Depression is a mood disorder characterized by complex alterations of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. In particular, there is substantial evidence of abnormalities ...in serotonin neurotransmission. Peripheral parameters of serotoninergic transmission, such as the 5-hydroxytryptamine content of plasma and platelets, have been used to identify biochemical alterations related to depression. In recent years, these parameters have also been used to examine the mechanism of action of antidepressive drugs such as the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. This study investigated the interaction between the plasma and platelet levels of fluoxetine and serotonin after fluoxetine administration to depressed patients. Twelve patients affected by major depression (according to the DSM-IV criteria) received a single oral dose of fluoxetine in the morning: 5 mg in the first 5 days, 10 mg from day 6 to day 10, and 20 mg from day 11 to day 40. Blood samples were collected at 0, 7, 10, and 24 hours after drug administration on the day 1 of fluoxetine 5 mg and on the 1st and the 30th day of fluoxetine 20 mg (days 11 and 40 of treatment, respectively). Plasma fluoxetine and serotonin levels increased after drug administration, reaching the highest levels on the 30th day of fluoxetine 20 mg. Fluoxetine levels were also detectable in platelets, with a time variation similar to plasma values. Platelet serotonin levels decreased after drug administration, and the lowest values were observed on the 30th day of fluoxetine 20 mg.
Season of birth in psychiatry. A review Castrogiovanni, P; Iapichino, S; Pacchierotti, C ...
Neuropsychobiology,
01/1998, Volume:
37, Issue:
4
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Numerous studies suggest that seasonal birth may play a pathogenic role in the development of mental disorders. A birth excess of 10% during winter and spring has been shown in schizophrenia. The few ...studies carried out on affective disorders revealed a significant increase of births in the first quarter of the year in bipolar disorders and major depressive disorder. Subjects with seasonal affective disorder show a peak of births in May. Data on personality, eating and 'neurotic' disorders are less consistent. At the moment there are no data in the literature about anxiety disorders.
Objective:
This study aimed to verify a possible correlation between panic symptoms and photosensitivity, not only in panic disorder (PD) but also in the panic-agoraphobic spectrum.
Method:
One ...hundred and sixty-nine healthy and drug-free subjects completed the Structured Clinical Interview for Panic-Agoraphobic Spectrum–Lifetime version (SCI-PAS-Lifetime) and the Photosensitivity Assessment Questionnaire (PAQ).
Results:
The SCI-PAS-Lifetime total score was positively correlated with the total score of the PAQ photophobia subdimension (r = 0.44; P < 0.001); the SCI-PAS-Lifetime total score was not significantly correlated with the photophilia subdimension. As photophobia increased, we observed significant score increases in all SCI-PAS-Lifetime domains. Bivariate correlation showed higher coefficient correlation between the panic-like symptoms domain and photophobia (r = 0.44; P < 0.001).
Conclusions:
A high total score in the SCI-PAS-Lifetime, which denotes more typical features of the spectrum, is associated with a higher level of light sensitivity and intolerance toward bright stimuli. This finding reflects clinical evidence that widely documents photophobic behaviours in subjects with PD and the importance of light stimuli exposure during the onset and course of such a disorder. Bright stimulation seems to be relevant both in PD diagnosed according to current DSM criteria and in the entire panic-agoraphobic spectrum, from nuclear elements of the disorder through subclinical states to the normal condition.
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NUK, OILJ, SAZU, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
It is known that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, widely used as antidepressive drugs, act by inhibiting the cell reuptake of serotonin, but their effect on the catecholaminergic system is ...not yet completely understood. In this study, we investigated plasma concentrations of norepinephrine, epinephrine and dopamine after acute and chronic administration of fluoxetine in depressive patients. Twelve patients affected by major depression received a single oral dose of fluoxetine in the morning, 5 mg in the first 5 days, 10 mg from the 6th to the 10th day and 20 mg from the 11th to the 40th day. Twelve healthy subjects received a placebo under identical testing procedures. Blood samples were collected at baseline and 7, 10 and 24 h after drug administration on the 1st day of fluoxetine administration at a dose of 5 mg, and on the 1st and the 30th day of fluoxetine administration at a dose of 20 mg (days 11 and 40 of treatment, respectively). We found that plasma norepinephrine, epinephrine and dopamine levels significantly increased after acute and chronic treatment (p < 0.001), reaching the highest concentrations on the last day. No significant changes of these parameters were observed in control patients.
Objective: The course of panic disorder (PD) is often influenced by the different phases of the female reproductive cycle. The aim of this study is to assess PD in the climacteric stage and single ...out possible correlations between symptoms of PD and clinical and demographic variables in order to identify possible risk factors.
Method: Forty-five women between 40 and 60 years of age was assessed through the SCL-90, the SCID, a “Climacteric Symptoms Questionnaire” (CSQ) devised to evaluate psychological symptoms typically associated with menopause, the Kupperman Index for the analysis of climacteric symptoms, and plasma level of allopregnanolone (ALLO).
Results: PD results in eight patients (18%). This group does not differ from the controls as far as socio-demographic data is concerned, but exhibits significantly higher values in the Kupperman Index, the SCL-90 total, and the CSQ. The plasma levels of ALLO correlate significantly inversely with the total of CSQ and, in any case, negatively with the other variables analysed.
Conclusions: PD may arise and worsen with menopause, in correlation with greater severity of the climacteric syndrome in its physical and psychological symptoms.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Objective: This study investigates the relationship between subthreshold obsessive‐compulsive disorder (OCD) and quality of life (QoL) in a sample from the Italian general population.
Methods: A ...sample of 202 psychiatrically healthy (defined as absence of current axis I and axis II disorders) subjects was recruited by word of mouth from the residential population in the Siena, Salerno and Milano municipalities (Italy). All study subjects completed the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire (Q‐LES‐Q) and the Questionnaire for Obsessive‐Compulsive Spectrum (OBS‐SR), which explore a wide array of threshold and subthreshold OCD symptoms, behaviours and traits. A diagnostic assessment was conducted to exclude the presence of DSM‐IV axis I and axis II disorders using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM‐III‐R personality disorders, respectively.
Results: A statistically significant correlation was found between the OBS‐SR total score and the Q‐LES‐Q domains of physical health, subjective feelings, work, school, social relationships and general activities. There was also a statistically significant correlation between several Q‐LES‐Q and OBS‐SR domains.
Conclusions: The presence of subthreshold OCD is correlated with poorer QoL. More research is needed to evaluate if specific therapeutic interventions targeting subthreshold obsessive‐compulsive symptoms can lead to a significant improvement in the QoL of the affected individuals.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Although Quality of Life in patients with Mood Disorders has been widely investigated, there are very few studies that examine the relationship between quality of life and subthreshold affective ...symptoms. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between mood spectrum and subjective quality of life in the general population. A sample of 200 healthy subjects was recruited from the general population. None of the subjects were treated with psychotropic medications or were receiving psychotherapy at the time of the assessments. Subjects were 22-55 years old. The mean age was 33.56 years. Subjects rated themselves on the 'Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire' (Q-LES-Q) and the 'Self-Report Questionnaire for Mood Spectrum' (MOODS-SR). We found a statistically significant correlation between Q-LES-Q total score and MOODS-SR total score (r = -0.43; p < 0.001) and between Q-LES-Q total score and depressive symptoms-related subtotal score of MOODS-SR (r = -0.35; p < 0.001), but not between Q-LES-Q total score and manic symptoms-related subtotal score of MOODS-SR. Our data suggests that subjects who report subthreshold affective symptomatology also report a low degree of enjoyment and satisfaction from life. The depressive aspects of the mood spectrum seem to have the greatest negative influence.
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BFBNIB, CEKLJ, DOBA, EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, INZLJ, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NMLJ, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
29.
Attachment and panic disorder Pacchierotti, Claudia; Bossini, Letizia; Castrogiovanni, Andrea ...
Psychopathology,
11/2002, Volume:
35, Issue:
6
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
A dysfunctional relationship between parents and children can influence cognitive and emotional development and contribute to the development of psychiatric disorders, particularly panic disorder ...(PD). With the aim of exploring childhood experiences of parenting in PD patients, we compared subjectively perceived climate and objective recall by administering the Parental Bonding Instrument and 10 adjunctive items to 22 out-patients and 22 matched controls. Our analysis showed that DSM-III-R-diagnosed PD patients reported their parents to be significantly less caring than did the control group, while there was no significant difference in objective recall of parenting experiences.
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