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Biomedical subjects

M P Fankhauser

Publications and source records attributed to M P Fankhauser.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the efficacy of transdermal clonidine in autism.

BACKGROUND: Autistic individuals often exhibit hyperarousal behaviors (e.g., stereotyped body movements, self-stimulation, hypervigilance, and hyperactivity). Clonidine, an alpha 2-adrenergic receptor agonist, has been shown to be effective in reducing impulsivity, inattention, and hyperactivity associated with attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity. This study investigated the efficacy and safety of transdermal clonidine in reducing hyperarousal behaviors associated with autism. METHOD: A double-blind, placebo-crossover study with transdermal clonidine was performed in nine autistic males (aged 5 to 33 years). Subjects received either clonidine (approximately 0.005 mg/kg/day) or placebo by a weekly transdermal patch. Each trial lasted 4 weeks with a 2-week washout period between treatment phases. Subjects were evaluated every 2 weeks by clinician raters and weekly by parents. RESULTS: The clonidine treatment showed a significant difference from placebo treatment on three subscales of the Ritvo-Freeman Real Life Rating Scale (i.e., social relationship to people, affectual responses, and sensory responses). The Clinical Global Impressions scale indicated that clonidine produced a significant improvement on severity of illness, global improvement, and efficacy index for therapeutic effect of the drug. A patient global rating scale showed clonidine treatment resulted in significant improvement in comparison with placebo. Adverse effects included sedation and fatigue during the first 2 weeks of clonidine treatment. CONCLUSION: Results from this preliminary study show that clonidine was effective in reducing several hyperarousal behaviors and improved social relationships in some autistic subjects. Further studies are needed in a larger autistic population to determine the dose-response relationship of clonidine.

Administration, Cutaneous↗
PubMed1989

Role of gamma-aminobutyric acid in antipanic drug efficacy.

All effective pharmacologic agents used to treat panic disorder augment gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transmission. Anxiolytics and antidepressants that lack GABA activity are not effective in panic disorder. To test the hypothesis that GABA activity is a component of antipanic drug efficacy, the authors treated nine medication-free panic disorder subjects with oral baclofen (30 mg/day for 4 weeks) in a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial. Baclofen, a selective GABA agonist, was significantly more effective than placebo in reducing the number of panic attacks and scores on the Hamilton anxiety scale, Zung scale, and Katz-R nervousness subscale. The authors discuss possible mechanisms of antipanic drug efficacy.

Anxiety Disorders↗
PubMed1987

Understanding the use of behavioral rating scales in studies evaluating the efficacy of antianxiety and antidepressant drugs.

Behavioral rating scales commonly used in efficacy studies of antianxiety and antidepressant drugs are described, and the appropriate use of these scales in clinical studies is discussed from the perspective of pharmacists who must evaluate such studies. Defined first are four attributes by which all rating scales are developed and evaluated: standardization, normalization, validity, and reliability. In psychopharmacology research, rating scales are used to select subjects for study, assess the severity of an illness, measure change in behavior over time, and determine treatment efficacy. Four types of rating scales (patient self-assessment, interview-based, ward-observation, and assessment by significant others) are defined. Some of the most commonly used behavioral rating scales are classified and described; their individual advantages and limitations are evaluated. Knowledge of the characteristics of the various behavioral rating scales is essential to understanding how they can be used most appropriately in drug-efficacy studies to measure changes in behavior and mood.

Anti-Anxiety Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Psychiatric disorders in women: psychopharmacologic treatments.

OBJECTIVE: To review the most common psychiatric disorders in women and to address gender-related pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic differences in psychotropic medications. DATA SOURCES: Recent clinical literature selected by the author. DATA SYNTHESIS: Women have higher prevalence rates of anxiety, mood, and eating disorders than do men, and they are prescribed the majority of psychotropic medications. In general, women experience more comorbid illnesses, have a higher rate of morbidity and disability, and suffer more from reversible drug-induced or medically induced psychiatric conditions. Biological factors such as hormonal and neurotransmitter fluctuations during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause, and postmenopause may affect the pharmacokinetics of psychotropic medications. Information is needed about gender differences in the incidence and diagnosis of psychiatric disorders; sex differences in the treatment, response, pharmacokinetics, and adverse effects of psychotropic medications; and safety of psychotropic medications in the fetus and in the breast-fed infant. CONCLUSION: An understanding of the impact of physiologic, hormonal, and neurotransmitter changes associated with different life phases should provide valuable insight into the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders in women and gender differences in psychopharmacology.

Female↗