Biomedical subjects

H Gutzmann

Publications and source records attributed to H Gutzmann.

23 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1982

Correlations between psychopathology, psychological test results and computerized tomography changes in senile dementia.

This study is an investigation of the relationship between morphological, neuropsychological, and clinical measurements, all presumably contributing to an expert's diagnosis of senile dementia. Morphological assessment was carried out by linear measurements taken from the photographs of the CT scanners display. The battery of tests comprised instruments able to evaluate performance (WAIS, Benton test, d2 test, Trail Making test) as well as personality (FPI) from a quantitative point of view. For clinical assessment the Assessment Scale for Gerontopsychiatry (AGP) was used. A group of 39 patients suffering from mild to severe dementia was studied. The results show strong correlations between some sub-tests of the WAIS and certain CT measurements but fail to show comparable features in using the full scale IQ. The other cognitive tests did not work as well in detecting brain atrophy. Surprisingly, the personality inventory (FPI) showed some correlations with brain atrophy. A number of correlations between morphological and clinical variables were found as well, consistent with well-known clinical experience. Topographical features will be discussed supporting the view that cerebral lesions in the progress of senile dementia take the form of distinct patterns.

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Mental impairment (dementia) and cerebral atrophy in geriatric patients.

In predicting the degree of brain atrophy as measured by CT, the AGP score and a few clinical variables were of some remarkable value. Especially the variables related to memory disorders and lack of insight are easily and reliably assessed during the course of the examination. In comparison to other more widely used neurological methods, the FHT proved to be an effective device for detecting brain atrophy, whereas the PMR and the glabellar blink were less effective. The close correlations between cerebral atrophy as measured by CT and a considerable number of clinical variables support the opinion that the organic substratum is not inconsistent with the clinically assessed function. Further research using strictly defined and standardized quantitative methods of psychopathological as well as neuroradiological assessment would seem to be a most promising attempt to answer the questions here only touched upon.

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[Frontal lobe syndromes in (pre-)senile dementias of the Alzheimer type: a correlative statistical study].

A group of gerontopsychiatric patients suffering from mild to severe dementia was studied. Clinical instruments were a psychological assessment system and a battery of tests. Structural changes of the brain were detected by computerized tomography. A number of correlations between clinical and morphological variables was found. The statistical analysis of most of the variables correlating with the CT determinants of the frontal lobe (Huckman-number, width of the frontal interhemispheric fissure) revealed plausibility consistent with the classical frontal lobe syndrome. The relations of the remaining items with the symptomatology of normal pressure hydrocephalus are critically discussed.

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[Therapeutic travel with patients in a gerontopsychiatric polyclinic].

In order to look into the problem of social isolation of mentally ill old people, we organized a 3-week trip for 19 patients, most of them depressive, of a psychogeriatric outpatient clinic. The group was professionally supervised by a team of four therapists. Patients were selected in accordance with the following main therapeutic goals: -Physical and mental stimulation through exposure to new impressions, -Promotion of social behaviour, -Opportunities for new interpersonal contacts, -Motivation for further individual travel activities, -Relaxation. Preparations comprised an interview and six group contacts. Four additional group meetings were held afterwards. The results of the trip were assessed by means of ratings made by the patients themselves and by the staff.

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Lisuride treatment of Alzheimer's disease. A preliminary placebo-controlled clinical trial of safety and therapeutic efficacy.

In this article, the authors examine the effect of lisuride on 22 patients with probable Alzheimer's disease (NINCDS/ADRDA criteria) in a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group design. Ten patients received lisuride and 12 patients received placebo. Lisuride was administered in a dose-finding phase of four weeks and an efficacy phase of eight weeks, with a maximum dose of 0.3 mg daily. Outcome measures included global clinical impression, general cognitive function, mood, verbal and visual memory, attention, and psychomotor function. Average decline in Mini-Mental State Examination score after 12 weeks treatment was less often statistically significant in lisuride treated patients than in patients receiving a placebo (p < 0.05). Patients treated with lisuride improved their average total score and short-delay cued recall score on the California Verbal Learning Test, a test of verbal memory, whereas placebo-treated patients showed worse performance compared with baseline. These differences approached statistical significance, with p = 0.06 and p = 0.05, respectively. No other differences between the treatment groups were evident. The authors failed to find a consistent effect of lisuride on symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. However, this study's sample size was relatively small, and larger studies are needed to ascertain the treatment effects of serotonergic antagonists on Alzheimer's disease.

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