Biomedical subjects
J Hoenig
Publications and source records attributed to J Hoenig.
Transsexualism and Slater's Selective Vocabulary Test.
It has been shown elsewhere that transsexual males use a vocabulary which differs from that of normal males. This could be demonstrated by Slater's Selective Vocabulary Test. This test was administered to 56 male transsexuals and the 'd' score - a device to eliminate the influence of I.Q. - was calculated. The normal d score for males is zero and the higher the score the greater is the degree of femininity. An attempt was made to find factors which facilitate this abnormal development of the vocabulary in male transsexuals. In order to do this the cases were divided into a group of high and a group of low 'd' scores, and tested for correlations with a number of factors which seemed likely to influence the vocabulary development. No such correlations could be established.
Differences in suicide rates: an examination of under-reporting.
A search of death certificates in the Registrar of Births and Deaths in Newfoundland was conducted covering the period of 1974 to 1978. In addition to 103 cases of suicide recorded on the certificates, in 104 cases no cause of death was recorded. The latter were further investigated through records of the forensic pathologist to determine the causes of death. Out of these, 14 cases were found to be unequivocal suicides and in 58 cases, cause of death was undetermined, or not investigated. These were added to the reported suicides (103) to provide a maximum possible correction for under-reporting. The suicide rate in Newfoundland still remains less than half the national rate in spite of the correction for underreporting. Implications of these findings are discussed in the light of reported research literature in this field, and social factors in the province.
The concept of Schizophrenia. Kraepelin-Bleuler-Schneider.
The concept of schizophrenia has changed since it was first introduced by Kraepelin. To overlook or misunderstand this evolution will lead to confusion with adverse effects on the clinic and on research. Kraepelin's exclusively somatic approach to the study of the illness gave rise to a variety of attempts to provide a wider theoretical framework which will accommodate a subjective psychological approach. The first of these attempts was that by Bleuler and Jung, but it brought with it new difficulties. Jasper's methodology was applied to the study of schizophrenia by Schneider, and it creates the theoretical space which will accommodate both the objective and subjective study of the illness and its victim as a person. An attempt is made here to outline a brief history of these ideas.
The impact of mental health legislation on psychiatric services.
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Untreated depression in a working population.
An attempt was made to assess the six months' prevalence rate of depression in a working population. The survey involved a total of 233 employees, in entertainment industry. Out of the total population of 233, 77 were to participate in the survey because of shift work and 18 refused. One hundred and thirty-eight probands were investigated, a compliance rate of 88.46%. Results show a very high prevalence of depressive illness in working population (9.4%); 21.7% showed "depressive symptoms only" and "terminal insomnia only". The majority of sufferers, particularly the males, remains untreated. The similarity of our findings compared to several well-controlled studies is striking, but this report can only be regarded as preliminary, and further in-depth investigations will have to be carried out.
Nosology and statistical classification.
There is a fundamental difference between nosology and a statistical classification, and the two should not be confused. The discipline of nosology uses scientific methods to arrive at a classification of psychiatric disorders and is concerned with the validity of its entities. A statistical classification aims to attain the widest compliance in spite of differences in the theoretical orientation of its users. It must therefore be atheoretical, and must represent a widely negotiated agreement between its future users. The most important statistical classification is the "International Classification of Diseases, Injuries and Causes of Death" (ICD-9) endorsed by the member states of the World Health Organization. The DSM III (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual), a newly accepted classification of the American Psychiatric Association, departs in many ways from the ICD-9, and Canada will have to decide whether adherence to ICD-9 should continue, or be replaced by the adoption of DSM III. Advantages and disadvantages of the DSM III are briefly discussed.
Verbal tests and transsexualism.
Gender discriminating vocabulary tests administered to a consecutive series of 53 male transsexuals show different results. The Slater Selective Vocabulary Test, Cohen's factors and the Terman-Miles Attitude Interest Analysis Test (M-F) show male transsexuals to have a higher degree of feminization than normal controls. The Wechsler-Bellevue Vocabulary Test and the Wechsler M-F Test are difficult to interpret, and do not show a clear trend of feminization in transsexual males. The investigation has shown that male transsexuals have a vocabulary which differs from that of normal males in the direction of greater feminization.
Suicide in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The present investigation was undertaken to explore the special factors associated with low suicide rates in Newfoundland and covered the ten year period of 1964 to 1973. The data were collected from death certificates. Comparisons were made with figures for Canada as a whole, as reported in the official statistics. Apart from a constant overall low rate of suicide in Newfoundland, women and young people (aged 15 to 29) failed to show an increase in the suicide rates such as has been observed in other parts of Canada and throughout the western world. In Newfoundland, age specific suicide rates, choice of method, variations in the rates for different religious denominations and seasonal variations in suicide rates were different from those observed elsewhere. Generally, suicide in Newfoundland shows a much older pattern and does not involve the new high-risk groups seen in more urbanized societies. Possible explanations for the special demographic characteristics of suicide in Newfoundland are offered, mainly on social, cultural and geographical grounds.
EEG abnormalities and transsexualism.
A consecutive series of 46 transsexuals, 35 men and 11 women, showed EEG abnormalities in 48 per cent and borderline abnormalities in another 24 per cent. Women showed the abnormalities in a significantly higher proportion than men. Those with the EEG abnormalities were slightly younger at inception, suggesting that they sought help at an earlier age, and their transsexualism became obvious to their families earlier. Those with personality disorders had EEG abnormalities more frequently, but not significantly so. This group of transsexual patients seemed to have a low sex drive, and those with abnormal EEGs even more so; but again the differences were not significant. The possible significance of these findings for the understanding of transsexualism is discussed.
Religious beliefs and psychiatric disorder in Sri Lanka.
After a brief description of the popular beliefs on the causation of illness held in Sir Lanka, eight illustrative case histories are presented. Although the incidence of religious-supernatural contents of mental disorders has been decreasing in the West it is by no means rare. It does, however, occur mostly in psychotic illness, whereas in Sri Lanka it occurs with great frequency in both psychotic and neurotic conditions. The indigenous exorcistic methods of treatment will be more effective in some cases than in others and a careful diagnosis will provide indications as to the choice of treatment.
Verbal characteristics of male and female transsexuals.
Slater's Selective Vocabulary Test was given to a group of 56 male and a group of 14 female transsexuals and the results were compared with those of 15-year-old boys and girls, and a group of normal male adults. It was found that whereas normal males and females have a ratio of gender appropriate words to cross gender words of approximately 2 to 1, in both male and female transsexuals that ratio is more like 1 to 1. The way in which this abnormal vocabulary acquisition may come about is briefly discussed. The factors related to this abnormal learning are not known.
Delirium associated with lithium therapy and electroconvulsive therapy.
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The legal position of the transsexual: mostly unsatisfactory outside Sweden.
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Sigmund Freud's views on sexual disorders in historical perspective.
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