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Biomedical subjects

P Tienari

Publications and source records attributed to P Tienari.

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

The Finnish adoptive family study of schizophrenia. Implications for family research.

A nationwide Finnish sample of schizophrenics' offspring given up for adoption was compared blindly with matched controls, who were adopted offspring of non-schizophrenic biological parents. The adoptive families were investigated thoroughly using joint and individual interviews and psychological tests. The biological parents were also interviewed and tested. Among the 155 index offspring, the percentage of both psychoses and other severe diagnoses (borderline syndrome and severe personality disorders) was significantly higher than in the 186 matched control adoptees. This supports a genetic hypothesis. However, notable differences between these two groups only emerged in the families which were rated as disturbed. Thus the genetic effect (i.e. the differences between high and low genetic propensity) was only manifested as a psychiatric disorder in the presence of a disturbed family environment. The impact of disturbed family relations was strongest in the presence of the appropriate genotype.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Interaction between genetic vulnerability and family environment: the Finnish adoptive family study of schizophrenia.

A nationwide Finnish sample of schizophrenics' offspring given up for adoption was compared blindly with matched controls, that is, adopted-away offspring of nonschizophrenic biologic parents. The adoptive families were investigated thoroughly by joint and individual interviews and psychologic tests. Biologic parents were also interviewed and tested. Among the 144 index and 178 control offspring, the percentage of both psychoses and other severe diagnoses (borderline syndrome and severe personality disorder) was significantly higher in the index adoptees than in the matched control adoptees. Of the 15 psychotic adoptees in the total sample to date, 13 are offspring of schizophrenics and 2 are control offspring. Both global clinical ratings and test data for the adoptive, rearing parents also correlate with the symptomatic status of the adoptees. A prospective, longitudinal study of adoptees at risk is being undertaken to explore the direction of effects between adoptees and adoptive parents.

Adoption↗
PubMed1987

The Finnish adoptive family study of schizophrenia.

A nationwide Finnish sample of index offspring given up for adoption by schizophrenic women has been compared blindly with matched controls, that is, adopted-away offspring of nonschizophrenic biologic parents. The adoptive families have been investigated directly by joint and individual interviews and psychological tests. Interviewing and testing of biologic parents is in progress. In the total sample, thus far examined, of 124 index offspring, 9 (7.3%) have become psychotic; of 147 control offspring, 2 (1.4%) have become psychotic.

Adoption↗
PubMed1987

Genetic and psychosocial factors in schizophrenia: the Finnish Adoptive Family Study.

A nationwide Finnish sample of schizophrenic mothers' offspring given up for adoption was compared blindly with matched controls (i.e., adopted-away offspring of nonschizophrenic biological parents). The offspring were born 1927-79. To date, a total of 247 adoptive families (112 index and 135 controls) have been investigated and rated. Of the 10 psychotic cases, 8 are offspring of schizophrenics and 2 are control offspring. However, no seriously disturbed offspring is found in a healthy or mildly disturbed adoptive family, and of those offspring who were psychotic or seriously disturbed, nearly all were reared in disturbed adoptive families. This supports the hypothesis that a possible genetic vulnerability has interacted with the adoptive rearing environment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Interaction of genetic and psychosocial factors in schizophrenia.

What the genetic and family dynamic theory have in common, is that the cause of schizophrenia could be found in the family. Usually the genetic factors and the rearing factors are confounded in the same family. In a study of adoptive children given away for adoption early enough, discrimination between these two sets of factors is possible. A nation-wide sample of offspring of schizophrenic mothers, given away for adoption, has been compared blindly with matched controls, i.e., adopted-away offspring of non-schizophrenic biologic parents. The families have been investigated thoroughly with joint and individual interviews and psychological tests. In the 91 pairs where both the index and control families have been investigated and rated so far, the total number of severe diagnoses (psychosis, borderline, character disorder) is 28.6% (26/91) in the index group and 16.5% (15/91) in the matched control group. Of the 7 psychotic cases, 6 are offspring of schizophrenics and only one a control offspring. The relation of psychopathology of adoptive families to the mental health ratings of the offspring supports the hypothesis that a possible genetic vulnerability has interacted with the adoptive rearing environment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Psychiatric hospitalization in twins.

Hospitalization rates of monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs in Finland were compared for schizophrenia, neuroses, and alcoholism. Record-linkage of hospital records and death certificates for the years 1972-1979 was carried out for persons in the Finnish Twin Cohort (16,649 like-sexed twin pairs). The ratio of the number of observed vs that of expected concordant pairs and the ratio of concordance rates between MZ and DZ pairs were greater among males than females, and greater among young (40 years old or less) than among older pairs. The highest difference was found in schizophrenia and the lowest in neuroses. Pairwise concordance rates for schizophrenia (11.0% for MZ and 1.8% for DZ) seem to indicate great environmental influence (high proportion of discordant pairs) with apparent genetic liability (6.1-fold ratio in concordance between MZ and DZ pairs). In neurotic disorders, the difference of pairwise concordance rates between MZ and DZ pairs (6.8% vs 4.0%) was quite low, not strongly supporting a genetic hypothesis. Of the MZ pairs concordant for psychiatric hospitalization, 47% had lived together for their whole life time; of those discordant, 16% lived together. The corresponding figures for DZ pairs were 18% and 15%. The effect of intrapair relationships in disease-concordant pairs should be taken into account when evaluating the effect of genetic and environmental factors in psychiatric disorders.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Effect of open heart surgery on intellectual performance.

The interrelationship between postoperative psychosis, neurologic symptoms, and changes in tests of cognitive performance have been studied in a series of 60 cardiac valvular patients who underwent open heart surgery. The effects of preoperative psychological, psychiatric, and cardiologic factors on postoperative cognitive changes were analyzed. The investigation period was from five months before up to five months after the operation. There was a general trend towards improvement in intellectual performances. The psychotic group, however, still showed a persisting impairment in some visual and psychomotor tests several months after the surgery. The group with neurologic symptoms showed impairment in one visual test. Of the preoperative variables, mitral valve disease, a high level of hypochondriasis and anxiety, and poor performance in some visual and psychomotor tests predicted postoperative intellectual impairment. The results suggest two types of cerebral complications of open heart surgery. Postoperative psychosis reflects diffuse brain dysfunction manifesting itself in psychological tests long after the clinical symptoms have resolved. The presence of neurologic symptoms refers to a focal or lateralized injury. Both the neurologic and neuropsychologic findings indicate that the right hemisphere may be prone to dysfunction than the left hemisphere.

Cardiac Surgical Procedures↗
PubMed1977

Three double-blind comparative trials of mianserine (ORG GB 94) and amitriptyline in the treatment of depressive illness.

The results of double-blind comparative trials carried out simultaneously in three Finnish hospitals are presented. The antidepressant activity and side-effects of mianserine (ORG GB 94) and amitriptyline were compared. No statistically significant differences were found between the two treatments. It was found, however, that mianserine had clearly less anticholinergic side-effects than amitriptyline.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

A comparison of the cardiac effects of mianserin and amitriptyline in man.

In the course of a double-blind comparative trial of mianserin versus amitriptyline in the treatment of depressive illness, E.C.G. was recorded before and after three weeks of treatment in 27 female patients. Mianserin had no consistent effect on heart rate, PR interval, QRS width, or T wave amplitude. This is consistent with other data suggesting that mianserin lacks cardiotoxic effects. In contrast, amitriptyline treatment was associated with increases in heart rate and PR interval, and these effects were statistically significant in comparison to the mianserin group. This finding is consistent with the known cardiotoxicity of amitriptyline.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Mianserin hydrochloride (Org GB 94) in the treatment of obsessional states.

Nine patients with severe primary obsessional illness were treated with mianserin hydrochloride (Org GB 94), in a dose increasing to 20 mg three times daily, for 4 weeks. Six patients improved as assessed by a physician's global rating of improvement. The symptoms on a side-effects check list were less marked during treatment than they had been during the pre-treatment drug-free period.

Adult↗