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B Nowotny

Publications and source records attributed to B Nowotny.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Causes and consequences of the gender difference in age at onset of schizophrenia.

The ABC (age, beginning, course) schizophrenia study was commenced in 1987 to generate and test hypotheses about pathogenic aspects of schizophrenia. One of the main branches of the study focused on how gender influences the age distribution of onset, symptomatology, illness behavior, and early course in schizophrenia. Proceeding from one of the rare, strikingly deviating, consistent findings--the gender difference in age at first admission--we launched a systematic search for explanations by generating and testing hypotheses in a series of substudies. We moved from the epidemiological to the neurobiological and finally to the clinical level. The present article is an attempt to provide a brief overview of the individual stages of the ABC study and the different levels of investigation involved in formulating and testing the estrogen hypothesis in animal experiments and in demonstrating its applicability to human schizophrenia. From these results, three hypotheses were formulated and tested on data from an ABC study sample of 232 first-episode cases of schizophrenia. The analyses described here represent the latest stages of the ABC study.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Epidemiology of early-onset schizophrenia.

A total of 232 (84%) first episodes of schizophrenia from our epidemiologically defined ABC sample (Age, Beginning and Course) were retrospectively assessed with regard to the onset and early course of the disorder. In a follow-up study a representative subgroup (n = 133) was prospectively examined in five cross sections over 3 years from first admission on. Population-based incidence rates for 5-year age groups comprising a range of < 10 - < 60 years were calculated on the basis of two definitions of onset: first sign of disorder and first psychotic symptom. In 40% of adult patients who had been admitted with a first schizophrenic episode after age 20 years the prodromal phase, in 11% the psychotic prephase, began before that age. This demonstrates that schizophrenia often begins in an age period in which the social and cognitive development and brain maturation are still unfinished. Early-onset schizophrenias (< or = 20 years) were compared with a medium-onset group (21 - < 35 years) and a late-onset group (35 - < 60 years) with regard to age and type of onset, early symptom-related course, social development and social course. The number of schizophrenia-specific positive and negative syndromes in early-onset schizophrenia is comparable to that of higher age groups. However, neurotic syndromes, emotional disorders and conduct disorders are most frequent in younger patients, especially in young men. Paranoid syndromes seem to prevail in late-onset schizophrenia, whereas less differentiated positive syndromes, such as delusional mood, are more frequent in the youngest age group. An earlier onset of schizophrenia has more severe social consequences than onset in adults, because it interrupts the cognitive and social development at an earlier stage. The worse social course of schizophrenia in men compared with women cannot be related to a more severe symptomatology, but to the earlier age at onset and the impairment or stagnation of social ascent at an earlier stage of social and cognitive development. Social disability in the sense of an adaptation to the expectations of the social environment, as well as symptomatology during the further course of schizophrenia, show no major differences between the genders nor between the age groups.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

When and how does schizophrenia produce social deficits?

The present study is an empirical contribution to the controversy over whether the poor social performance and lower social class of schizophrenic patients are consequences of the illness, consequences of changes in the individuals predisposed to develop schizophrenia or are due to the adverse social conditions that lead to schizophrenia. The study focuses on the socioeconomic status at onset, on the performance of social roles in the early course of schizophrenia by taking age, gender and the individual level of social development into account. In a representative sample of 232 first episodes of schizophrenia age and type of onset.type and accumulation of symptoms and social functioning in the prodromal and the psychotic prephase and at first admission were assessed and analysed for their predictive power concerning social disability 2 years after first admission. In a case-control study expected and observed social functioning from onset until first admission were compared. The subsequent course was followed up prospectively in five cross sections until 2 years after first admission. In women the age at onset was significantly higher than in men, whereas symptomatology and type of onset showed no gender differences. In 73% of the sample the prodromal phase covered 5 years on average, and the psychotic prephase (until the maximum of positive symptoms) 1.1 years. Deficits in social functioning occurred predominantly during the prodromal and the psychotic prephase. The course over 14 years showed stable group trends in social and symptom measures. By the end of the prodromal phase it was possible to predict social disability 2 years after first admission with a correct classification of 81%. The main factor determining social outcome appeared to be the acquired social status during the prodromal phase of the disorder. The unfavourable early course in men was due mainly to their significantly lower age at onset. These results raise questions concerning an earlier therapeutic and rehabilitative intervention.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

New perspectives in the epidemiology of schizophrenia.

It was with great pleasure that I accepted the invitation to contribute to the present symposium in honour of my friend Jules Angst. It gives me the opportunity to pay tribute to his outstanding scientific work. The topic of my presentation has been inspired by the genius loci. In his foreword to a proceedings volume entitled 'Die Entstehung der Schizophrenie' (The Origin of Schizophrenia), which he edited on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich in 1970, Jules Angst pointed out that two former heads of the 'Burgholzli', Eugen and Manfred Bleuler, who had held that office longest, had dedicated their life's work to schizophrenia, which had received its name from Eugen Bleuler. Jules Angst's most successful research field has been psychiatric epidemiology. I therefore thought it appropriate to talk about new perspectives in the epidemiology of schizophrenia.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Screening for thyroid disorders in a working population.

Subclinical thyroid disorders have received increasing attention in recent years due to refined laboratory methods and a stronger emphasis on the role of preventive medicine. We performed a screening for thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) on 6884 persons in a working population. In cases in which TSH was not within the normal range we also measured the levels of triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), and thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG). All persons who did not present with exclusion criteria or other nonthyroidal illnesses (n = 59) and the controls (n = 39) were submitted to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)-testing. Additionally, sonography of the thyroid was performed on 120 persons (59 subjects with abnormal hormone levels and 61 controls) to determine thyroid size and rule out morphological abnormalities. Based on the TRH test and T3, T4, and TBG measurements we found a prevalence of 0.03% (2/6884) for overt hyperthyroidism, 0.33% (23/6884) for subclinical hypothyroidism, 0.09% (6/6884) for subclinical hypothyroidism, and 0.015% (1/6884) for overt hypothyroidism in the healthy population. In subjects with overt or subclinical hyperthyroidism the prevalence of goiters (thyroid volume > 18 ml in women, > 25 ml in men) was 28%. Of this group 48% had structural abnormalities. All persons with goiters and/or structural abnormalities were over 35 years of age. Among the euthyroid, 20% had thyroid enlargement, and the same proportion presented with structural abnormalities. There were no differences between the two age groups. In the group with overt/subclinical hypothyroidism 47% presented with structural abnormalities of the thyroid; however, none presented with thyroid enlargement. Thyroid nodules were found only in older persons (> 35 years) with euthyroidism or hypothyroidism.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Subclinical hyperthyroidism: physical and mental state of patients.

We investigated whether subclinical hyperthyroidism [subnormal basal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level, attenuated TSH response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation, peripheral thyroid hormones within normal range] is accompanied by physical and mental changes. Thirty-five subclinically hyperthyroid patients (27 female, 8 male) were compared with 60 overtly hyperthyroid patients (51 female, 9 male) and with 28 euthyroid control patients (18 female, 10 male) with respect to physical symptoms, affective state, short-term memory, ability to concentrate and psychomotor performance. Patients with subclinical hyperthyroidism ranged between the other two groups. The major difference between controls and subclinically hyperthyroid patients was an increase in frequency of nervous symptoms and symptoms due to an increase of metabolic rate and thermal regulation changes. The major differences between subclinically hyperthyroid and overtly hyperthyroid patients were psychomotor impairment and symptoms of increased metabolic rate. Self-ratings of affective state tended to be similar in patients with subclinical and overt hyperthyroidism. The ability to concentrate and short-term memory were not impaired in any group. Symptoms in patients with subclinical hyperthyroidism probably result from central changes which lead to attenuated TSH responses to TRH, or from elevated but still normal thyroxine levels, which possibly enhance the effect of catecholamines.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[The role of TSH psychological and somatic changes in thyroid dysfunctions].

The characteristic psychic and somatic features found in patients with overt hyper- or hypothyroidism are usually attributed to elevated or diminished levels, respectively, of thyroid hormones. This concept does not sufficiently explain our previous investigations in which the same symptoms, albeit attenuated, were also seen in patients suffering from so-called latent disturbances of thyroid function. This state of disorder, however, exhibits normal concentrations of peripheral thyroid hormones. Only the response of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation is in accordance with the behaviour of the overt thyroid dysfunction and enables its differentiation from the euthyroid state. In this context, we investigated the question as to whether pathologic signs in thyroid disorders are correlated to alterations of peripheral thyroid hormones or to changes in the hypothalamus pituitary axis. Therefore, we investigated two groups of ten patients each who suffered from latent hyper- or hypothyroidism, respectively, and ten euthyroid controls. All were matched from sex and age. Endocrine function was estimated by TRH testing, TT3, TT4 and thyroxine binding globulin (TBG). Psychologic testing was performed by questionnaires concerning subjective somatic symptoms, emotional disturbances, psychomotoric performance, cognitive impairment and personality. Patients with latent hyperthyroidism were more subject to somatic symptoms and affective complaints than were those who had latent hypothyroidism. As compared with controls, there were significant differences in exhaustion and pain in the limbs and heart. In terms of affective complaints, patients were more depressive, anxious, touchy and irritable; their personalities showed a higher degree of emotional lability, excitement and irritability.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Development of a structured anxiety interview for seniors].

Since we face considerable practical problems in the assessment of elderly subjects with self-rating instruments (paper-pencil tests) measuring anxiety and, since we lack norms for the age of 65 and above, we developed a structured inventory (SAIS) for the assessment of anxiety in the elderly. The instrument comprises three components, anxiety normally is expressed in; all have been verified by empirical personality research: the cognitive, the physiological and the behavioural component. In a pilot study, we determined themes of anxiety relevant to elderly people. When the items were developed, we took into account aspects of the typical environment of the elderly and their comprehensive ability. In a reliability study 54 subjects (mean age: 72 years) were investigated. Item analyses showed low to average item difficulties and average selectivity. The split-half-reliability coefficient was rtt = .95; the internal consistency-coefficient was rtt = .91 (Kuder-Richardson). In a factor analysis five factors were extracted. They were interpreted as 'general' anxiety ("allgemeine Angstlichkeit"), as nervousness ("Neigung zu Nervosität"), fear of physical disability ("Furcht vor motorischer Behinderung"), personal insecurity ("persönliche Unsicherheit") and fear of helplessness ("Furcht vor Hilflosigkeit"). Finally, aspects of internal validity are discussed.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Use of self-rating instruments with elderly hospital patients].

The usefulness of self-rating instruments for measuring the emotionality of elderly and/or physical ill individuals is discussed. Therefore, 99 inpatients of internal wards (mean age: 65) were examined with the German form of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Laux et al., 1981). All the problems which arose when the test sheet was filled out were recorded and subsumed into one of the following categories: comprehension problems, problems with the answer categories, answer tendency, problems with layout. As expected, we were able to show that practical problems increase as patients become older. None of the patients over 80 years was able to complete the scale without considerable help in a standardized manner. We recommend to use structured interviews for assessing the emotional state of elderly patients.

Aged↗