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Electroconvulsive Therapy: A Review Of Its Current Status, Tyler Kenning, Ranjnish Mago, Steven Huege, Kenneth Certa, Rodney Pelchat

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

This article presents an overview of the current knowledge and practice of ECT. It provides a brief history of the development of ECT followed by a discussion of the accepted indications for ECT in psychiatric practice, including major depression, bipolar disorder (mania and depression), and schizophrenia. Moreover, a description of the technique of performing ECT is given. Also examined are the use of ECT in medically ill patients and the risks associated with ECT. In conclusion, with the aid of advances in anesthesia and the delivery of ECT, electroconvulsive therapy is a safe and effective treatment of mood and psychotic …

A New Onset Paranoid Psychosis Associated With Fluoxetine And Bupropion: A Case Report, Vassili V. Arkadiev M.D., Stephen L. Ruedrich M.D.

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

No abstract provided.

Addiction Professionals' Attitudes Regarding Treatment Of Nicotine Dependence, Baljit S. Gill M.D., Dwayne L. Bennett M.D., Mohammad Abu-Salha M.D., Lisa Fore-Arcand Ed.D.

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

The objectives of this study were: to establish the extent to which addiction professionals are willing to treat nicotine addiction concurrently with other addictions, and to evaluate what factors affect their attitudes.

A 21-item questionnaire was developed and distributed to therapists, physicians and other mental health workers in different treatment settings in Southeastern Virginia.

CD staffers own smoking histories were significantly related to: their perceptions of the impact of nicotine use, and how likely they were to intervene in patients' nicotine use. Intervention in CD staffers own smoking behavior may increase the treatment of nicotine dependence in their patients.

Psychosis In Azheimer's Disease, George M. Strickland M.D., Thomas F. Ditzler Ph.D.

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

Much of the basic science literature on Alzheimer's Disease (AD) reflects ongoing research into pathophysiology and neuropathology. Yet, despite reports of the association between psychotic symptoms and Alzheimer's disease, relatively little is known about why such symptoms develop in certain patients and not in others. Neuroimaging and genetic studies may provide greater understanding of this association and allow clinicians and researchers to prevent, predict and treat the onset of psychotic symptoms in the future. This paper will review the current literature on the topic of psychosis in Alzheimer's disease and focus on current recommendations for interventions by clinicians and caregivers.

Folie A Famille Associated With Amphetamine Use, Kevin P. Hill B.A., Ashwin A. Patkar M.D., Stephen P. Weinstein Ph.D.

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

Shared Psychotic Disorder involving an entire family (folie a famille) is extremely rare. Only two cases of Shared Psychotic Disorder linked to stimulant abuse have been documented in the literature. We report a case of folie a famille that involved 5 members of a family, and was associated with amphetamine use in the primary individual. Our case shares many clinical and etilogical factors with previously reported cases of shared psychotic disorders. A wide variety of psychotic manifestations are associated with amphetamine use and clinicians should be aware of this uncommon syndrome among stimulant-using population, particularly due to the recent increase …

Case Report: Failure Of Group Therapy With Elderly Russian-Jewish Immigrants (An Exploratory Analysis), Gennady Berezkin M.D.

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

This paper is a description of an unsuccessful attempt to carry out group therapy with elderly Russian-Jewish immigrants.

An attempt was made to conduct group therapy following general principals of traditional psychotherapy with geriatric populations.

In the final analysis, we conclude that culturally based preconceptions toward psychotherapy, culturally based stereotypes of interpersonal relationships and culturally-based transference to the therapist were the primary reasons for the development of negative transference and resistance which culminated in the ultimate failure of group psychotherapy with this group of elderly immigrants.

The Psychiatry Access Center: A New Opportunity For Innovative Residency Training, M. Bates Redwine M.D., Ryan Finkelbine M.D., William Carson M.D., Susan Hardesty M.D., Linda Lewis M.N., R.N., C.S.

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

A recently introduced PGY-1 rotation in an innovative, managed care oriented program offers many training advantages for residents. The rotation offers first-year residents intensive interviewing-skills training, experience with obtaining and documenting the psychiatric history and physical examination, and in the process, offers early exposure to a managed care environment. The Psychiatry Access Center employs non-resident clinicians to perform urgent evaluations and all admissions to the main psychiatric hospital. The service has been tested successfully without requiring resident work, and therefore allows the integration of residents into the system via a new rotation designed to focus exclusively on educational needs.

Folie Á Deux: Two Case Reports, Mohammad Y. Abu-Salha M.D.

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

Two cases of “Shared Psychotic Disorder” were diagnosed over a period of less than a year in a children’s psychiatric center. Shared Psychotic Disorder is one of the differential diagnoses that need to be entertained when evaluating a delusional patient. Including the patient’s family and/or significant others in the assessment increases the possibility of diagnosing Shared Psychotic Disorder. An eight-year-old girl was admitted after exhibiting psychotic behavior with paranoid delusions she shared with her mother. Specifically, she reported that “neighbors next door were repeatedly breaking into her house, pinning her down, raping her, and injecting her with I.V. drugs.” An …

Early Detection Of Autism In The Population, John D. Mclennan M.D., Ph.D.

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

Frequently there is a delay in the diagnosis of autism in children which may result in a lost opportunity to provide early intervention. Signal detection studies have suggested that single items have good predictability for autism which suggests simple screening procedures may be helpful in the early detection of an autistic disorder. Studies of autism in the very young have found that specific social deficits appear to characterize this group. A three stage procedure is presented as a possible approach to detect autism at an early age in the population thereby allowing for early intervention.

Managed Mental Health Care: An Oxymoron Of Ethics?, Jonathan M. Metzl M.D.

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

No abstract provided.