Biomedical subjects

Joseph Zohar

Publications and source records attributed to Joseph Zohar.

41 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed2002

Treatment non-response in OCD: methodological issues and operational definitions.

While controlled trials with SRIs have demonstrated a selective efficacy in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), up to 40-60% of patients do not have a satisfactory outcome. Non-response to treatment in OCD is associated with serious social disability. There are a large number of non-responsive patients, and they are difficult to cluster due to ambiguities in the diagnostic criteria, possibility of subtypes, and a high rate of comorbidity. Moreover, the findings of current studies of so-called 'non-responsive' cases are currently non-generalizable because of the lack of an operational definition of non-response. The result has been that a cumulative body of data on a reasonably homogeneous sample of non-responders has not been developed. The aims of this paper are to clarify some of the obstacles in defining stages of response and levels of non-response and, through a comprehensive analysis, to propose a systematic nosology for this rather common condition. Better characterization of which patients respond and do not respond to various treatments will enable more accurate clustering of patients, and help facilitate multi-site data collection for future research trials.

Drug Resistance↗

PubMed2002

Double-blind placebo-controlled pilot study of sertraline in military veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder.

The efficacy of sertraline in the treatment of civilian posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been established by two large placebo-controlled trials. The purpose of the current pilot study was to obtain preliminary evidence of the efficacy of sertraline in military veterans suffering from PTSD. Outpatient Israeli military veterans with a DSM-III-R diagnosis of PTSD were randomized to 10 weeks of double-blind treatment with sertraline (50-200 mg/day; N = 23, 83% male, mean age = 41 years) or placebo (N = 19, 95% male, mean age = 38 years). Efficacy was evaluated by the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-2) and by Clinical Global Impression Scale-Severity (CGI-S) and -Improvement (CGI-I) ratings. Consensus responder criteria consisted of a 30% or greater reduction in the CAPS-2 total severity score and a CGI-I rating of "much" or "very much" improved. The baseline CAPS-2 total severity score was 94.3 +/- 12.9 for sertraline patients, which is notably higher than that reported for most studies of civilian PTSD. On an intent-to-treat endpoint analysis, sertraline showed a numeric but not statistically significant advantage compared with placebo on the CAPS-2 total severity and symptom cluster scores. In the study completer analysis, the mean CGI-I score was 2.4 +/- 0.3 for sertraline and 3.4 +/- 0.3 for placebo (t = 2.55, df = 30, p = 0.016), CGI-I responder rates were 53% for sertraline and 20% for placebo (chi2 = 3.62, df = 1, p = 0.057), and combined CGI-I and CAPS-2 responder rates (>or=30% reduction in baseline CAPS-2 score) were 41% for sertraline and 20% for placebo (chi2 = 1.39, df = 1, p = 0.238). Sertraline treatment was well tolerated, with a 13% discontinuation rate as a result of adverse events. This pilot study suggests that sertraline may be an effective treatment in patients with predominantly combat-induced PTSD, although the effect size seems to be somewhat smaller than what has been reported in civilian PTSD studies. Adequately powered studies are needed to confirm these results and to assess whether continued treatment maintains or further improves response.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder: state-of-the-art treatment.

Nonresponse to treatment in obsessive-compulsive disorder is common, associated with substantial impairment, and understudied. Little practical advice is available to clinicians on next-step treatment strategies for patients who have not responded well to 2 trials of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Available options include continuation of SSRI treatment, switching to another SSRI or selective serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, augmenting with atypical neuroleptics or cognitive-behavioral therapy, or utilizing novel treatment approaches. The authors synthesize state-of-the-art treatment and give practical advice for clinicians.

Antipsychotic Agents↗

PubMed1991

Remission of Tardive Dystonia with ECT.

A 30-year-old patient with tardive dystonia, who had failed to respond to cessation of neuroleptics, placebo, diazepam, biperiden, propranolol, and clonidine, had an impressive response to courses of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) on three successive trials.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1985

Potentiation of Seizure Length and Clinical Response to Electroconvulsive Therapy by Caffeine Pretreatment: A Case Report.

A patient with a history of nonresponse to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) was treated with ECT modified by i.v. caffeine before electrical stimulation for some of the seizures. Seizures preceded by i.v. caffeine were longer, and led to marked clinical improvement. Caffeine pretreatment may be a method to enhance seizure length and efficacy in resistant patients.

Journal Article↗