Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Antidepressant Pharmacotherapy: Prescription Practices In Psychiatric Resident Care, Rachel Dew, W. Vaughn Mccall

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

Background: Research on treatment of depression has raised concerns regarding adequacy of medication trials and rationality of drug choice. Little data exists regarding pharmacotherapy by psychiatric residents. As practice habits begun in training will likely persist after graduation, examination of residents' antidepressant use may ultimately improve treatment by psychiatrists.

Methods: Charts of new patients presenting to the Wake Forest University Psychiatry Resident Clinic were reviewed. Survey was made of medications prescribed to 112 patients diagnosed with major depression, dysthymia, depressive disorder NOS, adjustment disorder with depressed mood, or bipolar disorder with a documented depression during the studied period. Drug choice …

The Duty To Warn/Protect Doctrine And Its Application In Pennsylvania, Clarence Watson

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

Despite the almost universal familiarity of mental health professionals with the Tarasoff case, many questions regarding its associated legal requirements often arise when evaluating potentially dangerous patients. The principles of the duty to warn/protect, while appearing nebulous at times, contain key concepts that the clinician must consider in the face of potential danger to third parties. This article reviews the landmark decision of the Tarasoff case and outlines its key concepts. In addition, given that state jurisdictions vary in treatment of Tarasoff-like cases, this article explores the Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision, Emerich v. Philadelphia Center for Human Development, Inc.

Editor's Note, Anika Vaughn-Cooke

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

No abstract provided.

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 …

Lilliputian Hallucinations And Marijuana Dependence In A Bipolar Patient, Matthew L. Bush M.S. Iv, Saurabh Gupta M.D.

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

Lilluputian hallucinations are rarely seen in manic patients. Here we present a case of isolated lilluputian hallucinations against a backdrop of psychosis and marijuana use. The phenomenon is interesting and worth following up with. The patient recovered and a brief literature search is included.

Current Methodological Issues In Candidate Gene Association Studies In Psychiatric Disorders, Leo Sher M.D.

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

One of the most rapidly emerging areas of neuroscience research is the study of genetic approaches to complex psychiatric disorders. The author discusses potential benefits and pitfalls of candidate gene association studies. Association studies search for correlations in the population between a DNA marker and a disorder. The so-called candidate gene approach is frequently used in association studies. Candidate gene studies are usually based on hypotheses about relationships between specific known loci and particular phenotypes. The aim of molecular genetic studies of behavioral disorders includes the development of predictive and diagnostic testing for psychiatric disorders that can help to establish …

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.

Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome: Review, Diagnostic Critique, Khurram K. Durrani M.D.

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) can be defined as an idiosyncratic and potentially fatal reaction to neuroleptic agents that consists of fever, mental status changes, muscle rigidity, autonomic dysfunction, respiratory distress and rhabdomyolysis. The pathogenesis of NMS is still not fully understood. The diagnosis presents a challenge and the diagnostic criteria need further refinement. The presentation and course of NMS are quite variable and can range from a progressive, fulminating, downhill course to a relatively benign and self-limiting course. Despite great improvements in the management of the syndrome, prevention and early diagnosis are the most important aspects of treatment.

Editor's Note, Manoj Mohata M.D.

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

No abstract provided.

Treatment Of Chronic Mental Illness, Anu A. Matorin, Md

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

RESIDENT'S GUIDE TO TREATMENT OF PEOPLE WITH CHRONIC MENTAL ILLNESS

(GAP Report 136; 1993)

Formulated by the Committee on Psychiatry and the Community, Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry American Psychiatric Press, Inc., 1993, 230 pages, $30.00

A Mesmerizing Book, Daniel A. Monti, Md

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

HYPNOSIS IN THE RELIEF OF PAIN

Ernest R. Hilgard and Josephine R. Hilgard

Brunner/Maze!, Inc., New York 1994, paperback, $28 .95, 294 pgs.

Prediction Of Treatment Response And Diagnosis In Psychiatry, Eduardo Dunayevich, Md

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

The lack of diagnostic gold standards and the multiplicity of vantage points used to conceptualize mental illness renders psychiatric diagnostic and therapeutic approaches susceptible to individual and cultural biases. Developments in therapeutic approaches have often provided vantage points from which to conceptualize psychopathology. The identification of predictors of treatment response may be a useful element for clinicians to select between multiple treatment tools in an expanding therapeutic armamentarium while fostering refinements in current diagnostic systems.

The Forgotten Evaluation: Taking Competence Seriously, Seth E. Tabb, Md, Scott A. West, Md

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

The medical literature devotes little attention to the application of competency to the general medical patient. Commonly, the only cases recognized as necessitating a competency evaluation are overtly psychotic patients, patients requiring written informed consent, and those patients who refuse treatments strongly recommended by their physician. Clarifying terminology and redefining competency provides a practical screening method for assessing competency in all patients. When physicians neglect the evaluation of competency, patient autonomy is compromised. Not only are all physicians capable of performing a competency evaluation, they are ethically and professionally required to do so.

Transition To Psychiatric Residency: Unique Stresses; Unique Rewards, Catherine A. Belitsky, Md, Frcp(C), Sidney H. Kennedy, Md, Frcp(C)

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

An individual's decision to pursue a psychiatric residency following medical school training is shaped by many factors. Beginning residents are often ill prepared for the relative impact that the shift from medical doctor to psychiatric resident entails. This paper reviews the literature regarding demographic and psychological factors relating to recruitment, dynamic and practical issues confronting the beginning resident, and various coping styles adopted. These factors are considered in the context of an inpatient setting where the majority of residents begin their training. Much of the resident response is seen as adaptive and a number of strategies for coping are suggested.

Patients Who Request A Female Psychotherapist, Timothy C. Smith, Md, Melinda Fudge, Md, Salman Akhtar, Md, Steven Samuel, Phd

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

Upon arriving at an outpatient clinic, many patients request to see a female psychotherapist. Yet little has been written on this topic. The aim of this study was to explore the demographic and clinical characteristics of such patients. We compared patients who voiced a preference for a female therapist with controls on the demographic variables of age, sex, race, marital and financial status and the clinical characteristics of diagnosis, history of sexual abuse, sexual preference, overt presence of sexual or social difficulties, history of prior treatment, gender of the previous therapist, and treatment drop out rate. A chi square analysis …

Non-Neuroleptic Pharmacotherapy Of Schizophrenia, Sajiv John, Md, Atul Mahableshwarkar, Md

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

Patients with schizophrenia are typically treated with a neuroleptic and some form of psychosocial intervention. In spite of optimum treatment, up to one-third of patients continue to remain severely disabled due to persistent positive or negative symptoms. A variety of drugs have been tried as alternatives or additions to traditional neuroleptics in these patients. This paper is a review of these nonneuroleptic treatment alternatives and an attempt to establish some guidelines for their use.

A Case Study Of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Some Diagnostic Considerations, Jeanette M. Stumbo Zaimes, Md

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) was considered a rare disorder prior to 1984 when the initial results from the Epidemiologic Catchment Area survey demonstrated a substantial prevalence of the disorder (1). Thus there may be many patients today who entered treatment prior to 1984 with undiagnosed OCD. This paper gives the history of one such patient and reviews the current literature on OCD as it pertains to the diagnostic evidence in this case.

Concepts And Models Of Empathy: Past, Present, And Future, Elizabeth Ann Baxter, Md

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

The subject of empathy has been increasing in popularity and importance; correspondingly, the theoretical aspects of empathy are in need of further development. This paper outlines key concepts and processes related to empathy, particularly the mechanisms of identification and regression as they are discussed in the models of empathy articulated by Fleiss, Greenson, and Jordan. Similarities and differences of the models are examined, in addition to each model's description of the roles of identification and regression. Although each model has made significant contributions towards a theoretical perspective of empathy, none of them have distinguished pathological from non-pathological uses of identification. …

Case Report: Sometimes A Cigar Is Just A Cigar, Zafar Y. Ibrahim, Md, Ellen F. Brooks, Md

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

This unusual case underscores the need for psychiatrists to consider treatable and curable causes of acute behavior changes even when historical data are not easily available. This case presentation invites physicians of mind (and body) to utilize simple and common-sense approaches while evaluating their patients.

Editor's Column, Mary E. Donovan, Md

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

"Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. " Others had learned, "My son, sometimes a cigar is just a good smoke." Like many of our colleagues, we believed that these were Freud's words during a question and answer session after a lecture he gave at Clark University. The words were comforting in a way, giving us a chance to chalk at least some things up to pure coincidence, thus releasing us from relentless unconscious agendas and hidden sexual interpretations.

Current Concepts-Past Contributions, Cynthia L. Theiss, Md

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

WOMEN BEYOND FREUD: NEW CONCEPTS OF FEMININE PSYCHOLOGY

Edited by Milton M. Berger, M.D., with chapters by Marianne Horney Eckardt, Carol Gilligan , Douglas H. Ingram, Helen Singer Kaplan, Harold I. Lief, Jean Baker Miller, Silvia W. Olarte, Susan Quinn, and Mario Rendon

Brunner/Mazel, Inc., New York , 1994, 162 pages, $26.95

Old Age No Barrier To Psychotherapy, Jeanette Oleskowicz, Md

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

THE PSYCHOTHERAPY OF THE ELDERLY SELF

Hyman Muslin MD

Brunner /Mazel Inc., New York 1992, Hard cover

$27.50, 220 pages

Life Under Scrutiny, Andres Martin, Md

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

ON KISSING, TICKLING, AND BEING BORED: PSYCHOANALYTIC ESSAYS ON THE UNEXAMINED LIFE

Adam Phillips

Harvard University Press Cambridge, Massachusettes

1993, Hardcover, 138 pages, $ 19.95

Letters To The Editor

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

Letters to the Editor.

Sexual Side Effects Of Psychiatric Medications In Women: A Clinical Review, Laura L. Post, Md, Faacs

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

Sexual side effects of psychiatric medications have been estimated to occur in 60% of male clients (1) and 30% of female clients (2). Despite a body of literature relating individual medications to specific sexual side effects, few studies have satisfactorily addressed the psychotropic-induced sexual dysfunctions in women. The spectrum of known sexual sided effects resulting from psychopharmacologic interventionswill be reviewed. Guidelines for appropriately addressing the possibility of sexual side effects within a therapeutic relationship for maximizing reporting of sexual side effects, and for possible treatment approaches to sexual side effects will be described.

Positron Emission Tomography In Psychiatry: New Sights, New Insights, Shitij Kapur, Md, Sylvain Houle, Md, Phd, Frcp (C), Gregory M. Brown, Md, Phd, Frcp (C)

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a new tool with which to explore the neurobiological basis of psychiatric illness. PET permits in-vivo measurement of regional cerebral blood flow, regional glucose metabolism, as well as information about neurochemicals and their receptors. Since regional cerebral bloodflow and glucose metabolism reflect ongoing neuronal activity, the neural bases of different cognitive processes and emotional states can be discerned using PET. Findings from recent studies in schizophrenia, affective disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, anxiety disorders, and dementia are reviewed with a special emphasis on how these findings may' be useful in developing a more comprehensive framework for understanding …

Literature Review: Stress Reactance In Psoriatic Patients, W. Michael Hooten, Md

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

The association between stress and psoriasis is well documented. A subgroup of psoriatic patients appear to be high stress reactors who can identify specific psychosocial stresses which exacerbate their psoriasis. In contrast, low stress reactors report no association between stress and the exacerbation of psoriasis. In differentiating high versus low stress reactors, a review of the literature suggests: 1) a neurogenic mediated disease process; 2) high stress reactors' disease course is not confounded by underlying psychopathology and, 3) high stress psoriatics experience more disease related stress than low stress reactors.

Being Stalked: A Psychiatrist's Perspective, Kalpana I. Nathan, Md, Tina T. Lee, Md, James Missett, Md, Phd

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

It is only recently that stalking has been criminalized after some highly publicized forensic cases. Psychiatric focus has been on erotomania, and in this article we primarily highlight stalking as a separate entity with psychiatric and legal implications. The case reports reveal our vulnerability as therapists, and we hope will raise our awareness of stalking as a potentially dangerous situation. The legal statutes vary in different states, but our recommendations may provide guidelines towards formulating policies and procedures for the safety of healthcare providers.

The Diagnosis Of Multiple Personality Disorder, Joshua D. Mcdavid, Md, Mph

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

This paper represents an attempt to facilitate the clinician or psychiatrist in making a diagnosis of Multiple Personality Disorder, the most severe of the dissociative disorders. Emphasis will be placed on detecting signs, symptoms, and information that occur within the constituent parts of a typical psychiatric interview, and that are highly suggestive of MPD even in the absence of alter presentation.

Theme And Content Of Delusions In Asian Indian Psychotic Patients: Correlation With Diagnosis, Christopher Linskey, Md

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

The aim of this study was to investigate the types of delusions present in Asian Indian psychotic patients and evaluate correlation with patient diagnosis. Delusional narratives were collected from 50 Indian patients with schizophrenia or an affective disorder. These narratives were judged for delusional theme and content and were correlated with DSM-III-R diagnoses. Using simple categorical analysis, delusional themes of grandiosity and guilt correlated with affective diagnoses. Delusional themes of reference and Schneiderian types were more often associated with schizophrenia. These findings support the concept that delusional themes can be used as valid diagnostic clues in the assessment of psychotic …