Biomedical subjects

Annamária Rihmer

Publications and source records attributed to Annamária Rihmer.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

The close link between suicide attempts and mixed (bipolar) depression: implications for suicide prevention.

BACKGROUND: Previous reports have shown a significant relationship between suicide ideation and mixed depression. The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence and clinical characteristics of mixed depression among non-violent suicide attempters. METHODS: Using a structured interview (modified Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview) and assessing all the symptoms of 16 psychiatric diagnoses, the authors examined 100 consecutive nonviolent suicide attempters (aged 18-65) within 24 h after their attempts. Mixed depression was defined as a major depressive episode (MDE)/dysthymic disorder plus 3 or more co-occurring hypomanic symptoms, according to the definition validated by Akiskal and Benazzi [Akiskal, H.S., Benazzi, F., 2003a. Delineating depressive mixed states: Their therapeutic significance. Clin. Approaches Bipolar Disord. 2, 41-47, Akiskal, H.S., Benazzi, F., 2003b. Family history validation of the bipolar nature of depressive mixed states. J. Affect. Disord. 73, 113-122.]. RESULTS: Current mixed depression was present in 63.0% in the total sample, and in 70.8% among the 89 depressive suicide attempters. Irritability, distractibility and psychomotor agitation were present in more than 90% of the subjects with mixed depression. The rate of mixed depression was significantly higher among bipolar than non-bipolar depressive suicide attempters (90% vs. 62%). Patients with mixed depression had the following concurrent disorders: bipolar disorders 41.0%, panic disorder 30.0%, generalized anxiety disorder 89.0%, alcohol abuse/dependence 56.0%, and substance abuse 27.0%. Mixed depression versus non-mixed depression had the following significant associations (odds ratio=OR): females 2.4, bipolar II disorder 9.3, generalized anxiety disorder 41.3, irritability 101.6 and psychomotor agitation 61.1. LIMITATIONS: The study didn't include suicide attempters with very high risk of fatality. CONCLUSIONS: The important new finding of this study is the very high prevalence of mixed depression among depressed suicide attempters. The rates of mixed depression among bipolar and non-bipolar depressive suicide attempters were much higher than previously reported among nonsuicidal bipolar II and unipolar depressive outpatients, suggesting that suicide attempters come mainly from mixed depressives with predominantly bipolar II base. Irritability and psychomotor agitation were the strongest predictors of suicide attempt. From a public health standpoint, our data highlight the necessity of detecting and treating mixed (bipolar) depression in the prevention of suicidal behaviour.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

[Affective temperaments: psychometric properties of the Hungarian TEMPS-A].

The study examines the psychometric properties of the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego Autoquestionnaire (TEMPS-A) based on 717 (438 females and 279 males) healthy subjects in a Hungarian normative sample. The questionnaire is a self-report 110-item tool that postulates five affective temperaments: depressive, cyclothymic, irritable, hyperthymic, and anxious. Most of the TEMPS-A scales have excellent internal consistencies (0.78-0.84), except for the Depressive Temperament Scale, which had a Cronbach's alfa coefficient of 0.63. The item-analyses have identified a few deficient items which do not fit into the scale. In line with the literary data, women had higher mean scores on the depressive, cyclothymic, and anxious subscales, whereas men scored higher on the cyclothymic subscale. Cut-offs for each temperament were based on z-scores higher than + 2S.D. Dominant nervous-anxious (4.3%), depressive (3.8%), cyclothymic (3.2%), and irritable (3.2%) temperaments were the most common in this normative population, whereas dominant hyperthymic (1.8%) temperament was relatively uncommon. Factor analyses of the TEMPS-A items yielded considerable overlap between depressive and cognitive anxiety traits. The strongest correlation was observed between the anxious and the depressive temperament subscales in line with some international findings (r=0.62**). To test construct validity, we administered the Beck Depression Inventory, Profile of Mood States (shortened version) and the Cloninger Temperaments and Character Inventory, which all supported the validity of TEMPS-A subscales. Based on the results obtained with the Hungarian normative sample, the TEMPS-A is a reliable and valid instrument in personality psychology, and further refinement on clinical samples opens new and interesting research avenues.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

[Creativity and mental illness].

It has been known for a long time that people with salient social and artistic creativity suffer more frequently from psychiatric illnesses than the average population. In their review paper, the authors assess the Hungarian and international scientific literature regarding the association of creativity and psychopathology. They conclude that contrary to the concept prevailing in the first part of the 20th century about the strong association between schizophrenia and creativity, the results of empirical research now unambiguously suggest that prominent social and artistic creativity is associated primarily with affective, and more specifically with bipolar affective illnesses. In addition, we already know that as regards the development of creativity, it is not the given affective (depressive, manic, hypomanic) episode which is important, but the hyperthymic or cyclothymic temperament structure which also predisposes for affective illness.

Bipolar Disorder↗

PubMed2004

Parkinson's disease and depression.

The prevalence of depression in Parkinson's disease is around 40%, but, unfortunately, such depression is frequently unrecognized and untreated. However, recognition and appropriate treatment of depression in patients with Parkinson's disease is essential for clinical practice. This review focuses on the epidemiology, pathophysiology and treatment of depression associated with Parkinson's disease.

Depression↗

PubMed2004

Suicide prevention strategies--a brief review.

Since suicide is a very complex, multicausal human behaviour, its prevention should also be complex. The prediction of suicide is very difficult at the level of the general population, but it is much easier among patients with certain mental disorders, because most persons who kill themselves have diagnosable and treatable psychiatric disorders. This article reviews the most important biological and non-biological suicide prevention strategies.

Age Distribution↗

PubMed2003

Possible effect of gender and season on the length of hospitalisation in unipolar major depressives.

BACKGROUND: Seasonal variation as well as gender differences of several phenomena of affective disorders are a common topic of interest. METHODS: The authors analysed the possible effect of season and gender on the length of hospital stay in 529 in-patients with unipolar major depressive episode. RESULTS: Age and menopausal status alone did not influence the length of hospitalisation but there was a statistical tendency (only for females) for the shortest hospital stay in summer, that reached significance in females younger than 50 years. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest a possible seasonal and gender effect on recovery from major depression. LIMITATIONS: Retrospective nature of the study, lack of systematic assessment of clinical response and no data collection about marital status and living conditions, that also can influence the time of discharge.

Adult↗