Clomipramine: plasma levels and clinical effects.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to P Bech.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
The purpose of this study was to test the transferability of the Marke-Nymann Temperament Scale (MNTS) using the Rasch item analysis. The results showed that the three Sjöbring personality dimensions Validity, Stability, and Solidity measured by the MNTS were without transferability. However, the item analysis demonstrated a subscale for each of the three Sjöbring dimensions having adequate transferability, i.e. the subscales continued to test the same dimension in different groups of patients. These subscales still cover much of the range of the original descriptions by Sjöbring.
The concentrations of insulin and thyroid hormones, tryptophan, electrolytes, urea, plasma proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid, and glucose in blood and cerebrospinal fluid in manic-melancholic patients were studied. As control groups served patients suffering from other psychiatric disorders as well as neurological and orthopedic patients. Apart from the blood values of thyroid hormones, the results showed no differences between the various diagnostic groups, neither in the abnormal states nor when recovered. For blood thyroxine and free thyroxine index, a statistically significant differences was seen in unipolar (melancholic) patients, namely a decrease concomitant with the clinical improvement. A tendency in the opposite direction of the thyroxine values was found in bipolar (melancholic) patients. In the manic group a marked decrease in the thyroxine values was obtained in the lithium-treated patients.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
The synaptic membrane protein D2 was measured in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of manic-melancholic patients. The concentration of D2 increased with the age of the patients until about 35 years of age. No difference was found between the D2-concentration in CSF from a control group compared with different manic-melancholic subgroups. The D2-concentration in CSF collected from the patients during depression or mania was compared with CSF collected from the same patients when their moods were normalized. In the case of the depressed patients, we found that the D2-concentration increased slightly when the mood was normalized.
The effect of lithium administered for six months on simulated car driving and other psychological tests was studied in patients with Menière's disease. The dose of lithium was adjusted every two weeks to maintain the serum level between 0.7 and 1.0 mmol/1. The trial was double-blind and cross-over in type, the effect of lithium being compared with a placebo. The subjects were within the normal range of Beck's depression scale and Marke-Nyman's temperament scale. Lithium was found neither to influence the simulated driving nor to affect the scores in the two rating scales. The only specific complaints observed during lithium treatment were tremor and increased thirst.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
The relationship between the antidepressive effect of imipramine and the plasma concentrations of imipramine and the active metabolite desipramine was studied in 24 patients suffering from endogenous depression. After a placebo period of 7 days, the patients received imipramine, 75 mg 3 times a day. The dose was reduced in patients with pronounced side effects. Blood samples for drug assay were drawn in the morning, 15 hr after the last drug intake. Imipramine and desipramine in plasma were assayed by quantitative in situ thin-layer chromatography. Individual variations in plasma concentration were 20- to 30-fold in both imipramine and desipramine. Severity of depression was assessed on the Hamilton Rating Scale (HRS). Eleven of 12 patients who responded satisfactorily to the treatment (HRS post-treatment score less than 8) had plasma concentration of imipramine greater than or equal to 45 mug/L, and desipramine greater than 75 mug/L, whereas the 12 patients not responding satisfactorily (post-treatment score on HRS greater than or equal to 8) all had concentrations of imipramine or desipramine or both below these limits.
Three groups of epileptic out-patients (juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, psychomotor epilepsy, and cryptogenic grand mal) were studied. The groups were matched as closely as possible with each other with regard to sex, age, and treatment. Out-patients suffering from Menière's disease served as a control group; these patients were treated with placebo and matched with the epilepsy groups with regard to sex, duration of disease and social level. The Marke-Nyman inventory was used as a quantitative assessment of personality traits. This inventory is an operative definition of Sjöbring's neurophysiological model of personality, including the three dimensions: validity, stability and solidity. Our results showed that epileptic patients irrespective of the type of seizures were substable. Low validity was found in patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy and in patients with psychomotor epilepsy with temporal EEG focus. In those latter epilepsy groups a tendency to subsolidity was also observed. In Sjöbring's frame of reference these substable patients of low validity have a psychological vulnerability since they are unable to overcome the small concrete adversities of life. They adhere to problems, and being unable to solve them they tend to react in a mood of discontent or of maladjustment. In the usual psychiatric frame of reference substable patients of low validity are classified as psychoastenic patients with emotional instability.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the desired and undesired effects of relapse-preventive lithium treatment given routinely to manic-melancholic patients who had accepted the necessity of a strict tablet regime. The evaluation was based upon case record data and various rating scales, and 76 patients took part in the investigation. Our results showed that in 24% of the patients treatment was discontinued. This was due to side effects in 16% and to insufficient effect in 8% of the cases. The suicide risk was not eliminated, and 29% of the patients were receiving additional antidepressive or antimanic treatment at the test day. On the other hand, 78% of the patients rated the relapse-preventive lithium effect as moderate to excellent. Indirect evidence was obtained in support of a stabilizing effect of lithium on the emotional control in bipolar patients. The most frequent complaints during lithium treatment were tremor and increased thirst.
The problem of lithium maintenance treatment and weight gain was examined in 70 manic-melancholic patients who had been in treatment for 2 to 10 years. Their case records were reviewed and they answered a questionnaire. Out of 70 patients, 45 increased in weight with a mean weight gain of about 10 kg. The patients who increased in weight during the treatment were overweight already before the start and reached a weight about 20% higher than their ideal weight. They nearly all found themselves overweight and took measures to slim. No connection between a history of infant obesity and weight gain was found. Increase in appetite was only found in one third of the patients and had only a weak influence on the degree of weight gain. Nearly all the patients felt an increased thirst, and a very clear correlation between liquid intake and weight gain was found. It is recommended that all patients are repeatedly warned of the risks involved in satisfying their increased thirst on lithium by fluids rich in calories.
The concentrations of adenosine 3'5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in manic-melancholic patients were studied. As control groups served patients suffering from other psychiatric disorders as well as neruological and orthopedic patients. The results showed no difference between the various diagnostic groups, including melancholic versus manic patients, unipolar versus bipolar types. The severity of the affective states measured by rating scales showed no correlation to cyclic AMP levels in CSF. The cyclic AMP levels were apparently not influenced by electroconvulsive therapy or treatment with lithium, neuroleptica, or tricyclic antidepressants.
By use of a car simulator we have tested the driving behaviour of 46 inpatients before and during treatment. On the basis of the presence of psychotic symptoms the patients were divided into a psychotic and a non-psychotic group and matched according to age, sex, and driving experience. Before treatment the psychotic group had a statistically significant prolongation of brake time in such a way that their performance deteriorated more markedly over trials. During treatment there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups, indicating that antipsychotic drugs given to psychotic patients do not impair their driving, but on the contrary increase the vigilance.
A step-by-step analysis of Beck's and Hamilton's rating scales showed that both scales failed to differentiate adequately between moderate and severe depression measured by a global clinical assessment. Each item of the scales was tested for calibration, ascending monotonicity, and dispersion parallel to the clinical assessment. Twelve items of Beck's scale and six items of Hamilton's scale were found valid with respect to these criteria. Those items should be taken into account in future research for baseline ratings and for change ratings of depressive states quantitatively.