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Biomedical subjects

G Isacsson

Publications and source records attributed to G Isacsson.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants and the risk of suicide: a controlled forensic database study of 14,857 suicides.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants may have a suicide emergent effect, particularly in children and adolescents. METHOD: Detections of different antidepressants in the forensic toxicological screening of 14 857 suicides were compared with those in 26,422 cases of deaths by accident or natural causes in Sweden 1992-2000. RESULTS: There were 3411 detections of antidepressants in the suicides and 1538 in the controls. SSRIs had lower odds ratios than the other antidepressants. In the 52 suicides under 15 years, no SSRIs were detected. In 15-19-year age group, SSRIs had lower relative risk in suicides compared with non-SSRIs. CONCLUSION: The hypothesis that treatment of depressed individuals with SSRIs leads to an increased risk of suicide was not supported by this analysis of the total suicidal outcome of the nationwide use of SSRIs in Sweden over a period of 9 years, either in adults or in children or adolescents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Nocturia and depression.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the possible relationship between major depression (MD) and nocturia. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: An unselected group of adult men and women, living in the city of Ostersund, Sweden, were sent a postal questionnaire containing questions on somatic and mental health, sleep, sleepiness and nocturia. For depression diagnostics the Major Depression Inventory (MDI) was used. RESULTS: The mean (sd) ages of the men and women were 48.0 (18.2) and 50.1 (19.1) years, respectively. Two or more nocturnal micturition episodes occurred in 15.6% of the men and 16.5% of the women. In a multiple logistic regression analysis independent correlates (with 95% confidence intervals) for >/= 2 nocturnal voids in men were: MD 6.5 (2.6-15.6); health, fair vs good, 1.8 (1.0-3.9); health, poor vs good, 2.7 (1.1-4.8); age, 60-74 vs 18-29, 3.6 (1.5-8.4) and age >/= 75 vs 18-29 6.7 (2.6-17.4); and in women: MD 2.8 (1.3-6.3); health, fair vs good, 1.9 (1.1-3.2); health, poor vs good, 4.3 (2.6-8.2); age, 60-74 vs 18-29, 3.8 (1.8-7.8), and age >/= 75 vs 18-29, 8.6 (4.0-18.6). Age < 60 years was deleted by the logistic model in both sexes. CONCLUSION: MD is associated with a six-fold increase in nocturia in men and a three-fold increase in women, after accounting for age and health. Possible pathogenetic mechanisms of this relationship may involve both increased nocturnal diuresis via a disturbed 24-h rhythm of antidiuretic hormone secretion, and a decrease in nocturnal bladder capacity through a central and/or peripheral serotonergic effect.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Indications for and outcome of antidepressant medication in a general population: a prescription database and medical record study, in Jämtland county, Sweden, 1995.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the indications for prescribing antidepressants and the clinical outcome when they are prescribed for the treatment of depression, and compare tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in these respects. METHOD: A naturalistic study of a prospective prescription monitoring database and medical records. RESULTS: Depression was the indication for 23% of the tricyclic treatments and for 82% of the SSRI treatments. A successful treatment of the depression was found in 20% of the TCA cases and 41% of the SSRI cases (NS). CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence that the main use of SSRIs in 1995 is the treatment of depression. The study implies that SSRIs have a more favourable outcome in "real life" than TCAs.

Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic↗
PubMed2001

Treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea with a mandibular protruding device: an open-label study.

The study objectives were to describe the changes in signs and symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and snoring using a mandibular protruding device (MPD) and to define the group of responders. The design of the study was a nonrandomized, open-labeled, prospective clinical study with a duration of 6 months. The setting was a hospital sleep laboratory and an ear, nose, and throat and dental outpatient clinic. Patients included 35 individuals treated: 22 with a diagnosis of OSA and 13 who snored without apnea. The intervention before MPD prescription entailed a medical examination, a one-night somnographic registration, a questionnaire, and a clinical jaw function examination. All procedures were iterated at the 6-month follow-up. When the patients used the MPD, the subjective symptoms decreased significantly (p < 0.001). Twenty-four of the 35 patients were classified as responders, i.e., reduced their symptoms > or = 50%. In the groups of OSA patients, the mean peak intensity of the snoring sound decreased from 71.6 dB to 62.0 dB (p < 0.001) and in the group of snorers, from 63.5 dB to 57.5 dB (p < 0.05). Eighteen of the 22 OSA patients decreased their ODI values by > or = 50% (responders). The mean ODI decreased from 15.4 to 3.5 (p < 0.001) and the blood oxygen saturation, SaO(2) nadir, increased from mean 81.9 to 85.7 (n.s.). Most patients with tongue base hyperplasia were classified as responders to the MPD treatment. In conclusion, a 6-month perspective shows that the MPD could be an effective treatment in reducing signs and symptoms of OSA and/or snoring, the compliance was acceptable and only minor adverse events occurred.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Patterns of psychoactive substance detection from routine toxicology of suicides in Mobile, Alabama, between 1990 and 1998.

BACKGROUND: Postmortem toxicology can be useful for reconstructing some clinically important events occurring before a suicide. Its utility may be improved by examining patterns of detected substances in a population over time. METHODS: Toxicology was performed for 333 (96%) of the 346 suicides occurring in Mobile County, Alabama, between October 1990 and September 1998. Detected psychoactive substances were grouped in three categories: alcohol, cocaine, and cannabis; abusable prescription medications; and non-abused psychotropic medications. The overlap between these three categories was assessed. RESULTS: Psychoactive substances were detected in 227 (68%) of 333 suicides. Of the cases positive for any prescription psychoactive medication, 2/3 were positive for an abusable medication. An abusable substance was found in 56% of cases positive for non-abused psychotropic medication. Alcohol, cocaine and/or cannabis were found in 34% of cases with abusable prescription medications and in 33% with non-abused psychotropics. LIMITATIONS: Clinicians must be aware of a number of methodological realities when interpreting routine postmortem toxicology results. CONCLUSIONS: Routine surveillance of psychoactive substances among suicides can provide useful data for directing and monitoring strategies for suicide prevention in clinical practice.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Suicides are seldom prescribed antidepressants: findings from a prospective prescription database in Jämtland county, Sweden, 1985-95.

OBJECTIVE: This study presents data relating to prospectively monitored treatment and post-mortem toxicology of individuals who committed suicide. METHOD: A case-control study of prospectively monitored pharmacological treatment in suicides and controls. Psychiatric records and post-mortem toxicology were also studied. RESULTS: Fifty-nine subjects who committed suicide purchased twice the number of prescriptions as the 118 controls. Sixteen cases received psychiatric in-patient care compared to four of the controls. In the last 3 months prior to suicide, 38 cases (64%) were dispensed drugs: anxiolytics-hypnotics in 17 cases (29%), antipsychotics in six cases (10%) and antidepressants in seven cases (12%). More psychiatrists than GPs prescribed antidepressants. About one-third of psychotropic drugs were retrieved in post-mortem toxicology. CONCLUSION: There is a frequent use of psychotropics and psychiatric care among suicides; however, few used antidepressants and complied. Many suicides are still misdiagnosed and are not adequately treated.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

The anesthetic onset and duration of a new lidocaine/prilocaine gel intra-pocket anesthetic (Oraqix) for periodontal scaling/root planing.

BACKGROUND: A new non-injection anesthetic, lidocaine/prilocaine gel (Oraqix, AstraZeneca) in a reversible thermosetting system, has been developed to provide local anesthesia for scaling/root planing (SRP). The aim of this study was to determine the anesthetic onset and duration of the gel for SRP in patients with periodontitis. METHODS: 30 patients were randomized to either 30 s, 2 min, or 5 min of treatment with the gel prior to SRP of a tooth. The gel was applied to periodontal pockets with a blunt applicator. On completion of the SRP of each tooth (2-3 teeth treated/patient), the patients rated their pain on a 100-mm visual analogue scale (VAS). RESULTS: The median VAS pain score was 7.5 mm in the 30-s group, 28.5 mm in the 2-min group, and 15.5 mm in the 5-min group, with a significant difference between the 30-s and 2-min groups (p=0.03). In 2 patients in the 5-min group, but none in the other groups, the SRP was interrupted due to pain. The mean duration of anesthesia measured as pain on probing were 18.1, 17.3, and 19.9 min in the 30-s, 2-min, and 5-min groups, respectively. There were no reports of numbness of the tongue, lip, or cheek, neither were there any adverse local reactions in the oral mucosa. The gel was easy to apply and did not interfere with the SRP procedure. CONCLUSION: Oraqix provides anesthesia after an application time of 30 s, with a mean duration of action of about 17 to 20 min.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed2001

Psychoactive substances in suicides. Comparison of toxicologic findings in two samples.

The goal in this study was to assess if there is any constancy in detections of psychoactive substances in consecutive suicides. Toxicologic findings in 179 suicides in San Diego County, California, between 1981 and 1982, and 333 suicides in Mobile County, Alabama, between 1990 and 1998, were compared. Alcohol was detected in about 30% of suicides in both samples. Abusable prescription psychoactive substances, i.e., benzodiazepines and opiates, were detected in one fifth of cases in both locations. Nonabusable prescription psychoactive substances, mainly antidepressants, were found in more suicides in Mobile than in San Diego. Detection rates of different classes of psychoactive substances have not changed much in the past decade. Detection of alcohol, cocaine, or cannabis in about 40% of suicides supports the clinical practice of discouraging consumption of these substances in depressed patients. Another challenge is the low rate of detection of antidepressants in suicide, which suggests undertreatment of depression in suicides. Continued reporting of routine, comprehensive, toxicologic findings in suicides is useful to monitor patterns of use of psychoactive substances in this group and to guide suicide prevention in clinical practice and public health policy.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Suicide prevention--a medical breakthrough?

OBJECTIVE: The author hypothesized, based on research until 1991, that a five-fold increase in the use of antidepressants might reduce Swedish suicide rates by 25%. A subsequent 3.5-fold increase in the use of antidepressants provided a 'natural experimental situation' for prospectively testing this hypothesis. METHOD: Swedish statistics on suicide, use of antidepressants, unemployment and alcohol consumption were obtained for 1978-96. Time-series of the latter variables were compared with suicide rates. Demographic subgroups regarding age, gender and county were analysed. Suicide rates were also compared with the use of antidepressants in Denmark, Norway and Finland. RESULTS: Suicide rates decreased in accordance with the a priori hypothesis. Alcohol consumption and unemployment rates did not correlate well with suicide rates. CONCLUSION: This naturalistic study is not conclusive. The increased use of antidepressants appears, however, to be one of the contributing factors to the decrease in the suicide rate. It is of great scientific and clinical importance that this be evaluated by further studies.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have broadened the utilisation of antidepressant treatment in accordance with recommendations. Findings from a Swedish prescription database.

BACKGROUND: With the advent of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), the use of antidepressants has increased drastically in Sweden. The use of tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) has, however, decreased. METHODS: We surveyed a prescription database in the Swedish county of Jämtland and compared prescription patterns for patients prescribed SSRIs with those prescribed TCAs. RESULTS: The incidence of treatments of antidepressants increased from 0.76% to 1.33% during the period 1991-1996. There were no significant differences between SSRIs and TCAs with regard to patients having only one prescription dispensed within three months from the index prescription, or patients who switched class of antidepressant. Only a minority of the treatments were continued for at least six months, but significantly more SSRI than TCA treatments (42% and 27%). A second treatment period suggesting recurrence was three-times more common in the TCA group than in the SSRI group. CONCLUSION: Provided that the increased use of SSRIs is mainly for depression, these drugs appear, despite a lower efficacy in severe depression, to have enabled a broader utilisation of antidepressants with regard to incidence, dosage and duration, in accordance with recommendations. Further analyses of this phenomenon relative to diagnostic criteria and outcome measures are required.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Psychotropics and suicide prevention. Implications from toxicological screening of 5281 suicides in Sweden 1992-1994.

BACKGROUND: Systematic clinical investigations of consecutive suicides have found psychiatric disorders in 90-95% of subjects (depressive disorder 30-87%). AIMS: To investigate use of psychotropics in men and women of different ages who commit suicide. METHOD: Results of toxicological screening in 5281 suicides in Sweden 1992-94 were studied. RESULTS: Psychotropics were detected in 45.3% of the suicides. Antidepressants were detected in 12.4% of the men and 26.2% of the women (7.2% and 14.2%, respectively, of those under 30 years of age). Neuroleptics or antiepileptics (in the absence of antidepressants) were detected in 8.3%, and anxiolytics/hypnotics alone in 20.5% of the subjects. Overdose by an antidepressant was the probable cause of death in 2.1% of the men and 7.9% of the women. CONCLUSIONS: The pattern of psychotropics detected in toxicology was incongruent with the pattern of diagnoses found in the clinical investigations of suicides mentioned above. Depression appears to be under treated in individuals committing suicide, especially in men and in subjects under 30 years of age.

Adolescent↗