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PubMed1996

Facial and other non-verbal communicative behaviour in chronic schizophrenia.

Facial behaviour may be an important determinant in clinical ratings of psychopathology. A standardized objective technique was used to quantify measures of facial behaviour in 21 chronic schizophrenic subjects, in comparison with control groups of depressed, demented and Parkinsonian subjects. Facial behaviours were counted and timed from video recordings of each subjects' face during a clinical interview. Separate measurement of behaviours were obtained while subjects were speaking and silent. For most variables, the amount of facial behaviour was significantly less in schizophrenic subjects than in control groups. The groups differed significantly on a number of measures, but schizophrenics could not be reliably identified by a single facial behaviour variable. However, using a discriminant function analysis with measures for eye contact while speaking and silent, broad smiles and small smiles, discrimination between groups was good, with over 80% correctly classified as either schizophrenic, or not schizophrenic. These techniques may increase our understanding of psychopathological signs and the mechanisms that underly them.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed2002

Childhood behaviour, psychotic symptoms and psychosis onset in young people at high risk of schizophrenia: early findings from the edinburgh high risk study.

BACKGROUND: Several studies suggest that many patients with schizophrenia have pre-morbid neurodevelopmental abnormalities. This study examines how behavioural abnormalities are associated with mild psychotic symptoms and later schizophrenic illness. METHODS: Maternal ratings on the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) of the early behaviour of 155 subjects were obtained at entry to the Edinburgh study of people at high risk of schizophrenia. These maternal ratings were compared in those with and without psychotic symptoms and used to predict the later onset of psychosis. RESULTS: The CBCL syndrome scores for the children prior to age 13 did not distinguish any of the study groups at entry to the study. In the ratings made for the subjects when aged from 13 to 16, delinquent behaviour and 'other problems' were weakly associated with these symptoms. However, with the exception of somatic symptoms and thought problems, the age 13-16 scales were significant predictors of later schizophrenic illness. This was true also for some of the ratings prior to age 13. CONCLUSIONS: Various behaviours, in particular, withdrawn and delinquent-aggressive behaviour in adolescents at risk of schizophrenia may predict later onset of the illness. These behaviours, however, are far less predictive of isolated psychotic symptoms prior to psychosis onset.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Suicidal behaviour among primary-care patients with depressive disorders.

BACKGROUND: Most national suicide prevention strategies set improved detection and management of depression in primary health care into a central position. However, suicidal behaviour among primary-care patients with depressive disorders has been seldom investigated. METHOD: In the Vantaa Primary Care Depression Study, a total of 1119 primary-care patients in the City of Vantaa, Finland, aged 20 to 69 years, were screened for depression with the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders (PRIME-MD) questionnaire. Depressive disorders were diagnosed with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I), and the 137 patients with depressive disorder were included in the study. Suicidal behaviour was investigated cross-sectionally and retrospectively in three time-frames: current, current depressive episode, and lifetime. Current suicidal ideation was measured with the Scale for Suicidal Ideation (SSI), and previous ideation and suicide attempts were evaluated based on interviews plus medical and psychiatric records. RESULTS: Within their lifetimes, 37% (51/137) of the patients had seriously considered suicide and 17% (23/137) attempted it. Lifetime suicidal behaviour was independently and strongly predicted by psychiatric treatment history and co-morbid personality disorder, and suicidal behaviour within the current episode was predicted most effectively by severity of depression. CONCLUSIONS: Based on these findings and their convergence with studies of completed suicides, prevention of suicidal behaviour in primary care should probably focus more on high-risk subgroups of depressed patients, including those with moderate to severe major depressive disorder, personality disorder or a history of psychiatric care. Recognition of suicidal behaviour should be improved. The complex psychopathology of these patients in primary care needs to be considered in targeting preventive efforts.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Behavioural and neuropsychological correlates of frontal lobe features in dementia.

BACKGROUND: In order to characterize frontal lobe features and their behavioural and cognitive correlates across diagnostic categories, we performed a cross-sectional analysis of behavioural and neuropsychological data from a large, prospective Belgian study on behavioural and psychological signs and symptoms of dementia (BPSD). METHOD: Patients with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD) (n=170), frontotemporal dementia (FTD) (n=28), mixed dementia (MXD) (n=29) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) (n=21) were included and underwent neuropsychological and behavioural assessment by means of a battery of tests and scales. Frontal lobe symptoms were quantified by means of the Middelheim Frontality Score (MFS). RESULTS: In AD (and to a lesser extent in MXD), MFS total scores were negatively correlated with scores on MMSE (Spearman: r=-0.36, p<0.001) and a Verbal Fluency Task (r=-0.38, p<0.001) and were associated with increased severity and frequency of psychosis (r=0.24, p<0.01), activity disturbances (r=0.44, p<0.001) and aggressiveness (r=0.43, p<0.001). In DLB, MFS total scores were negatively correlated with MMSE scores (r=-0.50, p=0.020). No associations were found in FTD patients. CONCLUSIONS: A cross-sectional analysis of frontal lobe features, behavioural characteristics and neuropsychological data demonstrated that, in AD (and to a lesser extent in MXD) patients, frontal lobe symptoms were associated with more pronounced cognitive deficits (of frontal origin), with increased severity and frequency of agitated and aggressive behaviour, and with increased severity of psychosis and depressive symptoms. Given the small sample sizes of the DLB and FTD patient groups, negative findings in these patient groups should be interpreted cautiously.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Risk factors and life processes associated with the onset of suicidal behaviour during adolescence and early adulthood.

BACKGROUND: This study examined associations between childhood circumstances, adolescent mental health and life events, and the development of suicidal behaviour in young people aged between 15 and 21 years. METHOD: Data were gathered over the course of a 21-year longitudinal study of a birth cohort of 1265 children born in New Zealand. The measures collected included: (1) patterns of suicidal behaviour (ideation, attempt) (15-21 years); (2) social background, family functioning, parental and individual adjustment during childhood (0-16 years); and (3) time dynamics of mental health and stressful life events during adolescence and early adulthood (15-21 years). RESULTS: By the age of 21 years, 28.8% of the sample reported having thought about killing themselves and 7.5% reported having made a suicide attempt. The childhood profile of those at greatest risk of suicidal behaviour was that of a young person reared in a family environment characterized by socio-economic adversity, marital disruption, poor parent-child attachment and exposure to sexual abuse, and who as a young adolescent showed high rates of neuroticism and novelty seeking. With the exception of the socio-economic and personality measures, the effects of childhood factors were largely mediated by mental health problems and exposure to stressful life events during adolescence and early adulthood. Mental health problems including depression, anxiety disorders, substance use disorder, and to some extent conduct disorder, in addition to exposure to adverse life events, were significantly associated with the onset of suicidal behaviours. CONCLUSIONS: Findings support a life course model of the aetiology of suicidal behaviour in which risk of developing suicidal behaviour depends on accumulative exposure to a series of social, family, personality and mental health factors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Attributions of causality, responsibility and blame for positive and negative symptom behaviours in caregivers of persons with schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: Causal, responsibility and blame attributions for positive and negative symptom behaviours were examined in 70 caregivers of persons with schizophrenia. METHODS: The majority of subjects belonged to self-help group organizations. The three types of attributions for positive and negative symptom behaviours were assessed by self-report questionnaires. RESULTS: The extent of patient responsibility did not differ between the two types behaviours. Intentionality and knowledge were equally important in predicting responsibility for positive symptom behaviours, while intent was the most important predictor of responsibility for negative symptom behaviours with the patient capacity playing a significant but minor role. The entailment model was not supported for the two types of behaviours. CONCLUSIONS: Increased attention should be given to responsibility dimensions in assigning moral accountability to the patient. The entailment model should be further explored in problematical caregiving situations.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

The Hofmeister effect and the behaviour of water at interfaces.

Starting from known properties of non-specific salt effects on the surface tension at an air-water interface, we propose the first general, detailed qualitative molecular mechanism for the origins of ion-specific (Hofmeister) effects on the surface potential difference at an air-water interface; this mechanism suggests a simple model for the behaviour of water at all interfaces (including water-solute interfaces), regardless of whether the non-aqueous component is neutral or charged, polar or non-polar. Specifically, water near an isolated interface is conceptually divided into three layers, each layer being I water-molecule thick. We propose that the solute determines the behaviour of the adjacent first interfacial water layer (I1); that the bulk solution determines the behaviour of the third interfacial water layer (I3), and that both I1 and I3 compete for hydrogen-bonding interactions with the intervening water layer (I2), which can be thought of as a transition layer. The model requires that a polar kosmotrope (polar water-structure maker) interact with I1 more strongly than would bulk water in its place; that a chaotrope (water-structure breaker) interact with I1 somewhat less strongly than would bulk water in its place; and that a non-polar kosmotrope (non-polar water-structure maker) interact with I1 much less strongly than would bulk water in its place. We introduce two simple new postulates to describe the behaviour of I1 water molecules in aqueous solution. The first, the 'relative competition' postulate, states that an I1 water molecule, in maximizing its free energy (--delta G), will favour those of its highly directional polar (hydrogen-bonding) interactions with its immediate neighbours for which the maximum pairwise enthalpy of interaction (--delta H) is greatest; that is, it will favour the strongest interactions. We describe such behaviour as 'compliant', since an I1 water molecule will continually adjust its position to maximize these strong interactions. Its behaviour towards its remaining immediate neighbours, with whom it interacts relatively weakly (but still favourably), we describe as 'recalcitrant', since it will be unable to adjust its position to maximize simultaneously these interactions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Air↗
PubMed2006

Perioperative anxiety and postoperative behavioural disturbances in children: comparison between induction techniques.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to determine if subhypnotic propofol reduces postoperative behavioural disturbances in children undergoing sevoflurane induction compared with intravenous propofol induction for elective adenoidectomy and tonsillectomy. METHODS: Following Ethics Committee approval and parental informed consent, ASA I-II, 120 children (2-10 yr) were recruited. Parents were not allowed to accompany their child. Unpremedicated children were randomly allocated to groups receiving inhalation induction with sevoflurane, 2-2.5 mg kg-1 intravenous propofol induction or inhalation induction with sevoflurane followed by subhypnotic dose of propofol (1 mg kg-1). Anaesthesia was maintained with 2-4% sevoflurane, O2 and N2O. Anxiety on arrival to operating theatre, at anaesthesia induction and 30 min after emergence was assessed. Parents completed a state-trait anxiety inventory test preoperatively and a post hospitalization behaviour questionnaire a week later to assess children's postoperative behavioural disturbances. Kruskal-Wallis test, Wilcoxon signed rank sum test, Bonferroni's test, Paired t-test, t-test, Pearson and Spearman's rank correlation test, chi2-test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The anxiety level at induction was high in all groups (P < 0.05). There was no difference between groups in respect to anxiety at other measurement times. A relation between preoperative anxiety level and postoperative behavioural disturbances was determined (P < 0.05). Some behavioural disturbances as nightmare/night fear and desire of sleeping with parents were rarely seen in intravenous propofol induction group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Addition of subhypnotic dose of propofol to sevoflurane induction did not reduce the incidence of postoperative behavioural disturbances.

Adenoidectomy↗
PubMed1999

Strategies for analysing behavioural data in clinical trials involving patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Behavioural disturbances are common in Alzheimer's disease and may be affected by medications being developed to enhance cognition or slow disease progression as well as by psychotropic agents developed specifically to affect behaviour. In many cases, Alzheimer's disease patients included in clinical trials are not selected for behavioural attributes and the patient population is heterogeneous at baseline with regard to these symptoms. Analyses of the behavioural data should include assessment of the effects of the agent on patients who were symptomatic at baseline as well as on the incidence of new behaviours in those without symptoms at the time of study initiation. Analyses may focus on symptomatic patients exhibiting specific degrees of improvement (e.g. 50% reduction in symptom severity). The analytic strategy chosen to characterize the behavioural changes occurring in clinical trials involving Alzheimer's disease patients will depend on the hypotheses being explored, the characteristics of the patients at baseline, the size of the population studied, the assessment methodology, and the outcomes of interest.

Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Neurotoxic pesticides and behavioural effects upon birds.

Organochlorine, organophosphorus, carbamate, pyrethroid and neonicotinoid insecticides and organomercury fungicides are all neurotoxic and therefore have the potential to cause behavioural disturbances in birds. A number of studies have described behavioural effects caused to captive birds by neurotoxic pesticides, but it is very difficult to measure such effects in the field, which is a serous limitation given their potential to cause adverse effects at the population level. The mode of action, and the neurotoxic and behavioural effects of these compounds are briefly reviewed before considering evidence for their effects in the laboratory and field. Behavioural effects may cause adverse changes at the population level either directly or indirectly. Direct effects upon avian populations may be due to disturbances of reproduction, feeding, or avoidance of predation. Indirect effects on predators may be the consequence of direct action upon the prey population leading to either (1) reduction of numbers of the prey population, or (2) selective predation by the predator upon the most contaminated individuals within the prey population. Attention is given to the historic evidence for neurotoxic and behavioural effects of persistent organochlorine insecticides, raising the question of retrospective analysis of existing data for this once important and intensively studied class of compounds. Less persistent pesticides currently in use may also have neurotoxic effects upon birds in the field. Sometimes, as with some OPs, their effects may outlast the persistence of their residues, and the ecotoxicity and persistence of some may be affected by interactions with other environmental chemicals. The development of new mechanistic biomarker assays could improve understanding of behavioural effects and possible associated effects at the population level caused by such compounds in the field.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Mating behaviour and evidence for a female released courtship pheromone in the signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus.

The mating behaviour of the signal crayfish, Pacifastacus leniusculus (Dana), has been categorised into seven distinct stages: orientation; contact; seizure; turning; mounting; spermatophore deposition; and dismounting. These categories were used in the development of a bioassay to test whether mature females release a sex pheromone during the breeding season to which males respond. Water conditioned by 1) mature females (MF water), 2) immature females (IF water) and 3) freshwater (C water), were injected through standard aquarium air-stones into tanks containing mature males. The behaviour of the male was recorded on video for 15 minutes before and after injection of each test water. The time that the males spent exhibiting the three behavioural categories of 'quiescent,' 'motile' and 'handling' of the air-stone, were recorded. 'Handling' of the air-stone included the mating behaviours of seizure, mounting, and spermatophore deposition onto the surface of the air-stone. Males exposed to MF water exhibited significantly increased levels of motile activity and handling behaviour, than males exposed to C water or IF water. These results demonstrate for the first time the presence of a sex pheromone, released during the breeding season by mature females, that stimulates courtship and mating behaviour in male P. leniusculus.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

[Aggressive behaviour and substance abuse among schizophrenic adolescents compared to antisocial adolescents--a follow-up study].

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to analyze aggressive behaviour towards others by schizophrenic as opposed to antisocial adolescents, and the influence of substance abuse before, during and after their hospitalization. METHODS: We analyzed 21 schizophrenic adolescents and compared their aggressive behaviour and their substance abuse to that of 21 antisocial juveniles before and during their hospitalization and again at the time of a follow-up interview. The two samples were matched for age, sex and intelligence. In a first step, data were gathered from the hospital records, in a second step, for follow-up data we conducted standardized telephone interview with the patient and his or her parent or caregiver. Within the analysis we focused on aggressive behaviour towards other people and objects, as well as on criminal acts and regular substance abuse. RESULTS: We found less aggressive behaviour among psychotic patients during and post-hospitalization than among their antisocial counterparts. As inpatients, the acutely psychotic juveniles were at higher risk for aggressive acts, but adequate treatment subdued their offensive behaviour. In the long term, there were fewer criminal arrests among psychotic patients. Only in connection with their substance abuse, their aggressive misconduct towards others increased. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that drug treatment during adolescence might help to lessen the risk of aggressive behaviour towards others.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

[Reduced serotonin levels in platelet-free plasma of adolescents with externalizing behaviour problems].

OBJECTIVES: A serotonergic dysfunction, in particular a reduced serotonergic neurotransmission in the frontal cortex and limbic brain regions, has been discussed in connection with the aetiology of aggressive and impulsive behaviour. Assessment of the activity in the central serotonergic system in children and adolescents is limited due to its technical complexity and ethical restrictions. Therefore, peripheral serotonergic parameters have been used as a model to obtain deeper insight into central serotonergic functions. The aim of this investigation is to examine the significance of plasma serotonin measurement with regard to behavioural problems in adolescents at risk for psychopathology. METHODS: Within the framework of a prospective longitudinal study of children at risk, serotonin levels in platelet-free blood plasma were measured in a group of n = 10 adolescents aged 15 years with persistent externalizing behaviour (T-score > or = 60 on the "Externalizing Problems" scale of the CBCL) and in a control group of n = 20 mentally undisturbed adolescents. Groups were matched according to age and gender. Externalizing behaviour was assessed by means of a parent questionnaire, the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). RESULTS: Significantly lower levels of plasma serotonin were found in adolescents with persistent behaviour problems than in the control group. Significant negative correlations between serotonin levels and the CBCL scales "Aggressive Behavior" and "Externalizing Problems" were obtained for the total sample. CONCLUSIONS: Earlier findings that described a serotonergic deficit as a key mechanism in the manifestation of aggressive and antisocial behaviour are confirmed for adolescents at risk taken from a community sample.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Out-patient behaviour therapy in alcoholism: relapse rates after 6 months.

OBJECTIVE: In spite of the increasing interest in out-patient treatment programmes for alcoholics, there still exist only a few experimental studies on this issue. In this still ongoing study the efficacy of different behaviour therapy strategies is to be examined. METHOD: One hundred and twenty patients were assigned randomly to non-specific supportive therapy or to two forms of behavioural therapy (coping skills training and cognitive therapy). Behavioural treatment comprised 26 weekly sessions; follow-up examinations will take place every 6 months over 2 years. RESULTS: Patients undergoing behavioural therapy showed less drop-outs and significantly higher rates of abstinence compared with supportive treatment. Nevertheless, statistically significant differences between the two behavioural therapy strategies could not be established so far. CONCLUSION: Preliminary results demonstrate the feasibility and efficacy of behaviour therapy programmes in the out-patient treatment of alcoholism. Furthermore, they stress the importance of professional psychiatric and psychotherapeutic engagement in the field of addiction.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Predictors and outcome characteristics associated with suicidal behaviour in early psychosis: a two-year follow-up of first-admitted subjects.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the baseline characteristics associated with a greater risk of suicidal behaviour (suicide and parasuicide) over the 2 years following a first admission for psychosis, and the associations between suicidality and outcome. METHOD: First-admitted subjects with psychosis (n=65) were assessed at 6-monthly intervals over a 2-year follow-up period. RESULTS: Over this period, 11.3% of the patients displayed suicidal behaviour. Baseline predictors of suicidal behaviour were a lifetime history of parasuicide before first admission (OR=5.9, 95% CI 1.5-23.4), lower Positive And Negative Symptom Scale positive subscores (OR=0.8, 95% CI 0.6-0.97) and a longer duration of first admission (OR=1.1, 95% CI 1-1.2). Subjects with suicidal behaviour presented with a longer duration of psychotic symptoms (OR=1.1, 95% CI 1.02-1.2) and a greater risk of being readmitted (OR=4.6, 95%CI 1.1-19.1). Subjects with substance misuse over the follow-up period were seven times (95%CI 1.3-39) more likely to engage in suicidal behaviour. CONCLUSION: Subjects with a previous history of parasuicide, with a deteriorating clinical course, or with substance misuse are at increased risk of suicidal behaviour in the 2 years after the onset of a first psychotic episode.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Out-patient behaviour therapy in alcoholism: treatment outcome after 2 years.

OBJECTIVE: The main aim of the study was the evaluation of out-patient behavioural approaches in alcohol dependence. Additionally, the persistence of treatment effects and the impact of psychiatric comorbidity in long-term follow-up was examined. METHOD: A total of 120 patients were randomly assigned to non-specific supportive therapy or to two different behavioural therapy programmes (coping skills training and cognitive therapy) each comprising 26 weekly sessions; the follow-up period lasted 2 years. RESULTS: Patients undergoing behavioural therapy showed a consistent trend towards higher abstinence rates; significant differences between the two behavioural strategies could not be established. Moreover, the results indicate a reduced ability of cognitive impaired patients to cope with short-time abstinence violations and at a reduced benefit from behavioural techniques for patients with severe personality disorders. CONCLUSION: Behavioural treatment yielded long-lasting effects and met high acceptance; yet, still in need of improvement is the development of specific programmes for high-risk patients.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

The relationship between problem behaviour and traumatic dental injury amongst children aged 7-15 years old.

AIM: The aim of this study was to test whether dental injuries are related to problem behaviour. In addition, it aimed to confirm the relationship between dental injuries and size of overjet and type of lip coverage. METHODS: A hospital-based matched (age and sex) case-control design was adopted. Data were collected through clinical examinations and interviews. The informant-rated version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) was used to identify problem behaviour. One parent of the child, most often the mother, was interviewed. Hierarchical modelling using conditional logistic regression was used to test the relationship between the five problem behaviours and traumatic dental injuries. RESULTS: The Odds ratio of having a dental injury increased 3.14 times if children have peer relationship problems (P = 0.032), whilst a prosocial behaviour showed a tendency to have a protective effect (OR = 0.25; P = 0.064). Emotional symptoms, conduct disorder and hyperactivity behaviours were not related to dental injury (P > 0.75). Results were adjusted by father's level of education, size of overjet and type of lip coverage, and these variables were significantly related to dental injury (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Problem behaviour may play an important role in the occurrence of traumatic dental injury.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Rapid development of tolerance to the behavioural actions of cholecystokinin.

Cholecystokinin (CCK) acts acutely to inhibit food consumption in fasted rats, mice, sheep, pigs, monkeys and humans. CCK has been proposed as a satiety signal, inducing the behavioural sequence of satiety, or as an aversive internal stimulus, which inhibits food intake by inducing malaise. Reductions in food intake and related exploratory behaviours are initiated by CCK at its peripheral receptor in the gut, which appears to transmit sensory feedback via the vagus nerve to brain regions mediating appetitive behaviours. The therapeutic potential of CCK as an appetite suppressant in obesity syndromes rests on the demonstration of significant, long-lasting body weight reduction. Chronic CCK administration by repeated injections is problematic, since this peptide is rapidly degraded in vivo. We chose the Alzet constant infusion osmotic minipump to investigate possible alterations in body weight and food intake during continuous infusion of CCK. We now report that no change was detected in either body weight or total daily food consumption at any time point during 2 weeks of intraperitoneally (i.p.) infused CCK. The mechanism underlying the lack of chronic CCK effects appears to be a rapid development of behavioural tolerance. Acute challenge doses of CCK which induced satiety-related behaviours in saline-infused rats were ineffective in CCK-infused rats. The behavioural tolerance was apparent within a few hours of minipump implantation. These results provide the first evidence that rapid and reversible tolerance develops to the actions of a gut peptide.

Animals↗