Biomedical subjects

D Harcherik

Publications and source records attributed to D Harcherik.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1982

Assessment of brain function in clinical pediatric research: behavioral and biological strategies.

Psychobiological research in child psychiatry requires rigorous assessment of behavior and multiple perspectives on brain function through neurochemical, neuroendocrine, psychophysiological, and other advanced methods. The serious neuropsychiatric disorders of childhood, such as autism, attention deficit disorder, and language disorders, can be studied in complementary clinical protocols aimed at explicating patterns of behavioral and metabolic dysfunction which characterize various clinical syndromes. Clinical research with children raises sensitive ethical issues; the ethical problems can be addressed when children and families are active collaborators with the investigators and a long-term relationship is established. In this setting, participation in research can facilitate better treatment for a child. The use of novel biological strategies, such as pharmacological challenge tests, permits evaluation of the relation of specific neuronal systems to behavioral dimensions in clinical disorders. The development of a new treatment for Tourette's syndrome illustrates the integration of basic and clinical research methods.

Catecholamines↗

PubMed1982

Clonidine in the treatment of Tourette syndrome: a review of data.

There are conflicting data concerning the efficacy of clonidine in TS. Some TS patients, probably 50% or more, experience substantial, long-term symptomatic improvement with minimal side effects. However, their profile of response is often variable, with behavioral symptoms appearing to show the most consistent improvement. Maximal benefit may not be evident for 4 to 6 months. A minority of patients do not respond, and a few worsen on clonidine. The need for additional double-blind trials is clear. Additional metabolic and pharmacologic investigations are needed to understand the determinants of the response of TS patients to clonidine. The response to acute doses of clonidine on sedation, growth hormone release, blood pressure, and plasma MHPG levels may be predictive of eventual therapeutic response. The variable response to clonidine, however, suggests that noradrenergic mechanisms in TS may not be of primary pathogenic importance. The study of interactions between neurochemical systems may help illuminate the pathophysiology of TS and lead the way to improved treatment of this disabling condition.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1980

Thyroid hormone in autistic children.

Thyroid hormone plays an important role in the pre- and postnatal development and function of the central nervous system. Disturbances in thyroid hormone regulation have been hypothesized in childhood autism. We evaluated blood indices of thyroid function, including serum thyroxine, triiodothyronine, and thyroid-stimulating hormone, in a large population of autistic children. No differences were found between autistic and normal children.

Adolescent↗