Biomedical subjects

N Stefanis

Publications and source records attributed to N Stefanis.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Occupational abilities and performance scale--reliability-validity assessment factor analysis.

BACKGROUND: This article presents a study of the Occupational Abilities and Performance Scale (OAPS), developed for administration to schizophrenic patients. The reliability and validity of the OAPS has been evaluated. METHOD: A total of 174 schizophrenic patients who participated in the Psychosocial and Vocational Rehabilitation Unit (PVRU) of the University Mental Health Research Institute (UMHRI) in Athens were assessed. The OAPS is conducted at entry and after 18 months, when the client has completed training. RESULTS: The results of the reliability analysis showed very good internal consistency, with high split-half reliability as well as test-retest reliability and inter-rater agreement. The scale was also found to have good predictive validity, as well as concurrent validity. Finally, factor analysis with principal components extraction method was performed in order to assess the construct validity of the scale. CONCLUSIONS: The results of factor analysis supported the conclusion of good reliability and validity of the OAPS and revealed the existence of five components, each correlated with a set of the original items.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Hippocampal volume reduction in schizophrenia: effects of genetic risk and pregnancy and birth complications.

BACKGROUND: Hippocampal volume reduction has been repeatedly demonstrated in schizophrenia. The relative contribution of genetic and environmental factors to this is unclear. METHODS: To address this question, we compared volumetric measurements of the left and right hippocampus, obtained using stereological methods from brain MRI scans, from two groups of patients with schizophrenia as well as healthy controls (n = 26). Patients (n = 27) in the first group, had no family history of schizophrenia and had experienced severe pregnancy and birth complications (PBCs). The second group comprised of patients (n = 21) without a history of severe PBCs from families multiply affected with schizophrenia. RESULTS: Reduction of the left hippocampal volume was associated with the diagnosis of schizophrenia but was present only in patients with a history of severe PBCs; in this group the smaller hippocampal volume, the earlier the onset of psychosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that environmental factors, in this case severe PBCs, make a significant contribution to hippocampal abnormalities in schizophrenia.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Dissociation of bone turnover in anorexia nervosa.

Biochemical markers were measured to assess bone turnover in a cross-sectional study of 43 patients with anorexia nervosa; 28 were at their first assessment (untreated) with a body mass index (BMI) (median interquartile range) of 13.3 (2) kg/m2. A second group of 15 patients undergoing treatment (treated) had a median BMI of 17.6 (2.8) kg/m2. The median, interquartile range of urinary deoxypyridinoline (DPyd), a bone resorption marker, was raised in both groups compared with an age-matched control population [DPyd = 17.8 (15.2), 17.5 (16.4) and 9.2 (4.0) nmol/mmol creatinine, respectively]. Serum type 1 collagen carboxyterminal propeptide (P1CP), a marker of bone formation, was similar to controls in the untreated patients [112 (29) and 112 (78.5) ng/ml, respectively], but was significantly raised in the treated patients [163 (219) ng/ml, P < 0.05]. A second group of 21 patients was followed prospectively, on admission and during 8 weeks of intensive inpatient care (BMI on admission and after 8 weeks was 13.0 (2) and 16.7 (3) kg/m2, respectively). The resorption marker, serum type 1 collagen carboxyterminal telopeptide (1CTP) was raised on admission and remained high during treatment. P1CP and osteocalcin levels were similar to control levels on admission but increased with treatment, and after 8 weeks were 40% and 63% higher respectively than on admission. These findings suggest that in untreated anorexia nervosa there was uncoupling of bone turnover as bone resorption markers were raised without a concomitant increase in bone formation markers. As the condition was treated and patients gained weight, the formation markers also increased, leading to a more balanced, although higher, bone turnover.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

PubMed1993

Prolactin and thyrotropin responses to ECT after pindolol administration. A placebo controlled study.

The effect of pindolol, a beta-receptor blocker with potent 5-HT1 receptor antagonistic properties, on the prolactin (PRL) and thyrotropin (TSH) responses to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) was systematically studied in 12 female depressed patients. In a balanced order, crossover design, the patients were given placebo or pindolol 5 mg orally, 1 h prior to bilateral ECT. The last five patients were additionally tested with 10 mg pindolol during the third ECT. Plasma levels of PRL and TSH increased in all three trials, but no consistent effect of pindolol on these hormonal responses could be demonstrated. Pindolol tended to attenuate seizure duration, especially at the 10 mg dose. The participation of 5-HT1 receptor activity in the secretion of PRL and TSH during ECT remains uncertain.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Personality disorders in drug abusers: prevalence and their association with AXIS I disorders as predictors of treatment retention.

A sample of 226 drug-dependent individuals consecutively admitted to treatment in the major therapeutic programmes in Greece were assessed at intake with the EuropASI and SCL-90-R. At 4 to 6 weeks, 173 who were continuing treatment were reassessed with the SCL-90-R and interviewed with the SCID-R and the CIDI. Mean age of the subjects was 28 years, and 82.3% were male. Heroin was the main substance of abuse for the large majority (89.8%). Prevalence of AXIS II personality disorders (PD) was 59.5% and the majority (61.2%) had more than one PD. Cluster B was diagnosed in almost half of the subjects (48.6%), Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD) being the most prevalent (33.5%) type of PD. Subjects with APD had an earlier age of initiation of illicit drug use than those without. Subjects with a PD had twice the odds of having a comorbid AXIS I diagnosis and three times the odds of having a mood disorder than those without a PD. SCL-90-R assessments showed that psychiatric symptoms were significantly reduced in the period between intake and the fourth week in treatment. Somatization, Depression and Anxiety symptoms were however less reduced in subjects with a PD than in those without PD. Dropping out from treatment was more strongly predicted by AXIS I than AXIS II disorders, with an increased probability of dropping out in the presence of current mood disorders, whereas current anxiety disorder predicted treatment retention.

Adult↗