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Biomedical subjects

U Meise

Publications and source records attributed to U Meise.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Smoking cessation--gradual or sudden stopping?

One hundred ten patients addicted to nicotine were subjected to either sudden or gradual withdrawal in the course of a smoking cessation programme. Eighty-two patients emerged from the treatment as non-smokers. In a follow-up after 1 year 70% of these successful clients replied to an anonymous questionnaire. Concerning the relapse rate, no significant difference could be found between the two treatment groups, but patients who underwent slow withdrawal smoked significantly less when comparing their current consumption with that before the start of the therapy. Patients who underwent sudden stopping reached their original level of nicotine use again.

Behavior Therapy↗
PubMed1992

[Importance of the physician-patient relation in patient compliance].

Requestion of compliance or non-compliance is an aspect of patient management which is as old as medicine itself. However, it was long neglected and it is only over the past 15 years that factors having an influence on this important phenomenon have been studied more closely--mostly from the therapist's point of view. The present paper suggests a more comprehensive idea of "compliance". Stress is laid on the importance of communication and cooperation between doctor and patient, because these factors play a major role in the doctor-patient relationship.

Humans↗
PubMed1991

[Cognitive training in psycho-organic syndromes].

Seven of fourteen elderly female patients (mean age 82.3 [75-89] years) with abnormalities of cognition, memory and affect of organic causation were randomly assigned to be given cognitive training, especially relating to memory, as part of rehabilitation measures for medical or orthopaedic diseases. The other seven served as controls. Training extended over 15 days, cognitive training given on 9 days for 45 min each. The control group had sessions of nonspecific attention. All patients were given psychological tests of memory and attention before and after cognitive training (or nonspecific attention). Behavioural changes were also assessed. The patients with cognitive training scored significantly higher than the controls, both in the individual exercises of the training programme and in the various tests of performance. The cognitive training also favourably influenced social behaviour, mood and level of volition. Maintaining and improving still present mental capacity in this type of patient is an essential task within a hospital setting, which otherwise provides little stimulus. Cognitive training is simple and effective, yet of great social importance.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

[Compliance--a complex problem].

During the past 15 years medical and psychological literature has increasingly focused on compliance or noncompliance as a relevant aspect of patient care. The following paper is an attempt at categorizing the large variety of factors with impact on compliance, aiming at a more differentiated view at this problem. The paper is complemented by a short questionnaire which should allow the therapist (physician/psychologist) to assess the compliance of his patients/clients.

Humans↗
PubMed1989

Dose-related plasma levels of clozapine: influence of smoking behaviour, sex and age.

Drug monitoring in psychiatry is of increasing interest due to compliance problems, side effects of psychoactive drugs and the search for adequate dosage. In the present study, plasma levels of clozapine, as determined by high performance liquid chromatography, were investigated in 148 patients receiving a daily dose between 12.5 and 700 mg clozapine. Regression analysis revealed a linear relationship between dose and plasma concentrations. Plasma concentrations at a given dose (level divided by dose and body weight) in male patients reached only 69.3% of the concentrations in female patients (Mann-Whitney U Test P less than 0.001). When the patients were divided into smokers and non-smokers, the corresponding plasma levels were also found to be linearly dose dependent in each of the two groups. However, the average plasma concentration at a given dose was only 81.8% in smokers, compared to non-smokers. This difference was statistically significant (variance analysis P = 0.022). Dividing female patients into smokers and non-smokers, the smokers reached nearly the same plasma levels as the non-smokers. Male smoking patients reached average plasma concentrations which were only 67.9% of those of non-smokers. This difference was statistically significant (Mann-Whitney U Test P = 0.0083). The plasma levels of the different age groups at a given dose per kg body weight were compared using the Mann-Whitney U Test. Significant differences were found between group 1 (18-26) and group 4 (45-54) (P less than 0.01) and group 2 (27-35) and group 4 (P less than 0.01) showing higher plasma levels in the older age group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Mood-altering effects of biperiden in healthy volunteers.

There has been considerable evidence that, aside from various other effects, synthetic anticholinergics also possess a significant euphoriant property. A double-blind placebo-controlled study was conducted in an attempt to answer the following questions: Can euphoria be induced by experimental intravenous administration of biperiden in therapeutic dosages? Is the individual's psychic response to anticholinergics associated with particular personality traits? In a study with a double-blind placebo cross-over design 28 healthy volunteers were given biperiden intravenously. The evaluation of their reaction to the drug using the Bech-Rafaelsen Mania Scale (MRS) revealed two groups of about the same numerical size demonstrating a considerable difference in their reaction to the drug.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Is schizophrenia linked to alteration in cellular immunity?

To reinvestigate the viral hypothesis of schizophrenia as well as possible immunological dysfunction, neopterin, which is an indicator of the activity in the cellular immune system, was determined in acute and chronic schizophrenics. Both diagnostic groups showed neopterin levels within the normal range. Patients with chronic schizophrenia of the residual type presented a significant dependency between neopterin concentrations and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) total scores. In a long-term observation of 14 acute schizophrenic (paranoid type) inpatients, neopterin levels were found to be lowest at day 0. During the first week of treatment neopterin concentrations increased significantly whereas a concomitant decrease of the psychopathological symptoms could be observed. In comparison to healthy controls patients showed significantly lower neopterin levels at baseline. These findings will be discussed referring to the viral hypothesis of schizophrenia as well as to possible immunological alterations caused by stress or by changes in neurotransmitter synthesis.

Adult↗