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Biomedical subjects

R Plutchik

Publications and source records attributed to R Plutchik.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Suicide and violence associated with panic attacks.

Several studies have indicated that patients with panic attacks have a higher rate of suicide attempts as well as deaths from suicide. Additionally, several investigators have presented case reports of individuals manifesting suicidal and violent behaviors directly and temporally associated with panic attacks. We report on four additional cases and suggest that these findings may explain, in part, the increased rate of suicidal behavior among patients with panic attacks found by some investigators. Furthermore, these case reports offer preliminary evidence that the relationship between violent behavior and the panic state may be clinically significant and deserving of further elucidation.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Multivantaged assessment of depression in schizophrenia.

While it is recognized that depression frequently can occur together with fundamental symptoms of schizophrenia, estimates of the prevalence of schizophrenia-related depression have been very variable. This variability may be due in part to the difficulty in clearly separating depressive symptoms from negative symptoms. A more valid method of assessing depression might combine evaluations from multiple vantage points. This study, which involved 26 hospitalized schizophrenic patients, tested the proposition that complete assessment of depression requires three separate sources of input: self-rating (subjective mood state), clinician rating (affective state), and observer rating (behavioral manifestations). In the present study, patients were evaluated on self-rating instruments for mood states, clinician-rated scales including the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, and observer-rated scales. These vantage points, though overlapping in some respects, were found to provide independent information on the experience of depression in schizophrenia. Clinician-rated and observer-rated assessments tended to correlate significantly, while self-rated subjective reports were discordant, thus complementing the assessments from the other two vantage points.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Measurement of thinking dysfunction. An empirical study.

This investigation is concerned with the development of a practical method for assessment of thought disorders. A review of eight major textbooks and four review articles revealed 37 different terms used to describe the components of thought disorders. Because of overlap of meanings or ambiguous usage, these terms were reduced to 17 discrete terms that could be operationally defined. Twenty-five psychiatrist were surveyed on the appropriateness of the definitions and their relevance to the concept of thought disorder. An average of 83 per cent agreement was obtained, and some of the definitions were modified as a result of the survey. Eight psychiatrists then applied this scale, titled the Thinking Dysfunction Rating Scale, to the evaluation of five videotaped patient interviews. Based on observation of all five patients, interjudge agreement was over 90 per cent for all items of the scale. Analysis of variance showed that the scale significantly discriminated among schizophrenics, patients with organic brain syndromes, psychotic depressives, geriatric depressives, and outpatients. The patterns of scores were found to vary among these five groups. The scale should be helpful for teaching purposes and as a checklist for routine clinical diagnosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Appearance of new symptoms in hospitalized patients: an instance of institutional iatrogenesis?

Data from the admission and termination forms of 100 consecutively discharged psychiatric inpatients were analyzed to determine the changes that occurred in the symptom profile of each patient during hospitalization. In general, patients entered the hospitalization. In general, patients entered the hospital with severe, chronic symptoms some of which were relieved and some of which remained unchanged. A number of symptoms, however, were reported present on the termination forms that had not been noted at admission. The results of this study offer evidence that a possible effect of the therapeutic process is the occasional appearance of new symptoms in some patients.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1979

Thought disorder in alcoholics.

Research on cognitive impairment in chronic alcoholics has generally focused on pathology associated with organic brain damage. On the other hand, deficits more typical of the functional psychoses have been less explored, due to the absence of appropriate tests. By using the Thought Disorder Rating Scale (TDRS) recently developed at our Center, however, we have tested chronic alcoholics for the presence of classical symptoms of thought disorder. This test is based on the assessment of the patient's verbal behavior by an experienced clinician. Twenty subjects free of psychosis, severe withdrawal symptoms, and medical illness were, after detoxification, administered a test battery which included the TDRS, the Bender-Gestalt Test, and the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS). Five scored pathologically for thought disorder and of them four had abnormal Benders; whereas only two of 15 of those without thought disorder had abnormal Benders (t = 2.84, p < .01). Although SDS scores for both groups were in the depressed range, there was no significant difference between SDS means for the two groups. TDRS scores for these alcoholics are compared with those for other diagnosed groups, and implications for future investigation are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Sex differences, dominance, and personality in the chimpanzee.

This study demonstrates a useful methodology for judging the personality of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthi). Observers rated the chimpanzees on a forced-choice rating scale which yielded measures on eight emotion dimensions. The rating scale, Emotions Profile Index, is derived from a theory of personality which stresses the adaptive significance of emotions at all evolutionary levels. This method has theoretical generality, having been successfully applied previously to humans, baboons and dolphins. Observers were able to rate chimpanzees with reasonable reliability. Sex differences in personality were evident in this chimpanzee sample. In addition, dominance rank was found to correlate with certain emotion dimensions.

Aggression↗
PubMed1978

Studies of body image. IV. Figure drawings in normal and abnormal geriatric and nongeriatric groups.

Figure drawings were obtained from 72 normal adults, 48 adult psychiatric inpatients, 30 senior citizens, and 33 elderly inpatients in a mental hospital. Blind analyses were carried out for "emotional indicators" and other characteristics such as body image disturbance and intellectual impairment. Significant differences were found on almost all measures between the normal elderly and the normal adult. They were also found to discriminate between the normal adult group and the adult psychiatric patients. Very few differences were found between the normal elderly and elderly psychiatric patients, or between normal elderly and adult psychiatric patients. These results imply that norms based upon figure drawings of children or adults may not apply to the elderly and that, therefore, figure drawings may be a less useful diagnostic tool for elderly people than they are for children or adults.

Aged↗
PubMed1978

Toward a rationale for the seclusion process.

The present paper summarizes three studies focusing on different aspects of seclusion room practices. The first study involved chart review to collect empirical data on reasons for seclusion, length of seclusion, and characteristics of secluded patients. The second study focused on staff attitudes toward seclusion; the third dealt with the attitudes of both secluded and nonsecluded patients. The average time of seclusion was approximately 4 hours and in most cases aggressive behaviors of various types were cited as the precipitating event. In addition, patient and staff attitudes implied that a major function of the seclusion process was to isolate patients from disturbing interactions and to maintain the smooth functioning of the ward minisociety. Two models of seclusion, an ethological model and a behavioristic "time out" model, were developed in order to integrate the results of these studies. Implications of the findings and models are presented for changes in seclusion room procedures.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Clinical utility of a rapid diagnostic test series for elderly psychiatric outpatients.

Psychiatric evaluation of the elderly is especially difficult for several reasons, e.g., the presence of organic impairment, the effects of multiple drug therapy, and the tendency to confuse the normal concomitants of aging with neurotic symptoms. The authors have developed and evaluated a brief series of self-report assessment tests (GRDB) designed to assist the psychiatrist in the process of diagnosis. Coefficients of the internal consistency of the seven scales are presented. A comparison was make between 28 psychiatric patients attending a geriatric clinic and 48 well-functioning elderly persons matched for age and sex, and living in the same community. Results showed that the geriatric outpatients functioned at a lower level of adaptation than did the control group, on all seven scales - depression, daily living skills, social interaction, cognitive skills, number of illnesses, number of life problems, and the use of drugs and alcohol. These findings provide a measure of discriminant validity. The advantages of this brief assessment instrument are discussed.

Aged↗
PubMed1978

"No-commitment week": a feasibility study.

To determine the extent to which involuntary hospitalization is overused, a "No-Commitment Week" was set aside, during which emergency room psychiatrists committed only patients in absolute need of hospitalization. Compared with the week before and the week after, there was no significant difference in the number of patients committed during No-Commitment Week. The authors propose replication of the study on a larger scale but suggest that decisions about involuntary hospitalization in public mental hospitals are the result of societal attitudes, which will be subject to change as long as society itself continues to change.

Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders↗
PubMed1978

The assessment of depression: a model for quality review of emergency psychiatry.

Of 167 patients appearing in the psychiatric emergency room of a metropolitan hospital, 68 were categorized as significantly depressed by the Zung depression scale but only 43 were considered depressed by clinician-interviewers. The use of a patient self-rating scale, which in this setting permitted the identification of deficiencies in the recognition of depression, is applicable to quality review in a variety of clinical settings.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Epidemiological studies of female prisoners. IV. Homosexual behavior.

The existence of homosexual behavior in female offenders is investigated not only as an adaptive process but as an established behavior existing prior to detention. Ninety-five prisoners from the Framingham Institution for Women were included: 26 were self-reported homosexuals, 42 were considered homosexuals by prision staff, and 27 were nonhomosexuals. Suicidal thoughts, suicidal attempts, psychiatric problems during menstruation, and a history of violent crimes against persons were characteristic of the homosexual group, whereas a history of crimes against self and property as well as history of alcoholism were common in the nonhomosexual group. Violet behavior together with suicidal attempts in homosexual female prisoners support the hypothesis that aggressive impulses may be expressed either externally or toward the self, the problem being one of impairment in control mechanisms. The findings also suppor the idea that violent behavior, as shown by this group of incarcerated homosexual females, is multidetermined. The factors that influence its appearance and expression could include a history of family violence, impulse control as children, neurological abnormality, sex role identification problems, biochemical abnormalities (manifested as menstrual irregularities), and impulse control problems as adults. A better understanding of human violence must be based on the recognition of the multidimensional nature of the problem using the tools and insights from many disciplines.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1977

Personality connotations of psychiatric diagnoses. Implications for a similarity model.

The major concern of this study was to identify the personality traits connotated by a number of diagnostic labels such as paranoid, schizoid, hysterical, and cyclothymic. Twenty psychiatrists were given a list of nonpsychotic personality disorders and were asked to indicate what personality traits were typically associated with them. Results showed good agreement among psychiatrists on the personality traits they believed to be implied by the diagnostic terms. A factor analysis of the ratings showed a circular configuration of relative similarity among the different diagnoses. The results are interpreted as indicating that diagnostic labels are types of codes for various sectors of an implicit space of traits, signs, and symptoms.

Antisocial Personality Disorder↗
PubMed1977

Parental loss, depression and violence. III. Epidemiological studies of female prisoners.

Information was obtained from 95 incarcerated female prisoners on their history of violence, on their feelings of depression, their suicide attempts, and on their history of loss of parents. The data revealed that the loss of father before the age of 10 years was more highly correlated with signs of depression in these women prisoners than was loss of mother. Women who reported at least one suicide attempt in the past were significantly more depressed on the self-report measure of depression than the other women, and were more likely to be judged as violent on the basis of several independent indices. The results support the hypothesis that violence toward others and suicidal behavior are part of the same phenomenon of impairment in control mechanisms.

Depression↗
PubMed1977

Patterns of psychiatric consultation in a general hospital.

The authors conducted a study of the rate of utilization of psychiatric consultation by various services at two general hospitals. The study found that the rehabilitation and plastic surgery services had the highest ratio of consultations to admissions. Depression was the most frequent reason cited in staff requests for psychiatric consultation. Male patients were overrepresented among the consultees in proportion to their number in the total general hospital census. The authors conclude that appropriate psychiatric consultation can enable the majority of patients with psychiatric problems to be maintained on the wards to which they were admitted, and that psychiatric liaison staff should be trained in a variety of consulting roles.

Adolescent↗