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Biomedical subjects

P Bech

Publications and source records attributed to P Bech.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Generalized anxiety or depression measured by the Hamilton Anxiety Scale and the Melancholia Scale in patients before and after cardiac surgery.

We have examined the applicability of the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAS) and our Melancholia Scale (MES) on a group of patients suffering from cardiac disease. They were assessed before surgery and again 1, 3, and 6 months after the operation. The results showed that the median for this group of patients even preoperatively was below the cut-off scores for both rating scales with a monotonous fall in score on the follow-ups. Item analysis showed that it was the psychic or cognitive symptoms of the HAS rather than the somatic symptoms of anxiety that explained the score variation. On the MES it was symptoms like depressed mood, psychic anxiety, pains, emotional and intellectual retardation rather than symptoms of guilt, motor retardation or suicidal impulses that were present. From both scales a total of 10 items emerged which were considered to measure generalized anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Scale). When the patients were classified into groups by a global assessment according to their ability to verbalize preoperative anxiety it was found that patients who were less able to verbalize had the lowest rating scale score. It was argued that preoperative anxiety is an introspective perception of fluctuating somatic manifestations of anxiety, whereas the rating scale procedure focuses on the persistent or cognitive part of anxiety which mostly is retrospectively perceived.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

The Hamilton Anxiety Scale. Evaluation of homogeneity and inter-observer reliability in patients with depressive disorders.

In the present study the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAS), originally constructed for patients with neurotic anxiety, has been applied to patients with diagnosis of depressive disorders. The inter-rater reliability and homogeneity are evaluated and total scale score has been correlated to the Bech-Rafaelsen Melancholia Scale (BRMES). Twenty-two patients entered the study, 13 with endogenous depressions, and 9 with non-endogenous depressions when classified according to the ICD-8. For both scales the inter-rater reliability was found statistically significant. Concerning the homogeneity of the HAS, statistical significance was obtained for 7 items reflecting psychic anxiety, whereas in the BRMES statistical significance was found in all items apart from 2. Total scale score on HAS correlated positively with total score on BRMES for all 2 patients. However, when the patients were classified according to the ICD-8 this correlation seemed to be due to the endogenously depressed group as no significant correlation was seen for the group of non-endogenous depression. On the other hand, when the patients were classified according to the MULTI-CLAD system no significant intercorrelation of the HAS and BRMES scores was found within the subtypes of depression.

Adjustment Disorders↗
PubMed1983

The Melancholia Scale and the Newcastle Scales. Item-combinations and inter-observer reliability.

The reliability of the total scores on three rating scales (Melancholia Scale and the two Newcastle Scales) and the algorithms leading to the Feighner, Research Diagnostic Criteria, and the DSM-III subtypes of depression have been compared. The degree of inter-observer agreements for the various item-combinations was significantly higher than would be expected by chance. The average agreement for each assessment system ranged from 80 to 93 per cent. This 7 to 20 per cent lack of total agreement probably reflects the limitation of clinical assessments including the influence of halo effects.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

The Hamilton depression scale. Evaluation of objectivity using logistic models.

The consistency of the Hamilton Depression Scale (HDS) as a measure of the severity of depressive states has been examined when the scale was used weekly during a trial when imipramine. By use of logistic models (Rasch) the consistency of the HDS has been considered across patient-variables as age, sex, plasma levels of imipramine, and diagnosis. The results showed that the original 17-item HDS was without adequate consistency, i.e. the total score of the sample of items was no one-dimensional measure of depressive states. However, a melancholia subscale of the HDS contained items the total of which can be used to compare patients quantitatively, although in some part of the analysis one of these items showed ceiling effect. It was concluded that the melancholia subscale (containing the items depressed mood, guilt, work and interests, retardation, psychic anxiety, and general somatic symptoms) can form the basis for further improvements in the field of quantitative rating scales for depressive states.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

A collaborative study of genetic linkage of bipolar manic-depressive illness and red/green colorblindness. A project of the biological psychiatry collaborative program of the world health organization.

A study of linkage of bipolar manic-depressive illness to the protan/deutan colorblindness region of the X-chromosome was performed on 16 informative families, in a WHO collaborative study (eight families from Brussels, Six from Bethesda, one each from Basel and Copenhagen). Overall, the series did not support close linkage, but is possibly suggestive of loose linkage. The possibility of genetic heterogeneity of bipolar manic-depressive illness, with one form linked to colorblindness, is considered.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

The WHO Depression Scale. Relationship to the Newcastle Scales.

The WHO (World Health Organization) Depression Scale is a new rating scale developed to evaluate the complete clinical history and description of depression. Items of the WHO scale were transformed to cover the items of the two Newcastle scales that are designed to differentiate between endogenous and non-endogenous depressions. In 98 depressed inpatients examined prior to antidepressive therapy only moderate agreement between scores transformed to the two Newcastle scales was found. Also the distribution patterns of the scores on the two scales were different. In patients classified as endogenous on one or both scales a significant relationship between plasma levels of imipramine or clomipramine and antidepressive effect was found. In patients classified on both scales as doubtful - or non-endogenous depressions - no such correlation could be identified. The initial severity of depression, as defined by the Hamilton Depression Scale, was the same in endogenous, doubtful and non-endogenous depression according to the scores transformed to the two Newcastle scales.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Personality in unipolar and bipolar manic-malancholic patients.

By use of standardized case-recording criteria (MULTI-CLAD) manic-melancholic patients were classified as unipolar (n = 13) and bipolar (n = 23). Personality patterns are evaluated when patients were in neutral mood (defined by low symptom rating scale scores). Results showed that the similarities in the personality patterns of unipolars and bipolars were much pronounced than the differences. In general, the score patterns of the various scales in both groups of patients were found to be within the normal score range. However, this was indirectly expressed by high Lie (or denial) score levels on the Eysenck scale. The dynamic explanations of this form of symptom-denial are discussed. Moreover, our findings are discussed in connection with lithium treatment which was the main therapy the patients had received.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Depression or asthenia related to metabolic disturbances in obese patients after intestinal bypass surgery.

This study was an attempt to compare psychological and biological variables in 43 obese patients after intestinal bypass surgery. The difficulties in expressing the psychological variables quantitatively are discussed on the basis of the concept of transferability. By use of an expanded version of the Beck Depression Inventory and the Marke-Nyman Temperament Scale we could demonstrate that items concerning asthenia (self-dislike, irritability, work retardation, insomnia, fatigability, somatic preoccupation about aches and pains, loss of libido, headache, vertigo, palpitations, dryness of the mouth, thirst or increased liquid intake) had, when summed up, a score distribution indicating bimodality. The asthenic group of patients (n = 19) when compared with the non-asthenic patients (n = 24) showed metabolic deficiencies related to the vitamin D complex with no response to oral vitamin D3 administration measured by plasma levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3. The lack of response was associated with low calcium excretion in the urine, higher plasma alkaline phosphatase, and a tendency to higher blood levels of parathyroid hormone.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

The Bech-Rafaelsen Mania Scale and the Hamilton Depression Scale.

In a study of 18 patients with manic symptomatology and 31 patients with melancholic symptomatology the Bech-Rafaelsen Mania Scale (BRMS) and the Hamilton Depression Scale (HDS) have been compared. The results showed that the inter-observer reliability of the BRMS was adequate compared with the HDS. Both scales are constructed for assessing the severity of manic or melancholic states, and no difference was found in the total BRMS or HDS score between the various diagnostic groups, when the patients were classified by an index of the course and symptomatology otive disorder, using the Multi-axial Classificetion System for Affective Disorders (MULTI-CLAD). The homogeneity of the BRMS seemed more adequate than that of the HDS, when each item was correlated to the corresponding total score. Although the homogeneity of the BRMS needs to be evaluated by other statistical models than correlation analysis, our results seem to indicate that the improvement in assessing manic-melancholic states quantitatively is a matter of redefining items or incorporating new items in the melancholic rather than the manic part of these rating scales.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

The profile and severity of lithium-induced side effects in mentally healthy subjects.

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design various side effects (= unwanted effects) during 6 months of therapeutic serum lithium levels (0.7-1.1 mmol/1) to nonpsychiatric patients were studied. The side effects were measured by self-rating scales and independent observer rating scales administered every 2-4 weeks throughout the study. After months of treatment, lithium induced hand tremor and thirst/polyuria; however, without any relationship to the serum levels of lithium. The frequency of tremor was highest in patients above the age of 60 years. No initial sedative-like lithium effect was found.

Adult↗