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S V Faraone

Publications and source records attributed to S V Faraone.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Heterogeneity of schizophrenia. Conceptual models and analytic strategies.

Schizophrenia is clinically heterogeneous but it is not known whether this is due to the existence of discrete subtypes. For the purpose of explication, 'indicators' of schizophrenia are divided into three levels: phenomenology, pathophysiology, and aetiology. Five heterogeneity models and a number of quantitative approaches are described. It is imperative to apply rigorous methods of study to the comparison of unitary models and competing heterogeneity models of schizophrenia.

Humans↗
PubMed1990

Sex differences in the familial transmission of schizophrenia.

The hypothesis that schizophrenic men have a lower familial risk for schizophrenia than schizophrenic women was tested using the DSM-III-diagnosed samples of the Iowa 500 and non-500 family studies. Survival analyses were used to test for differences in the risk for schizophrenia and spectrum disorders, for sex of proband and sex of relative, controlled for fertility effects and ascertainment bias. Male and female relatives of schizophrenic men had a significantly lower risk for schizophrenia, schizophreniform, and schizoaffective disorders than relatives of schizophrenic women. However, the effect was not significant for the full spectrum nor when analysed by sex of relative. Sex differences in the risk for other psychiatric disorders among relatives of schizophrenic probands were not significant.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1990

Retrospective assessment of DSM-III attention deficit disorder in nonreferred individuals.

Using criterion-based structured interview techniques and blind assessment, the authors reported high rates of DSM-III childhood attention deficit disorder (ADD) in nonpatient first-degree relatives (parents and siblings) of 6- to 17-year-old clinically referred probands with ADD compared with rates found in relatives of normal comparison children of the same age. To further examine the validity of the ADD diagnosis in these nonreferred relatives, the authors examined whether the diagnosis was associated with antisocial disorders known to co-occur with ADD. As predicted, they found that relatives with childhood ADD (32% of relatives) were at a significantly higher risk for antisocial disorders (61% vs. 19%, p less than .01) compared with relatives without childhood ADD. In addition, the retrospective diagnosis of ADD among these nonreferred relatives resulted in a pattern of observations that is consistent with the literature on ADD in clinically referred children and adolescents: (1) ADD was more common among males than females; (2) the rate of ADD in a control group was consistent with the known risk of ADD in the general population (5.7%); and (3) 71% of ADD relatives reported levels of symptomatology within the range found in clinically referred children. These findings in a group of unselected and blindly evaluated relatives of ADD children provide indirect support for the validity of the diagnosis of ADD using standardized instruments and operational criteria.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Gender and schizophrenia: implications for understanding the heterogeneity of the illness.

This study begins to test the hypothesis that schizophrenic men and women may be at risk for experiencing different subtypes of the illness. Given past research, hypotheses predict that schizophrenic men will have an earlier age of onset, poorer premorbid history, lower family morbid risk, and poorer course. Data consist of 332 schizophrenic patients diagnosed according to DSM-III and 713 of their first-degree relatives from the double-blind Iowa 500 and non-500 family studies. Survival analysis was used to estimate age of onset, and Strömgren's abridged method for age correction was used to estimate family morbidity risks. Findings support our hypotheses and suggest that men may be at risk for experiencing a more severe form of schizophrenia.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Neuroleptic nonresponse and affective symptoms: a 2-year prospective study of schizophrenic outpatients.

For 2 years we assessed clinical state, and plasma neuroleptic and prolactin levels every 6 months in 105 male schizophrenic outpatients. The patients took a variety of neuroleptics at clinically determined doses. Those who had psychotic symptoms at 50% or more of their visits had higher neuroleptic doses, more tardive dyskinesia, and more affective symptoms than the other patients. These groups were not, however, significantly different in their age of onset, years of education, duration of illness, duration of neuroleptic exposure, or negative symptoms.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Correction of serum neuroleptic activity for blood-to-brain distribution: a method that may render radioreceptor assay results comparable between neuroleptics.

Serum neuroleptic activity by radioreceptor assay and prolactin concentration were measured every 6 months for 2 years in 105 male schizophrenic outpatients. The patients took a variety of neuroleptics at clinically determined doses. As expected, when four dissimilar neuroleptics were examined together, there was no significant correlation between serum neuroleptic activity and either equivalent neuroleptic dose or serum prolactin concentration. Moderate correlations were seen, however, when neuroleptic activity was standardized between neuroleptic drugs. Similar moderate correlations were seen when neuroleptic activity was corrected for the blood-to-brain distribution of each neuroleptic. These two correction techniques ranked corrected neuroleptic activity in very similar orders. Correction for blood-to-brain distribution may be a practical way to compare serum neuroleptic activity from different neuroleptics.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

The physical and psychological sequelae of torture. Symptomatology and diagnosis.

We present a review of the international literature on the medical and psychological effects of torture. Our review reveals that certain tortures and their physical and emotional sequelae are more prevalent than previously appreciated. They include the common occurrence of sexual violence during the torture of women and female adolescents and the high frequency of head injury and associated neuropsychiatric consequences. We recommend the use of standardized diagnostic criteria in the evaluation of patients who have survived torture; this will facilitate patient care and the documentation of human rights violations.

Child↗
PubMed1988

Familial links between schizophrenia and other disorders: application of the multifactorial polygenic model.

A substantial number of patients do not meet diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia yet exhibit psychotic phenomena characteristic of that disorder (e.g., schizophreniform disorder, schizoaffective disorder, paranoid disorder, atypical psychosis). The relationship between schizophrenia and these disorders is poorly understood. This paper describes how the two-threshold multifactorial model of familial transmission can be applied to test the hypothesis that these disorders share a multifactorial etiology with schizophrenia. The procedure is illustrated using data from a blind family study of the major psychoses. Results support the hypothesis that the disorders under examination share a common multifactorial familial etiology. Methodological issues are discussed along with suggestions for future research in this area.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Sex differences in affective disorder: genetic transmission.

Epidemiological studies have consistently found women to be at greater risk than men for affective disorders. This sex effect may help clarify genetic transmission and heterogeneity. Data from eight family studies of unipolar and eight family studies of bipolar probands were used to calculate family resemblance sex ratios. These observed sex ratios were then compared to sex ratios predicted by X-linked and nonfamilial effects models. Maximum likelihood estimation of competing models revealed that X linkage was not a good fit to the unipolar data. The bipolar studies were not consistent with either the X-linked or the nonfamilial effects model.

Bipolar Disorder↗
PubMed1987

Problems of diagnoses in family studies.

This paper discusses applications of advances in psychiatric diagnostic practice to genetic research. Diagnostic misclassification and unreliability can lead to spurious conclusions about patterns of familial aggregation and co-aggregation of psychiatric disorders. Subject, occasion, information, observation and criterion variance are the major components of unreliability in diagnosis. Structured diagnostic criteria are useful for reducing errors; they may, however, lead to unjustified confidence due to their algorithmic and semi-quantitative format. Six misconceptions regarding such criteria are discussed. The choice of instruments and method of implementation must take into account the qualifications of interviewers and the need for blindness in the experimental design. A fundamental design decision in psychiatric genetic research is the choice between the family history or family study method. The costs and benefits of each method are examined. Finally, the psychiatric geneticist must face the problem of defining the ill phenotype. This is made difficult by the presence of phenocopies and the possibility that milder spectrum disorders and some symptom-free individuals may carry the genotype that underlies the phenotype of the more severe clinical form of the disorder.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed1987

Serum neuroleptic levels, prolactin levels, and relapse: a two-year study of schizophrenic outpatients.

For 2 years serum neuroleptic levels, prolactin levels, and clinical states were assessed in 105 male schizophrenic outpatients every 6 months. The patients were taking a variety of neuroleptics at clinically determined fixed doses. Those who had psychotic symptoms at 50% or more of their visits attained serum levels of neuroleptics and prolactin well within or above the range observed in the remitted patients. Neuroleptic and prolactin levels did not discriminate patients who relapsed from those who did not relapse. In the remitted patients who relapsed at least once during the study period, neuroleptic and prolactin serum levels were lower before the relapse episodes than before the stable periods.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Neuroleptic bioavailability, psychosocial factors, and clinical status: a 1-year study of schizophrenic outpatients after dose reduction.

Serum neuroleptic levels, prolactin levels, and clinical state were assessed for 1 year in 29 schizophrenic outpatients whose clinically determined neuroleptic dose had been reduced by 50%. Fifty-five percent of the subjects remained stable. Neuroleptic dose did not differ between relapsed and stable patients. Serum prolactin (PRL) assessed 2 weeks after dose reduction and mean PRL after reduction were significantly lower among relapsers. Serum neuroleptic levels were significantly lower for relapsers in patients on haloperidol. Among relapsers, there were no serum PRL or neuroleptic level differences between stable periods and the relapse episode. Among patients with relatively low neuroleptic bioavailability, relapsers reported lower levels of social activity and had social networks that were less enjoyable, more aversive, and less helpful than those of stable patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Transmission of affective disorders: an application of segregation analysis to blind family study data.

The single major locus (SML) model of Bucher and Elston (1981) was applied to data collected in a long-term follow-up and family study of major effective disorders. Pedigree segregation analysis was used to test the hypothesis that bipolar and unipolar disorders are phenotypic variants of the same genotype at a SML. The particular SML model examined did not adequately describe the familial pattern of these disorders in families of bipolar and unipolar probands. Although other SML models may be superior, it is likely that the existence of a SML will be obscured by genetic heterogeneity.

Bipolar Disorder↗
PubMed1985

Familial transmission of major affective disorders. Is there evidence supporting the distinction between unipolar and bipolar disorders?

The two-threshold multifactorial polygenic (MFP) model was applied to blind family study data, collected in a long-term follow-up and family study of major affective disorders. This model tested whether bipolar and unipolar disorders are manifestations of the same underlying factors or if they are independently caused disorders. The hypothesis that bipolar and unipolar disorders are, respectively, severe and mild forms of the same disorder was supported. There was little evidence for different familial aetiologies for bipolar and unipolar disorders in our sample.

Affective Disorders, Psychotic↗