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Biomedical subjects

B Ellertsen

Publications and source records attributed to B Ellertsen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1994

Psychological difficulties related to human immunodeficiency virus-1 infection in intravenous drug users.

Psychopathology and emotional changes were examined over a 9-month period in this study of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection in seronegative and seropositive intravenous drug users. The HIV-1-seropositive group showed more psychological difficulties and emotional distress at both testings. For the HIV-1-seronegative subjects, a trend for less psychopathology and psychological distress was found. At the second testing, the difference between groups was increased due to improvement of the HIV-1-seronegative group. A more chronic course of psychological distress was found in the HIV-1-seropositive group.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

MMPI profiles.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Facial Pain↗
PubMed1990

Hyperventilation syndrome: clinical, ventilatory, and personality characteristics as observed in neurological practice.

The symptoms of the hyperventilation syndrome (HVS) are sometimes diffuse, and HVS may resemble other clinical conditions. A diagnosis of HVS was made in 25 patients referred for neurological assessment because of atypical, shortlasting, episodic complaints. The referral diagnoses varied within a wide range. A need for more indepth knowledge about this group of patients thus arose. During a provocation test with forced respiration, all patients reported symptoms similar to those during attacks. Eight patients described numbness or paraesthesias with unilateral predominance. End-tidal pCO2 levels were monitored prior to and during a forced hyperventilation test. Compared with controls, the patients had significantly decreased end-tidal pCO2 even during symptom free periods. After hyperventilation, hypocapnia followed a protracted course in the patient group. Sensory symptoms may be asymmetric and mimic focal cerebral disease. Strained respiration may be denied during spontaneous attacks. Personality characteristics were evaluated with the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). A mean group profile very similar to profiles reported on "pseudoepileptic" patients was found. The profile indicates a neurotic pattern where patients tend to respond to psychological stress with somatic symptoms.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Left and right-handed dyslexic boys: an empirical test of some assumptions of the Geschwind-Behan hypothesis.

Twenty-six dyslexic boys (13 left-handers and 13 right-handers) were tested for hemispheric asymmetry with dichotic listening (DL) and a visual half-field test (VHF). The purpose of the study was an empirical test of the Geschwind-Behan [Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. USA 79, 5097-5100, 1982] hypothesis of a difference in hemispheric asymmetry between left- and right-handed dyslexic boys. Following Geschwind and Behan, left-handedness and dyslexia are caused by a common factor affecting the development of the left hemisphere in utero which results in a right hemisphere dominance. As a consequence, handedness but not language is shifted to the right hemisphere. We therefore predicted that left-handed dyslexics should be superior to right-handed dyslexics on visuospatial tasks, but perform similar to right-handers on verbal tasks. The results revealed a significant right ear advantage (REA) in both groups during a dichotic listening test to verbal stimuli. The left-handed group was however superior to the right-handed group in recognition of visuo-spatial stimuli presented in the left half-field in a visual half-field test. It is concluded that the results provide some, although weak, support for the Geschwind-Behan hypothesis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Neuropsychologic effects of saturation diving.

Neuropsychologic status of saturation divers was assessed before and after 300-500 msw dives (deep saturation diving--DSD group) and before and after 3.5 yr of ordinary saturation diving (saturation diving--SD group). Average baseline results showed the divers to be slightly superior to nondiving controls. Mild-to-moderate neuropsychologic changes (greater than 10% impairment) were found in measures of tremor, spatial memory, vigilance, and automatic reactivity in 20% of the divers after deep dives (DSD group). One year postdive no recovery was observed except for a vigilance test. In the SD group, 20% of the divers showed greater than 10% impairment after 3.5 yr of ordinary saturation diving. Significant reduction in autonomic reactivity was also found and there was a relationship between low autonomic reactivity before saturation diving and number of greater than 10% impairments. For the whole group (DSD + SD divers), negative correlations were found between saturation experience and results on memory and complex visuomotor tests. Years of diving from first to last examination was positively correlated with number of greater than 10% impairments and with reduction in autonomic reactivity. No similar correlations were found to dive variables after about 3 yr of air diving. The mild-to-moderate changes seen in some divers, therefore, seem to be the effects of saturation diving. Since one deep dive may cause an effect similar to the effect of 3.5 yr of ordinary saturation diving, there is reason to believe that repeated deep diving may lead to more pronounced neuropsychologic impairment.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Psychophysiologic response patterns in tension headache: effects of tricyclic antidepressants.

Tension headache (TH) and control subjects (n = 22, 11 in each group) were evaluated within a habituation experimental design, in which psychophysiologic responses to auditory stimulation were measured. Auditory stimuli were 20 80-dB, 1000-Hz tones, each lasting 2 sec and sounded at irregular intervals. Subjects were evaluated twice, with a 6-month interval. At the time of the first session TH subjects were being treated with tricyclic antidepressant, yielding a positive clinical effect. Medication was withdrawn 3 weeks before the second session. Phasic responses in heart rate and temporal artery pulse amplitudes and averaged EMG levels from the frontal muscles were measured. Significantly lower heart rate reactivity and significantly less pronounced left temporal artery pulse amplitude responses were found in non-medicated TH subjects than in controls. TH patients showed a pulse amplitude increase in response to stimulation, whereas control subjects showed a decrease. The pulse amplitude response pattern was normalized in medicated TH patients. EMG levels were similar in TH patients and controls when patients were receiving medication, whereas TH patients showed significantly higher frontal EMG levels than control when medication had been withdrawn.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1987

MMPI patterns in chronic muscle pain, tension headache, and migraine.

MMPI personality profiles were obtained from three clinical groups (n = 79). One group consisted of men and women with chronic muscle pain (MP; n = 34), a second group of male and female chronic tension headache patients (TH; n = 12), and a third group of female migraine patients (M; n = 33). The M group was subdivided on the basis of source of referral and into groups of classic versus common migraine. Elevation of the MMPI subscales usually interpreted as neuroticism scales were found in all groups. A "psychosomatic V" pattern was found on these scales in the M group but not in female TH patients. The difference in scale configuration between groups was caused primarily by different elevations on the depression scale. A relationship between severity of headache and elevation of the "psychosomatic V" was found in migraine patients. Male MP and TH patients showed a descending slope on the neuroticism scales, not observed in females. There was a tendency for common migraine patients to show a more elevated and psychosomatic configuration on the MMPI, as compared with classic migraine patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

MMPI profiles in migraine before and after biofeedback treatment. Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory.

Migraine has been associated with specific personality traits. Typically, migraine patients show elevation on the "neurotic scales" on the MMPI, and the profiles usually reported can be classified as "psychosomatic". A crucial matter is whether certain personality traits predispose to headache problems or whether they are an effect of such problems. To elucidate this problem, common and classic migraine patients (n = 13) were evaluated with the MMPI before and 2 years after biofeedback treatment. Two subgroups were identified on the basis of degree of clinical improvement. The least improved patients were significantly older and had a significantly longer headache history than the patients showing most improvement. No relationships between age, headache history, and improvement were found within subgroups. Clinical improvement was correlated with significant "normalization" of the MMPI profiles. Thus, personality traits as measured by the MMPI seem to be secondary to headache problems and not a predisposing cause.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Psychophysiologic response patterns in migraine before and after temperature biofeedback. Prediction of treatment outcome.

Psychophysiologic response patterns were studied in female migraine patients during headache-free periods (n = 16) and in controls (n = 8). Cardiovascular variables studied were heart rate (HR) and temporal artery pulse wave amplitudes (PWA). Phasic responses to 80-dB, 1000-Hz tones, each lasting 2 sec and sounded at irregular intervals, were studied within a habituation laboratory design. In addition, electromyographic (EMG) levels from the frontal muscles and hand temperature were measured. HR responses were less pronounced and PWA reduction more pronounced in migraine patients than in controls. There were no differences between migraine patients and controls in habituation pattern. Migraine patients showed lower hand temperature and higher EMG levels than controls. Migraine patients were treated with eight temperature biofeedback sessions and were evaluated clinically and psychophysiologically during and 2 months after treatment. Clinical follow-up evaluation was done 2 years after treatment. An average reduction in headache frequency of 66% was reported. A relationship between HR and PWA response pattern before treatment and treatment outcome was found. Migraine patient reporting most pronounced clinical improvement showed a "normalization" of the PWA response pattern after treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

EMG feedback in the treatment of myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome.

The effect of electromyographic (EMG) biofeedback on frontalis and masseter muscle activity was compared with control conditions in two groups of patients with a diagnosis of myofascial pain dysfunction (MPD) syndrome. Patients were selected on the basis of clinical symptoms, radiographic evaluation, and a clinical examination. Depressed patients and patients with signs of a pathological condition in the temporomandibular joint were excluded. Both the experimental (EXP) and the control (CON) group went through two base-line screening sessions before treatment of the EXP group was started. Treatment consisted of eight biofeedback sessions, given twice a week for 4 weeks. Feedback was presented visually on a monitor. Treatment did not include any relaxation training. Control evaluations of both groups took place 1 week, 3 months, and 6 months after the end of treatment. The EXP group was able to reduce EMG levels in frontalis and masseter muscles significantly during training sessions. Follow-up data showed significantly reduced frontalis EMG levels in the EXP group after 3 and 6 months but not in the CON group. Both groups improved subjectively, as judged by reports on pain intensity and duration, but this improvement was significantly more pronounced in the EXP group. Objective clinical indices recorded throughout the study were uncorrelated with EMG changes or subjective reports. It is concluded that biofeedback training facilitated muscular relaxation and self-regulation in the EXP group and that visual EMG feedback, consisting of a patterning of frontalis and masseter muscle activity, can be recommended as an integrated part of MPD syndrome treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

CNS reactions at 51 ATA on trimix and heliox and during decompression.

Two groups of divers (Group A and B) were compressed to 500 msw with trimix (n = 3) and heliox (n = 3). After 4 d at saturation depth Group A had a gas change to heliox. Both groups were followed with repeated neuropsychological and neurological tests during compression, at stable intermediate depths and at saturation depth. There were marked high pressure nervous syndrome effects during compression for both groups. Only tremor was inhibited by the nitrogen. In addition Group A was impaired due to nitrogen narcosis. During trimix and heliox saturation there was only some recovery in the EEG. Group B had a sustained high tremor during the saturation. On visuomotor and cognitive functions Group B performed up to predive level on the 3rd d at saturation while Group A was heavily impaired during the whole trimix saturation period. Although dizziness and tremor were the main symptoms in Group B, Group A reported concentration trouble, euphoria, and upset stomach during the saturation phase. Minor changes occurred in the EEG during the gas change. There was, however, a marked increase in postural tremor and recovery on cognitive tests relating to the elimination of the nitrogen. Up to the completion of the gas change no severe symptoms were reported. Six hours after the gas change, severe symptoms occurred with visual and auditory hallucinations and myoclonic jerks as the dominant characteristics. Some symptoms lasted for 12 h. During decompression there was a steady normalization in both groups.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Brain state and kindled seizures.

Interaction between "level of activation" and kindled seizures was studied in two experiments. In the first experiment rats kindled while showing locomotor activity were slower in developing kindled seizures than rats kindled while inactive. In the second experiment three groups of rats received different footshock pretreatment during the acquisition phase of kindling. Footshock 30 min before stimulation caused more intense and longer lasting seizures. Crossover of experimental treatment conditions between groups suggested a state dependency of the kindled seizures. We concluded that there are complex relationships between activation and kindled seizures.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Central nervous system reactions during heliox and trimix dives to 51 ATA, DEEP EX 81.

UNLABELLED: Two groups of divers were compressed to 500 msw with heliox (n = 3) and trimix (n = 3). They were followed with repeated neuropsychological and neurological tests during compression, at stable intermediate depths, and at 500 msw. For the heliox group there was a marked increase in tremor and EEG slow waves and reduction in handgrip strength. For the trimix group the tremor increase did not occur, but the EEG changes were the same as in the heliox group. On motor tests only the trimix group showed impaired finger dexterity and manual dexterity. The same occurred for fine visuomotor coordination, but both groups had increased intentional tremor. On cognitive tests the same difference occurred. The trimix group was markedly impaired in reasoning and long-term memory, while only a mild impairment was found in the heliox group. Dizziness and other symptoms of high pressure nervous syndrome (HPNS) occurred in both groups. CONCLUSION: There were marked HPNS effects during compression for both groups. Only tremor was inhibited by the nitrogen. In addition, the trimix group was impaired because of nitrogen narcosis. These data indicated that 10% nitrogen did not inhibit HPNS effects during compression to 500 msw, but the considerable differences between subjects shows that susceptibility to compression must be an important area for future research.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Psychophysiological response patterns in migraine patients.

Cardiovascular responses to strong auditory stimulation were compared in common migraine patients and controls. Two matched groups of eight subjects participated in two laboratory sessions. During each session, baseline recording of the cardiovascular variables was followed by twenty auditory stimuli (95 dB, 1000 Hz), sounded at irregular intervals. Phasic responses in heart rate and pulse wave amplitudes in the superficial temporal arteries were measured. A post stimulation sampling period ended each session. Different cardiovascular response patterns were found in the two groups. The migraine patients showed more pronounced heart rate responses and slower habituation to stimulation. Stronger pulse wave amplitude reduction during stimulation and an increase during the post stimulation period was also found in the migraine group.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1982

Central nervous system reactions during heliox and trimix dives to 31 ATA.

UNLABELLED: Two groups of divers were compressed to 300 msw (984 fsw) with heliox (n = 3) and trimix (n = 3). Neuropsychological/neurological testing was performed repeatedly during the compression and on reaching 250 (820 fsw) and 300 msw. On the second day the trimix group was tested before and after a gas change to heliox. For the heliox group there was a marked increase in tremor and EEG slow waves, and reduction of alpha band and in hand-grip strength. For the trimix group visuomotor coordination was impaired. In the cognitive performance tests the heliox group was most impaired at 250 msw, whereas the trimix group was most impaired at 300 msw. Before the gas change to heliox the trimix group showed impaired performance in some tests. After the gas change, performance returned to predive levels, except for perceptual speed. There was an increase in tremor immediately after the gas change. CONCLUSION: There was a marked HPNS effect during compression on heliox. This effect was not observed in the trimix group, but this group was mildly intoxicated on reaching saturation depth. The tests indicated slight narcotic effects also after 26 h, but this disappeared after the change in heliox.

Adult↗