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Biomedical subjects

M Borenstein

Publications and source records attributed to M Borenstein.

52 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Family attitudes and patient social adjustment in a longitudinal study of outpatient schizophrenics receiving low-dose neuroleptics: the family's view.

Adverse effects of neuroleptic medication have led to the attempt to develop alternative strategies for the treatment of schizophrenia, but it is generally conceded that these strategies may have their own negative outcomes in the form of symptom exacerbation, reduced social performance and worsened family interactions. This paper examines the effect of one such strategy, low doses of medication, on the social adjustment of and family response to chronic schizophrenic outpatients. Patients who were randomly assigned to either a low-dose or standard-dose condition were rated by their families on various aspects of social adjustment. Despite a considerably higher relapse rate in the low-dose condition, families reported patients in the low-dose condition to be no poorer in their social adjustment than standard-dose patients. In addition, families of low-dose patients were more satisfied with their patients' overall level of adjustment and were no more rejecting at endpoint than families of standard-dose patients. Low-dose patients were viewed even more favorably when patients who relapsed were excluded from the analysis. Negative family attitudes, particularly rejection, measured at study entry, were found to predict time to relapse in the low-dose group. Implications for treatment and family intervention are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Tricyclic antidepressant and metabolite levels in chronic renal failure.

Serial blood samples were drawn from 12 patients undergoing hemodialysis who were receiving tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs). Samples were drawn before, during, and after a dialysis session (two to 17 sessions per subject). Samples were analyzed by HPLC before and after hydrolysis with beta-glucuronidase/sulfatase to determine the conjugated and nonconjugated metabolites. Analysis of these data in comparison with those of controls with depression and normal renal function showed that: (1) at steady state, tertiary and secondary amine TCA levels did not differ; (2) levels of the hydroxylated metabolites had greater variability and were somewhat higher at steady state; (3) levels of the conjugated hydroxylated compounds were markedly elevated, reaching 500% to 1500% normal; (4) the time to reach a steady-state level appeared to be slightly increased; and (5) elimination t1/2 s of unconjugated and conjugated drug forms were longer in our patients with normal renal function than those reported in the literature. Levels of the tertiary, secondary, and hydroxylated metabolites were not changed by dialysis, whereas there were substantial decrements in glucuronidated metabolite levels. These findings demonstrate increased concentrations of conjugated drug forms and suggest an abnormal distribution or delayed elimination of unconjugated and conjugated metabolites. These observations may shed some light on the apparent hypersensitivity of these patients to TCA side effects, particularly because glucuronides may exert peripheral pharmacologic effects.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Dexamethasone suppression tests in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder and major depressive disorder are associated by several lines of evidence. To explore the possible relationship between the two disorders, the authors administered 1-mg dexamethasone suppression tests to 18 patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder and 51 patients with major depressive disorder. None of the obsessive-compulsive patients were classified as nonsuppressors on the basis of a 4:00 p.m. serum cortisol level, whereas 37% of the depressed patients were nonsuppressors. The mean cortisol levels of the two groups differed significantly. Factors that may influence hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal function, such as age, depressive symptoms, and severity of illness, are discussed in light of these results.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Attitudinal changes of involuntarily committed patients following treatment.

Thirty-five involuntarily hospitalized psychiatric patients were interviewed immediately following admission and again prior to discharge to assess attitudinal changes and their relationship to patient characteristics and treatment outcome. The results indicate significant changes toward recognition of the original need for involuntary treatment. Those patients achieving remission of symptoms were most likely to have positive attitudes. Follow-up data indicate that the majority continued to receive outpatient treatment after the index episode, and among those readmissions that occurred, 92% were voluntary.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Dexamethasone suppression tests in patients with panic disorder.

Dexamethasone suppression tests were given to 10 patients with panic disorder and 22 depressed patients. All patients with panic disorder were normal suppressors, and nine depressed patients were nonsuppressors. The mean cortisol levels of the two groups differed significantly.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Safety and efficacy of bupropion in elderly patients: preliminary observations.

The efficacy and safety of bupropion, an atypical antidepressant, were assessed in depressed patients aged 55 and above. Data were analyzed for 38 patients who completed 4 weeks of double-blind treatment with bupropion in maximum doses of 150 or 450 mg/day; imipramine, up to 200 mg/day; or placebo. Preliminary results suggest that bupropion does have antidepressant activity and is well tolerated in this population. A particular advantage is suggested in terms of cardiovascular side effects.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1982

Temporal auditory acuity in blind and sighted subjects: a signal detection analysis.

Temporal auditory sensitivity was compared in five adventitiously blind and five normally sighted subjects in a signal-detection paradigm. Following determination of individual auditory flutter fusion (AFF) thresholds the subjects were required to make forced-choice responses between a fluttering and fused white noise under stimulus probabilities of 0.25, 0.50, and 0.75. From these data indices of sensory sensitivity (d') and response bias (Beta) were computed and compared. Analysis indicated no significant differences in auditory sensitivity between the two groups. These findings further weaken the traditional hypothesis of sensory compensation.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Multi-flash campimetry in multiple sclerosis.

Data are reported from the initial stage of development of a psychophysical technique that allows temporal resolution to be sampled in 120 retinal locations per eye in half an hour. This computer generated test consists of systematically increasing the off period of a small spot of light, temporally modulated at 5 Hz, until the light is perceived as flickering. Visual field plots based on the data from control observers reveal good temporal resolution in the central visual field with a fall-off in resolving power in peripheral regions. Data from multiple sclerosis patients are characterized by "islands" of poor temporal resolution that presumably reflect demyelination along the optic nerve.

Adult↗