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Biomedical subjects

M Ancona

Publications and source records attributed to M Ancona.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1989

Psychological aspects of weekend headache sufferers in comparison with migraine patients.

Sometimes the relaxation after stress may trigger a migraine attack. This is the principle that underlies that particular variant of migraine called "weekend headache". We hypothesize the presence in weekend headache prone subjects of a particular psychological background, different from that of common migraine sufferers. In order to detect possible differences supporting our hypothesis, we studied 104 new outpatients: 46 patients suffering from headache only on weekends (23 males and 23 females) and 58 matched common migraineurs (26 males and 32 females) with no weekend predilection. The psychological assessment was performed using the following psychometric tools: MMPI, BDI, STAIX1-X2. A clinical assessment of each patient was also carried out. Significant differences were found after statistically analyzing the test results. Most of the MMPI scales were found to be more elevated in both male and female weekend headache sufferers. From a clinical point of view, the weekend headache attacks proved to be similar to those of common migraine, but with a significantly higher incidence of concomitant symptoms. Our study confirms the important role that psychological factors play in the pathogenesis and clinical development of migraine and leads us to conclude that a psychic tension component is associated with the vascular one in weekend headache.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Psychosomatic assessment in patients with gravidic hyperemesis].

Thirty female subjects examined in the first three months of pregnancy took part in the study. Ten of these suffered from severe gravidic hyperemesis, while twenty had a physiological pregnancy. All subjects with hyperemesis and six controls were subjected to measurement of cortisolaemia at the following times: 8, 12, 16, 20, 24 and 4.00 so as to obtain the circadian curve of the hormone, measurement of T3 and T4 and of TSH. The Cattell test in form C was carried out in all patients. The results obtained evidenced a global increase in the production of cortisol in the group of hyperemetic women, with maintenance of the circadian rhythm. The Cattell test identified characteristic personality traits in the subjects suffering from hyperemesis compared to the controls.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Tension, depression, pain. Critical considerations and experimental data regarding idiopathic headache].

Following a discussion of the main psychodynamic theories concerning the etiology of idiopathic headache, the Authors describe their own research. The data reported suggest the existence of a wide range of psycho-behavioural aspects in the different diagnostic groups and it is therefore misleading to consider these in global terms. A revised method of psycho-genetic interpretation relating to migraine patients is proposed. In the second half of the paper the Authors outline a definitive rather than causal interpretation of psychosomatic disorders.

Depression↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Alexithimia: psychosomatic structure or transcultural trait?].

The these put forward by Marty and Sifneos on the one hand and by Cremerius on the other regarding "psichosomatic structure" have been compared in 66 patients suffering from idiopathic cephalea. Of these, 49 were suffering from migraine and 17 from musculotensive cephalea. The conclusion was that the alexithimic trait is related to the sociocultural level of the patients, not to their clinical picture.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Depression, neurotic traits and angina type pains in women].

The study examines the relative influence of sundry psychological risk factors on the various forms of angina pectoris found in two groups of women with classic angina pains attributable in one group to critical organic lesions of the coronary arteries and in the other to functional spasm. In all 81 women were examined and no significant difference was found between the two groups.

Angina Pectoris↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Dreams and schizophrenia: a qualitative analysis].

The dreams of a group of 16 patients diagnosed to have schizophrenic disturbance according to DSM III and those of 16 individuals chosen from the general population using the standardised Sheppard and Saul method, have been examined. The results showed that schizophrenic patients present a weaker ego in their dreams. However, a single dream may not be typical of either group and a distinction is only possible on the basis of a series of dreams. Further differences were identified between the dreams of patients diagnosed as having paranoid type schizophrenic disturbance and those with undifferentiated schizophrenia.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Non-associative learning in the mouse. Effect of morphine and naloxone.

The study evaluates the effect of morphine and naloxone on the process of non-associative learning in the mouse. Exploratory behavior was measured in thirty-six male albino mice (Suisse) placed on a Boissier and Simon hole-board, the procedure being repeated 24 h later after administration of naloxone and/or morphine, or bidistilled water i.p. The results show that the inhibitory effect naloxone has on the recollection process of the mnemonic traces appears to be masked by morphine.

Animals↗