American Journal of Psychiatry

Volume 145, Issue 3

March 1988

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March 1988

Toward rational pharmacotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder: an interim report

Pages:281–285
Published Online:1 April 2006

https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.145.3.281

Preview Abstract

There is growing evidence that medication can alleviate symptoms associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Recent research also suggests that PTSD has a unique biological profile consisting of alterations in sympathetic arousal, the ...

March 1988

DSM-III axis IV revisited

Pages:286–292
Published Online:1 April 2006

https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.145.3.286

Preview Abstract

Clinicians have traditionally inquired about stressful life events preceding the onset of a psychiatric disorder. Axis IV of DSM-III attempted to improve on this by suggesting that a wide range of events be considered and that the information obtained be ...

March 1988

Depression and panic attacks: the significance of overlap as reflected in follow-up and family study data

Pages:293–300
Published Online:1 April 2006

https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.145.3.293

Preview Abstract

Ninety-one patients with panic attacks limited historically to depressive episodes had more severe depressive symptoms and were less likely to recover during a 2-year follow-up than 417 depressed patients who did not have panic attacks. Family study data ...

March 1988

Dissociation and hypnotizability in posttraumatic stress disorder

Pages:301–305
Published Online:1 April 2006

https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.145.3.301

Preview Abstract

The authors compared the hypnotizability of 65 Vietnam veteran patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to that of a normal control group and four patient samples using the Hypnotic Induction Profile. The patients with PTSD had significantly ...

March 1988

Phenelzine versus imipramine in the treatment of probable atypical depression: defining syndrome boundaries of selective MAOI responders

Pages:306–311
Published Online:1 April 2006

https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.145.3.306

Preview Abstract

Sixty patients with probable atypical depression--defined as meeting Research Diagnostic Criteria for depressive illness, having reactive mood, and having one of four associated symptoms (hyperphagia, hypersomnolence, leaden feeling, and sensitivity to ...

March 1988

Clorazepate and lorazepam: clinical improvement and rebound anxiety

Pages:312–317
Published Online:1 April 2006

https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.145.3.312

Preview Abstract

Sixty-two anxious patients were treated under double-blind conditions for 4 weeks with either clorazepate or lorazepam. Two-thirds of each treatment group were then switched abruptly to placebo for 2 weeks, while one-third continued to receive active ...

March 1988

HPA axis abnormalities in depressed patients with normal response to the DST

Pages:318–324
Published Online:1 April 2006

https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.145.3.318

Preview Abstract

In order to identify depressed patients with hypothalamic-pituitary- adrenal (HPA) axis abnormalities who have a normal response to the dexamethasone suppression test (DST), the authors administered a series of neuroendocrine tests including insulin-...

March 1988

Insulin resistance after oral glucose tolerance testing in patients with major depression

Pages:325–330
Published Online:1 April 2006

https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.145.3.325

Preview Abstract

An association between affective disorders and alterations in glucose utilization has been recognized. The authors administered a 5-hour oral glucose tolerance test (GTT) to 28 depressed patients and 21 healthy volunteer control subjects and measured ...

March 1988

Dysfunctions in public psychiatric bureaucracies

Pages:331–334
Published Online:1 April 2006

https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.145.3.331

Preview Abstract

The author describes common dysfunctions in public psychiatric organizations according to the model of bureaucracy articulated by Max Weber. Dysfunctions are divided into the categories of goal displacement, outside interference, unclear authority ...

March 1988

Low-dose neuroleptic therapy for children with childhood-onset pervasive developmental disorder

Pages:335–338
Published Online:1 April 2006

https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.145.3.335

Preview Abstract

An open study of the therapeutic effects of low-dose neuroleptic treatment was performed on 12 consecutively hospitalized children, aged 7-11, who satisfied DSM-III criteria for childhood-onset pervasive developmental disorder. While receiving an average ...

March 1988

Carbamazepine and hyponatremia in patients with affective disorder

Pages:339–342
Published Online:1 April 2006

https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.145.3.339

Preview Abstract

The authors assessed 20 carbamazepine-treated patients for the development of hyponatremia. None of the patients had readings below 135 meg/liter of sodium before carbamazepine therapy, but five (25%) did have such readings after carbamazepine therapy. ...

March 1988

Association of low serum anticholinergic levels and cognitive impairment in elderly presurgical patients

Pages:342–345
Published Online:1 April 2006

https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.145.3.342

Preview Abstract

Low-dose scopolamine, given as presurgery medication, resulted in low levels of serum anticholinergic activity and caused measurable cognitive impairment in 18 psychiatrically healthy elderly patients. The degree of impairment was directly related to ...

March 1988

The role of polysomnography in the differential diagnosis of chronic insomnia

Pages:346–349
Published Online:1 April 2006

https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.145.3.346

Preview Abstract

The authors examined the accuracy of the differential diagnosis of chronic insomnia with and without sleep laboratory studies in a consecutive series of 123 patients. All patients were evaluated by means of a sleep/wake log, a sleep habits questionnaire, ...

March 1988

Idiopathic basal ganglia calcification and organic mood disorder

Pages:350–353
Published Online:1 April 2006

https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.145.3.350

Preview Abstract

Idiopathic basal ganglia calcification is a syndrome consisting of bilateral basal ganglia calcifications, neuropsychiatric abnormalities, disturbances of movement, and normal calcium and phosphorus metabolism. The best described neuropsychiatric ...

March 1988

Psychiatric disorders in patients with cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis

Pages:354–357
Published Online:1 April 2006

https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.145.3.354

Preview Abstract

Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis is a familial recessive disorder. Patients with the disorder present with tendon xanthomas, juvenile cataracts, dementia, and pyramidal and cerebellar abnormalities but have normal plasma cholesterol. High plasma cholestanol ...

March 1988

Prolactin, cortisol, and antidepressant treatment

Pages:358–360
Published Online:1 April 2006

https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.145.3.358

Preview Abstract

In four depressed patients with abnormal dexamethasone suppression test results before treatment, plasma prolactin levels significantly increased after successful amitriptyline therapy. Such an increase did not take place in five depressed patients with ...

March 1988

Carbamazepine in the treatment of catatonia

Pages:361–362
Published Online:1 April 2006

https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.145.3.361

Preview Abstract

Carbamazepine resolved within 6-24 hours the catatonic stupor in two patients, one with a schizophreniform and one with a schizoaffective disorder. Reports of frequent EEG abnormalities and the successful use of diazepam in catatonia prompted these trials ...

March 1988

Characteristics of psychiatric consultations in a pediatric cancer center

Pages:363–364
Published Online:1 April 2006

https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.145.3.363

Preview Abstract

Data on psychiatric consultations with 58 pediatric cancer patients are summarized. Although most patients received DSM-III axis I diagnoses, adjustment disorder was diagnosed in 30 cases (52%). The patients with primarily depressive features were ...

March 1988

Obligatory associations: a function of dreaming

Pages:365–366
Published Online:1 April 2006

https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.145.3.365

Preview Abstract

Some dream images are unequivocally linked to events experienced in the waking state but are not identical. The author refers to such alterations as "obligatory associations"; these serve varied psychical requirements, including cognitive transformation.