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Biomedical subjects

N Bouras

Publications and source records attributed to N Bouras.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Ventricular size and CSF transmitter metabolite concentrations in severe endogenous depression.

The relationship between neurotransmitter metabolite concentrations and measurements of ventricular size on CAT scans and pneumoencephalographs was investigated in 15 patients with severe affective disorder. An association was identified between reduced levels of plasma free tryptophan and ventricular enlargement, and also between raised ventricular CSF levels of 5 HIAA and ventricular enlargement.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Home assessment and treatment in a community psychiatric service.

The work of a new community-based crisis intervention team is described. 326 psychiatric emergencies were seen over a period of 3 years. An increasing proportion of these were acutely psychotic at the time of assessment. Home treatment was effective for a significant number of patients, including those with a previous history of hospital admission. Some practical and theoretical aspects of the service are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Ventricular size, the dexamethasone suppression test and outcome of severe endogenous depression following psychosurgery.

To assess the possible significance of cerebral ventricular size and the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) in the outcome of severe endogenous depression, 28 patients were followed up and reviewed 1 year after stereotactic subcaudate tractotomy. Neither ventricular size nor the dexamethasone suppression test predicted either a good or poor outcome. There was no relationship between ventricular size and the DST results.

Bipolar Disorder↗
PubMed1984

Trazodone--a comparison of single night-time and divided daily dosage regimens.

The antidepressant efficacy, influence on sleep variables and incidence of side-effects of trazodone (100-400 mg daily), given either as a single night-time dose or thrice daily, were compared in a double-blind, 4 week, parallel group, multicentre hospital study. Of 56 patients who entered the study, full data was available for 37, of whom 20 took the medication at night and the other 17 received divided doses during the day. The results showed equivalent therapeutic efficacy for the two dosage regimens and tolerance was good in both groups. For onset and also duration of sleep, significantly more patients in the single night-time group improved than worsened in response. Both groups of patients tended to report a more satisfying sleep and greater freshness on waking, although these latter effects were not statistically significant. For the group taking trazodone thrice daily, there was a trend for more complaints of side-effects, particularly dry mouth, headache and drowsiness which led to more of these patients requiring modification of dosage. Thus trazodone appears to have clinically useful sedative properties. It has relatively few side-effects and these are generally reduced by giving a single dose at night.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Estimating levels of disturbed behaviour among psychiatric in-patients using a general linear model.

Disturbed behaviour was studied in relation to two contrasting ward environments, one representing the 'medical model' of psychiatry and the other being a modified form of 'therapeutic community'. A mathematical model was used in order to identify the characteristics of disturbed patients. The results suggested that behavioural disturbance of a patient in our sample was related to diagnosis, to the ward of admission and to the length of stay in hospital. Patients in all diagnostic categories tended to be more disturbed in the 'therapeutic community' than in the 'medical model' ward.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Psychological aspects of patients having multiple operations for low back pain.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether psychological abnormalities were present in patients still complaining of low back pain after more than one operation. It was found that these patients were more psychiatrically disturbed and socially disabled than a matched control group whose back pain responded to one operation. These results suggest that patients requiring assessment for a possible second laminectomy should also be psychiatrically examined.

Back Pain↗
PubMed1983

A randomized double blind group comparative study of sulpiride and amitriptyline in affective disorder.

A randomized double blind group comparison study of sulpiride and amitriptyline was carried out in 36 patients suffering from major depressive disorder (DSM III criteria). Sulpiride showed equivalent antidepressant activity to amitriptyline at 4, 6 and 12 weeks, using the Hamilton Rating Scale (HRS) and the Wakefield Self-Rating Scale for depression (WRS). However, at 24 weeks the antidepressant activity of amitriptyline was just statistically significantly better than that of sulpiride. Timing of onset of action was comparable in both drugs. The anxiolytic activity of sulpiride was equivalent to that of amitriptyline at 4, 6, 12 and 24 weeks using the Salkind Manifest Anxiety Inventory as a measure. There were no significant differences between the two groups, of variables measured by the Crown-Crisp Experiential Index, a life events scale and Paykel's Social Adjustment Scale.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Ward environment and disturbed behaviour.

Disturbed behaviour and dissatisfaction were studied in relation to two contrasting ward environments, one representing the 'medical model' of psychiatry and the other being a modified form of 'therapeutic community'. Specially designed forms were used for 18 months to obtain daily and weekly measures of behavioural disturbance from the nurses and of dissatisfaction with various aspects of the ward environment fom the patients. The results suggested that the 'therapeutic community' ward was significantly more disturbed, and that disturbance on that ward varied according to the day of the week, something which did not happen on the 'medical model' ward. Differences in disturbance between diagnoses were also found. Disturbance was significantly correlated with, and tended to precede, dissatisfaction only in the 'therapeutic community' ward.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Effects of staff changes on psychiatric patients.

The disturbed behavior and dissatisfaction of patients were studied in relation to nurse and junior and senior doctor changes in two different psychiatric wards. One ward represented the medical model of psychiatry and the other a modified form of therapeutic community. The results showed no statistically significant relationship between the weekly level of disturbed behavior and staff changes in either ward. There was a tendency for patients to become more dissatisfied when the nurses left the ward and less dissatisfied with the arrival of senior doctors in the medical model ward only.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Bromocriptine in depression.

A double-blind trial was carried out in 9 patients with endogenous depression to compare the effectiveness of bromocriptine (15 mg per day, 4 patients) with that of imipramine (75 mg per day, 5 patients) over a period of 10 weeks. The results of assessments using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression showed that both drugs produced comparable reduction in mean scores and there was no significant difference between the two treatment groups. Fewer patients han anticholinergic type side-effects on bromocriptine although some had transient nausea.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

The development of the Mental Health Advice Centre in Lewisham Health District.

The Mental Health Advice Centre in Lewisham, South East London, represents an innovation in psychiatric service aiming to integrate primary health care with mental health professionals and to provide easy access for patients to psychiatric and psychological help. The Centre has been operating for 3 years and is staffed by a multi-professional team comprising psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, psychotherapists, social workers, community psychiatric nurses, occupational therapists, research workers, and volunteers. This report outlines the development of the Centre and presents the results of two years' evaluative work. Social, demographic, and psychiatric characteristics of the clients who attended the Centre during these two years are described.

Catchment Area, Health↗