, the effects of these substances are determined by many of the same variables that determine the effects of other behaviorally-active drugs.
Animals↗
Potentiation of the behavioral effects of pentobarbital, chlordiazepoxide and ethanol by thyrotropin-releasing hormone.
Effects of pentobarbital, chlordiazepoxide and ethanol were studied alone and in combination with thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), IM, on punished behavior. Key-peck responses of pigeons were maintained by food presentation under a fixed-interval 3-min schedule in which every 30th response produced shock. Moderate doses of pentobarbital, chlordiazepoxide and ethanol increased punished responding to 150-200% of control values while the higher doses of these drugs almost completely eliminated responding. TRH (0.01-1 mg/kg) had little effect on punished responding and 3 mg/kg produced 50% decreases. Although the lower doses of TRH were without effect when given alone, doses of 0.03 mg/kg and greater markedly potentiated the rate-increasing effects of pentobarbital, chlordiazepoxide and ethanol. Increases in punished responding of 350% were obtained with combinations of TRH and these drugs. The rate-decreasing effects of the sedative-hypnotic and anxiolytic compounds were not reversed by TRH. Potentiation of the behavioral effects of sedative-hypnotic and anxiolytic drugs by TRH suggests that TRH may play an important role in modulating the behavioral effects of these compounds and that combinations of neuroactive peptides with certain psychotherapeutic agents may be of some therapeutic value.
Animals↗
Effects of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), tuftsin and dermorphin on behavior of squirrel monkeys maintained by different events.
The effects of intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of ovine CRF (0.1-30.0 micrograms/kg), dermorphin (0.3-30.0 micrograms/kg) and tuftsin (10-3000 micrograms/kg) were examined in squirrel monkeys trained to respond under a multiple 3-min fixed-interval schedule of food presentation and either shock presentation or stimulus-shock termination. Initial administration of the 41-amino acid polypeptide CRF increased food-maintained responding by 150-200% in 2 of 3 subjects. However, no other doses tested affected response rates, a result that may have been due to the rapid development of tolerance. The tetrapeptide tuftsin selectively increased responding maintained by food presentation at doses that decreased shock-maintained responding. The heptapeptide dermorphin selectively increased food-maintained responding when responding in the other component of the multiple schedule was maintained by shock presentation. When responding was maintained by a multiple food, stimulus-shock termination schedule, dermorphin decreased response rates in both components. Dermorphin's rate increases were blocked by the opiate antagonist naloxone, indicating that dermorphin's actions were mediated through the opiate receptor. These results indicate that the behavioral effects of tuftsin, dermorphin, and perhaps CRF, depend on the manner in which responding is controlled by its consequences. While the actions of tuftsin and dermorphin are believed to be mediated through the opiate system, the behavioral effects observed in primates appear different from the effects of morphine under similar schedule conditions.
Analgesics, Opioid↗
Effects of corticotropin releasing hormone on appetitive behaviors.
Corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) is a 41-residue hypothalamic neuropeptide that has been shown to have potent behavioral effects in animals and has been implicated in clinical disorders in man. This review focuses on those aspects of the behavioral effects of CRH related to food-associated behaviors. The effects of CRH on food intake are compared with its effects on performances maintained by food presentation, and contrasted with the effects of CRH on performances maintained by other events. The effects of CRH antagonists and drugs that interact with the behavioral effects of CRH are also reviewed, particularly with respect to their direct effects on food intake. Lastly, data assessing the effects of CRH administration on central neurotransmitter levels are presented and compared with levels seen in clinical populations. The effect of CRH on food intake seen in animals is consistent with a putative role for CRH in clinical syndromes where appetite suppression is apparent. Since some of the effects of CRH on food intake are subject to pharmacological intervention, strategies directed at peptidergic mechanisms of psychiatric disorders should be explored.
Animals↗
Frequency and correlates of adjustment disorder related to cardiac surgery in older patients.
The diagnosis of adjustment disorder is a dilemma in older medically ill patients. The authors conducted a prospective study of older cardiac surgery patients. Semistructured interview techniques were used to distinguish emotional impairment from physical impairment to diagnose an adjustment disorder. Among 71 patients interviewed at three points in time, 50.7% had an adjustment disorder. At 6 months after surgery, 30.6% were still showing evidence of emotional functional impairment. Continued impairment was related to initial severity of depressive and anxiety symptoms. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Activities of Daily Living↗
Status of minor depression or dysthymia in primary care following a randomized controlled treatment.
This report describes the rates of recovery and remission from minor depression or dysthymia in primary care patients three months after completing a randomized controlled treatment trial. The subjects were primary care patients who received > or =4 treatment sessions with Problem-Solving Treatment, paroxetine, or placebo and who completed an independent assessment 3 months after the study (201 with minor depression, 229 with dysthymia). The 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD), semistructured questions about postintervention depression treatments, and baseline medical comorbidity, neuroticism, and social function were the primary measures. For minor depression 76% and for dysthymia 68% of subjects who were in remission at the end of the 11-week treatment trial were recovered (HAMD < or =6) three months after the treatment trial. Of patients who were not in remission at 11 weeks, for minor depression 37% and for dysthymia 31% went on to achieve remission at 25 weeks. The majority of patients chose not to use antidepressants or psychotherapy after the trial. Patients with minor depression that had greater baseline social function and lower neuroticism scores were more likely to be recovered. For patients with minor depression, these findings suggest a need for some matching of continuation and maintenance treatment to patient characteristics rather than uniform, automatic treatment recommendations. Because of the chronic, relapsing nature of dysthymia, practical improvements in encouraging effective continuation and maintenance phases of treatment are indicated.
Adolescent↗
The treatment effectiveness project. A comparison of the effectiveness of paroxetine, problem-solving therapy, and placebo in the treatment of minor depression and dysthymia in primary care patients: background and research plan.
This report describes the background, rationale, and research plan for a comparative treatment trial of the effectiveness of paroxetine, problem-solving therapy (PST-PC), and placebo in the treatment of minor depression and dysthymia in primary care patients. Patients were recruited from a variety of primary care practice settings in four separate geographic locations (Hanover, New Hampshire; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, San Antonio, Texas; and Seattle, Washington). Patients were randomly assigned to each of the three intervention conditions the medication/placebo conditions were double-blinded. The treatment trial was 11 weeks, with independent assessments of patient clinical status at baseline, 6 weeks, and 11 weeks. There was a follow-up at 25 weeks. Since there are relatively few placebo-controlled trials in primary care settings on patients with these disorders, the background of this project and a description of it are presented at this time, prior to the availability of outcome data, to provide methodological detail and to increase awareness in the research community of this treatment trial, with results to appear subsequently.
Antidepressive Agents↗
Postpartum home visits by maternity nursing students.
Fewer babies are being born; hospital postpartum days are being shortened; and many families are choosing home births: These facts have prompted nursing educators to seek maternity experiences for students outside the hospital setting. At the university where the student-visit program was implemented, faculty appreciated the need for follow-up home care and focused on more than the experiences in prenatal clinics and the acute-care setting. Rather than turning the family over to another community service or colleague when indicated, second and third home visits are being considered. These additional visits would assure a greater opportunity for primary prevention in the care of the total family. Hospital management and home-care maternity nurses have found that postpartum visits have decreased the need for parents to return to the emergency room or the hospital. Problems have been anticipated or assessed and nursing intervention provided on the home visit. This service gradually is becoming available to more families, with both physical and psychosocial needs being considered. It is hoped that it soon will be provided to all families. Postpartum families, nurses, and nursing students benefit from follow-up postpartum visits in the home. The families are assisted in their parenting roles and nurses gain satisfaction in providing continuity of care.
Adaptation, Psychological↗