Psychiatry Commons^™

Antidepressant Medications, Amir A. Afkhami

Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Combinations Of Dsm-Iv-Tr Criteria Sets For Bipolar Disorders., Daniel Z Lieberman, Roger Peele, Maryam Razavi

Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: DSM-IV-TR is the standard for making psychiatric diagnoses in many countries. The diagnostic categorization of DSM-IV-TR is valued for its reliability, however it is well accepted that patients with the same diagnosis demonstrate substantial heterogeneity. In order to quantitatively characterize the degree of possible heterogeneity that can exist, combinatorial mathematics was used to calculate the number of possible ways to satisfy symptom criteria for the diagnosis of bipolar disorder as an example of this problem.

SAMPLING AND METHODS: The formula n!/(r!(n - r)!), which calculates the number of different ways of choosing an unordered number of items without repetition …

Predicting Content Preference: Applying Lessons Learned From The Commercial Web To Therapeutic Software, Daniel Z. Lieberman Md, Suena H. Massey Md, Vilmaris Quiñones Cardona, Kenneth P. Williams Md

Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Faculty Publications

Objective: An automated web-based program was developed to deliver a form of motivational enhancement therapy to individuals with drinking problems. The objective of this study was to evaluate its ability to predict user preferences for specific psychoeducational modules based on responses to questionnaire items from the evaluation portion of the program.
Methods: Nine items from three standardized alcohol assessment questionnaires were used to predict viewing of one or more educational modules related to alcohol cessation. The instruments included the Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale (SOCRATES), the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), and the Decisional Balance Questionnaire. …

Off-Label Psychopharmacologic Prescribing For Children: History Supports Close Clinical Monitoring., Julie M Zito, Albert T Derivan, Christopher J Kratochvil, Daniel J Safer, Joerg M Fegert, Laurence L Greenhill

Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior Faculty Papers

The review presents pediatric adverse drug events from a historical perspective and focuses on selected safety issues associated with off-label use of medications for the psychiatric treatment of youth. Clinical monitoring procedures for major psychotropic drug classes are reviewed. Prior studies suggest that systematic treatment monitoring is warranted so as to both minimize risk of unexpected adverse events and exposures to ineffective treatments. Clinical trials to establish the efficacy and safety of drugs currently being used off-label in the pediatric population are needed. In the meantime, clinicians should consider the existing evidence-base for these drugs and institute close clinical monitoring.

Editorial Board

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

No abstract provided.

Evidence-B(I)Ased Medicine: Limitations And Non-Superstition-Based Alternatives, Joshua S. Green M.D., Ph.D. (Pgy4)

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

The Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) movement crystallized in the early 1990's at McMaster University in Canada. The movement originally challenged practitioners to validate their treatments based on reasoning and clinical studies rather than personal authority. In this essay, I will argue that, contrary to this wholesome intention, EBM is authoritarian in spirit and actually constricts discourse about how to make clinical decisions.

Diphenhydramine-Dependence Resulting From Self-Medication Of Antipsychotic- Induced Extrapyramidal Symptoms, Faisal S. Shaikh M.B.B.S., Ann M. Mortimer M.D.

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

Antipsychotic-induced extrapyramidal symptoms should be recognised and adequately treated. We report an unusual complication of not doing so: a patient’s self-medicating to control these symptoms, which produced diphenhydramine-dependence.

Dissociative-Like Spells In A Child With Neurofibromatosis (Type 1), Gregory M. Singleton M.D. (Pgy2), Ann M. Lagges Ph.D., Karen G. Meighen M.D.

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

Neurofibromatosis, type 1, (NF1) is a common neurocutaneous disorder of childhood. Little is known about the psychiatric aspects of the condition. We present the case of a 10-year-old male with NF1 and complex spells. For two years he had been experiencing self-limited paroxysms of auditory and visual hallucination, assaultiveness, excited undressing, and amnesia. The spells have been refractory to multiple treatments, including antipsychotic medication. The question remains whether this episodic amnestic disorder is comorbid with NF1 or is caused by it.

A Major Event Of Self-Mutilation In A Patient With Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Joel P. Johnson M.D. (Pgy4), Steven Sugden M.D., James A. Bourgeois O.D., M.D.

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

We describe a young adult male with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) who presented with a non-repetitive, major, genital self-mutilation necessitating urological intervention. On formal psychiatric evaluation, he did not have psychosis or suicidality. Most commonly, self-injury in developmental disability is less severe and more stereotypic; major-class self-mutilation is confined, generally, to psychosis. It is this discrepancy that is the unusual feature of our case.

Autocastration And Autoamputation Of The Penis In A Patient With Delusions Of Sexual Guilt, Craig B. Franke M.D. (Pgy4), James A. Rush M.D. (Pgy3)

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

Genital self-mutilation (GSM) is a rare event that is commonly associated with psychotic disorders; we report an occurrence in the context of psychosis and drug use. We also review the etiologies of this phenomenon and how these etiologies differ across gender.

Clozapine, Fluoxetine, And Benztropine- Associated Ileus: Case Report, Pegah Pajouhi M.D. (Pgy1), James A. Bourgeois O.D., M.D.

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

Gastrointestinal complications of anticholinergic medications are prevalent, potentially life-threatening, and could be more actively prevented. We present a case report of an ileus that required surgical intervention and developed in the context of clozapine, benztropine, and fluoxetine use. The case exemplifies the potential anticholinergic toxicities of clozapine and benztropine as well as possible pharmacokinetic interactions between fluoxetine, clozapine, and benztropine. We discuss ways to minimize the likelihood of anticholinergic complications with these medications.

Effects Of Atomoxetine On Growth In Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Following Up To Five Years Of Treatment., Thomas J. Spencer, Christopher J. Kratochvil, R. Bart Sangal, Keith E. Saylor, Charles E. Bailey, David W. Dunn, Daniel A. Geller, Charles D. Casat, Robert S. Lipetz, Rakesh Jain, Jeffrey H. Newcorn, Dustin D. Ruff, Peter D. Feldman, Amanda J. Furr, Albert J. Allen

Journal Articles: Psychiatry

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects on growth of long-term pharmacological treatment for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), we present findings from an ongoing 5-year study of the efficacy and safety of treatment with atomoxetine.

METHODS: North American patients, 6-17 years old at study entry (N = 1,312) and with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,4th edition (DSM-IV) ADHD, were studied under open-label atomoxetine treatment. Sixty-one were studied up to 5 years.

RESULTS: After 1 month's treatment, patients weighed less than expected from their starting percentiles relative to population norms, with a maximum shortfall at 15 months and a return to expected …

Barriers To Recovery And Recommendations For Change: The Pennsylvania Consensus Conference On Psychiatry's Role., Joseph A. Rogers, Michael J. Vergare, Richard C. Baron, Mark S. Salzer

Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: Recovery has emerged over the past decade as a dominant theme in public mental health care.

METHODS: The 2006 Pennsylvania Consensus Conference brought together 24 community psychiatrists to explore the barriers they experienced in promoting recovery and their recommendations for change.

RESULTS: Twelve barriers were identified and classified into one of three categories: psychiatry knowledge, roles, and training; the need to transform public mental health systems and services; and environmental barriers to opportunity. Participants made 22 recommendations to address these barriers through changes in policies, programs, and psychiatric knowledge and practice.

CONCLUSIONS: The recommendations identify areas for change that …

La Vie À L’Endroit De Rachid Boudjedra : Entre Subjectivité Et Folie, Sonia Zlitni Fitouri

Présence Francophone: Revue internationale de langue et de littérature

In this study of Rachid Boudjedra’s La vie à l’endroit, I will show how the Algerian writer endeavours to put “en abyme” three types of madness (joyful, fatal, hallucinatory); these generate one another in a cause and effect relationship and distance themselves from the delirious discourse of his first novels in order to give an account of a period of terror which struck Algeria under the Muslim fundamentalist threat. We will also show how the character-narrator faces all this madness by setting up his subj bj ectivity as a shield against what he calls “external fear and inner fear”, and …

A Pilot Study Of Atomoxetine In Young Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder., Christopher J. Kratochvil, Brigette S. Vaughan, Michelle L. Mayfield-Jorgensen, John S. March, Scott H. Kollins, Desiree W. Murray, Hima Ravi, Laurence L. Greenhill, Lisa A. Kotler, Natalya Paykina, Patricia Biggins, Julie Stoner

Journal Articles: Psychiatry

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness and tolerability of atomoxetine during acute treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in 5 and 6 year olds.

METHOD: Twenty two children (male n = 19, 86%) with ADHD were treated with atomoxetine for 8 weeks in a three-site, open-label pilot study. Dosing was flexible, with titration to a maximum of 1.8 mg/kg per day. Parent education on behavior management was provided as part of each pharmacotherapy visit.

RESULTS: Subjects demonstrated a mean decrease of 20.68 points (SD = 12.80, p < 0.001)) on the ADHD Rating Scale-IV (ADHD-IV-RS) total score, 10.18 (SD = 7.48, p < 0.001) on the inattentive subscale and 10.50 (SD = 7.04, p < 0.001) on the hyperactive/impulsive subscale. Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) was improved in 82% of the children (95% CI, 66-98%) and Children's Global Assessment (CGAS) scores improved 18.91 points on average (SD = 12.20, p < 0.001). The mean final dose of atomoxetine was 1.25 mg/kg per day (SD = 0.35 mg/kg per day). Mood lability was the most commonly reported adverse event (n = 12, 54.5%). Eleven subjects (50%) reported decreased appetite and a mean weight loss of 1.04 kg (SD = 0.80 kg) (p < 0.001) was observed for the group. Vital sign changes were mild and not clinically significant. There were no discontinuations due to adverse events or lack of efficacy.

CONCLUSION: Atomoxetine was generally effective for reducing core ADHD …

Emotional Expression During Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorders Treatment: Initial Assessment Of Treatment Effects., Christopher J. Kratochvil, D. Faries, Brigette S. Vaughan, A. Perwien, J. Busner, K. Saylor, S. Kaplan, C. Buermeyer, R. Swindle

Journal Articles: Psychiatry

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this research was to provide an initial examination of the effects of atomoxetine and stimulants on emotional expression using a newly developed scale for assessing emotional expression in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

METHOD: The parent-rated Expression and Emotion Scale for Children (EESC) was collected during two studies. During a cross-sectional validation study, the EESC was completed to assess the child's current treatment and retrospectively for previous medication. In a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of atomoxetine, the EESC was collected at baseline and endpoint.

RESULTS: In the validation study, no statistically significant differences in EESC scores were …

Jefferson Scale Of Patient's Perceptions Of Physician Empathy: Preliminary Psychometric Data., Gregory C. Kane, Joanne L. Gotto, Salvatore Mangione, Susan West, Mohammadreza Hojat

Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior Faculty Papers

AIM: To develop a brief scale for measuring patient's perceptions of their physician's empathic engagement and to provide preliminary evidence in support of aspects of the scale's psychometrics.

METHOD: Study comprised 225 patients, out of 436 patients (52% response rate) seen by 166 residents in the internal medicine residency program at the Jefferson Hospital Ambulatory Clinic as part of their ambulatory training at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. A 5-item questionnaire entitled the Jefferson Scale of Patient's Perceptions of Physician Empathy was developed and administered to the study participants. Its factor structure, item-total score correlations, and correlations with several relevant criterion …

Psychiatric Rating Scales In Urdu: A Systematic Review, Syed Ahmer, Rafey A. Faruqui, Anita Aijaz

Department of Psychiatry

Background: Researchers setting out to conduct research employing questionnaires in non-English speaking populations need instruments that have been validated in the indigenous languages. In this study we have tried to review the literature on the status of cross-cultural and/or criterion validity of all the questionnaires measuring psychiatric symptoms available in Urdu language.Methods: A search of Medline, Embase, PsycINFO and http://www.pakmedinet.com was conducted using the search terms; Urdu psychiatric rating scale, and Urdu and Psychiatry. References of retrieved articles were searched. Only studies describing either cross-cultural or criterion validation of a questionnaire in Urdu measuring psychiatric symptoms were included.Results: Thirty two …

Mapping Exercise Of Mental Health Research And Researchers In Pakistan, Haider A. Naqvi, Murad M. Khan

Department of Psychiatry

Objective: To systematically identify mental health research and researchers in Pakistan. Subsidiary objectives were to identify methodologies of studies published in the indexed journals along with their country wide mean impact factor.
Methods: A systematic search strategy using key words related to neuropsychiatry was carried out to identify various studies published in Indexed and Non-indexed databases.
Results: We identified 108 studies from Indexed data bases (77.8% Medline; 22.2% PsychInfo). Beside these, 51 studies were also identified from non-indexed databases. Among the indexed articles, 97 (89.8%) were Journal articles while 10 were other type of documents--there were 3 clinical trials of …

Outcomes Of Peginterferon Alfa-2a And Ribavirin Combination Therapy In A Resident-Initiated, Multidisciplinary, Hepatitis C Clinic, Nicole M. Agostino Do, Erini Vasiliadis Do, K Nadeem Ahmed Md, Suzanne J. Templer Do, Edward R. Norris Md, Fapa, Fapm, Charles M. Brooks Md, Eric J. Gertner Md, Mph, Joseph L. Yozviak Do, Facp

Department of Medicine

No abstract provided.

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Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

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Editorial Board

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

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Mourning, Salman Akhtar M.D.

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

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Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome, With Attention To Its Occurrence With Atypical Antipsychotic Medication: A Review, Sarah Guzofski M.D. (Pgy2), Ruben Peralta M.D.

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

The neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is an idiopathic, life-threatening reaction to antipsychotic medication. NMS was traditionally attributed to potent dopamine antagonism of typical antipsychotics, but cases of NMS have now been reported for each of the newer antipsychotics. When NMS is caused by a newer, atypical antipsychotic the presentation differs somewhat; fever, rigidity, and, possibly, death may be less frequent. Diagnostic features, predisposing factors, and treatment are discussed, as is the important matter of reinstituting antipsychotic treatment.

A Kind Of Poem For My Friend And Me, Hilary O'Neill M.D. (Pgy4)

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

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First-Known Hypnopompic Hallucination Occurring In-Hospital: Case Report, Paul Ballas D.O. (Pgy2)

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

Despite the high prevalence of hypnopompic hallucinations in the community, to our knowledge there are no reports that have been published in the English literature of these phenomenon observed by staff in the hospital setting. Psychiatric or neurological evaluation often ensues if a patient reports hallucinations in other circumstances, but when they are reported in connection with sleep, further evaluation is rarely performed because such events are common in the general populace. Our report emphasizes the distinction between hypnopompic and hypnagogic hallucination as an ongoing feature of life that someone is aware of, which we believe to be the case …

No More Cuts: The Curious Fate Of Self-Mutilation In Its Development, Zhabiz Kazeminezhad M.D. (Pgy4), Salman Akhtar M.D.

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

In this article, we present descriptions of four young women with relatively severe personality disorders. All four were in psychodynamic psychotherapy and all had the symptom of self-cutting. During their treatment, it became evident that their self-cutting had undergone a transformation and a new symptom had appeared in its place. In three, self-cutting was substituted by behaviors that we might call "cutting equivalents" and, in the fourth, by an enhanced self-reflective attitude and by journal-writing. We suggest that symptom-replacement for self-cutting may be common in its developmental course or in its course as it becomes influenced by psychotherapy, and that …

Psychiatric Diagnoses In Patients With Williams Syndrome And Their Families, Janet C. Kennedy M.D. (Pgy1), David L. Kaye M.D., Laurie S. Sadler M.D.

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

Williams Syndrome (WS) is a genetic disorder associated with mental retardation (MR) and a distinct behavioral phenotype including a friendly and outgoing personality. This population, like others with MR, has been reported to have an increased rate of symptoms of mental illness; however, few studies have used DSM-IV criteria to quantify specific psychiatric diagnoses in WS and the prevalence of psychiatric illness in relatives of individuals with WS and the possible relationship between family and patient diagnoses is currently unknown.

Methods: Twenty-one families participated; the patients’ average age was 16 years. DSM-IV diagnoses were applied by using the Anxiety …

Psychogenic Stuttering Following A Gastric Bypass Operation: Case Report, Deborah B. Raphael M.D. (Pgy2), Frank B. Schoenfeld M.D.

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

We evaluated a 44-year-old female with bipolar affective disorder who presented with a 4-month history of severe stuttering and vague neurologic complaints. She had lost 200 pounds after gastric bypass surgery two years before. A childhood sexual-abuse victim, she admits that she "hid" in her weight for most of her life. Neurological evaluation of this patient was negative, and speech-pathology evaluation revealed highly atypical stuttering. Gastric bypass patients with a history of psychiatric disorders and childhood sexual abuse may be particularly vulnerable to somatoform disorders.

What Investigations Are Ordered In Patients With First-Episode Psychosis?, Allan Shefrin M.D. (Pgy2), Derek Puddester M.D., Stephanie Greenham Ph.D., Lise Bisnaire Ph.D., Hazen Gandy M.D.

Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry

Psychiatrists are often left with the dilemma of which investigations to order in adolescents presenting with a first episode of psychosis. Blood work, urine studies, and neuroimaging studies were tracked in 13 adolescents admitted with a diagnosis of first-episode psychosis over a 13-month period to the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. Variation was found in the amount of investigation ordered: 85% of patients received a drug screen; 54% a CT scan; 8% an MRI; 92% a CBC with differential; 92% electrolytes. Abnormalities of CT scans were detected in 2 patients (29%); in neither case did the result lead to a …