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Pesach Lichtenberg

Publications and source records attributed to Pesach Lichtenberg.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

AVPR1a and SLC6A4 gene polymorphisms are associated with creative dance performance.

Dancing, which is integrally related to music, likely has its origins close to the birth of Homo sapiens, and throughout our history, dancing has been universally practiced in all societies. We hypothesized that there are differences among individuals in aptitude, propensity, and need for dancing that may partially be based on differences in common genetic polymorphisms. Identifying such differences may lead to an understanding of the neurobiological basis of one of mankind's most universal and appealing behavioral traits--dancing. In the current study, 85 current performing dancers and their parents were genotyped for the serotonin transporter (SLC6A4: promoter region HTTLPR and intron 2 VNTR) and the arginine vasopressin receptor 1a (AVPR1a: promoter microsatellites RS1 and RS3). We also genotyped 91 competitive athletes and a group of nondancers/nonathletes (n = 872 subjects from 414 families). Dancers scored higher on the Tellegen Absorption Scale, a questionnaire that correlates positively with spirituality and altered states of consciousness, as well as the Reward Dependence factor in Cloninger's Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire, a measure of need for social contact and openness to communication. Highly significant differences in AVPR1a haplotype frequencies (RS1 and RS3), especially when conditional on both SLC6A4 polymorphisms (HTTLPR and VNTR), were observed between dancers and athletes using the UNPHASED program package (Cocaphase: likelihood ratio test [LRS] = 89.23, p = 0.000044). Similar results were obtained when dancers were compared to nondancers/nonathletes (Cocaphase: LRS = 92.76, p = 0.000024). These results were confirmed using a robust family-based test (Tdtphase: LRS = 46.64, p = 0.010). Association was also observed between Tellegen Absorption Scale scores and AVPR1a (Qtdtphase: global chi-square = 26.53, p = 0.047), SLC6A4 haplotypes (Qtdtphase: chi-square = 2.363, p = 0.018), and AVPR1a conditional on SCL6A4 (Tdtphase: LRS = 250.44, p = 0.011). Similarly, significant association was observed between Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire Reward Dependence scores and AVPR1a RS1 (chi-square = 20.16, p = 0.01). Two-locus analysis (RS1 and RS3 conditional on HTTLPR and VNTR) was highly significant (LRS = 162.95, p = 0.001). Promoter repeat regions in the AVPR1a gene have been robustly demonstrated to play a role in molding a range of social behaviors in many vertebrates and, more recently, in humans. Additionally, serotonergic neurotransmission in some human studies appears to mediate human religious and spiritual experiences. We therefore hypothesize that the association between AVPR1a and SLC6A4 reflects the social communication, courtship, and spiritual facets of the dancing phenotype rather than other aspects of this complex phenotype, such as sensorimotor integration.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

D-serine efficacy as add-on pharmacotherapy to risperidone and olanzapine for treatment-refractory schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: D-serine, a selective full agonist at the glycine site of N-methyl-D-aspartate glutamate receptor, might presently be the compound of choice for counteracting the hypothesized dysfunction of this receptor class in schizophrenia. Studies performed with Taiwanese patients indicate that D-serine significantly improves schizophrenia symptoms when used as adjuvant to conventional neuroleptics but not to clozapine. We assessed the efficacy and safety of D-serine adjuvant treatment for Occidental schizophrenia patients treated with newer atypical antipsychotics. METHODS: Thirty-nine risperidone- or olanzapine-treated schizophrenia patients participated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, 6-week crossover trial with 30 mg/kg/day D-serine added to their antipsychotic medication. Measures of clinical efficacy and side effects were determined biweekly throughout the study. Clinical laboratory parameters and amino acid serum levels were monitored. RESULTS: D-serine administration induced increased serine serum levels (p < .001) and resulted in significant (p < .001) improvements in negative, positive, cognitive, and depression symptoms, as measured by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. For approximately one third of the sample, D-serine treatment resulted in significant (>20%) reductions in Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale total scores. D-serine was well tolerated, and no detrimental changes in clinical laboratory parameters were noted. CONCLUSIONS: These findings 1) indicate that risperidone and olanzapine efficacy might be augmented with D-serine adjuvant treatment; 2) confirm D-serine efficacy against main schizophrenia symptom domains; and 3) warrant the assessment of D-serine antipsychotic monotherapy for this illness.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Questionnaire survey on use of placebo.

OBJECTIVES: To gauge the frequency and circumstances of use of placebo in clinical practice and the attitudes towards its use among those who administer it. DESIGN: Retrospective questionnaire. SETTING: Two large hospitals and various community clinics in the Jerusalem area. PARTICIPANTS: 31 physicians working in hospital inpatient and outpatient departments, 31 head nurses working in hospital inpatient departments, and 27 family physicians working in community clinics. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Self report of frequency and circumstances of, and attitudes towards, use of placebo. RESULTS: Among the 89 respondents, 53 (60%) used placebos (95% confidence interval 49% to 70%). Among users, 33 (62%) prescribed a placebo as often as once a month or more; 36 (68%) told patients they were receiving actual medication; 15 (28%) considered that placebos were a diagnostic tool; and 48/51 (94%) reported that they found placebos generally or occasionally effective. CONCLUSION: Most practitioners questioned in this study continue to use placebos. Used wisely, placebos might have a legitimate place in therapeutics. Wider recognition of the practice and debate about its implications are imperative.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Hypnotic susceptibility: multidimensional relationships with Cloninger's Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire, COMT polymorphisms, absorption, and attentional characteristics.

One hundred and seven healthy volunteers were administered Cloninger's Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ), the Differential Attentional Processes Inventory (DAPI), the Tellegen Absorption Scale (TAS), and the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale, Form C (SHSS:C). Polymorphisms of catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT), an enzyme involved in dopamine metabolism, were assessed. Highly hypnotizable subjects self-reported greater TPQ persistence, absorption, and focused attentional abilities. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses found that TPQ persistence, COMT, TAS, and the DAPI attentional scales explained 43.8% of the variance in women and 29% in men. Membership was correctly discriminated for the more extreme low (62.1%) and highly (81.5%) hypnotizable groups. These results suggest that highly hypnotizable persons have a more effective frontolimbic attentional system and further suggest the involvement of dopaminergic systems in hypnotizability.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

[Hypnosis: clinical applications].

BACKGROUND: Hypnosis has a wide variety of applications in medicine. In recent years, recognition has grown for the need to subject the effectiveness of hypnosis to accepted research standards of clinical medicine. PURPOSE: This article aims to review salient studies of the effectiveness of hypnosis in several areas of medicine where hypnosis is commonly employed: analgesia, preparation for medical and surgical procedures, asthma, digestive disturbances, dermatological disorders, bleeding disorders, postsurgical and post-chemotherapeutic nausea and vomiting, and smoking cessation. METHODS: This survey emphasizes studies that fulfill accepted standards of clinical research, including randomization, control groups, and adequate sample size. RESULTS: Firm empirical evidence is to be found for the effectiveness of hypnosis in analgesia. In the other areas reviewed there is also some evidence for the possible clinical value for hypnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Additional research will be necessary to determine the proper place of hypnosis in clinical medical care.

Analgesia↗
PubMed2003

Reduction in inpatient length of stay and changes in mental health care in Israel over four decades: a national case register study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the present study was to investigate trends over the past 40 years in the accumulated length of hospital stay, and to consider how these trends might have been affected by changes in the provision of mental health care in Israel from 1960 to 1997. METHODS: The national psychiatric case register was used to follow four cohorts of all new admissions in 1960, 1970, 1980 and 1990 diagnosed with schizophrenia or affective disorders for the first seven years following the index admission. RESULTS: Most of the changes in length of stay occurred among patients with schizophrenia. The overall accumulated length of stay decreased by 50% between 1960 and 1980. The largest reduction was observed among long-stay patients with schizophrenia. Number of admissions did not change for the four cohorts. LIMITATIONS: The interpretation of the data remains speculative, as we are attempting to establish causality between parallel trends. CONCLUSIONS: The general trend in the findings of this study corresponds with changes that took place between 1970 and 1990 in the outpatient care for the mentally ill. These innovations facilitated the discharge of patients with chronic schizophrenia and altered the case mix of the newly admitted patients.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Effect of transfer of long-stay psychiatric inpatients from hospital to hospital.

BACKGROUND: Chronic psychiatric patients hospitalized in institutions about to be closed are not always fit to be transferred to community-based facilities. The purpose of our study was to investigate how the mental health of a group of such patients was affected by their being transferred to another hospital. METHODS: 202 patients were evaluated prior to transfer and six months after the transfer, by means of the Clinical Global Impression (CGI), the World Health Organization (WHO) Disability Scale and the Nurses' Observation Scale for Inpatient Evaluation (NOSIE). RESULTS: On the CGI, half the patients showed evidence of improvement while only 4% seemed to deteriorate. For the NOSIE and WHO Disability Scale, improvement of scores was similarly more common than deterioration. Factors that correlated with improvement included male sex, younger age, and a shorter hospital stay. LIMITATIONS: This is a naturalistic study of the effects of transfer which does not include a control group. CONCLUSION: Institutional transfer of psychiatric patients can be carried out without harm to the patient's welfare, and may even be beneficial.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Implications of Clinical Spectrum for Mechanisms of Action: ECT and Antidepressants Reconsidered.

The similarities and differences between electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and antidepressant medications are reviewed with respect to their clinical indications. The implications of the overlap and divergence in their spectra of clinical efficacy are discussed in reference to mechanisms of action. The hypothesis is offered that ECT has multiple mechanisms of action, which differ depending on the clinical syndrome being treated. From this perspective, ECT may share similar mechanisms of action with other agents that are also effective in treating the specific syndrome. Thus, although ECT may result in a plethora of neurobiological effects, depending on the clinical syndrome, specific and differing subsets of neurobiological changes are relevant to therapeutic action.

Journal Article↗