Biomedical subjects

J Profita

Publications and source records attributed to J Profita.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1989

Sustained, multimodal outpatient group therapy for chronic psychotic patients.

Twelve predominantly psychotic patients who were at high risk for relapse and rehospitalization participated in a treatment regime that combined medication and supportive and insight-oriented group therapy. The group was studied over a 44-month period during which the same psychiatrist was present. None of the 12 group members required rehospitalization during the study period, and the quality of life and level of functioning significantly improved for most of them. Factors that possibly contributed to the patients' responses are addressed.

Adult↗

PubMed1988

Perfect pitch.

Thirty-five subjects with perfect pitch, representing 19 families, were studied with a Perfect Pitch Questionnaire, which provided information on note-recognition capacity and musical exposure and training, as well as demographic characteristics. Perfect pitch was found to predominate in females and was detected at a very early age. The significant family incidence of the trait suggests the operation of genetic mechanisms concerning which speculations are presented.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1985

L-tryptophan as a hypnotic in special patients.

The authors briefly review prevalence and current treatment trends of sleep disorders in the elderly, underlining the need for the development of a more suitable hypnotic for this population. The use of L-tryptophan (LT) as a physiologic hypnotic in aged responders is considered and the hypnotic effect of 1- to 4-g bedtime doses on ten male inpatients and outpatients aged 30 to 72 years is evaluated. Results suggest a dramatic and sustained relief of insomnia for 3 weeks in 30 per cent of the patients and the absence of side effects in 90 per cent of those who took the agent. The authors conclude that despite its long therapeutic history, L-tryptophan has not been more successful because only a minority of humans appear to be responsive to its hypnotic actions. They point to the need to replicate their current preliminary observations in a larger controlled geriatric population and to delineate biochemical characteristics of LT responders in order to increase LT sensitivity in some patients and convert nonresponders to responders.

Adult↗