Blind verification of elevated platelet autoantibodies in serum of schizophrenic patients--part II: adult subjects.

Background: In our preceding study, we assayed in a blind fashion the blood sera of young normal subjects and schizophrenic patients for levels of platelet autoantibodies (PAA). The recorded PAA titers of the schizophrenic patients were significantly higher than those of the normal subjects. This observation has lent support to this test being used as an objective evaluation of schizophrenia in young subjects in the future.

Blind verification of elevated platelet autoantibodies in serum of schizophrenic patients--part I: young subjects.

Background: It has been hypothesized that the etiology of schizophrenia, in a distinct group of patients, originates from an autoimmune reaction against platelets. Previous open screenings have recorded significantly higher blood titers of platelet-associated autoantibodies (PAA) in schizophrenic patients as compared to normal healthy subjects. In addition, young schizophrenic patients at the early stages of their disorder displayed higher PAA titers than older patients with a longer duration of the disorder.

Modulation of dental anxiety--the role of past experiences, psychopathologic traits and individual attachment patterns.

Objective: To evaluate factors affecting modulation of dental anxiety among adults.

Methods: A total of 183 adult members of a closed communal society (Kibbutz), who have been treated since childhood only by the dentists employed in their community, were investigated concerning their past and present dental anxiety, evaluation of their past and present dentists, psychopathologic symptoms and individual pattern of attachment.

Results: The best predictor of subjects' evaluation of their present dental anxiety was the scale of anxiety as recorded by the SCL-90R questionnaire.

Perimenstrual psychosis among female adolescents: two case reports and an update of the literature.

Objectives And Methods: Perimenstrual psychosis is an uncommon disorder, not included under the accepted classifications of functional psychoses. Our aim was to describe two Israeli female adolescents who fit this diagnosis.

Results: Both youngsters developed an acute psychosis a few days before menstruation, which subsided several days after bleeding, only to reappear in the same form in subsequent cycles.

Serum creatine kinase levels in untreated hospitalized adolescents during acute psychosis.

Objective: Psychosis-associated creatine kinase (CK)-emia (PACK) is a common and pronounced laboratory abnormality that accompanies adult psychotic conditions. Adult PACK is a relatively consistent individual trait. The authors investigated whether psychotic adolescents also present with such PACK characteristics.

The patient's right to know, in the 1996 Israel law for the rights of the patient: the pains of progress.

The 1996 Israel Law for Patients' Rights, Sections 21 and 22, introduces to the field of health legislation two new entities: internal examination committees and quality-control committees. The former are to be established when there is a need to investigate unusual, irregular or exceptional events related to diagnosis and/or treatment. Furthermore, the 1996 Law directs the internal examination committee to reveal its findings to the patient or to his representatives.

Elevated serum creatine kinase activity in adolescent psychiatric inpatients on admission.

Studies in adults have indicated a significant relationship between high serum creatine kinase levels on admission and acute psychosis. However, data on children are sparse. The files of 183 hospitalized children and adolescents (93 boys, 90 girls) with severe psychiatric disorders were reviewed for serum creatine kinase activity on admission, psychomotor agitation, Clinical Global Impression Score, need for intramuscular injection, number of neuroleptic medications and presence of neuroleptic malignant syndrome.

Reduction in serotonin 5HT2 receptor binding on platelets of delinquent adolescents.

The possible involvement of serotonin receptors of the 5HT2 type in aggressive behavior was studied in juvenile delinquents. A group of 28 delinquent adolescents (13-18 years old) who had committed violent crimes was compared with a group of age matched controls. Subjects were drug and medication free during the study.

Clozapine treatment in very early onset schizophrenia.

Very early onset schizophrenic patients only partially benefit from conventional antipsychotic treatment and are at increased risk for developing tardive dyskinesia (TD). Clozapine, which lacks extrapyramidal side effects including TD, has been proved effective for adult schizophrenic patients who are resistant to other neuroleptics. Clozapine, therefore, may offer an alternative treatment for these patients.

Multiple exostosis, brain ventricular enlargement and schizophrenia.

Case histories of two family members with multiple exostosis and schizophrenia are presented. There are no previous reports of such an association. The computerized axial tomography scan revealed signs of hydrocephalus in one patient and substantial enlargement of lateral brain ventricles in the other.

Psychopathology and management of hospitalized Ethiopian immigrant adolescents in Israel.

Over a period of about 12 months a large number of Ethiopian Jews emigrated to Israel under very stressful conditions. Many of these immigrants were adolescents who came on their own, leaving their families behind. Despite the culture shock involved, most have done well.

A comparison of different diagnostic tools for childhood depression.

A comparison was made of the agreement of 5 different diagnostic tools for childhood depression. The diagnostic tools used were: 1) a non-directive interview with projective testing; 2) a semi-structured psychiatric interview developed by Herjanic; 3) the child behaviour check list developed by Achenbach; 4) the Kovacs child depression inventory and 5) the DSM-III criteria diagnosis. In the diagnostic tools using classic psychiatric techniques of interview there was a fairly high diagnostic agreement for depression, while the non-interview techniques (questionnaires) were less reliable in diagnosing affective disorder.

Bradycardia due to trihexyphenidyl hydrochloride.

A chronic schizophrenic patient was treated with an anticholinergic drug, trihexyphenidyl hydrochloride. The patient developed, paradoxically, sinus bradycardia. The reaction was specific to trihexyphenidyl and not to other anticholinergic drugs.

A comparison of plasma cholesterol, triglycerides and high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in women using contraceptive pills and a control group.

Plasma cholesterol, triglycerides and HDL cholesterol levels were compared in a group of 45 young, normotensive, nonobese and nondiabetic women who used modern combined minidose contraceptive pills, to a matched group of 39 women who did not use any hormonal preparations. Our results show an increase in triglyceride levels as well as significant increase in cholesterol level in the 'pill' users group. We failed to show a significant change in HDL cholesterol levels and HDL cholesterol to total cholesterol ratio between the two groups.