Biomedical subjects

P Links

Publications and source records attributed to P Links.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

The Self-Injury Questionnaire: evaluation of the psychometric properties in a clinical population.

This paper presents the findings, from a clinical study, on the reliability and validity of a new measure for intentions in self-harm behaviour, the Self-Injury Questionnaire (SIQ). Eighty-three patients, who had presented to an emergency department with an episode of self-harm/suicidal behaviour, were given the SIQ as part of a battery of measures to evaluate differentiation in self-harm intentions based upon a history of childhood physical and/or sexual abuse. The internal consistency for the total scale was strong (alpha = 0.83). Construct validity demonstrated significant correlations with standardized measures. A principle component analysis of responses yielded a five-factor solution with 'affect regulation' items loading on the first factor. Cronbach's alphas were adequate for each subscale (alpha = 0.72-0.77). These preliminary findings indicate that the SIQ is a valid and reliable measure for research in an acute self-harming population.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

The Iowa Personality Disorder Screen: development and preliminary validation of a brief screening interview.

The length and expense of comprehensive personality disorder interviews makes them unwieldy for routine use. A brief but sensitive screen could eliminate administration of longer instruments in many instances. We describe the development of the Iowa Personality Disorder Screen (IPDS)--a mini-structured interview which can be completed in less than 5 minutes. Retrospective analyses using 1,203 SIDP-R interviews suggested that the IPDS items should provide good sensitivity and specificity. We present results from a prospective validation study, using a mixed group of 52 nonpsychotic inpatients and outpatients who were diagnosed using the SIDP-IV. Blind administration of the IPDS yielded excellent sensitivity (92%) and good specificity (79%), using a subset of five screening items. Addition of two more items leads to an estimated sensitivity of 79% and specificity of 86%. The IPDS shows promise as a quick personality disorder screen for use in research settings or standard clinical interviews.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Apolipoprotein B sequence requirements for hepatic very low density lipoprotein assembly. Evidence that hydrophobic sequences within apolipoprotein B48 mediate lipid recruitment.

We studied the structural requirements of apolipoprotein (apo) B for assembly of very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) using rat hepatoma McA-RH7777 cells expressing human apoB (h-apoB). Recombinant h-apoB48, like endogenous rat apoB48 (r-apoB48), was secreted as VLDL in addition to high density lipoproteins (HDL) by transfected cells, indicating that the N-terminal 48% of apoB contains sequences sufficient for VLDL assembly. Truncation of the C terminus of h-apo-B48 to -B42 or -B37 had little effect on the ability of apoB to assemble VLDL, whereas truncation to -B34 or -B29 markedly diminished or abolished VLDL formation. None of the truncations affected the integration of apoB into HDL. To determine whether the ability to assemble VLDL is governed by apoB length or by sequences beyond apoB29, we created chimeric proteins that contained human apoA-I and a segment derived from between the C-terminal 29 and 34%, 34 and 37%, or 37 and 42% of apoB100. The resulting chimeras, namely AI/B29-34, AI/B34-37, and AI/B37-42, were secreted by the transfected cells as lipoproteins with buoyant density (d < 1.006 g/ml), electrophoretic mobility (pre-beta), and size characteristics of human plasma VLDL. The chimeras could assemble discrete VLDL particles devoid of endogenous r-apoB100, and could actively recruit triglycerides and phospholipids into the lipoproteins. However, these chimeras were secreted inefficiently. Pulse-chase analysis showed that less than 5% of the newly synthesized AI/B proteins were secreted, and more than 70% was degraded intracellularly. Degradation of the chimeras could be blocked by the cysteine protease inhibitor N-acetyl-leucyl-leucyl-norleucinal, but the treatment did not enhance their secretion. Protease protection analysis of microsomes isolated from transfected cells indicated that >65% of AI/B chimeras (compared with <25% of r-apoB100) were inaccessible to exogenous trypsin. These data suggest that the recruitment of large quantities of triglycerides during VLDL formation is not governed simply by apoB length, but is mediated by short hydrophobic sequences ranging from 152 to 237 amino acids (3-5%) of apoB. The existence of multiple such hydrophobic sequences within apoB48 may facilitate efficient assembly of hepatic VLDL particles.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Severity as a diagnostic dimension of borderline personality disorder.

The purpose of this study was to identify diagnostic and severity subgroups within a cohort of patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD). Of 171 patients clinically diagnosed with BPD, 132 were Diagnostic Interview for Borderlines (DIB) positive. Through a process of random selection, 41 of the DIB positive subjects were also interviewed with the revised version of the DIB (DIBR) and approximately one half with two semi-structured research interviews, the Schedule for Affective Disorders (SADS) and the Personality Disorder Examination (PDE). All subjects completed four self-report measures of problematic behaviours, symptoms and social adaptation. The analyses included examination of: 1. the correspondence of the BPD diagnosis across the DIB, the DIBR and the PDE; 2. the association between DIBR scoring levels and scores on measures of symptoms and behavioural status; and 3. the co-occurrence of BPD with Axis I and other Axis II disorders. Correlations and analyses of variance between both the DIB and DIBR scoring levels and the scores on the four symptom and behavioural measures showed that the scoring levels (DIB 7 to 10; DIBR 8 to 10) could be used to distinguish three subgroups of BPD. The three groups differed in terms of concordance for BPD with the PDE and in terms of patterns of overlap with DSM-III-R, Axis I and other Axis II disorders. This study shows that BPD subgroups can be located on a continuum of symptomatic and behavioural severity and that each subgroup has a specific pattern of overlap with Axis I and other Axis II disorders.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1993

Biological markers in borderline personality disorder: new perspectives.

There has been much research on the biological markers of borderline personality disorder (BPD) in the last three years. The Dexamethasone Suppression Test, the Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone Test and sleep studies no longer indicate that BPD is related to depression, although there is probably an affective subgroup. There may be evidence that some subgroups of BPD overlap with schizophrenia. An extensive analysis of serotonin studies provides exciting new directions for understanding suicidal, aggressive and especially impulsive traits.

Biomarkers↗

PubMed1993

Borderline disorder and attachment pathology.

In this paper, the authors investigate the theoretical and empirical association between dysfunctions of the attachment system and borderline personality disorder. Attachment theory focuses on the maintenance of a sense of safety and security through a close personal relationship with a particular person. Based on a biological behavioural system, functional attachment relationships in adulthood rely on experiences and expectations of security within the relationship. These issues are also important to the definition and dynamics of borderline personality disorder. The dimensions and patterns of reciprocal attachment were compared with other scales measuring components of psychopathology and interpersonal relationships. In a sample of 85 female outpatients, only four of the attachment scales--feared loss, secure base, compulsive care-seeking and angry withdrawal--identified patients with high scores on a measure of borderline disorder. Of these four scales, feared loss had the predominant effect. These empirical results support the hypothesized relationship between dysfunctions of the attachment system and borderline disorder.

Adult↗

PubMed1991

The dexamethasone suppression test in borderlines: is it useful?

The relationship between borderline personality disorders (BPD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) continues to be controversial. A reliable biological marker for depressed BPD patients would not only support the diagnosis but could also help in predicting treatment outcome. A large sample of psychiatric patients was screened and data on the Dexamethasone Suppression Test (DST) were obtained for 67 patients who met the criteria for BPD by scoring 7 or greater on the Diagnostic Interview for Borderlines. The DST was positive in 23.9% of the cases. Fifty cases of BPD also met the Research Diagnostic Criteria for MDD. The DST was positive in 26.0%. Of the 50 patients with MDD, 34 also met the criteria for endogenous depression. Only 17.6% of this subgroup had positive results on the DST. The low sensitivity and specificity of the DST for depression in BPD patients suggests that the DST is not a useful test in differentiating BPD patients with MDD from those without MDD. The possible reasons for the DST not being useful in this population are discussed. These findings raises further questions about the nature of the depression suffered by BPD patients.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Hospital-based schizophrenia program evaluates its supported housing project.

The Hamilton Psychiatric Hospital schizophrenia psychosocial rehabilitation program developed a supported housing project to meet the goals of patients severely disabled with schizophrenia. An evaluation was conducted to assess whether the project had been implemented according to the original proposal. The assessment allowed adjustments to be made to the project, provided lessons for future undertakings, and demonstrated the value of clearly specifying the elements underlying any pilot project.

Activities of Daily Living↗