Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Possible Synergistic Action Between Carbamazepine And Lithium Carbonate In The Treatment Of A Manic Patient., John Matt Dorn, M.D.

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

Introduction

Carbamazepine has been proven to be efficacious in some patients with affective disorders, notably those who have not responded well to lithium carbonate or neuroleptics (1,2,3) . For those who have responded poorly to either regimen, however, there have been no effective pharmacotherapies until recently, when case reports have suggested a possible synergistic action between lithium carbonate and carbamazepine (4,5,6). The following case report supports this hypothesis.

The Use Of Carbamazepine (Tegretol) In Psychiatry And Its Association To Kindling, Temporal Lobe Epilepsy And Psychopathology, James Stanch, M.D.

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

The recent theory of kindling may help to link neurophysiologic, neurotransmitter and neuroanatomic mechanisms important in understanding the neurology of behavior. Limbic kindling is of interest in developing models of epilepsy, psychosis, learning and memory (l -5). Kindling might explain the late development of psychopathology.

This paper will first define kindling and demonstrate how kindling offers a model within which to view more prolonged behavioral deviations as neurophysiological processes. The use of carbamazepine and its association to kindling, temporal lobe dysfunction and psychopathology will be discussed .

Discussion Of The Paper By David A. Scola, M.D. On “The Hemispheric Specialization Of The Human Brain And Its Application To Psychoanalytic Principles”, Howard Field, M.D., Paul J. Fink, M.D., Thomas Swirsky-Sacchetti, Ph.D.

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

Dr. Scola proposes a bold and far-reaching synthesis of psychoanalytic theory, developmental neurobiology and neurophysiology of behavior. Freud found this task so frustrating in 1895 that he renounced neurology in favor of a purely psychologic approach (or so Freud claimed; Frank Sulloway sees it differently). Hypotheses that unconscious mental life is situated in the right cerebrum and that defense mechanisms are related to neuroanatomic connections are intriguing. The presentation does not include evidence which contravenes these theories. Sperry presented some evidence that the right hemisphere is self-aware and self-evaluative (I). One great problem in all cross disciplinary studies is the …

The Hemispheric Specialization Of The Human Brain And Its Application To Psychoanalytic Principles, David A. Scola, M.D.

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

Volumes of research have been accumulated over the past decade concerning hemispheric specialization of the human brain. Likewise, over the past century, psychoanalysts have painstakingly unraveled through their clinical observation many of the mysteries of intrapsychic functions. Yet little has been written concerning attempts to integrate these seemingly divergent viewpoints.

It was Freud's hope that a neural basis for his clinical observations and psychological explanations of the human mind would eventually be established . This was not possible in his day, however, so this idea was gradually abandoned. With the advent of computers and high technology, perhaps it is time …

Faculty Advisor's Column, Harvey J. Schwartz, Md

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

This second issue of our resident journal enlarges our educational effort s in two important ways. The first is obvious . As you can see, we have published this forum in an attractive new form at. This is highlighted by the new cover designed by Dr. Jeffrey Sarnoff. The second piece of progress is our enlarged audience. In addition to our own Jefferson faculty and residents, the Journal is now being distributed to psychiatrists throughout Pennsylvania. For both of these improvements in form we are indebted to the Mead Johnson Pharmaceutical Division for their generous sponsorship.

Psychological And Cognitive Determinants Of Vision Function In Age-Related Macular Degeneration., Barry W. Rovner, Robin J Casten, Robert W Massof, Benjamin E Leiby, William S Tasman

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of coping strategies, depression, physical health, and cognition on National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire scores obtained at baseline in a sample of older patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) enrolled in the Improving Function in AMD Trial, a randomized controlled clinical trial that compares the efficacy of problem-solving therapy with that of supportive therapy to improve vision function in patients with AMD.

METHODS: Baseline evaluation of 241 older outpatients with advanced AMD who were enrolled in a clinical trial testing the efficacy of a behavioral intervention to improve vision function. Vision function was characterized …