Biomedical subjects

Sven Barnow

Publications and source records attributed to Sven Barnow.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2007

Attention problems among children with a positive family history of alcohol abuse or dependence and controls. Prevalence and course for the period from preteen to early teen years.

This longitudinal study investigated the scope and course of attention problems over a period of time from preteen (ages 7-12 years) to early teen years (ages 13-17 years). We compared symptoms in subjects with and without a family history (FH) of alcohol abuse or dependence from among families without evidence of antisocial personality disorder. Evaluations of attention problems for the offspring were based on the Child Behavior Checklist and a validated semistructured interview carried out with the mother. The findings indicate no higher risk for attention problems and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-like symptoms in the children of families with an alcohol use disorder. Regarding the course of problems, the ADHD symptom count tended to decrease over time, especially for children without a FH of alcohol abuse or dependence. Further research will be needed to determine whether results can be replicated with families from different social strata and including subjects with the antisocial personality disorder.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

[Observed, pursued, disintegrated--mental disorders among victims of non-criminal repressions in the former GDR].

OBJECTIVE: While there are numerous studies on the mental sequelae of political imprisonment in the former German Democratic Republic (GDR), there is little knowledge about the prevalence of mental disorders in victims of other forms of political persecution. METHODS: 74 individuals, who were subject to non-criminal repressions in the GDR, were investigated by means of a standardized psychiatric interview. RESULTS: They had been exposed to a variety of reprisals such as observations, purposeful indiscretions, arranged professional failure and other forms of social marginalization. At least one mental disorder was found in 60 % of the participants. Affective disorders were the most common ones with a lifetime prevalence of 38 %, followed by anxiety (23 %) and somatoform disorders (28 %). CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of mental disorders in our sample of politically persecuted people was higher than in the general population and similar to that of political prisoners, who only show higher rates of anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorders.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Predictors of attention problems for the period from pre-teen to early teen years.

OBJECTIVE: This longitudinal study investigated the scope, persistence, and predictors of attention problems (AP) over a period of time from pre-teen (7-12 years) to early teen years (13-17 years). METHOD: AP evaluations used the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and a semi-structured interview (C-SSAGA-P) with the parents. In addition, data relating to birth complications, family histories of affective disorders and alcohol-use disorders, home supervision, emotional, social and behavioral problems, school performance and school activities at two different measurement points were also collected. RESULTS: The findings indicate a high degree of comorbidity between AP and emotional and behavioral problems, difficulties in school, social problems and peer rejection. Furthermore, a cross-sectional association between childhood AP and parental affective disorders was also evident. Longitudinally, there was no increase in AP over the age span covered by the study, and symptoms often did not persist over time. Multiple regression analyses confirmed poorer school performance, problems with peers and AP at time point 15 as predictors for subsequent AP. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that AP symptoms do not occur more frequently in early teen than in pre-teen years, and tend to be temporary phenomena. Difficulties in school and with peers were noted as particularly strong predictors of subsequent AP.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

The role of trauma and PTSD-related symptoms for dissociation and psychopathological distress in inpatients with schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the relationship between dissociative experiences, psychopathological distress, a history of trauma and posttraumatic symptoms in adult schizophrenia. METHODS: Eighty-seven schizophrenic inpatients returned self-questionnaires [Dissociative Experience Scale (DES); Symptom Checklist (SCL-90-R); PTSD Symptom Scale (PDS)]. Based upon this self-rating, 14 of the participants fulfilled the cut-off definition of PTSD according to DSM-IV criteria, 43 had a history of trauma without a self-rated diagnosis of PTSD. DES scores were also compared to a convenience sample of 297 non-clinical controls. RESULTS: We found no significant impact of trauma alone but a significant influence of posttraumatic symptomatology on the level of current psychopathological distress (GSI) and the DES subscale absorption. However, in logistic regression, posttraumatic symptomatology was associated with GSI but not with DES. Schizophrenic patients even without trauma or posttraumatic symptoms had significantly higher scores in all three DES subscales than non-clinical controls. CONCLUSION: Pronounced posttraumatic symptoms in schizophrenia are associated with severe additional psychopathological distress whereas the increase in dissociation (absorption) in this group of patients may be secondary to the increase in symptom load. However, schizophrenia itself seems to be associated independently from trauma and pathological posttraumatic conditions with a broad range of dissociative symptoms.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Transcallosal inhibition in patients with and without alexithymia.

OBJECTIVE: Previous results indicated a facilitated transcallosal inhibition via the corpus callosum (CC) in alexithymic male students. This study investigates transcallosal inhibition in alexithymic and nonalexithymic psychiatric inpatients. METHOD: Transcallosal inhibition was elicited by means of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of the primary motor cortex. Seven right-handed male and 12 female psychiatric patients with Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) scores of > or = 61 and 12 patients with TAS-20 scores of < 51 were investigated. The transcallosal conduction time (TCT) reflects the TMS-induced inhibitory cortical activity that is mediated via the CC. RESULTS: There was a significant effect of alexithymia on TCT (Wilks lambda = 0.76; F = 4.1; d.f. = 2, 26; p = 0.027) indicating that alexithymic patients had shorter bidirectional TCTs than nonalexithymic patients. The in-between models showed a significant impact of alexithymia on both right to left TCT (F = 4.8; d.f. = 1; p = 0.038) and left to right TCT (F = 5.0; d.f. = 1; p = 0.033). Neither gender nor scores of depression (Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale) had any significant effects on TCT. CONCLUSION: Our results confirm and extend the previous findings of a facilitated, bidirectional transcallosal inhibition in alexithymia to male and female psychiatric inpatients. Facilitated transcallosal inhibition should be considered as a neurobiological correlate of alexithymia.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Negative perceived paternal parenting is associated with dopamine D2 receptor exon 8 and GABA(A) alpha 6 receptor variants: an explorative study.

Twin studies suggest a genetic influence upon perceived parenting. The D(2) dopaminergic receptor is involved in the modulation of social behaviors, and might influence parenting and its perception. A polymorphism (E8) in exon 8 of the D(2) receptor gene (DRD2) has been previously associated with alcoholism-related phenotypes. Similarly, the Pro385Ser variant of GABRA6, the polymorphic gene for GABA(A) receptor alpha6 subunit, has been associated with alcohol- and depression-related traits; and rat pups maintained a more immature GABAR phenotype after brief separation distress. The relationships among DRD2 (E8) and GABRA6 (Pro385Ser) polymorphisms, and perceived parenting were studied here. The association of DRD2 (E8) and GABRA6 (Pro385Ser) genotypes and perceived parental rearing behavior (short-EMBU; questionnaire concerning own memories concerning upbringing) were determined in 207 unrelated adults using multivariate analysis of variance. Temperaments (Temperament and Character Inventory; TCI) were included as covariates. Probands with DRD2 (E8) A/A genotype showed higher scores for father rejection (P = 0.011), parents overprotection (P = 0.021), and father overprotection (P = 0.016) in the total group. An interaction between DRD2 and GABRA6 genotypes on father rejection (P = 0.010) and parents rejection (P = 0.030) was also observed. Further analyses showed that these associations were restricted to the female subgroup only; however, secondary gender-specific analyses were not corrected for multiple testing. Our findings support a role for DRD2 (E8) and GABRA6 (Pro385Ser) in perceived parenting.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Individual characteristics, familial experience, and psychopathology in children of mothers with borderline personality disorder.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine individual characteristics, familial experience, and psychopathology of children of mothers with borderline personality disorder (BPD). METHOD: Children of mothers with BPD were compared to children of mothers (1) with depressive disorders, (2) with cluster C personality disorders, and (3) without psychiatric conditions, including temperament dimensions, perceived parenting behavior, and psychopathology. RESULTS: Compared to other groups, children of mothers with BPD demonstrated higher scores on the temperament dimension of harm avoidance. Moreover, they tended to perceive their mothers as being overly protective. Regarding psychopathology, these children exhibited a higher prevalence of emotional and behavioral problems than comparison groups. Particularly significant was the finding that children of mothers with BPD described themselves as having very low self-esteem. CONCLUSIONS: Children of mothers with BPD are exposed to a combination of risk factors and are at greater risk of emotional, behavioral, and somatic problems. Early treatment of children at risk may help prevent these children from developing severe psychopathology.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Suicidal behavior in alcohol-dependent subjects: the role of personality disorders.

BACKGROUND: Comobidity of personality disorders (PDs) and alcohol dependence are considered to increase the risk for suicidal behavior. The aim of this study is to assess the influence of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder-fourth edition (DSM-IV) personality characteristics and comorbid axis I disorders on suicidal behavior in alcohol-dependent inpatients. METHODS: Characteristics of alcohol dependence and suicidal behavior were obtained using the Semi-Structured Assessment on Genetics in Alcoholism (SSAGA). Personality disorder characteristics were assessed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II Disorders. RESULTS: Three-hundred seventy-six treatment-seeking alcohol-dependent subjects, of whom 55% were diagnosed to have a PD and approximately 25% had a history of at least 1 suicide attempt, were enrolled into the study. Subjects with PDs in all clusters reported a higher rate of suicide attempt history, depression episodes, and depression during the most serious attempt. As indicated by univariate and multivarate analysis, this pattern of suicide attempt characteristics was most pronounced in borderline disordered subjects and alcoholic individuals who live alone. CONCLUSION: Subjects with alcohol dependence who have various comorbid PDs and depression deserve special attention in psychiatric care to prevent suicide. Psychotherapeutic strategies may have to be adapted to treat this high-risk population.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Frequency, clinical and demographic correlates of pathological dissociation in Europe.

Although pathological dissociation (PD) has received increasing scientific attention in Anglo-American countries, European research on the frequency, clinical and demographic correlates of this discontinuous construct are lacking. An 8-item subscale of the Dissociative Experiences Scale, called the DES-Taxon, was administered to five samples comprising a non-clinical population, students, unselected psychiatric inpatients, eating-disordered inpatients and psychosomatic outpatients with a total of 1,759 adult participants. In the two non-clinical samples, the frequency of PD ranged between 0.3 and 1.8%. Its prevalence was highest in the psychiatric inpatients (5.4%) followed by the eating disorders (4.8%) and the psychosomatic outpatients (2.2%). PD was seen in all diagnostic groups and it was associated with more psychopathological distress and younger age. PD is frequently found in clinical populations in European countries, too. However, methodological problems relating to its empirical determination might obscure the clinical and scientific value of the construct.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Borderline personality organization and dissociation.

The relationship between Kernberg's psychodynamic model of personality organization (PO) and dissociation has not yet been explored. Seventy-two nonclinical subjects and 222 psychiatric patients completed the Dissociative Experiences Scale and the Inventory of Personality Organization. Its Reality Testing subscale emerged as the most important predictor for all facets of dissociation. Discussing our results in the framework of Fonagy and coworkers' model of mentalization, we suggest that dissociation may reflect the preoedipal "pretend" mode of psychic functioning while impaired reality testing and psychotic experiences might be indicative of the "psychic equivalent" mode.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Recent developments in the theory of dissociation.

Although the construct of dissociation was introduced into psychiatry at the end of the 19th century by Pierre Janet, the term still lacks a coherent conceptualization, which is partially reflected by differences in the classification of dissociative and conversion disorders in ICD-10 and DSM-IV. Given the clinical significance of dissociative psychopathology in numerous clinical conditions, it is very valuable that various efforts have been made to refine and to specify current conceptualizations in recent years. The most promising and convincing approaches converge in subdividing dissociation into qualitatively different types, i.e. pathological versus non-pathological dissociation, and "detachment" versus "compartmentalization". We review these concepts and discuss their scientific and clinical potential as well as their limitations.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2005

Association between alcohol consumption and subclinical carotid atherosclerosis: the Study of Health in Pomerania.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Epidemiologic studies have shown a J-shaped association between alcohol consumption and vascular diseases. However, only few studies have reported on the association between alcohol intake and subclinical atherosclerosis. The aim of the study was to investigate the relation between alcohol intake and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in participants of the population-based Study of Health in Pomerania. METHODS: In 1230 men and 1190 women, the mean IMT of the right and left common carotid arteries was measured by B-mode ultrasonography. Alcohol consumption was assessed with a computer-assisted face-to-face interview. RESULTS: In men, carotid IMT as a function of alcohol intake was depicted as a J-shaped curve with a nadir for the alcohol intake category of 61 to 80 g/d. Linear regression models controlled for age, diabetes, systolic blood pressure, leisure time physical activity, food frequency patterns, smoking status, and education revealed a significant inverse association between IMT and alcohol intake < or =80 g/d in men (beta=-0.009, P<0.02), which became insignificant after further controlling for HDL cholesterol and fibrinogen (beta=-0.007, P=NS). In women, neither a J-shaped relation nor significant differences in IMT between the drinking and nondrinking groups were found. CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol consumption is inversely correlated with carotid IMT in men but not in women. However, the total daily level of alcohol intake that shows a maximum protective effect against atherosclerosis is above the threshold where severe alcohol related comorbidity and organ damage have been reported.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Alexithymia and interpersonal problems.

BACKGROUND: Interpersonal relationships are substantially codetermined by nonverbal communication, e.g. facial affect. Given the deficits of nonverbal affect recognition and expression in alexithymia, we hypothesized that alexithymics had more interpersonal problems than nonalexithymic individuals, and that the various facets of the alexithymia construct are differentially related to interpersonal problems. METHOD: 149 subjects participating in an inpatient group psychotherapy program completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP-C) at the beginning of the treatment. The IIP-C was also administered to a subgroup at the end of the treatment. RESULTS: Based on the alexithymia scores, patients were classified as low- (TAS-20 score </=51), moderate- or high-alexithymic (TAS-20 score >/=61). High-alexithymic patients had significantly more interpersonal problems than low alexithymics, particularly in the IIP-C scales indicating hostility and social avoidance. The TAS-20 subscale difficulty describing feelings showed the highest correlations with interpersonal problems (r between 0.23 and 0.55). At the end of the treatment, the high alexithymics still scored highest on the IIP-C, but the magnitude of change in interpersonal problems did not differ across the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the interpersonal style of alexithymic individuals is characterized by a cold and socially avoidant behavior, corresponding to the predominantly insecure attachment pattern found in alexithymia. Additionally, our results indicate that group psychotherapy is as helpful for alexithymic as for nonalexithymic subjects with respect to interpersonal problems. Finally, we propose that alexithymia involves a reduced capacity to use social interactions for affect regulation.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

The relation of a family history of alcoholism, obstetric complications and family environment to behavioral problems among 154 adolescents in Germany: results from the children of alcoholics study in Pomerania.

BACKGROUND: Behavioral problems in adolescence have been shown to be associated with the presence of a positive family history of alcoholism (FH+), obstetric complications (OCs), and negative parenting practices. METHOD: This study tested the relation of these factors to aggression/delinquency and attention problems in an untreated population sample of 154 adolescents in Pomerania. Furthermore, we evaluated the predictive strength of a FH+, OCs and negative parenting styles in a prospective subsample of 127 adolescents using a hierarchical regression analysis. RESULTS: Group comparisons between offspring with higher vs. lower values on aggression/delinquency revealed that only rejection by the parents was significantly more often reported by teenagers with higher measures on these behavioral problems. Offspring with higher values on attention problems had more OCs reported by the mother and also had more feelings of parental rejection compared to controls. The results of the hierarchical regression analysis showed that parental rejection was the only significant predictor for both aggression/delinquency, and attention problems measured 1 year after the initial assessment. CONCLUSION: We conclude that parental rejection is a major risk factor for both aggression/delinquency and attention problems. Reflecting the fact that these behavioral problems have been reported to be strongly associated with later substance misuse, the improvement of parenting practices should be considered in prevention and intervention programs.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Decreased levels of dopamine D3 receptor mRNA in schizophrenic and bipolar patients.

Previous studies found an elevation of the dopamine D3 receptor (DRD3) mRNA as determined in peripheral lymphocytes in schizophrenic patients. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis of elevated DRD3 mRNA in schizophrenia compared to bipolar disorder. Twenty-four patients, 13 schizophrenic and 11 bipolar, were included according to DSM-IV criteria. Psychometric measures were conducted using the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms, Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale and Young Mania Rating Scale. mRNA was isolated from lymphocytes of venous blood samples and DRD3 mRNA was quantified using real-time reverse transcription PCR. We found a decrease in DRD3 mRNA in 13 schizophrenic (p = 0.009) and 11 bipolar (p = 0.023) patients as compared to controls. Medication history and severity of positive symptoms did not significantly influence DRD3 expression. Higher levels of DRD3 mRNA were correlated with negative schizophrenic symptoms. Interestingly, after treatment of patients with antipsychotics, DRD3 mRNA levels increased to similar levels as those of healthy controls. Bipolar patients, however, showed a slower increase in DRD3 mRNA levels after 3 weeks of therapy. Our findings suggest that the expression of DRD3 mRNA is reduced in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, supporting the hypothesis of distorted homeostasis of dopamine receptor subtypes in psychotic disorder. The observed diminution was not specific for schizophrenia but also for bipolar disorder requiring further analysis of the regulatory factors involved in dopamine receptor subtype expression.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

[Obesity in childhood and adolescence--first results of a multimodal intervention study in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern].

The prevalence of obesity in children and young adults in Germany has dramatically increased during the last decades. We investigated the impact of an one year outpatient intervention including physical training, psychotherapy and nutrition counselling on psychological status and course of weight of 19 adolescents who were diagnosed with obesity (intervention group, IG). The following questions were of particular interest: Is there a difference between children with obesity (n = 19, mean age 12.4 years) and controls (without obesity and overweight, control group, CG, n = 38, matched for age and sex) regarding the extent of emotional and behavioural problems, self-esteem and physical complaints? Does the intervention lead to a decrease of these problems as rated by the adolescents and mothers? Can we find a significant reduction of the BMI-SDS after one year training in the IG? The group comparisons between the IG and the CG revealed lower feelings of self-esteem, more self rated physical complaints, higher values on measures of depression/anxiety and attention problems in the CBCL for children with obesity, compared with controls. After one year training adolescents' psychological well being increased significantly while the BMI-SDS only decreased moderately. We conclude that children with obesity can benefit from receiving outpatient intervention if psychological and medical aspects are considered.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

The importance of psychosocial factors, gender, and severity of depression in distinguishing between adjustment and depressive disorders.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the severity of depressive symptomatology as it relates to: (a) sociodemographic factors and (b) the occurrence and type of acute and chronic psychosocial triggers or life events before admission. METHODS: In total, 718 psychiatric inpatients were assessed with the AMDP-system by the treating psychiatrist within the first 2 days after admission. RESULTS: In the females, sociodemographic factors (being married, children in the household, higher education and the quality of interactions) but not psychosocial stressors or life events were found to be related to severity of depression on admission. Females showed more severe depressive syndromes than males, however, depression severity in males was independent of sociodemographic factors, life events or psychosocial triggers. LIMITATIONS: Clinical assessment was based on retrospective history taking. The sample consisted of inpatients only, the results require replication using larger and more diverse samples. CONCLUSION: Gender differences and life conditions such as familial distress are related to severity of depression. The present criteria for the differentiation between depressive disorders and adjustment disorders are not independent and should be substituted by a multiaxial assessment.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed2002

The importance of a positive family history of alcoholism, parental rejection and emotional warmth, behavioral problems and peer substance use for alcohol problems in teenagers: a path analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to test a hypothetical model of alcohol problems in German adolescents. Among 180 offspring, family history of alcoholism, parenting styles, behavioral and emotional problems, peer-group characteristics, feelings of self-esteem, behavioral problems and psychiatric comorbidity of the parents were examined. METHOD: Data were generated from the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP), in which families were randomly selected if 12-18 year old biological offspring were members of the household; a smaller group of subjects was selected from local outpatient treatment centers. Members of 133 families, including 180 (50.6% male) offspring who were appropriate for the current analyses, received personal semistructured diagnostic interviews and several self-rating questionnaires. Analyses compared offspring with alcohol problems (AP; n = 40) and with no alcohol problems (NAP; n = 140), and used structural equation modeling to test a hypothetical model. RESULTS: The comparisons revealed that the AP group had significantly more behavioral problems (e.g., aggression/delinquency), more perceived parental rejection and less emotional warmth, a higher amount of alcohol consumption, were more likely to associate with substance-using peers and more often received a diagnosis of conduct disorder or antisocial personality disorder. Whereas the family history of alcoholism did not differ significantly between groups, parents of offspring with an alcohol use disorder had significantly more additional diagnoses on DSM-IV Axis I. The evaluation of the model supported the importance of aggression/delinquency and association with substance-using peers for alcohol problems in people. An additional diagnosis in the parents was directly and indirectly (through aggression/delinquency) related to alcohol problems of the adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: The data indicate that alcohol problems in the offspring are associated with several domains of influence in their environment. Prospective studies measuring both biological and environmental factors using sufficient sample sizes will be needed for optimal understanding of the development of alcohol problems in youth.

Adolescent↗