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Biomedical subjects

J Gabel

Publications and source records attributed to J Gabel.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Children of parents with obsessive-compulsive disorder -- a 2-year follow-up study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between parental obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and emotional and behavioural disorders in offspring. METHOD: Demographic, clinical, and diagnostic data were collected from parents with OCD, control subjects, and their respective offspring. Offspring were reassessed at a 2-year follow-up. RESULTS: Probands with OCD and controls were relatively well matched for age, gender, race, educational rating, and marital status. Offspring of OCD probands were at greater risk than offspring of controls for dimensionally measured anxiety, depression, somatization, and social problems. OCD offspring were significantly more likely than control offspring to have lifetime overanxious disorder, separation anxiety disorder, OCD, or 'any anxiety disorder'. Female gender in the parent with OCD, evidence of family dysfunction, and high symptom levels in offspring were predictive of broadly defined OCD at follow-up. CONCLUSION: Children having a parent with OCD are more likely than control offspring to have social, emotional, and behavioural disorders.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

A double-blind comparison of fluvoxamine versus placebo in the treatment of compulsive buying disorder.

Nondepressed outpatients with a compulsive buying disorder were recruited by advertisement and word of mouth for inclusion in a controlled treatment trial. Following a 1-week single-blind placebo washout, subjects were randomly assigned to fluvoxamine (n = 12) or placebo (n = 11). Subjects received fluvoxamine (up to 300 mg daily) or placebo for 9 weeks. There were few dropouts. Outcome measures included the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale--Shopping Version (YBOCS-SV), three Clinical Global Impressions (CGI) ratings, the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD), and the Maudsley Obsessive-compulsive Inventory (MOI). At the conclusion of the trial, 50% of fluvoxamine recipients and 63.6% of placebo recipients achieved CGI ratings of "much" or "very much" improvement, while 33% of fluvoxamine recipients were "very much" improved compared with 18% of placebo recipients (by endpoint analysis). Subjects in both treatment cells showed improvement as early as the second week of the trial, and for most, improvement continued during the 9-week study. There were no significant differences between fluvoxamine- and placebo-treated subjects on any of the outcome measures, with the exception that fluvoxamine recipients achieved greater improvement than placebo recipients on the MOI (p = .02). Adverse experiences were more frequent in the group receiving fluvoxamine, particularly nausea, insomnia, decreased motivation, and sedation. We conclude that in a short-term treatment trial of compulsive buying, subjects receiving fluvoxamine or placebo respond similarly.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Serotonin transporter gene (5-HTT) polymorphisms and compulsive buying.

We examined a panel of 21 patients diagnosed with compulsive buying for two DNA sequence polymorphisms found in the gene that encodes the serotonin transport (5-HTT). One polymorphism, found in the promoter region of the 5-HTT gene, involves a 44-base pair (bp) deletion, and the other, found in the second intron, is due to variable numbers of a repeat sequence. We also typed a panel of 38 psychiatrically normal controls for both 5-HH markers. When compared to this control panel, no significant differences were seen for either 5-HTT marker among the compulsive buyers.

Alleles↗
PubMed1999

[Crystalline keratopathy as a presenting sign of multiple myeloma].

BACKGROUND: Noninfectious crystalline corneal degenerations can be classified from the clinical and genetical point of view into 3 groups: 1. primary hereditary (Schnyder), 2. secondary hereditary (cystinosis) and 3. secondary non-hereditary in association with disorders of serum protein or lipid composition. PATIENT: We report on a 63-year-old man with reduced vision and grey-white, crystalline, monomorpheous deposits in the corneal stroma. Further investigation revealed IgG myeloma. RESULTS: We performed a penetrating keratoplasty for visual improvement. On histopathological examination, typical eosinophilic, PAS-positive, interlamellar deposits staining brilliant red with Masson's trichrome were found diffusely scattered throughout the stroma. Electron microscopy showed intracellular, rhomboid-shaped deposits enveloped by a membrane. CONCLUSION: The appearance of a crystalline keratopathy should be followed by an internal examination for early detection and adequate treatment of a systemic disease.

Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal↗
PubMed1998

Family history and psychiatric comorbidity in persons with compulsive buying: preliminary findings.

OBJECTIVE: The authors explored the family history and psychiatric comorbidity of a group of compulsive buyers who volunteered for medication studies. Compulsive buying is characterized by inappropriate shopping and spending behavior that leads to impairment. METHOD: Thirty-three subjects who met the criteria of McElroy and colleagues for compulsive buying, and who scored more than two standard deviations above the mean on the Compulsive Buying Scale, were recruited. Twenty-two comparison subjects were recruited in the course of another study, and the presence of obsessive-compulsive disorder was the only reason for exclusion. Both groups were administered the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R disorders. The Family History Research Diagnostic Criteria were used to collect information about psychiatric disorders in first-degree relatives. RESULTS: Compulsive buyers had a mean age of 40 years; two (6%) were men. Comparison subjects had a mean age of 39 years; six (27%) were men. The two groups differed in gender distribution but not in age, marital status, or educational achievement. Compulsive buyers were more likely than comparison subjects to have lifetime mood disorders (especially major depression) and to have more than one psychiatric disorder. First-degree relatives of compulsive buyers were more likely than comparison relatives to suffer from depression, alcoholism, and a drug use disorder and to suffer more psychiatric disorders in general. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that persons who report compulsive buying behavior, and their first-degree relatives, are more likely to have a higher prevalence of psychiatric disorder than are comparison subjects.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Urge to splurge.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation↗
PubMed1997

Fluvoxamine in the treatment of compulsive buying.

BACKGROUND: The authors report the results of an open trial of fluvoxamine in the treatment of compulsive buying. METHOD: Ten nondepressed subjects were recruited through word-of-mouth and rnet restrictive inclusion/exclusion criteria. Subjects were assessed with the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale modified for compulsive buying, the Clinical Global Impression scale, and other measures. After a single-blind 1-week placebo run-in, subjects received fluvoxamine up to 300 mg daily for 9 weeks. RESULTS: Nine of 10 subjects improved and were less preoccupied with shopping, spent less time shopping, and reported spending less money. CONCLUSION: We conclude that compulsive buyers can be recruited for research and their symptoms measured and monitored and, finally, that fluvoxamine may be effective in its treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Reliability and validity of a scale to measure change in persons with compulsive buying.

A new scale to measure severity and change in persons with compulsive buying is described. Data were gathered during an open-label study in which compulsive buyers were treated with fluvoxamine, a serotonin reuptake inhibitor. The instrument showed good-to-excellent interrater reliability and high internal consistency. Its 10 separate items showed at least moderate correlations with the total score. The instrument was also sensitive to clinical change and correlated highly with other measures of illness severity. We conclude that this new instrument is both reliable and valid in measuring severity and change in persons with compulsive buying.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Acute treatment response in outpatients with panic disorder: high versus low depressive symptoms.

The authors studied 75 outpatients with DSM-III-R panic disorder who had participated in a clinical trial and had been randomly assigned to receive fluvoxamine, cognitive therapy, or placebo for an 8-week period. They compared a group with high levels of depressive symptoms and a group with low levels of depressive symptoms. At baseline, patients with high levels of depressive symptoms were more likely to have severe phobic avoidance and to have higher scores on measures of anxiety, hyochondriasis, and disability. An important finding was that depressive symptoms improved at a rate which paralleled improvement in panic and anxiety. Likewise, the presence of depressive symptoms did not interfere with treatment response in panic disorder. Clinical implications of the findings are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Predictors of short-term treatment response in 66 patients with panic disorder.

Short-term treatment response in panic disorder was studies in 66 subjects who had completed 3 weeks of treatment with fluvoxamine (n = 23), cognitive therapy (n = 20), or placebo (n = 23). Clinical and self-rated assessments were gathered at baseline, during, and after treatment. Using multiple logistic regression, treatment with fluvoxamine, a low panic attack severity score, and absence of a comorbid personality disorder were identified as significant predictors of recovery. Personality disorder was an important negative predictor to outcome with cognitive therapy. The results support the efficacy of fluvoxamine, and show that patients with low symptom severity and a normal personality respond well to treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

The health insurance picture in 1993: some rare good news.

Based on a national survey conducted in spring 1993 of 1,953 private and public employers, this DataWatch examines the design of employer-sponsored health benefits and how they have changed during the past five years. We contrast cost of coverage, employee cost sharing, and premium increases among small, mid-size, and large firms. Premiums increased 8.5 percent from 1992 to 1993, the lowest rate of increase since 1986-1987. Future premium increases should be modest by historical standards. Small firms and conventional plans experienced larger premium increases last year. Managed care plans now constitute 51 percent of enrollment, up from 29 percent in 1988. If current trends continue, even without health care reform legislation, the health care system of the future will contrast strikingly with the system most Americans remember from past decades.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗
PubMed1993

A comparison of fluvoxamine, cognitive therapy, and placebo in the treatment of panic disorder.

Seventy-five outpatients with moderate to severe panic disorder were randomly assigned to receive 8 weeks of fluvoxamine, cognitive therapy, or placebo. Fifty-five patients completed the treatment protocol. Fluvoxamine was found to be an effective and well-tolerated treatment for panic using clinician- and patient-rated variables. Subjects receiving cognitive therapy also showed improvement, but this improvement did not significantly differ from the experience of the placebo-treated group for most comparisons. Fluvoxamine was superior to cognitive therapy for many ratings, but cognitive therapy was not superior to fluvoxamine on any rating. Fluvoxamine also produced improvement earlier than cognitive therapy. At the main comparison point (week 4), 57% (13/23) of patients receiving fluvoxamine were rated moderately improved or better vs 40% (8/20) of the group given cognitive therapy and 22% (5/23) of the placebo-treated group. At that point, 43% (10/23) of the fluvoxamine recipients vs 25% (5/20) of cognitive therapy and 4% (1/23) of placebo recipients were free of panic attacks.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

The abrupt discontinuation of fluvoxamine in patients with panic disorder.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated patients abruptly withdrawn from fluvoxamine, a serotonin selective reuptake inhibitor, for evidence of a discontinuation syndrome. METHOD: In an open-label study, 14 subjects were abruptly withdrawn from fluvoxamine after treatment lasting 8 months (7 months for 1 patient). Psychological, somatic, and perceptual symptoms were assessed at Day 5, Day 10, and Day 14 postdiscontinuation. Anxiety and depression were assessed using clinician and self-rated scales. RESULTS: Twelve (86%) of 14 subjects developed new symptoms. The most frequent symptoms reported were dizziness/incoordination, headaches, nausea, and irritability. Symptoms peaked on Day 5 postdiscontinuation. Only 1 subject had a recurrence of panic, but another developed anxiety and depression; both were remedicated. CONCLUSION: Abrupt fluvoxamine discontinuation is associated with a characteristic syndrome in many patients.

Adult↗