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Biomedical subjects

I Pelc

Publications and source records attributed to I Pelc.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Alcoholics' deficits in the decoding of emotional facial expression.

The present study investigated emotional facial expression decoding in alcoholics. Twenty-five alcoholic patients at the end of the detoxification process were compared with 25 volunteers matched for age, sex, and education. They were presented with facial expressions of neutral, mild, moderate, or strong emotional intensity. Results indicate that alcoholics overestimate the intensity of emotional expressions and make more errors in their decoding with a special bias for anger and contempt. Moreover, this decoding deficit is not perceived by the alcoholic patients. A general model is proposed that links visuospatial deficits, abnormal processing of social information, interpersonal stress, and alcohol abuse.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Divergent responses to fluoxetine from two compulsive, food-related conditions: bulimia nervosa and compulsive water drinking.

BACKGROUND: The association of compulsive water drinking with bulimia nervosa is rarely encountered. Nevertheless similar behavior patterns could involve a common pathophysiological mechanism. METHODS: A case report with the association of those two disorders is described. Treatment with fluoxetine was introduced to alleviate the compulsive aspects of those disorders. RESULTS: Fluoxetine had a positive effect on bulimia nervosa but none on compulsive water drinking. CONCLUSIONS: The different response to pharmacologic treatment could mean that bulimia nervosa and compulsive water drinking are based on different physiological mechanisms.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Efficacy and safety of acamprosate in the treatment of detoxified alcohol-dependent patients. A 90-day placebo-controlled dose-finding study.

BACKGROUND: Acamprosate is a newly registered drug that appears to reduce alcohol-drinking in both animal models and clinical conditions. METHOD: In order to assess the efficacy and safety of the drug in the treatment of detoxified alcoholics, we performed a 90-day double-blind trial comparing two dosages of acamprosate (1332 mg/day and 1998 mg/day). RESULTS: For all efficacy parameters, acamprosate appeared to be significantly superior to placebo, with a trend towards a better effect at the higher dosage. Furthermore, acamprosate appeared to be extremely safe. CONCLUSION: This study confirms that acamprosate could be an interesting adjuvant for maintaining abstinence in detoxified alcoholics.

Acamprosate↗
PubMed1997

Sleep in detoxified alcoholics: impairment of most standard sleep parameters and increased risk for sleep apnea, but not for myoclonias--a controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess recently alcohol-abstinent chronic alcoholic patients for selected parameters indicative of sleep quality. METHOD: Patients (n = 24, 14 male), abstinent 3-6 weeks, and healthy controls (n = 20) were admitted to a clinical sleep unit. Measurements included sleep respiratory events and periodic limb movements, using strict methodology. RESULTS: Clear signs of sleep deterioration and a high prevalence of apneic/hypopneic episodes were observed. Apneas were found at the same frequency for men and women; this has not been described before. No periodic limb movement was found. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the high degree of morbidity and mortality observed in sleep apneic syndrome, systematic screening for sleep apneas is recommended for alcoholics seeking help.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[Alcoholism: relapse prevention].

Prevention of alcoholism relapse implies an early detection of the problem (abuse or dependence). This can be achieved through clinical interview, biological evaluation, psychological assessment (i.e. "The Drinking Habits"--I. Pelc) or according to the "Alcoholism Decision Tree" (The Plinius Maior Society). In order to prevent alcoholism relapse, strategies to control the clinical symptoms related to the "Post-Detoxification Syndrome" have recently been highlighted. Further are discussed the benefit of various psychotherapeutic modalities as well as psychopharmacological interventions. According to a better knowledge of the neurochemical and neurobiological basis of alcoholism and craving, the contributions of specific psychopharmacological agents active on the dopaminergic, serotoninergic, glutamatergic systems as well as blocking of opiate receptors are discussed. Acamprosate, as a specific modulator of the glutamatergic system, recently marketed in Belgium, appears one of the most promising new pharmacological agent in relapse prevention when the patient benefits of psychosocial support.

Acamprosate↗
PubMed1995

Cerebral blood flow in just detoxified alcohol dependent patients. A 99 m Tc-HMPAO-SPECT study.

Chronic alcohol abuse is responsible for several organic brain disorders. However, even the most characteristic of them are largely underdiagnosed by routine procedures. Therefore, there is need for sensitive, noninvasive and low-cost diagnostic procedures. 99m-Tc-HMPAO-SPECT could be an interesting candidate in this indication, because it estimates the distribution of the cerebral blood flow and the metabolic activity of the brain with a good resolution. We used this technique in 17 healthy volunteers and in a sample of 50 patients dependent on alcohol, without other major physical or mental disorder. SPECT was performed during the attendance of these patients in an inpatient detoxification program. We observed abnormal SPECT in 34 patients, but only in 2 volunteers (p < 0.001). The main abnormality was heterogeneity of the distribution of the tracer. SPECT abnormalities appear to be due nor to withdrawal syndrome, nor to medication. On the contrary, they are correlated with stigmata of heavy alcoholism. Furthermore, a genetic vulnerability to alcohol was suspected because SPECT abnormalities are more frequent in patients with an history of drinking problems in their relatives.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

"Subjective quality of life": clinical model for assessment of rehabilitation treatment in psychiatry.

The aim of this study was to develop a comprehensive model in order to approach the structure of the concept of subjective quality of life. A total of 188 Belgian subjects took part in the present study: 148 psychiatric out-patients and 40 normal controls. The principal component analysis used as a statistical method revealed three significant factors for the model: a first one called "hedonist factor" with a high level of interdependencies and subjective satisfaction, a second one called "achievement factor" and a third one called "conformity factor". Contrary to the hypothesis of the Social Indicators movement, it appeared that items related to the objective satisfaction of needs were not related to items of the subjective quality of life, as defined by the international literature.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

The Plinius Major Society.

The Plinius Maior Society is an international contact group held by European university clinicians involved in the evaluation and the treatment of alcoholic patients. His major aim is to define common guidelines on these topics.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1993

Alcohol dependence--classificatory considerations.

The term alcoholism or alcohol dependence has acquired a broad range of meanings. The Plinius Maior Society herewith presents new classificatory considerations and suggests additional recording of special dimensions according to the individual hypothesis and design of a study.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1993

The revision of the mental health commitment law in Belgium: the medical viewpoint.

Recently, the 1850 commitment law in Belgium has undergone dramatic revisions. These changes were implemented mainly at the request of law reformers who were concerned about the implications for civil liberties of institutionalization and who took into account the modern psychiatric treatment successes. Despite the fact that this legislation has promoted better progress in comparison with the original one, it has only been approved by the legal profession. The medical profession on the contrary is very critical and considers that this new measure gives few possibilities for the management of the doctor-patient relationship. The aim of the authors is to discuss, from a medical viewpoint, the advantages and disadvantages of the new law and to deliver some practical and ethical considerations.

Belgium↗
PubMed1991

[Organic morbidity of a hospitalized psychiatric population].

In order to determine organic morbidity in psychiatry, 140 psychiatric inpatients (aged between 20 and 49) were examined. After various investigations (physical, biological, chest film, EEG, ECG), it was concluded that 52% of the patients suffer from at least one physical disease, and 23% suffer from more than one. The most frequent diseases are digestive (hepatic), respiratory and cardiovascular. The relationship between opiate addiction and stomatological, urogenital and dermatological diseases, and between alcoholism and liver diseases seems clear. It would appear that a medical approach adapted to psychiatric patients is necessary in order better to diagnose these physical diseases, and to reduce psychiatric overmorbidity, which might lead to a decrease in psychiatric excess mortality.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[The treatment of dependence in the therapeutic community].

The authors report a follow-up study about 73 ex-addicted patients who have been through a 6-months stay in a therapeutic community. The results analysed and discussed demonstrate the importance of the duration of the in-patients period and point out some patient features that are correlated to the current success or failure of treatment.

Belgium↗
PubMed1989

[Crisis intervention in the emergency service of a general hospital].

Two general hospitals of Brussels tapped, in 1977, 47% of all the emergency ambulance traffic. More than 50,000 patients were examined there in one year. A randomized sample of 12,000 records were analyzed. From this file, 1707 psychosocial cases were carried out. The study will follow the progression of the patients during this crisis situation. Statistic tests pinpoint that the most determining variable is the symptoms. Seven symptoms cover more than 95% of the interventions. These symptoms are: alcoholism, suicide attempts, abnormal behavior, psychologic complaints, somatic complaints, violence, drug-addiction. Statistical analysis reveals that the two most important variables to draws crisis interventions at the emergency room were the time used by patient and the frequency of call of the psychiatrist. Other variables used to draw up the progression of the patients were: way of arrival, diagnosis and final destination.

Belgium↗
PubMed1989

[Drugs in Belgium. Current status and perspectives].

Problems connected with the use and abuse of licit or illicit drugs, causing dependency, are related to the pharmacological characteristics of the substance, to psychological traits of the user and to the social context. Hard drugs use such as heroïn addiction concerns 8 to 10,000 people; alcohol abuse, 300,000. Nevertheless, some other data are worrying: 6% of high school students have occasionally tried cannabis, appropriate prescription and use of minor tranquillizers are problematic. At least 12% of IV drug addicts are HIV seropositive. Assistance and care must be available in multiple programs and performed by specialized teams in outpatient and inpatient facilities. They are insufficiently developed and funded. Treatment is effective but long-lasting, expensive and stabilization rate is low (30%). Prohibition exists and is supposed to reduce availability; preventive programs are to be developed among the public, educational and health professionals. Epidemiologic evaluations, toxicologic assessments, biological as well psychosocial research, have to be promoted.

Adolescent↗