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Biomedical subjects

T A Ban

Publications and source records attributed to T A Ban.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Glycosaminoglycan polysulfate (Ateroid) in old-age dementias: effects upon depressive symptomatology in geriatric patients.

1. Glycosaminoglycan polysulfate is a mixture of sulfo-muco-polysaccharides with hypolipidemic activity. A number of clinical studies have indicated that it is effective in improving psychopathology in patients with cardiac and/or cerebral disease associated with arteriosclerosis. 2. A multicenter clinical trial was performed to compare the effects of two different dosages of glycosaminoglycan polysulfate upon depressive symptomatology in patients with multi-infarct dementia and primary degenerative dementia. 3. A total of 39 patients were treated in an 18-week clinical trial which followed a single-blind parallel design. 4. Results indicated that patients with both diagnoses improved significantly in depressive symptomatology over the course of treatment, with particular improvement noted in cognitive disturbance. Drug dosage was not a significant determinant of treatment response for either diagnostic group.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Glycosaminoglycan polysulfate in old-age dementias: a factor-analytic study of change in psychopathologic symptoms.

In a multicenter clinical trial, two dosages of glycosaminoglycan polysulfate were compared in patients with primary degenerative dementia and multi-infarct dementia. Psychopathologic symptoms were assessed using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). A factor analysis of this scale revealed four factors in this population. During the clinical trial, significant improvements were noted on the primary BPRS factor (i.e. depressive withdrawal), as well as on total BPRS score. There was a tendency for greater improvement in the primary degenerative dementia group than in the multi-infarct dementia group.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Who benefits from tricyclic antidepressants: a survey.

To determine what patients are likely to benefit from treatment with a tricyclic antidepressant, the authors surveyed American researchers, teachers of psychiatry, general psychiatric practitioners, and foreign researchers. Areas of agreement were appreciable and can serve as an index of accepted community practice and as guidelines for teaching. Responses indicated that patients most likely to benefit from a tricyclic antidepressant are those with primary depression; early morning awakening; motor retardation; loss of appetite; weight loss; prior positive response to a tricyclic antidepressant; loss of interest in work or hobbies; sad, blue, or depressed feelings; improved mood in evening; and loss of interest in sex. Amitriptyline was preferred for agitated depressions, and imipramine was preferred for retarded depressions.

Amitriptyline↗
PubMed1986

Neuroimaging and psychopharmacology in the diagnosis and treatment of dementia.

Contributions of noninvasive brain imaging technologies to the diagnosis of organic dementias with special reference to Alzheimer's disease are reviewed. Included among the different techniques are: a. computed tomography b. magnetic resonance imaging c. positron emission tomography. Biochemical hypotheses with possible relevance to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease are presented and their therapeutic implications are discussed. Included among the different hypotheses are: a. interference with protein synthesis b. acetylcholine deficiency c. aluminum deposition. Present status of the pharmacotherapy of Alzheimer's disease is outlined.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1986

The prevalence of abnormal involuntary movements among chronic schizophrenics.

In an international survey of chronic schizophrenia, data were collected on the Abnormal Involuntary Movements Scale (AIMS) to ascertain the prevalence of tardive dyskinesia. Abnormal movements were found to present in 28% of the sample of 739 patients. Using the more stringent Research Criteria for Tardive Dyskinesia (RD-TD) the prevalence rate was found to be 13.6%. Statistically significant differences were obtained between patients meeting RD-TD criteria and patients with abnormal movement who did not meet RD-TD criteria on total score, global severity, degree of incapacity and patient awareness--all reflecting greater severity in the RD-TD group. A much lower rate of moderate/severe tardive dyskinesia than that reported in the literature was obtained in this sample. Using the Leonhard classification of chronic schizophrenia, it was found that patients with prominent negative symptomatology had a high prevalence of tardive dyskinesia--confirming the previous reported relationship between these variables. Prevalence differences, possibly related to specific psychopathological syndromes, were also obtained.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

A survey of psychiatrists' practices related to the use of tricyclic antidepressants.

Four groups of psychiatrists were surveyed about their clinical practices in relation to the use of tricyclic antidepressants to determine if there is any unanimity about procedures. The four groups were U.S. experts in the pharmacotherapy of depression, faculty who taught the pharmacotherapy of depression in accredited departments of psychiatry, general psychiatrists in Virginia who treated depressions with drugs, and non-U.S. experts. The authors report on practices related to dosage buildup, side effects, concurrent medical conditions, blood level information, and maintenance on tricyclics. They found moderate to high consensus on most issues; exceptions were treatment of a patient with chronic hypertension and maintenance dosage and duration.

Ambulatory Care↗
PubMed1985

An international survey of tardive dyskinesia.

As part of an international study of chronic schizophrenia, data on tardive dyskinesia were collected by clinical judgment and a standard rating scale, on over 700 patients. The frequently-reported positive correlation between age and prevalence rate was confirmed in this sample. While not statistically significant, high prevalence rates were associated with higher dosage levels and length of hospitalization. Positive relationships were also found to exist among prevalence rates and schizophrenic subtypes--particularly among those with high degrees of negative symptomatology.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Pharmacotherapy of chronic hospitalized schizophrenics: prescription practices.

Prescription practices were examined as part of a multinational study of chronic hospitalized schizophrenic patients. The study included a total of 768 patients from 8 countries. All patients had a diagnosis (ICD-9) of schizophrenia and met defined criteria for chronic hospitalization. The patients were treated with psychotropic drugs from 6 categories, i.e., neuroleptics, antidepressants, lithium salts, anxiolytics, anticonvulsants, and antiparkinsonian medications, as well as with a variety of nonpsychotropic drugs. The majority of the patients received concurrently more than 1 neuroleptic, medications from 2 or more categories, and neuroleptics combined with other agents. Polypharmacy appeared to be universal in this population.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Neuroleptic-induced skin pigmentation in chronic hospitalized schizophrenic patients.

In the framework of a multi-national collaborative study carried out in eight countries, 768 chronic hospitalized schizophrenic patients were surveyed. Skin pigmentation was found to be present in 13 patients (1.7%), that is, within the same range (1-2.9%) of the initial reports. While the mean age and mean duration of hospitalization in the skin-pigmented population was slightly higher and larger than in the total population of our survey, no definitive relationships between sex, diagnosis, drugs and dosage of medication were revealed.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Vitamins in psychiatry. Do they have a role?

Deficiencies of specific vitamins produce consistent symptoms of psychiatric disorder. Thiamine deficiency, which is common in alcoholism, can produce confusion and psychotic symptoms, in addition to neurological signs. Vitamin B12 and folate deficiency may contribute symptoms of disorientation, depression or psychosis; their measurement is a part of routine dementia work-ups. Pyridoxine deficiency results in seizures, although the effects of exogenously administered pyridoxine are not clearly understood in depression and anxiety - the disorders in which it is most frequently used clinically. The use of vitamins has been most prominent in psychiatry in the treatment of schizophrenia, where large doses of nicotinic acid were initially given alone and later combined with other vitamins and minerals. Several theoretical models were described to support the use of vitamins in schizophrenia. These included: the parallels of schizophrenia to the psychiatric symptoms of pellagra; hypotheses of a defect in adrenaline metabolism; and the accumulation of psychotoxic substances which produce psychotic symptoms. Initially, positive results were reported over 30 years ago, but have not been replicated by thorough investigations. An extensive series of comprehensive placebo-controlled trials failed to show efficacy for any of the vitamin therapies tested. Although clearly less effective than antipsychotic drug treatment, vitamin therapy is not without risks - adverse effects have been reported with nicotinic acid, pyridoxine and vitamin C.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Folic Acid Deficiency↗
PubMed1985

Conditioning and learning in relation to disease.

Of the two generally recognized processes through which learning occurs--imprinting and conditioning--only the latter with its two paradigms, classical and operant, has both practical and heuristic implications for disease. From the classical conditioning experiments of Pavlov's laboratory over 100 years ago to the later work in operant conditioning by Skinner and others in the past four decades has evolved much of the basis of modern learning theory and its applications to disease in the form of behavior therapy. Variants of behavior therapy have been employed in the treatment of wide variety of medical and psychiatric illnesses. Recent developments in the study of brain function and biochemistry have led to renewed interest in the conditioning paradigm and its value as tool in these areas of research.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Neurotransmitters and receptors: clinical implications.

With the advent of new techniques such as the radioreceptor binding assay, significant advances have been made in the field of psychopharmacology during the past seven years. In this paper we discuss some of these contributions regarding our understanding about the nature of different psychopathological conditions such as anxiety, depression and schizophrenia.

Anxiety↗
PubMed1984

Rapid tranquilization: a comparative study of thiothixene and haloperidol.

In a double-blind comparative clinical study, both thiothixene and haloperidol were found to be effective agents for rapid tranquilization of manic and schizophrenic patients. While no statistically significant difference in any of the psychopathological areas which may create a psychiatric emergency was found, results of this study provide further substantiation of the notion that thiothixene has favorable effects on anergia .

Adult↗