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Biomedical subjects

M Rapaport

Publications and source records attributed to M Rapaport.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Retraumatization of Holocaust survivors during the Gulf War and SCUD missile attacks on Israel.

The purpose of this work was to study the reaction to a new threat and a new trauma of people severely traumatized in the past, when the new trauma had associations with the original one caused by the Holocaust. The situation created during the Gulf War gave a rare occasion to study it. We also wanted to check if the reaction of Holocaust survivors to the war differed from that of the general population. In addition we wanted to find out if there was a difference in reaction to the war between two clinical populations: Holocaust survivors and patients who are not Holocaust survivors. Sixty-six Holocaust survivors living in Israel, 31 of them undergoing psychiatric or psychological treatment either as in-patients or as out-patients, were interviewed during the Persian Gulf War. In addition to the clinical group, there was a non-clinical group of 35 Holocaust survivors--21 whose homes were not damaged by SCUD missiles, and 14 whose homes were damaged by missiles. Those whose homes were damaged by SCUD missiles were retraumatized, and showed reactivation or exacerbation of the survivor syndrome. Six of them displayed the full syndrome of PTSD.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

The cholinergic REM sleep induction test with pilocarpine in mildly depressed patients and normal controls.

Previous studies suggested that depressed patients enter rapid-eye movement (REM) sleep more quickly than normal controls following the administration of muscarinic agonists such as arecoline or RS 86. We recently reported that pilocarpine, an orally active muscarinic agonist, induced REM sleep and reduced Stage 3 & 4 (Delta) sleep in young normal volunteers. In this study we present preliminary evidence that pilocarpine had similar effects on REM latency, REM percentage, and Delta (Stages 3 & 4) sleep percentage in depressed patients and controls. Pilocarpine, however, decreased stage-4 sleep in controls more than in depressed patients. Because this group of patients were only mildly depressed at the time of the study, had a high frequency of comorbid substance abuse diagnoses, and had normal electroencephalogram (EEG) sleep patterns under placebo conditions, further studies are necessary to test the hypothesis that depressed patients show hypersensitive cholinergic REM sleep induction.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Late effects of massive psychic trauma. Holocaust survivors 50 years later].

The authors report the results of a study aimed at examining the present mental state, adjustment and lifestyle of a non-clinical sample of Holocaust survivors aged 60 and over. Most the interviewees have suffered since the war from various psychic symptoms, the so-called "survivor syndrome". Concentration camp survivors form a special group whose level of suffering appears greater and more severe than other survivors. In spite of continuous mental suffering Holocaust survivors have succeeded in adjusting well. They hold top positions at work, are socially successful and have stable family nuclei. They behave as if they need to fulfil the expectations of all those who perished in the Holocaust. Only 4 subjects reported a latency period before the appearance of symptoms.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1990

Effects of the acute administration of caffeine in patients with schizophrenia.

Caffeine, 10 mg/kg, was administered to 13 schizophrenic patients in a double-blind placebo-controlled study of its behavioral effects. Some measures of psychopathology were significantly increased: Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) total, BPRS subscales thought disorder, unusual thought content, and euphoria-activation, and several individual BPRS items. Nurses' Bunney-Hamberg ratings of psychosis and mania, comparing the day before with the day after pharmacological challenge, increased significantly. Compared to placebo, caffeine also produced significant increases of diastolic blood pressure and cortisol. Thus, these findings indicate that caffeine increases arousal and has a psychotogenic effect when administered to schizophrenic patients. The possible roles of various neurotransmitters is discussed with special emphasis on caffeine's actions on dopaminergic and adenosinergic systems.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

The late effects of Nazi persecution among elderly Holocaust survivors.

Eighty-six survivors of the Holocaust from a nonclinical population were interviewed to examine the recent mental state, coping and adjustment of elderly Holocaust survivors. Most of the interviewees suffered after the war and are still suffering from the results of persecution. Death camp survivors suffer more than survivors who were subjected to other forms of Nazi persecution. Despite the mental suffering, Holocaust survivors succeeded to cope and to adjust. They are successful at work and in society. They managed to raise warm families. They behaved and still behave as if fulfilling a testament to those who perished.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1989

Fenuafala health survey: the ecology of health and disease on a coral atoll village.

The atoll community of Fenuafala was surveyed during July-August, 1987. A disproportionate demographic structure was found: There was a large, young population with an uneven sex distribution in the adolescent cohorts. Adoption of relatives was frequent. Employment varied according to sex, with women restricted from horticulture, fisheries, and hard labour. The use of alcohol and tobacco was common. Causes of mortality included cancer, heart failure, meningitis, alcoholism, and accidents. Bacterial and fungal skin infections were prevalent. There were several cases of congenital disorders. Malaria, leprosy, and most other tropical diseases were absent. However, there was a single case of filariasis. Musculoskeletal disorders were numerous and more common among women. Falls from trees have resulted in serious sequelae including epilepsy and death. Hypertension, diabetes, and gout appear to be on the increase, but angina and myocardial infarction were not reported. There were also cases of epilepsy and Parkinson's disease.

Ecology↗
PubMed1986

Effects of topically applied capsaicin on moderate and severe psoriasis vulgaris.

Alterations in the cutaneous vascular system are prominent in psoriasis and may play an important role in the pathogenesis of this disorder. We evaluated the effects of topically applied capsaicin (trans-8-methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide), a known inhibitor of cutaneous vasodilatation, on moderate and severe psoriasis. Under a double-blind paradigm, forty-four patients with symmetrically distributed psoriatic lesions applied topical capsaicin to one side of their body and identical-appearing vehicle to the other side for 6 weeks. After 3 and 6 weeks of treatment, we performed ratings on changes in scaling and erythema, as well as overall improvement of the psoriasis. Over the course of the study, significantly greater overall improvement was observed on sides treated with capsaicin compared to sides treated with vehicle. Similarly, significantly greater reductions in scaling and erythema accompanied capsaicin application. Burning, stinging, itching, and redness of the skin were noted by nearly half of the patients on initial applications of study medication but diminished or vanished upon continued application. These results suggest that topical application of capsaicin may be a useful new approach in the treatment of psoriasis.

Administration, Topical↗