Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Reich

Publications and source records attributed to J Reich.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

The morbidity of DSM-III-R dependent personality disorder.

Dependent personality has long been discussed by clinicians, and by empirical researchers more recently. Little empirical evidence so far has been presented as the type and degree of disability with which it is associated. This report provides some empirical data in that regard. To examine this question, those with and without DSM-III-R dependent personality were compared in male veterans drawn from an outpatient psychiatry clinic (dependent and nondependent groups). Standardized interview assessments were used to determine axes I and II disorders and family history. The dependent personality disorder group had significantly lower socioeconomic status and poorer functioning in the family/home sphere. They had significantly more social phobia, borderline traits, and histrionic traits. In relatives, there was significantly more generalized anxiety disorder, simple phobia, drug abuse, and dramatic personality disorder cluster. There are clearly documentable vulnerabilities and morbidities associated with dependent personality disorder.

Ambulatory Care↗
PubMed1996

Familial vulnerability factors to post-traumatic stress disorder in male military veterans.

The question has been frequently raised about whether there are emotional disorders that predispose to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We do know that those with PTSD do have many comorbid disorders, but due to the difficulty in performing prospective studies it is hard to tell what is cause and what is effect. This study bypassed the problem caused by comorbidity by examining family history of four proband groups: PTSD, mixed anxiety disorders, coexisting anxiety and depressive disorders, and screened normal controls. Two questions were examined. First, whether family history predicted who experienced combat situations and second, whether the proband groups could be distinguished by family history. Logistic regression identified two variables that predicted the experience of combat: major depression (odds ratio 2.17) and the DSM-III dramatic personality disorder cluster (odds ratio 1.36). Although there was considerable overlap, family history variables distinguished PTSD from other proband groups. Overall, the pattern of psychopathology in the families of the PTSD probands most closely resembled that in the families of the coexisting anxiety and depressive disorders probands. We conclude that family history methods may be an addition to possible variables that predict who will be exposed to combat and also that family history variables may be able to distinguish a PTSD population from some other types of emotional disorders.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Early visual recovery after excimer laser surgery for myopia: the Melbourne OmniMed results.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Although the refractive outcome can change for months after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), early visual results are of particular importance during pre-operative counseling of prospective PRK candidates. The expected vision in the first week post-operatively, following 6.0 mm or larger zone photoablation for myopia with the Summit OmniMed (Apex) laser, has not been analyzed in the literature to date. This study is intended to provide an indication of the early visual acuity that may be experienced by a patient undergoing PRK for myopia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The visual acuity recorded for 123 consecutive patients, (79 low myopes [-1.00 to -5.90 diopters (D)], 44 high extreme myopes [-6.00 to -19.00 D]), one week after they had undergone PRK, was analyzed. All patients included in the study had undergone PRK with the Summit OmniMed (Apex) excimer laser, leaving small degrees of astigmatism uncorrected. RESULTS: One week after PRK, uncorrected visual acuity was better for low myopes than high myopes. Of the low myopes, 83.0% were 20/40 or better compared with high myopes of whom 61.4% were 20/40 or better. CONCLUSION: Patients can be counseled that functional vision will be present in the period immediately after re-epithelialization.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Family history of DSM-III-R dramatic personality disorder cluster and functioning in patients with major depressive disorder.

Clinicians and researchers have noted that personality dysfunction related to borderline personality significantly predicts a poorer course in major depressive disorder. There is also some evidence that some aspects of personality are heritable. The goal of this report was to determine whether family history of dramatic personality disorder cluster indicated differences in functioning in patients with major depressive disorder. Patients with major depression were divided into two groups: those with a family history of dramatic personality disorder cluster (N = 49) and those without (N = 22). These were the clinical groups. A screened normal group was also added to determine how far the clinical groups differed from ordinary functioning (N = 31). Compared with the other clinical group, the group with the family history of dramatic personality disorder tended, in general, to have fewer personality traits as measured by the Personality Disorder Examination, similar Hamilton Anxiety and Depression scores and several significantly better functioning measures. It appears that a family history of dramatic personality disorder cluster identifies a group with different, but not necessarily lower, levels of functioning. Implications of these findings are discussed.

Depressive Disorder↗
PubMed1995

Family psychiatric histories in male patients with generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder.

It has been hypothesized, from twin study results in females, that the genetic predisposition in females for major depressive disorder (MDD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is identical. This report attempted to replicate these findings on a male population using family history methods. There were 119 subjects who completed standardized assessment of Axis I, Axis II, and family history. The family history of four groups was compared--GAD without MDD, MDD without GAD, GAD/MDD, and normals. As expected, GAD and MDD subjects showed trends toward more MDD family history than normals. The GAD and MDD groups showed only trend differences in family history of relatives. Unexpectedly, however, the MDD/GAD group had no higher level of either anxiety or depressive family history than normals (although they did have higher levels of personality family history). Both the GAD and the MDD groups had a significantly higher level of family history of depression than the GAD/MDD group. Within the limits of the family history method, the finding of similarity of the family predisposition of MDD and GAD was confirmed in a male population. However, it does appear that the combined disorder of MDD/GAD in clinical settings might have very different family history predispositions and possibly could be a separate disorder from both MDD and GAD when they are not comorbid.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Calcium binding to HMG1 protein induces DNA looping by the HMG-box domains.

Electron microscopy has shown that non-histone chromosomal HMG1 could induce DNA looping or compaction in the presence (but not in the absence) of Ca2+. The effect of calcium on DNA looping and compaction was interpreted as calcium binding to the acidic C-domain of HMG1. Both individual DNA-binding HMG1-box domains A and B were found to be involved in DNA looping and compaction. Treatment of HMG1 with a thiol-specific reagent, N-ethylmaleimide, inhibited the ability of the protein to induce DNA looping and compaction but not the electrostatic interaction with DNA. These results indicated that cysteine-sulfhydryl groups of the HMG1-box domains A and B are specifically involved in DNA looping and compaction, and that in the absence of calcium the acidic C-domain down-regulates these effects by modulation of the DNA-binding properties of the HMG1-box domains.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

A prospective follow-along study of the course of social phobia.

The goals of this study were to delineate the courses of social phobia and to determine whether the course of generalized and specific social phobia differed. In the Harvard/Brown Longitudinal Study of Anxiety Research Project, 66 specific and 74 generalized social phobic subjects were identified for whom adequate course data were available. These subjects had been followed prospectively with a standardized follow-along measure of psychopathology. The probability of remission was calculated for each individual group and both groups combined. Demographics were the same for both groups except that the specific social phobia group had a marginally higher mean score on the Global Assessment Scale. Complete remission for the combined group was not different from that for either subgroup and was 0.11 at 65 weeks. Social phobia appears to be a disorder with considerable long-term morbidity. Surprisingly, both subtypes took a comparably long time to remit and were similar in their high level of psychosocial dysfunction.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Comparison of personality disorders in different anxiety disorder diagnoses: panic, agoraphobia, generalized anxiety, and social phobia.

Recently there has been increasing interest in the relationship of the personality and the anxiety disorders. This paper presents comorbidity findings between DSM-III-R personality pathology and several DSM-III-R anxiety disorders and makes direct comparisons between anxiety groups. This is the most extensive comparison of this kind reported thus far. This report is on the first 475 anxiety patients who were recruited from multiple sites to take part in a naturalistic study of anxiety. All had a DSM-III-R diagnosis of panic, agoraphobia, social phobia, or generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Previous studies which found a high comorbidity between the anxiety and the personality pathology were confirmed, with a significantly higher prevalence of personality pathology occurring with social phobia and GAD. Among our patients, all of whom had anxiety disorders, the presence of comorbid major depression is associated with an increase in the levels of comorbid personality pathology--as previously described in the literature. The relationship between low social functioning and the presence of personality pathology was confirmed, however, the relationship appears to be specific to certain areas of functioning, a new finding. There is a clinically important relationship between Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire--Revised personality pathology and the anxiety disorders characterized by different prevalences of personality disorders in different anxiety disorders and specific areas of social dysfunction.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Identification of differentially expressed mRNA species by an improved display technique (DDRT-PCR).

We have significantly improved a method originally developed by Liang and Pardee [Science 257 (1992) 967-971] to display a broad spectrum of expressed genes and to detect differences in expression between different cell types. We have analysed various aspects of the technique and have modified it for both, the application to fast and efficient identification of genes and the use with automatic analysis systems. Based on the mathematical background we have devised the appropriate number of optimal PCR primers. We have also introduced nondenaturating gels for separating double stranded fragments as single bands. By applying the method to regenerating mouse liver, we have identified, out of a total of 38,000 bands, about 70 fragments where the expression of the corresponding genes seems to be differentially regulated at different time points. Application of the method to an automatic DNA sequencer was successfully done. Thus, we have confirmed the usefulness and increased the power of the RNA display technique, which we named differential display reverse transcription PCR (DDRT-PCR), and have extended the range of its application.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Asthma.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Asthma↗
PubMed1993

Comorbidity of panic and major depressive disorder.

The objective of this report is to determine whether those patients with panic disorder who have current major depression disorder (MDD) differ from those who do not in terms of demographics, comorbid disorders, severity of illness, nature of symptoms of panic attacks and psychosocial functioning. The sample consisted of 182 patients with current or history of panic disorder measured by standardized interview techniques. For analysis these patients were then divided by presence or absence of current MDD. The two groups were not different in age, sex, or marital status, age of onset, or symptom characteristics of panic attacks. However, patients with MDD were more likely to have Social Phobia and Generalized Anxiety Disorder, been hospitalized, made suicide attempts or gestures, have poorer psychosocial functioning, and currently be experiencing panic with more severe symptoms. These findings are discussed in terms of previous literature in the area.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Prevalence and characteristics of sadistic personality disorder in an outpatient veterans population.

This study is designed to examine the prevalence, demographics, and the Axis I and Axis II diagnoses of sadistic personality disorder (SPD) in a previously unexamined population (outpatient veterans). It also represents the first attempt to examine the family history of those with SPD. Standardized methods were used to select 144 nonpsychotic subjects from a veterans psychiatric outpatient clinic. The population was then divided into three groups: those with SPD, those without SPD but with antisocial personality disorder or traits, and those with no Axis II disorders. A fourth group consisted of 28 control veterans without psychopathology. Subjects with SPD tended to be younger and to have lower scores on the Global Assessment Scale than did clinical control subjects without personality disorders; they also had significantly more bipolar and panic disorder than were found in the antisocial traits group. High levels of depression and alcohol dependence were also present. SPD traits correlated with DSM-III-R dramatic cluster, compulsive, passive-aggressive, and self-defeating personality disorders. The SPD group could be distinguished from other groups on the basis of family history. It was concluded that sadistic personality traits and disorders are prevalent (8.1%), associated with reduced functioning, and may have specific associations with certain Axis I and Axis II disorders. It is possible that they have a distinct familial pattern.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1993

Levitating lung lesions due to bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia.

A 68-year-old man developed symmetrical bibasal infiltrates. Transbronchial lung biopsy specimen demonstrated abnormalities consistent with bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP). The infiltrates appeared to migrate cephalad over a period of months, gradually disappearing after reaching the pulmonary apices.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Stable DNA-polypeptide complexes from eukaryotic nuclei purified on heparin Sepharose.

A novel simple method using affinity chromatography on Heparin Sepharose CL-6B is described for purification of stable DNA-polypeptide complexes from preparations of eukaryotic nuclear DNA. These complexes resist RNase A and proteinase K treatment and copurify with DNA on phenol extraction. The content of heparin-binding complexes amounted to about 20% of the total DNA quantity and 60 to 80% of nitrocellulose-retained DNA, being similar in preparations of DNA from calf thymus, chicken erythrocytes and cauliflower inflorescence. This content was influenced by the size of DNA fragments and the presence of dithiothreitol. The heparin-binding fraction was shown to represent a definite type of complexes which is different from the other(s) retained on nitrocellulose.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

The prognostic significance of HPA-axis disturbance in panic disorder: a three-year follow-up.

Seventy-seven patients with DSM-III panic disorder underwent a baseline dexamethasone suppression test (DST), participated in an 8-week controlled treatment trial, and provided follow-up interviews 2-4 years later. The 20 patients who had exhibited DST nonsuppression at baseline had more symptoms of anxiety, more work and social disability, and a greater likelihood of ongoing major depression than did patients who had had normal DST results. DST nonsuppression in panic disorder apparently indicates a more persistent and chronically disabling condition.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Avoidant and dependent personality traits in relatives of patients with panic disorder, patients with dependent personality disorder, and normal controls.

Psychiatric researchers have long wondered whether personality traits might predispose toward or be integral to Axis I illnesses. The question is difficult to address because acute illness can either create personality traits or distort their measurement. The present study bypassed that problem by examining personality traits in relatives of patients. Panic disorder, dependent personality disorder, and control subjects were the proband groups. A cluster of traits that appeared to reflect low social self-confidence combined with a desire for social interaction occurred significantly more often in relatives of patients in both groups.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Using the family history method to distinguish relatives of patients with dependent personality disorder from relatives of controls.

It has long been established that some psychiatric disorders run in families, and as a result, the family history method has become an established part of clinical and research psychiatry. Although there is much literature on the Axis I disorders, there is relatively little on the personality disorders. There are now reports that dependent personality can run in families. This report demonstrates that a standardized family history method for the DSM-III personality disorder clusters can distinguish relatives of dependent personality disorder patients from relatives of normal controls on the anxious personality disorder cluster, but cannot distinguish them from relatives of a mixed anxiety/depression group who do not have personality disorders. Relatives of the mixed anxiety/depression group did show a different pattern from the relatives of the dependent personality disorder group when all three personality disorder clusters were examined. This is the first such finding reported in the literature. Implications for future research are discussed.

Adult↗