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Biomedical subjects

Raz Gross

Publications and source records attributed to Raz Gross.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Advancing paternal age and autism.

CONTEXT: Maternal and paternal ages are associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between advancing paternal age at birth of offspring and their risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). DESIGN: Historical population-based cohort study. SETTING: Identification of ASD cases from the Israeli draft board medical registry. PARTICIPANTS: We conducted a study of Jewish persons born in Israel during 6 consecutive years. Virtually all men and about three quarters of women in this cohort underwent draft board assessment at age 17 years. Paternal age at birth was obtained for most of the cohort; maternal age was obtained for a smaller subset. We used the smaller subset (n = 132 271) with data on both paternal and maternal age for the primary analysis and the larger subset (n = 318 506) with data on paternal but not maternal age for sensitivity analyses. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Information on persons coded as having International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision ASD was obtained from the registry. The registry identified 110 cases of ASD (incidence, 8.3 cases per 10 000 persons), mainly autism, in the smaller subset with complete parental age data. RESULTS: There was a significant monotonic association between advancing paternal age and risk of ASD. Offspring of men 40 years or older were 5.75 times (95% confidence interval, 2.65-12.46; P<.001) more likely to have ASD compared with offspring of men younger than 30 years, after controlling for year of birth, socioeconomic status, and maternal age. Advancing maternal age showed no association with ASD after adjusting for paternal age. Sensitivity analyses indicated that these findings were not the result of bias due to missing data on maternal age. CONCLUSIONS: Advanced paternal age was associated with increased risk of ASD. Possible biological mechanisms include de novo mutations associated with advancing age or alterations in genetic imprinting.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Panic disorder and suicidal ideation in primary care.

The purpose of this study was to ascertain whether panic disorder (PD) and suicidal ideation are associated in an inner-city primary care clinic and whether this association remains significant after controlling for commonly co-occurring psychiatric disorders. We surveyed 2,043 patients attending a primary care clinic using the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders (PRIME-MD) Patient Health Questionnaire, a screening instrument that yields provisional diagnoses of selected psychiatric disorders. We estimated the prevalence of current suicidal ideation and of common psychiatric disorders including panic disorder and major depression. A provisional diagnosis of current PD was received by 127 patients (6.2%). After adjusting for potential confounders (age, gender, major depressive disorder [MDD], generalized anxiety disorder, and substance use disorders), patients with PD were about twice as likely to present with current suicidal ideation, as compared to those without PD (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.84; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06-3.18; P = .03). After adjusting for PD and the above-mentioned potential confounders, patients with MDD had a sevenfold increase in the odds of suicidal ideation, as compared to those without MDD (AOR = 7.00; 95% CI: 4.42-11.08; P < .0001). Primary care patients with PD are at high risk for suicidal ideation, and patients with PD and co-occurring MDD are at especially high risk. PD patients in primary care thus should be assessed routinely for suicidal ideation and depression.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗
PubMed2006

Effects of season of birth on autism spectrum disorders: fact or fiction?

OBJECTIVE: This study attempted to examine the relationship between month and season of birth and risk for autism spectrum disorders. METHOD: The cohort included all Jewish individuals born in Israel over 5 consecutive years (N=311,169) and assessed by the Israeli Draft Board as part of the mandatory assessment of eligibility for military service conducted at age 17. The outcome of autism spectrum disorders was ascertained from the Draft Board Medical Registry, which contains information about medical and psychiatric disorders for this population of adolescents. RESULTS: There was no association between month or season of birth and the prevalence of autistic spectrum disorders. CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this historical, population-based cohort study do not support an association between season of birth and autistic spectrum disorders.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Posttraumatic stress disorder and other psychological sequelae among world trade center clean up and recovery workers.

We assessed the health of workers exposed to the World Trade Center (WTC) site and of a comparison group of unexposed workers, by means of a mail survey. Exposed workers reported higher frequency of symptoms consistent with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and other psychological problems, approximately 20 months after the disaster. PTSD was positively associated with traumatic on-site experiences and with respiratory problems. These findings may have important clinical and public health implications.

Cough↗
PubMed2005

Screening for bipolar disorder in a primary care practice.

CONTEXT: Bipolar disorder consists of episodes of manic and depressive symptoms. Efforts to screen for depression in a primary care setting without assessment of past manic symptoms can lead to incorrect diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder. OBJECTIVES: To screen for bipolar disorder in adult primary care patients and to examine its clinical presentation and effect on functioning. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A systematic sample of 1157 patients between 18 and 70 years of age who were seeking primary care at an urban general medicine clinic serving a low-income population. The study was conducted between December 2001 and January 2003. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of bipolar disorder, its treatment and patient functioning. Study measures included the Mood Disorder Questionnaire, the PRIME-MD Patient Health Questionnaire, the Medical Outcomes Study 12-Item Short Form health survey, the Sheehan Disability Scale, data on past mental health treatments, and a review of medical records and International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes for each visit dating from 6 months prior to the screening day. RESULTS: The prevalence of receiving positive screening results for lifetime bipolar disorder was 9.8% (n = 112; 95% confidence interval, 8.0%-11.5%) and did not differ significantly by age, sex, or race/ethnicity. Eighty-one patients (72.3%) who screened positive for bipolar disorder sought professional help for their symptoms, but only 9 (8.4%) reported receiving a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Seventy-five patients (68.2%) who screened positive for bipolar disorder had a current major depressive episode or an anxiety or substance use disorder. Of 112 patients, only 7 (6.5%) reported taking a mood-stabilizing agent in the past month. Primary care physicians recorded evidence of current depression in 47 patients (49.0%) who screened positive for bipolar disorder, but did not record a bipolar disorder diagnosis either in administrative billing or the medical record of any of these patients. Patients who screened positive for bipolar disorder reported worse health-related quality of life as well as increased social and family life impairment compared with those who screened negative. CONCLUSIONS: In an urban general medicine clinic, a positive screen for bipolar disorder appears to be common, clinically significant, and underrecognized. Because of the risks associated with treating bipolar disorder with antidepressant monotherapy, efforts are needed to educate primary care physicians about the screening, management, and pharmacotherapy of bipolar disorders.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Gender differences in posttraumatic stress disorder among primary care patients after the World Trade Center attack of September 11, 2001.

BACKGROUND: Debate surrounds the nature of gender differences in rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to quantify and explore the reasons for gender differences in rates of PTSD in low income, primary care patients after the World Trade Center (WTC) attack of September 11, 2001. METHODS: A survey was conducted at a large primary care practice in New York City 7 to 16 months after the WTC attack. The study involved a systematic sample of primary care patients aged 18 to 70 years. The main outcome measures were the Life Events Checklist, the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Civilian Version, and the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders Patient Health Questionnaire, all administered by a bilingual research staff. RESULTS: A total of 3807 patients were approached at the primary care clinic. Of the 1347 who met eligibility criteria, 1157 (85.9%) consented to participate. After the addition of the WTC/PTSD supplement to the study, the total number of patients was 992, of whom 982 (99.0%) completed the survey. Both sexes had high rates of direct exposure to the WTC attack and high rates of lifetime exposure to stressful life events. Overall, females had lower rates of exposure to the attack compared with males (P < 0.05). Hispanic females had the highest rate of PTSD in the full sample. Gender differences in rates of PTSD were largely accounted for by differences in marital status and education. The rate of current major depressive disorder (MDD) was higher in females than in males (P < 0.001), and the reverse was true for substance abuse (P < 0.001). Gender differences for MDD and substance abuse persisted even after adjustments for demographic differences between the sexes. CONCLUSIONS: The increased rate of PTSD in women attending a primary care clinic was mediated by their social and economic circumstances, such as living alone without a permanent relationship and with little education or income. The increased rate of MDD in women appeared to be less dependent on these circumstances. These findings have implications for the treatment of women with PTSD in primary care and for research on gender differences in rates of psychiatric disorders.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Rethinking first response: effects of the clean up and recovery effort on workers at the world trade center disaster site.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to describe the physical and mental health effects of the cleanup and recovery effort on workers at the World Trade Center disaster site. METHODS: A mailed survey was sent to truck drivers, heavy equipment operators, laborers, and carpenters. It assessed work-related exposures and somatic and mental health symptoms. In one open-ended question, respondents shared any aspect of their experiences they wished; these 332 narrative responses were analyzed using qualitative techniques. RESULTS: Respondents reported suffering debilitating consequences of their work, including depression, drug use, and posttraumatic stress disorder. They felt poorly prepared to work in a disaster, lacked protective equipment and training, and felt overwhelmed by the devastation they faced. CONCLUSIONS: These workers' experiences were qualitatively similar to the experiences of the first responders. To protect workers in the future, the focus on preparing "first" responders should be reconsidered more broadly.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed2005

Depression and glycemic control in Hispanic primary care patients with diabetes.

CONTEXT: Maintaining optimal glycemic control is an important goal of therapy in patients with diabetes mellitus. Patients of Hispanic ancestry have been shown to have high rates of diabetes and poor glycemic control (PGC). Although depression is common in adults with diabetes, its relationship to glycemic control remains unclear, especially among Hispanics. OBJECTIVE: To assess the association of depression with PGC in Hispanics. DESIGN: Data from a cross-sectional mental health survey in primary care were crosslinked to the hospital's computerized laboratory database. SETTING: Urban general medicine practice at a teaching hospital. PATIENTS: Two hundred and nine patients (mean [standard deviation] age, 57.1 [10.3] years; 68% females) with recent International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes for diabetes mellitus, and 1 or more hemoglobin A(1c) (HbA(1c)) tests. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Probability of PGC (HbA(1c)>or=8%). RESULTS: Probability for PGC steadily increased with severity of depression. Thirty-nine (55.7%) of the 70 patients with major depression had HbA(1c)>or=8%, compared with 39/92 (42.4%) in the minimal to mild depression group, and 15/47 (31.9%) in the no depression group (P(trend)=.01; adjusted odds ratio, 3.27; 95% confidence interval, 1.23 to 8.64, for moderate or severe depression vs no depression). Only 29 (41.4%) of the patients with major depression received mental health treatment in the previous year. CONCLUSIONS: In this primary care sample of Hispanic patients with diabetes, we found a significant association between increasing depression severity and PGC. Yet, less than one half of the patients with moderate or severe depression received mental health treatment in the previous year. Improving identification and treatment of depression in this high-risk population might have favorable effects on diabetic outcomes.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Bipolar depression in a low-income primary care clinic.

OBJECTIVE: This study estimated the proportion of patients attending an urban general medical practice with current major depression and a history of bipolar disorder and compared the history, presentation, and treatment of patients with unipolar and bipolar depression. METHOD: A group of 1,143 patients was assessed with measures of past and current mental health and treatment. Patients were partitioned into bipolar and unipolar groups based on a predefined cutoff on the Mood Disorder Questionnaire. The groups were compared on sociodemographic characteristics, depressive symptoms, comorbid mental disorders, and mental health treatment. RESULTS: Approximately one-quarter of the patients with major depression had lifetime bipolar depression. Patients with unipolar and bipolar depression did not significantly differ on background or health characteristics. Patients with bipolar depression were significantly more likely to report hallucinations, current suicidal ideation, and low self-esteem than patients with unipolar depression but less likely to report disturbed appetite. Patients with bipolar depression were significantly more likely to have an alcohol use disorder and to report inpatient psychiatric care and antipsychotic treatment during the past month than patients with unipolar depression. Nearly one-half of the patients with bipolar depression had taken an antidepressant in the last month, but most were not also being treated with an antipsychotic or mood stabilizer. CONCLUSIONS: Bipolar depression is common in urban general medicine practice. When patients took antidepressants, they seldom received concurrent antimanic medications. Because of the risks of treating bipolar disorder with antidepressant monotherapy, physicians should assess their depressed patients for mania before prescribing antidepressants.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Bipolar disorder.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Antidepressive Agents↗
PubMed2004

Interstitial cystitis and panic disorder: a potential genetic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Evidence from a genetic linkage study had suggested a possible syndrome in some families with panic disorder (PD). This syndrome includes bladder problems (possibly urinary interstitial cystitis [IC]), thyroid disorders, chronic headaches/migraine, and/or mitral valve prolapse. In 19 multiplex families with PD, one marker (D13S779) on chromosome 13 gave a logarithm of odds score of more than 4 when individuals with any of the syndrome conditions were analyzed as affected. Families with the bladder problems yielded the highest logarithm of odds scores. These findings were replicated in an extended sample of 60 families. Whereas PD had been well characterized by direct interview, the urologic problems had been found only via medical history checklists and records. A case review by a board-certified urologist suggested they could be IC. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether patients diagnosed as having IC by urodynamics and/or cystoscopy and their first-degree relatives (FDRs) have increased rates of the syndrome conditions, thus validating that the bladder problems observed in the linkage study could be IC and providing further support for the panic syndrome. DESIGN: Case-control and family history study. SETTING: Two metropolitan urology clinics. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred forty-six probands (67 with IC and 79 with other urologic disorders) and 815 FDRs. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Lifetime rates of syndrome conditions in probands and FDRs who were blind to urologic or psychiatric diagnoses in the proband. RESULTS: Compared with patients without IC, patients with IC had a significantly higher lifetime prevalence of PD (controlling for age and sex) (odds ratio, 4.05; 95% confidence interval, 1.22-13.40; P =.02) and a higher lifetime prevalence of any of the syndrome disorders (controlling for age and sex) (odds ratio, 2.22; 95% confidence interval, 0.89-5.54; P =.09). First-degree relatives of probands with (vs without) IC were significantly more likely to have PD, thyroid disorder, urologic problems, and any of the syndrome disorders (controlling for age and sex of the relative and sex of the proband) (adjusted odds ratio, 1.95; 95% confidence interval, 1.13-3.38; P =.02). These results in relatives were not influenced by PD in probands, and did not change substantially when controlling for the proband-relative relationship, modeling age as a categorical (vs continuous) variable, or excluding FDRs with PD. There were no interactions between proband IC status and sex of the relative. CONCLUSIONS: The increased frequency of seemingly disparate disorders in patients with IC and their FDRs is consistent with the genetic linkage findings in families with PD. These findings suggest that the bladder problems observed in the linkage study may be IC. The hypothesis that there is a familial, possibly pleiotropic, syndrome that may include IC, PD, thyroid disorders, and other disorders of possible autonomic or neuromuscular control deserves further investigation.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Borderline personality disorder in primary care.

BACKGROUND: Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a severe and chronic psychiatric disorder characterized by marked impulsivity, instability of affect and interpersonal relationships, and suicidal behavior that can complicate medical care. Few data are available on its prevalence or clinical presentation outside of specialty mental health care settings. METHODS: We examined data from a survey conducted on a systematic sample (N = 218) from an urban primary care practice to study the prevalence, clinical features, comorbidity, associated impairment, and rate of treatment of BPD. Psychiatric assessments were conducted by mental health professionals using structured clinical interviews. RESULTS: Lifetime prevalence of BPD was 6.4% (14/218 patients). The BPD group had a high rate of current suicidal ideation (3 patients [21.4%]), bipolar disorder (3 [21.4%]), and major depressive (5 [35.7%]) and anxiety (8 [57.1%]) disorders. Half of the BPD patients reported not receiving mental health treatment in the past year and nearly as many (6 [42.9%]) were not recognized by their primary care physicians as having an ongoing emotional or mental health problem. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of BPD in primary care is high, about 4-fold higher than that found in general community studies. Despite availability of various pharmacological and psychological interventions that are helpful in treating symptoms of BPD, and despite the association of this disorder with suicidal ideation, comorbid psychiatric disorders, and functional impairment, BPD is largely unrecognized and untreated. These findings are also important for the primary care physician, because unrecognized BPD may underlie difficult patient-physician relationships and complicate medical treatment.

Adolescent↗