Abstract
Psychopharmacology 2003 Conference, 10-13 September 2003
Highlights
Brain inflammation plays a role in diseases such as depression, Alzheimer's disease (AD) and multiple sclerosis (MS), culminating in lipid peroxidative damage to neuronal membranes
An early study on the rapid cycling variant of bipolar disorder conducted by Dunner and colleagues (1974) proposed that rapid cycling was a clinical factor in lithium prophylaxis failure and eventually led to interest in studying anticonvulsants as alternatives to lithium in the treatment of rapid cycling bipolar disorder
The incidences of obesity, dyslipidaemia, diabetes mellitus, smoking and death due to cardiovascular disease are all higher in patients with schizophrenia
Summary
Brain inflammation plays a role in diseases such as depression, Alzheimer's disease (AD) and multiple sclerosis (MS), culminating in lipid peroxidative damage to neuronal membranes. Aim: This study describes the establishment and functioning of a FirstEpisode Psychosis Clinic at the Department of Psychiatry, University of Stellenbosch and Stikland Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa and its effect on relapse rates for this group of patients. Methods: A group of 80 (n= 80) adult schizophrenia sib pairs, aged between 20 and 64 years (mean = 44, SD = 1.42), were recruited from in-patient and out-patient hospital services and community clinics throughout the Western and Eastern Cape Provinces, South Africa. Methods: Questionnaires will be completed by the clinician and control group It will comprise of demographic data, a research scale measuring anxiety and depressive symptoms, questions on substance use, healthcare and self-prescribing habits with regard to psycho-active substances. An 8-item scale designed to rate the patient's craving for alcohol Results: No significant differences were found between the placebo and sumatriptan groups and no significant cross over effects were found. Conclusion: The general lack of efficacy of sumatriptan in producing alcohol-like symptoms or a desire to drink alcohol may suggest that the 5HT1D receptor plays little role in the pathophysiology of alcoholism
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