Biomedical subjects

C Lançon

Publications and source records attributed to C Lançon.

43 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

[Clinical effects of clozapine: effect on negative symptoms].

OBJECTIVES: we have realized an open study in a population of chronic schizophrenic inpatients treated with clozapine. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical response and the effect of extrapyramidal symptoms of this atypical antipsychotic. METHODS: our sample is composed of 25 chronic hospitalized schizophrenics (18 males, 7 females; average age = 36.57, SD = 8.41) with an initial important symptomatology (average score on BPRS = 64.92, SD = 7.99). The weekly assessment was done using PANSS and EPRS during 9 weeks. After a 15-days period of treatment adjustment, each patient reached a daily dose of 400 mg. Then the dosage was adjusted according to the clinical condition of the patients (average = 429.41 mg per day). RESULTS: using the PANSS, we identified a statistically significant (p < 0.05) clinical improvement from the fourth week of treatment for global score, positive, negative and general psychopathology sub-score. For EPRS a dramatic improvement (p < 0.01) occurred from the second week. We found no correlation between the improvement of negative symptoms and the improvement of extrapyramidal symptoms. We individualized a sub-group of 7 good responders who showed an improvement of 20% or more on PANSS global score at the ninth week. This group showed a statistically significant (p < 0.01) more intense initial negative symptomatology compared to non-responders. CONCLUSION: the improvement of extrapyramidal symptoms precede the improvement of psychotic symptoms; this effect underlines the good neurological tolerance of clozapine. The clinical efficacy concerns both positive and negative symptoms. The efficacy on negative symptoms seems to be primary. In our sample, patients with intense negative symptomatology improve more than others.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Psychometric properties of PANSS (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale) in the French version in a sample of schizophrenic patients].

Our study focuses on psychometrics properties of the french version of the Positive and Negative Syndrom Scale (PANSS). 85 schizophrenic subjects, in accordance with DSM III-R criteria were included in this study. Our results allow us to discuss the construct validity and the reliability of this scale. The traditional 3 dimensions of the PANSS (positive, negative and general psychopathology) are discuss. We show that expect positive scale and general psychopathology scale average several symptomatic dimensions. We propose a 5 dimensions solution (negative, hostility, positive, disorganization, anxiety), which represent 54% of the total inertie. The internal consistency of this solution is presented.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Frontal lobe cognition disorders in 42 schizophrenic patients compared with 19 normal probands].

In schizophrenia, the hypothesis of frontal dysfunctions is sustained by various clinical, neuroradiological and neuropsychological observations. We have studied the degree of frontal cognitive impairment in 42 schizophrenic patients according to the DSM IV as compared to 19 normal subjects. Furthermore, the performances of the different tests were connected with the age, the duration of the disease, the severity of the illness (measured by the PANSS scale) and the incidence of the treatments. The neuropsychological tests used in this study were the D48, the Wisconsin card sorting test, the Stroop color and word test, the word fluency and a target detection test. The results obtained from this study agree with the occurrence of frontal cognitive impairments in schizophrenia. Such impairments are increased with the age and the duration of the disease.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Attention models in evaluating schizophrenia].

Models of information processing, a part of cognitive psychology, have influenced theories of schizophrenia in the past few years. Study of attention disorders is an original approach of schizophrenics' cognitive disturbances. The authors have reviewed the literature of attention disorders in schizophrenia. Disorders of attention are analysed in different points of view. 'Subtype, syndromic (positive and negative forms) and symptomatic levels of analysis are documented. Subtype approach of attention disorders is not confirmed in the literature. Symptomatic approach of attention disorders in schizophrenia is actually well documented (especially for hallucination and delusion), but very heterogenous. Attention disorders are different in positive and negative syndromes of schizophrenia. Positive patients are more distractible and an early disorder of information processing is a part of cognitive disturbances of negative patients. Some neurobiological and information processing disturbances are discussed in reference of this syndromic approach.

Attention↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Fluoxetine, akathisia and suicide].

Several cases of suicidal thinking or suicidal behavior during fluoxetine treatment are described in the literature. Akathisia or dysphoric extrapyramidal reactions may explain the emergence of suicidal ideation during fluoxetine treatment. Retrospective and controlled studies found no relationship between fluoxetine and the emergence of suicidal ideation. Some cases reports of akathisia or suicidal ideation with other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) suggest that same mechanisms (pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic interactions) are involved in extrapyramidal effects during treatment with SSRIs. The clinical use of SRIs is discussed.

Akathisia, Drug-Induced↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Psychoses, mood, suicidal tendencies and clozapine].

Depression and mood disorders are frequently associated. They can be described as a part of schizophrenic symptomatology, observed as post-psychotic depression, be a part of a schizoaffective disorder or be a consequence of neuroleptic treatment. Suicide is the main risk of evolution in young schizophrenics and is often associated to depression. Despite methodological difficulties, a few studies demonstrate the efficacy of clozapine, one of the first atypical antipsychotic, in the treatment of depressive symptomatology in schizophrenics and schizoaffectives. This action remains controversial in the treatment of post-psychotic depression. This drug also contribute to reduce suicidality in a sample of chronic schizophrenics in an open study. This action has to be considered when we evaluate the risk-benefit of the prescription of clozapine.

Antipsychotic Agents↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Cost of illness: an inextricable maze or an aid in decision making? The case of schizophrenia].

The cost of schizophrenia has been a major point of interest abroad. In the United States, two authors evaluated the direct cost of the illness. According to Gunderson and Mosher (13), it reaches US $25,625 million. In the United Kingdom, the estimations are of 390 million pounds (7) and 1,178 million pounds (16). In Australia, a direct cost calculation based on incidence leads to US $24,621 million (1), which is 6 times as much as the cost of infarction. At last, the only French study (Rouillon et al., 1997) gives a result of FF 17,911 millions. The indirect cost estimations vary from 71% (29) to 83% (13) of the total cost. The difference between the 6 publications are suprizing (especially when they concern the same country) and are probably link to the difference of methodology. This point tempers largely the interest of these studies as a tool in order to hierarchise Public Health priorities. Moreover, the elaboration of structures equivalencies between the different countries is an ambitious enterprise and make difficult comparisons of the studies. Finally, the lack of transparency of some of them limits their credibility.

Cost Control↗