Presence Of Psychiatric Illness Research Articles

Multiplicity of pain sites as indicator of concurrent presence of psychiatric illness

Multiplicity of pain sites as indicator of concurrent presence of psychiatric illness

The Viet Nam Era prisoner of war: precaptivity personality and the development of psychiatric illness.

The author examines the role of the preexisting personality structure in the development of psychiatric illness after prisoner of war (POW) experience using case studies of six repatriated Viet Nam POWs who were coincidentally evaluated before their captivity. Findings indicate that the presence of psychiatric illness or predisposition to psychiatric illness is neither necessary nor sufficient for the development of psychiatric illness after repatriation. Personality changes reflect both adaptation to the captivity environment and the impact of the ego-ideal over that of the punitive elements of the superego. The perspective of personality change rather than psychopathology is more explanatory of the findings.

Gynaecological Survey in a Metropolitan Area of Melbourne

Summary: A survey of the emotional and physical health of 990 women in a suburb of Melbourne was carried out. The data related to the reproductive period are presented. Evidence was found that the age of menarche was declining. Nine per cent of women menstruated beyond the age of 55 and there was a tendency for the late onset of the menarche to be followed by early menopause. Menstrual symptoms were very common (51.5%) and their frequency did not vary between the age of 20 to 50. Menstrual symptoms were more frequent in the presence of psychiatric illness and psychoneurotic symptoms. Smoking and medication were more common in patients with menstrual symptoms. One in 3 women between the age of 25 to 29 was taking the contraceptive pill, and single women used it almost as frequently as married women. Both depression and neurotic symptoms were commoner among pill users.

Folate metabolism in epileptic and psychiatric patients

Serum and red cell folate levels and serum vitamin B(12) levels have been estimated in 33 normal controls; 34 epileptic outpatients, 19 of whom also suffered from psychiatric illness; 33 epileptic inpatients with psychiatric illness; and 30 non-epileptic inpatients with psychiatric illness. Significant lowering of serum folate and red cell folate levels was observed in epileptic patients with psychiatric illness, and a less significant fall in red cell folate levels was found in non-epileptic psychiatric patients. Serum folate levels less than 2·5 ng/ml. were found in two controls, seven outpatient epileptics, 29 inpatients, and 10 non-epileptic patients. Red cell folate levels less than 100 ng/ml. were found in two controls, nine outpatient epileptics, 23 inpatient epileptics, and seven non-epileptic patients. A significant correlation was found between serum and red cell folate values in control, epileptic, and non-epileptic patients. In the epileptic patients there was a significant association between low serum and red cell folate levels and the presence of psychiatric illness. The origin and possible significance of these findings are discussed.