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Biomedical subjects

Richard B Ferrell

Publications and source records attributed to Richard B Ferrell.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Neuropsychiatric syndromes in adults with intellectual disability: issues in assessment and treatment.

The purpose of this article is to present a survey of important neuropsychiatric issues and recent findings regarding the evaluation and treatment of neuropsychiatric symptoms and syndromes in patients with intellectual disability (ID). The cause of ID, environmental or genetic, can be determined in few patients. Etiology is idiopathic in most patients. ID and psychiatric illness are not mutually exclusive; individuals with ID have increased rates of psychiatric illness. Although recognition of significant axis I psychopathology is important, not all challenging behaviors in persons with ID will have a clear axis I diagnosis. Psychologic, behavioral, and environmental treatments are appropriate measures, but pharmacotherapy often is needed. Our experience has shown us that the more severe, disruptive, and dangerous the behavior, the stronger the indication for empirical drug treatment trials. Community-based models of support with neuropsychiatric intervention can be a potent therapeutic combination in the management of challenging behaviors in individuals with ID.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Complex partial seizures and depression.

A long-recognized association exists between epilepsy and affective disturbance, especially depression. People with complex partial seizures that result from temporal lobe seizure foci are highly vulnerable to psychiatric disorders. Accurate diagnosis of such disorders is an important key to treatment. Interictal depression or dysphoria is the most clinically significant problem of this type. Pharmacotherapeutic treatments that have positive effects in other types of depressive illness are also effective for depression associated with epilepsy. Electroconvulsive therapy is helpful to some patients with depression that is refractory to drug treatment or psychotherapy. Surgical resection of seizure foci may lead to psychiatric improvement for some individuals, but can also have psychiatric complications.

Anticonvulsants↗
PubMed2002

Traumatic brain injury in older adults.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a serious health risk for older adults, and the consequences of TBI range from full recovery to death. For many who survive, there is a legacy of cognitive, physical, and emotional disability. Falls are the major cause of head injury in older adults. There are many risk factors including pre-existing brain disease, other diseases, and, sometimes, iatrogenic factors. Efforts directed at prevention are of great importance. Outcome studies indicate that outcome is generally worse for older people than for younger people with similar injuries, but older individuals also deserve aggressive rehabilitation directed at the best possible recovery. This review will discuss the symptoms and syndromes that commonly result from TBI with comments about treatment.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

Evaluation and treatment of psychosis after traumatic brain injury.

A review of research studies to date suggests that psychosis is a relatively rare, but serious, complication of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Psychotic syndromes occur more frequently in individuals who have had a TBI than in the general population. Onset of symptoms can be early or late. Psychosis can occur during the period of post-traumatic amnesia, in association with post-traumatic epilepsy, in association with TBI-related mood disorders, and as a chronic, schizophrenia-like syndrome. TBI can interact with genetic vulnerability to increase the risk of developing illnesses such as schizophrenia. Thorough diagnostic assessment is the foundation of rational and effective pharmacotherapy for psychosis after TBI. Atypical antipsychotic drugs have emerged as first line drugs for treatment of psychotic disorders from all causes, including TBI. Anticonvulsant, antidepressant or other drugs may also be needed in some cases. Medication approaches must be adjusted for the particular characteristics and vulnerabilities of the patient with a TBI.

Brain Injuries↗