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R Abrams

Publications and source records attributed to R Abrams.

47 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1976

Diencephalic stimulation and the effects of ECT in endogenous depression.

We compared conventional bilateral ECT treatment electrode placement with simultaneous unilateral electrode placement to both sides of the head (dominant/nondominant unilateral ECT) in 20 patients with endogenous depression. Under double-blind random assignment conditions we found that six bilateral ECT were significantly more effective than six dominant/nondominant unilateral ECT in reducing depression rating scale scores. In the light of data from intracerebral ECT current distribution studies we interpret our findings to support our previously advanced hypothesis that diencephalic stimulation is requisite for the therapeutic benefit of bilateral ECT in endogenous depression.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Concentration of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, homovanillic acid, and tryptophan in the cerebrospinal fluid of depressed patients before and after ECT.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5HIAA), tryptophan (TRYP), and homovanillic acid (HVA), were determined prior to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and after an average course of 6.7 ECT in six endogenous depressed patients. Depression rating scale (DRS) scores were also obtained by a "blind" research psychiatrist before and after ECT at the time of each lumbar puncture. ECT markedly reduced DRS scores but did not significantly alter CSF levels of 5HIAA, TRYP, or HVA. We found no correlation between ECT-induced DRS score reductions and changes in any of the CSF constituents studied, or between the absolute DRS score and the corresponding CSF concentration of any of the compounds. These data are consistent with those previously reported for ECT and do not suggest that ECT alters cerebral amine metabolism in depressed patients. Neither do they provide any evidence for direct amine mediation of the depression-relieving effects of ECT in man, nor for any relation between severity of depressive illness and CSF concentrations of 5HIAA, TRYP, or HVA.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Acute mania. Clinical and genetic study of responders and nonresponders to treatments.

We examined the relationships among family history of psychiatric illness, demographic and historical variables, clinical course and presentation, and treatment response for 58 patients satisfying research criteria for mania. Nearly two thirds of the group had excellent responses to somatic treatment, particularly lithium ion, while one third had poor responses to lithium carbonate, neuroleptics, or electric convulsive therapy. Responders frequently exhibited euphoric moods, grandiose delusions, and tended to have cyclothymic premorbid personalities. Nonresponders were rarely euphoric, frequently exhibited incomplete auditory hallucinations, and tended to hve formal thought disorder and depressive-withdrawn premorbid personalities. Responders tended (nonsignificant) to have greater genetic loading for affective illness and alcoholism. We could not distinguish the two groups by their age at illness onset, duration of illness, or number of illness episodes per ill patient year.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1975

The circulating plasma volume of the foetal lamb as an index of its weight and rate of weight gain (g/day) in the last third of gestation.

In a series of foetal lambs weighing between 1,100 and 5,228 g, the circulating plasma volume was estimated by the dye dilution method, using Evans Blue, to test the possibility that the plasma volume could be used as an index of foetal weight in chronic studies. The data, analysed by the method of least squares regression, indicate that plasma volume and foetal weight are closely correlated (R-2 equals 0.922) and linearly so in the range of data studied. There was no evidence that the relation differed for singlets and twins. A single equation, Y equals 71.8 plus 10.11 X--where Y is the estimated weight and X the plasma volume, can be used to predict the weight from plasma volume in both. Some results of the application of the method in chronic studies are presented.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

A critique of the St. Louis psychiatric research criteria for schizophrenia.

The authors reviewed the research data for 89 hospitalized patients who were given a diagnosis of schizophrenia and 22 who were given a diagnosis of mania on admission. They found that 11 (12 percent) of the schizophrenic patients satisfied the St. Louis research criteria for schizophrenia and 10 (11 percent) satisfied the authors' criteria. Diagnostic agreement between the sets of criteria was shared in only 5 of these patients. On the basis of this finding and other studies of the St. Louis criteria, the authors suggest specific modifications that would broaden the utility of these criteria and minimize diagnostic disagreement.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Manic-depressive illness and good prognosis schizophrenia.

The authors examined 88 patients with an admission diagnosis of schizophrenia for the presence of good and poor clinical prognostic signs and related their findings to the clinical presentation, response to somatic treatments, and prevalence of illness in first-degree relatives. The results augment the growing evidence that good and poor prognosis schizophrenia are different illnesses and that good prognosis schizophrenia is frequently indistinguishable from manic-depressive illness.

Bipolar Disorder↗
PubMed1975

Schizophrenia in a 47,XYY male.

A case of schizophrenia in a 47,XYY male diagnosed according to strict phenomenological criteria is presented. The authors suggest that the 47,XYY chromosome anomaly should be added to the list of possible causes of symptomatic schizophrenia, and express the hope that future investigations of the effects of an extra Y chromosome in brain function will yield clues as to the aetiology of idiopathic schizophrenia.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Tricuspid and pulmonary valve atresia with aortopulmonary fistula: survival of a patient to 21 years of age.

We report the case of a patient with tricuspid and pulmonic valve atresia, with survival to the age of 21 years. Postmortem examination revealed an anomalous vessel connecting the ascending aorta with the main pulmonary artery. This fistula measured 20 mm by 4 mm, arose independently of the coronary arteries and had the histologic features of an elastic artery. The remarkable longevity was ascribed in part to the maintenance of pulmonary arterial flow by the left-to-right shunt through the anomalous arterial connection.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Dental erosion associated with asymptomatic gastroesophageal reflux.

An eight-year-old girl presented with severe erosion of the primary dentition and early erosion of the erupted permanent teeth. Although the pattern of erosion was consistent with that seen with acid erosion, the diagnosis could not be elucidated from the patient's symptoms, or medical or dental history. A 24-hour pH probe study documented severe gastroesophageal acid reflux. Oral salivary pH tested during sleep nightly for one week revealed low oral pH. Treatment with metoclopramide and ranitidine was instituted to decrease acid availability for reflux. Custom-fitted, maxillary and mandibular trays were fashioned to deliver sodium fluoride gel twice daily, and fissure sealants were placed in the hopes of retarding erosion of existing permanent teeth, as well as preventing similar erosion of erupting permanent dentition.

Child↗