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Biomedical subjects

M Hamilton

Publications and source records attributed to M Hamilton.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Rating depressive patients.

Various methods can be used for assessing symptoms of depression. These include check lists, scales for patient self-rating and rating scales completed by trained professional observers. Each technique has its special place in psychiatric research and each technique has its own strengths and weaknesses. A common concern on the part of psychiatrists is the fear that numerical assessment is dehumanizing. This is not the case as this method is intended only to make statistical analysis convenient and in no way reduces the concern for the subject's individuality. A commonly used depression rating scale, the Hamilton, has been extensively used in clinical trials of antidepressant drugs and for other purposes in clinical research. The various items of that scale are discussed and the system of rating explored from a clinician's point of view.

Depressive Disorder↗

A comparative trial of the decanoates of flupenthixol and fluphenazine.

A double-blind trial was carried out comparing the effects of decanoates of flupenthixol and fluphenazine on the symptoms, ward behaviour and functional capacity in occupational therapy in 51 chronic schizophrenic patients. The patients were carefully selected on the basis of rigid criteria for diagnoses. To exclude nonresponders to neuroleptics the patients were first taken off neuroleptic drugs and only those who appeared to show deterioration were included in the trial. The dosage of drugs was varied according to clinical indications. The length of the trial was initially 4 months and 31 patients were followed for an additional 4 months. To ensure reliability multiple assessments were made at the start and the end of the trial. Most of the statistical tests showed no differences between the treatments, but some of those relating to affective symptoms showed an advantage for flupenthixol as compared with fluphenazine. There were no differences in the incidence of extra-pyramidal side-effects which required treatment in only 32% of the patients on each drug.

Adult↗

Post-ECT cognitive defect and elevation of blood pressure.

There is evidence that ECT causes a breakdown of the blood-brain barrier through the rise of blood pressure it induced. Using the Benton test of cognitive function the day before and three hours after ECT treatment in 27 depressed patients, impairment of function was highly correlated with the maximum rise of systolic BP during the treatment.

Adult↗

[Rating of antidepressant activity (author's transl)].

In this brief review. I have mentioned recent developments and the possibility of new ones. I have referred to technical problems in the organisation of trials, the selection of patients, methods of assessment and their statistical anlaysis, the specific problems of side-effects of drugs and, finally, the social aspects of depressive illness.

Antidepressive Agents↗

Effects of carbon monoxide on operant behavior of laboratory rats and baboons.

Carbon monoxide (CO) was evaluated for its effects on the operant behavior of laboratory rats and juvenile baboons. For the rat studies the procedures included a 2-min variable interval (2-min VI) or fixed interval (2-min FI) schedule of reinforcement, a 60:1 fixed ratio (FR) schedule and a multiple fixed ratio, fixed interval (FR:FI) schedule. Carbon monoxide concentrations of 50-200 ppm for 2-hr exposure periods produced minimal effects on VI rates. Response rates were increased for all animals somewhere in the concentration range of 25-200 ppm. Response rates were depressed at 500 ppm CO. Behavioral effects at 50 ppm CO were not correlated with blood CO levels. Data averaged for grops of three animals show FI rate increased slightly above controls at 50 and 100 ppm CO and decreased at 200 ppm. FR rate increased at 50 ppm and decreased at 100 and 200 ppm. For the baboon studies, a delayed match-to-sample discrimination task was used. The effects of CO (6 hr per day over a 5-day period) on the discrimination task was limited to an occasional mistake by an animal. CO did produce a slowing of the animals' response times as well as an increase of extra responses during the delay intervals. The changes in extra responses were dose related.

Animals↗

Total exchangeable potassium in response to amiloride.

The use of amiloride is described in twenty-four hypertensive patients who became hypokalaemic as a result of thiazide diuretic therapy in spite of oral potassium supplments. Amiloride caused a significant rise in exchangeable potassium, exchangeable potassium/kg body weight, and plasma potassium, together with a significant fall in plasma total carbon dioxide, body weight, systolic and diastolic blood pressures. These results suggest that amiloride has a useful role in this type of patient.

Amiloride↗

Paranoid states.

Paranoid states is a term that covers a number of different disorders in which persecutory and grandiose ideas and delusions constitute a significant part of the symptoms. The most important are those conditions that are now generally accepted as being members of the group of schizophrenias. These symptoms become more important in conditions of social isolation and sensory deprivation. They appear in some organic cerebral conditions and may colour any breakdown that develops in some types of personality.

Hearing Disorders↗