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Biomedical subjects

J H Greist

Publications and source records attributed to J H Greist.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Clomipramine versus fluoxetine in obsessive-compulsive disorder: a retrospective comparison of side effects and efficacy.

Since it will be some time until data will be available comparing clomipramine and fluoxetine for the treatment of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a meta-analysis of previous studies was performed in an attempt to gain some information about comparable efficacy and side effects of these two commonly used agents. In 31 OCD patients receiving clomipramine in a controlled trial and 72 OCD patients receiving fluoxetine openly, both drugs appeared effective, with clomipramine having a somewhat larger effect than fluoxetine. Different side effect profiles may have a bearing on patient selection.

Clomipramine↗

Computer-administered cognitive-behavioral therapy for depression.

The authors evaluated a six-session interactive computer cognitive-behavioral treatment program given to volunteer patients who met Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC) for major or minor depressive disorder. Patients were randomly assigned to computer-administered cognitive-behavioral treatment, to therapist-administered cognitive-behavioral treatment, or to a waiting-list control condition. After treatment and at 2-month follow-up, both treatment groups had improved significantly more than control subjects in their scores on the Beck Depression Inventory, SCL-90-R depression and global scales, Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, and Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire. The treatment groups did not differ from each other at either time.

Adult↗

A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of fluvoxamine versus imipramine in outpatients with major depression.

The authors employed a double-blind, placebo-controlled design to investigate the effectiveness of fluvoxamine versus imipramine in 54 outpatients with moderate major depression. Fluvoxamine proved superior to placebo but not to imipramine on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and the Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale. Nausea and hyperarousal were the most common side effects in the fluvoxamine-treated patients.

Adolescent↗

Treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder: psychotherapies, drugs, and other somatic treatment.

Ninety percent of obsessive compulsive patients can be helped by treatment with behavior therapy and drug treatment, used sequentially or concurrently. The effectiveness of these treatments has been demonstrated in controlled clinical trials and is superior to electroconvulsive therapy and dynamic or cognitive psychotherapies for this disorder. Potent serotonin uptake inhibiting drugs, from the class of heterocyclic antidepressants, are the most effective antiobsessional medications currently available. Although these drugs usually do not induce complete remission, they can reduce obsessive compulsive symptoms by 30% to 42%. Behavior therapy combines exposure and response prevention, which the patient first learns with the therapist and then practices independently. With behavior therapy, patients confront the triggers for their anxiety and then delay, diminish, or discontinue their rituals. Reduction in symptoms with behavior therapy averages 50% or greater. Behavior therapy is usually not effective in patients who are substantially depressed, are delusional, fail to comply, or undermine therapy with covert rituals or avoidance techniques. The rare patient with very severe obsessive compulsive disorder who does not respond to behavior or drug therapy may be a candidate for psychosurgery. Modern psychosurgical procedures are quite safe and can improve symptoms in the majority of otherwise unresponsive patients.

Antidepressive Agents↗

Treating the anxiety: therapeutic options in obsessive compulsive disorder.

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is far more prevalent and frequently more severe than recognized previously. Behavior therapy with exposure and response-prevention has proven effective treatment, as have potent serotonin uptake inhibitors, especially clomipramine, despite a high relapse rate after drug discontinuation. These therapies are complementary and a combination of the two approaches shows great promise in the treatment of OCD.

Anxiety Disorders↗

Clomipramine and obsessive compulsive disorder: a placebo-controlled double-blind study of 32 patients.

Thirty-two nondepressed patients with obsessive compulsive disorder were randomly assigned to treatment with clomipramine (N = 16) or placebo (N = 16) in a 10-week double-blind study. Of the 15 patients who received at least 3 weeks of clomipramine treatment, 11 (73%) improved, 5 (33%) improved by more than 50%, and none worsened. Only 2 (12.5%) of the 16 placebo-treated patients improved, 1 (6%) by more than 50%; two (13%) worsened. Clomipramine treatment was associated with statistically significant improvement on several measures of obsessive compulsive symptoms. Side effects were more frequent and severe with clomipramine than with placebo. Although most patients tolerated clomipramine well, 3 discontinued treatment because of side effects.

Adult↗

Obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder complain of anxiety-producing intrusive thoughts and/or perform repetitive, anxiety-reducing rituals. A combination of behavior therapy and drug therapy is generally beneficial in this relatively common disorder. Behavior therapy consists of exposing patients to anxiety-provoking situations and helping them avoid ritualistic responses. Drug therapy appears to work by blocking serotonin reuptake in the brain.

Adult↗

Serotonin and treatment in obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Recognized since the Middle Ages, and clearly described for more than 100 years, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) continues to intrigue and challenge mental health professionals. Recent evidence has implicated dysfunctional serotonergic neurotransmission in OCD. This review summarizes the evidence favoring a serotonergic hypothesis for OCD followed by a more detailed discussion of the implications the hypothesis holds for treatment.

Behavior Therapy↗

The meaning of serum lithium levels in maintenance therapy of mood disorders: a review of the literature.

Since Cade first described the role of lithium in the treatment of manic-depressive patients 40 years ago, there has not been consistent agreement on the relationship between the serum level of lithium during maintenance therapy and clinical outcome. This is a comprehensive review of literature reporting on lithium dose-response relationships, with particular emphasis on a consideration of serum levels of lithium. Efficacy studies are systematically discussed as are those that consider the relationship between serum level and adverse effects. Even after 40 years of lithium use, the relationship between serum levels of lithium during maintenance therapy and clinical outcome, including the development of side effects, remains obscure.

Bipolar Disorder↗

A comparison of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule and clinical diagnosis.

The Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS) was administered to 220 psychiatric patients by lay interviewers. Kappas for agreement between DIS and chart diagnoses ranged from .39 to -.03 and averaged .14 for 13 diagnostic categories. Agreement was best for affective, obsessive-compulsive, and schizophrenic disorders and was poorest for phobias where patients overemphasized fears. The authors suggest that clinician evaluation of information collected by the DIS is important, especially in diagnosing individual cases.

Adolescent↗

Fluvoxamine treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Sixteen outpatients who met DSM-III criteria for obsessive-compulsive disorder completed a 20-week double-blind, crossover trial with fluvoxamine and placebo. Thirteen (81%) improved with fluvoxamine, while three (19%) improved with placebo. Fluvoxamine treatment was associated with significant improvement on measures of obsessive-compulsive symptoms, anxiety, and depression. Depressed subjects' improvement on obsessive-compulsive measures correlated with improvement in symptoms of depression. Nondepressed subjects also showed improvement on measures of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. In this trial, fluvoxamine was an effective and safe treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Adolescent↗

Comparison of computer- and interviewer-administered versions of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule.

A group of 150 psychiatric patients were administered the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS) on two occasions, once by a trained layperson and once using a computerized interview format in which the patient interacted directly with the computer. Agreement between the two methods on 15 diagnoses was relatively modest, as indicated by a mean kappa score of .51, but was similar to agreement rates reported in other studies of the DIS. The discrepancies may have been due to the high number of acutely ill inpatients studied, patients' reporting more symptoms in one of the interviews, and difficulty translating some of the DIS questions to the computer. Patients had positive feelings about both methods, but a significant majority liked the computer interview better and found it less embarrassing. The authors conclude that computerized administration of the DIS is as reliable as other methods but that exclusive reliance on the DIS for clinical diagnosis is inappropriate.

Adolescent↗

Suicide risk prediction by computer interview: a prospective study.

A computer interview program that uses a subjective Bayesian probability model to assess suicide risk was evaluated. Predictions made by clinicians for 52 patients were compared with predictions made by the computer for the same patients. The computer was significantly (p = .001) better at predicting attempters, and clinicians were significantly (p = .01) better at predicting nonattempters. An analysis of receiver operating characteristic curves showed that the computer had better overall discrimination, but the difference was nonsignificant.

Decision Making, Computer-Assisted↗

Lithium Information Center. One model of a computer-based psychiatric information service.

The Lithium Information Center has been functioning as a specialized psychiatric information service for nearly ten years. Over the years, the center has disseminated information about the medical uses of lithium to psychiatrists and other physicians, to patients, to the family and friends of patients, and to a host of other individuals and organizations including pharmacists, lawyers, nurses, social workers, mental health centers, clinics, and support groups. To encourage the development of similar psychiatric information services, we outline the center's methods of acquiring, organizing, and disseminating lithium information.

Computers↗