Understanding Of Psychiatric Disorders Research Articles

P3 topography in psychiatry and psychopharmacology

Endogenous components of event related potentials are of particular interest in psychiatric diseases because of their relations to cognitive and behavioral processes. We studied the topography of these potentials in order to find out whether there are different scalp distributions in schizophrenic and depressive patients in relation to the psychopathological state and compared to normal controls. Furthermore variations of the topographical scalp distribution of P300 in normal volunteers after administration of physostigmine and biperiden was investigated. We demonstrated a clear relationship of the P300 amplitude with the negative symptom axis and found different topographical scalp distributions in different groups and experimental conditions. Topography of event related potentials is therefore a promising field of investigation for a better understanding of psychiatric disorders.

Therapeutic Drug Monitoring: Psychotropic Drugs

The therapeutic monitoring of patients who take antipsychotic drugs can be both challenging and rewarding. Antipsychotics have been in clinical use for over 30 years; yet, their complex pharmacology is not fully understood and parallels our infant knowledge of human brain chemistry. The art of successful therapeutic drug monitoring depends on the clinician's knowledge of basic pharmacology, an understanding of psychiatric disorders, and a sensitivity for careful patient observation. In addition, a thorough history, well thought out goals, and reasonable recovery expectations are essential. Antipsychotic drugs are never curative and should be used judiciously for indications where positive results outweigh the risks of adverse effects. This article will provide the reader with sound, practical knowledge of how to monitor these drugs in any clinical setting. © 1989 by W.B. Saunders Company.

On the possibility of ethological explanations of psychiatric disorders.

This paper discusses: previous ethological and evolutionary explanations of psychiatric disorders; a behavior-physiology interaction framework for explaining the frequency and course of selected psychiatric illnesses; atypical behavioral capacities among persons with psychiatric disorders; behavioral mechanisms; and ethological explanations of the behavior of patients suffering from psychiatric illnesses. The importance of behavior-physiology interactions is emphasized. Possible consequences of current taxonomic systems (DSM-III) are considered. It is concluded that ethology has a vital role in increasing our understanding of psychiatric disorders through identifying: characteristics of disorders; selected causes; degree and type of compromised mechanisms; and, intervention effectiveness.

An assessment of hostility in a population of adolescents.

In the course of an epidemiological survey of adolescents, the Hostility and Direction of Hostility Questionnaire was administered to 6,709 persons aged 13 to 18 years, representing 89% of secondary school students in Hobart, Tasmania. Extrapunitiveness was found to decrease substantially between the ages of 15 and 17 years in both sexes. Intropunitiveness also decreased, although to a lesser extent. Girls were less extrapunitive and more intropunitive than boys over the whole age range. These findings are discussed in relation to their clinical relevance and to the understanding of psychiatric disorder in adolescents.