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H Steiger

Publications and source records attributed to H Steiger.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Axis II comorbidity and developmental adversity in bulimia nervosa.

Using data from 61 bulimic patients, we evaluated associations among axis II disturbances, psychopathological traits, eating symptoms, and adverse developmental experiences (e.g., childhood sexual and physical abuse). Findings showed likelihood of childhood abuse to increase markedly in function of comorbid personality pathology. In addition, comorbid borderline personality disorder was found to be a better predictor of object-relations disturbances, primitive defenses, and hostility than developmental adversity was. Although marked trait disturbances were strongly associated with borderline personality disorder (more than with severity of childhood adversity), the converse seemed true of severity of bulimic symptoms (i.e., comorbid personality disorder had no predictive effects, whereas developmental variables had inconsistent effects). Bulimic and general psychopathological symptoms, thus, seemed to have intriguingly independent determinants. We interpret these findings as showing that the observed association between developmental adversity and bulimic syndromes may, in large part, be attributable to comorbid personality pathology.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Controlled study of eating concerns and psychopathological traits in relatives of eating-disordered probands: do familial traits exist?

To examine the extent to which first-degree relatives of eating-disordered (ED) probands endorse maladaptive eating attitudes and personality/affective traits, we compared self-reported eating concerns (Restraint, Emotional Eating, Body Dissatisfaction, and maladaptive eating attitudes) and psychopathological traits (Affective Instability, Anxiousness, Compulsivity, and Narcissism) across groups of restricter (n = 19), binger (n = 56), psychiatric control (PC, n = 38), normal dieter (ND, n = 29), and nondieter control (NC, n = 28) probands, and then across participating nuclear family members. Results among probands were as anticipated: ED probands showed expected elevations in both areas, and predicted restricter/binger differences were obtained. However, corresponding differences were not obtained on measures of mothers', fathers', or siblings' eating concerns and traits. Our findings corroborate the notion that EDs represent a convergence of eating, affective, and personality disturbances, but not that such a clustering of features exists as a familial trait. We discuss normal trait and attitudinal variations observed in ED probands' relatives in light of findings showing EDs and other psychiatric syndromes to aggregate within families.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

[Validation of an eating attitude scale in a French-speaking Quebec population].

The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) is one of the most frequently used screening questionnaires for anorexia and bulimia nervosa for use with clinical and general populations. Although the psychometric qualities of the instrument have been reported for the English version, little has been done to date to validate a French version. A french version of the EAT-26 was distributed to anglophone students and francophone students, as well as anglophone and francophone patients. Overall, the results demonstrated that the authors' French version has the same psychometric characteristics as the English version when used with clinical and non clinical populations. The overall test and its subscales differentiated between patients and non patients similarly in both linguistic groups. The internal consistency of the two versions, as assessed by Cronbach's alpha, was comparable. Among female high-school students, 14.1% of the anglophone students and 14.3% of the francophone students scored above the cutoff score for significant eating disorders behaviour.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Prognostic implications of stable versus transient "borderline features" in bulimic patients.

BACKGROUND: This study examined the association between "borderline features" and treatment response in bulimic patients. METHOD: Treatment response was assessed in 69 bulimic patients over 6 months of treatment (and 1-year response in 44 of the patients). Patients were classified as a function of whether "borderline features" were (1) "stably" present (at pretreatment and after 3 months), (2) "transiently" present (at pretreatment only), or (3) "absent" (at both time points). RESULTS: The stably borderline profile coincided systematically with Axis II comorbidity (not with mood disorders) and was generally predictive of poorer 6- and 12-month response of eating and comorbid symptoms. Hierarchical regressions showed predictive effects to have a partial independence from effects caused by concurrent eating symptoms and depression. CONCLUSION: Results highlight the importance, with respect to prognosis in bulimia nervosa, of establishing the temporal stability of features that imply character disturbance.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Prognostic value of pretreatment social adaptation in bulimia nervosa.

We evaluated several indices of pretreatment social adaptation (social and vocational adjustment, DSM-III-R Axis-V ratings, and "object-relations" capacities) as predictors of the response of 44 completers of a multimodal therapy for bulimia nervosa. Response was assessed using standard measures of eating and psychiatric symptoms. Hierarchical regressions revealed that pretreatment social adjustment explained substantial (and significant) proportions of variance in posttreatment binge/purge symptoms, after variance associated with (a) initial severity of eating symptoms and (b) concurrent psychiatric symptoms (at posttreatment) was accounted for. Hence, social adjustment emerged as a somewhat specific predictor of response of bulimic behaviors. Possible clinical implications of this apparent predictive effect are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Involvement of two genes of superinfecting phage kappa in curing and induction of prophage psi in Serratia marcescens HY.

Prophage psi carried along with prophage y by Serratia marcescens HY is subject of moderate curing at heteroimmune superinfection of cells from stationary phase with phage kappa. Curing becomes considerably more frequent when the bacteria are non-lysogenic for y. Both psi, y-double-lysogenic and psi-single-lysogenic cells with a mutation in the ink gene are very efficiently cured of psi if infected by kappa tay, although this mutant was characterized as being deficient in transactivation of certain genes in prophage y. On the other hand to get efficiently cured after kappa wild-type infection these cells too must be devoid of a y prophage. Thus a y function turned on by tay+ seems to counteract the elimination of psi. However, interestingly enough psi curing is boosted by a further y function under special circumstances. Efficient curing depends on an intact kappa tap gene, a gene reported to cause transactivation of certain psi genes. Curing at kappa tay infection is specifically accompanied by induction of the psi prophage in a part of the infected cells. However, there is no such induction at kappa wild-type infection, either in the absence or presence of a y prophage. An explanation of these findings is suggested which includes an antirepressive effect exerted on psi and a hypothetical interaction between the products of genes tap and tay.

Bacteriophages↗
PubMed1993

Prognostic utility of subcomponents of the borderline personality construct in bulimia nervosa.

We examined various components of the 'borderline personality construct' as predictors of initial response to treatment in 61 bulimic patients. At pre-treatment, a 'borderline/non-borderline' distinction was established using DSM III-R criteria, and other components of 'borderline' pathology ('borderline traits', object-relations disturbances, maladaptive defences and mood pathology) were assessed using self-report. Self-reported eating and psychiatric symptoms were obtained at initial and three-month evaluations. Using hierarchical regression analyses, we controlled effects of initial eating and psychiatric symptoms, and then evaluated various measures of the borderline construct as predictors of later symptom severity. Categorical borderline PD diagnoses were linked to poorer response on eating attitudes and symptoms, and fine-grained analyses indicated that this prognostic effect might be mediated by mood and object-relations disturbances. Findings therefore seemed to isolate specific subcomponents of borderline personality pathology that predicted poorer response on eating symptoms.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Relationships among borderline features, body dissatisfaction and bulimic symptoms in nonclinical females.

The present study evaluated the utility of combining measures of body dissatisfaction and borderline personality features in screening high-school girls who may be at risk for bulimia nervosa. Two samples (777 high-school girls and 22 bulimic women in-treatment) completed scales assessing borderline traits, body dissatisfaction, eating symptoms, and associated psychiatric disturbances. Students were divided into four groups, respectively showing: (a) high body dissatisfaction and borderline traits, (b) high body dissatisfaction alone, (c) high borderline traits alone, or (d) neither vulnerability component. Clinical and nonclinical groups were then compared for severity of eating and psychiatric symptoms. Girls displaying the combination of high body dissatisfaction and borderline traits (our presumed "high-risk" group) showed an elevated profile of eating and associated disturbances, highly comparable to the bulimic group. They were also more likely to receive threshold and subthreshold diagnoses of bulimia nervosa (according to simulated diagnoses based on self-report items) than subjects in other high-school groups. Implications of these findings were discussed with reference to the "two-component" model of eating disorders.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Genetic studies of the ends of a locked-in kappa prophage in Serratia marcescens by transductional and vegetative crosses.

In temperate phage kappa of Serratia marcescens several special features of different phages are combined. The unessential genes lI, iny, cII and, at least to some extent, even the integrase gene int are not subject to negative control by the repressor, the product of gene cIII. A genetic map of the prophage was established using defective, heat-induced lysates of int- lysogens both in vegetative crosses with sus mutants of essential genes and in transduction of the four unessential genes to lysogenic recipients. Results from reciprocal four factor-crosses concerning the order of the four genes had to be included. The four genes are located near the right end of the prophage, whereas cIII lies near its left end. In vegetative phage all five genes lie in an interval between the essential genes T and U, comprising 10% of kappa's genetic map. The right prophage end appears to face at least two trp cistrons, among them the gene encoding anthranilate synthetase. lI encodes a product that masks the phage receptors in the cell wall. The gene product of iny interferes with the growth of infecting phage y. The natural function of cII is still unknown, but some of its mutants display a cold-sensitive phenotype, their plaques being clear at 30 degrees C and turbid at 37 degrees C. Bacteria with such prophages stop producing viable progeny when the cultures are shifted from 37 degrees C to 30 degrees C. These cold-sensitive mutants are partly dominant and partly recessive. Analysing a virulent mutant, a gene ant encoding an antirepressor was discovered, but so far there is no evidence that it is regulated by an extra repressor. The gene is located relatively near the left prophage end. Evidence is presented that the exogenotes in transduction with the defective lysates continue to exist for some time after a first recombinational event.

Anthranilate Synthase↗
PubMed1991

Personality and family features of adolescent girls with eating symptoms: evidence for restricter/binger differences in a nonclinical population.

Conflicting evidence exists concerning a "restricter/binger" dichotomy aligned with personality traits of obsessionality versus impulsivity, and family traits of enmeshment versus incohesion. The present study explored relationships among reported personality and family traits, on the one hand, and subtypes of eating symptoms, on the other, in a sample of 715 high-school girls. Symptomatic eaters (most displaying subclinical eating problems) consistently displayed more Mood Problems, Body Concerns, and Self-Criticism than did asymptomatic girls. Differences were observed between restrictive eaters and binge eaters on other variables: Restrictive types were more Perfectionistic, whereas bingers were more Impulsive and rated their families as more Incohesive. Results were discussed in the light of two views on restricter/binger differences. That they reflect: (a) premorbid features acting in predisposition to the eating disorders (EDs). (b) state-dependent features associated either with restrictive or binging phases of eating disturbances.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Relationship of body-image distortion to sex-role identifications, irrational cognitions, and body weight in eating-disordered females.

Thirty-one eating-disordered (ED) women and 11 normal women completed tests of sex-role identity, dysfunctional cognitions, and body image. Anorexics, not bulimics, exhibited body-image distortion. All EDs (distorters and nondistorters) showed "hyperfeminine" identifications. Maladaptive cognitions were present in all EDs, but more marked in "overestimators." Body weight predicted BID better than other measures of eating pathology, which suggests important effects of weight per se in producing BID.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

An integrated psychotherapy for eating-disorder patients.

This paper presents a rationale for integrating brief dynamic and cognitive-behavioral techniques in the treatment of eating-disorder patients. It emphasizes psychodynamic work useful in neutralizing defenses and resistances to therapy, which aids access to key conflicts and characterological issues. The more interpersonal, transference-based aspects of such work are illustrated, and suggestions are made as to when to shift among various therapeutic strategies.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Anorexia nervosa and bulimia in males: lessons from a low-risk population.

The literature on anorexia nervosa and bulimia in male patients was reviewed with the intention of (a) identifying differences that may exist between male and female sufferers, and (b) isolating, through a study of etiological factors in the low-risk (male) group, those factors that may be specific in the etiology of these disorders in both sexes. Current knowledge suggests that fundamental male-female differences do not exist as far as the etiology or symptomatology of these disorders is concerned. Given such similarities, the lower incidence among males suggests biological, social and intrapsychic determinants, that can be conceived to be more active in female versus male populations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Transactivation of several genes of two native Serratia prophages after superinfection by phage kappa.

Serratia marcescens HY bacteria must be lysogenic with either prophage y or psi to make it possible for phage kappa to form plaques unless they carry a so-called ink mutation. Genes in y and psi termed any and anp were identified that after infection of ink+ cells are necessary for an effective propagation of these phages as well as of coinfecting kappa phage. When kappa infects y and/or psi-lysogenic cells it transactivates the respective prophage genes by means of two early genes termed tay and tap. It appears that on infection of nonlysogenic ink+ cells kappa damps its own development, provided the regulatory region of the responsible gene is undermethylated. After kappa infection duly to achieve the special methylation of this region seems to be the function of any and anp. There are some more genes in y and psi prophage under the control of tay and tap, concerning in both cases a Dam methylation (recognition sequence GATC) of kappa DNA, a recombination proneness under restricting conditions of kappa DNA not modified by the modification enzyme of HY, and the kappa plaque size. By hybridization studies a region of homology common to y and psi was demonstrated which from its size might comprise all the transactivated genes. The view is supported by genetic data indicating an affinity among the any and anp genes. Investigation of various any mutants were indicative of DNA inversions in this region of the y genome. Surprisingly some of the any mutants had become sensitive in their plaque forming ability to an inhibitory activity exerted by prophage psi. Mutants of psi unable to interfere but still able to lysogenize were isolated. A model is presented accounting for the formation of pleiotropic and nonpleiotropic mutations with Any phenotype and their reversion types. Possible functions of the y genes and their counterparts in psi are discussed.

Bacteriophages↗
PubMed1987

Delayed onset of left-sided diaphragmatic hernia in a newborn.

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia usually causes severe respiratory distress presenting in the first hours of life. There is, however, a group of patients who may be asymptomatic during the perinatal period, but manifest the abnormality after days, weeks and even years. We report a delayed onset of left-sided diaphragmatic hernia in a three weeks old newborn with a favourable prognosis.

Female↗
PubMed1985

Speech processing ability in alcoholics: a transient impairment and its relation to field dependence.

Alcoholic and non-alcoholic subjects received a test of the ability to identify speech presented against competing speech (Synthetic Sentence Identification) and a test of field dependence (Embedded-Figures Test (EFT). Performance on the speech task (which involved auditory figure-ground differentiation) bore no special relationship to performance on the field-dependence test. However, cross-sectional and longitudinal data suggested that recently-drinking alcoholics are temporarily impaired in their speech-processing ability, recovering this ability after several months of alcohol-abstinence. A relationship between chronicity of alcoholism and field dependence was also observed. The latter relationship, along with findings on auditory tests, were discussed in terms of their relevance to the issue of whether field dependence is an antecedent to or a consequence of alcoholism.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Field dependence in alcoholics: relation to years of drinking, severity of alcohol dependence and emotional distress.

A number of factors were evaluated as predictors of field dependence (Embedded-Figures Test score) in alcoholics. In our sample, duration of excessive drinking and symptomatology of alcohol dependence were significantly related to the level of field dependence. These results fail to corroborate earlier findings and suggest that heightened field dependence in alcoholics is, at least partly, a consequence of alcohol misuse. In addition, a strong relationship was detected between the alcoholics' degree of anxiety and their degree of alcohol dependence. Possible bases for such a relationship are discussed.

Adult↗