[Cognitive evoked potentials in the diagnosis of senile dementia and dementia of Parkinson's disease: significance of multivariate analysis].

P300 latency is often delayed in dementia but some authors have questioned its value in clinical practice, because of the relatively low specificity and sensibility of the method. Numerous parameters (latency, duration, amplitude and surface) of N100, N200 and P300 waves were therefore studied in patients with senile dementia, subjects suffering from Parkinson's disease with dementia, and non-demented elderly patients. Using discriminant analysis, more than 90% of the patients were correctly classified.

[The value of cognitive evoked potentials in the diagnosis of senile dementia and dementia of Parkinson disease].

P300 latency is often delayed in dementia but some authors have questioned its interest in clinical practice, because of the relatively low specificity and sensibility of the method. Therefore, we studied numerous parameters (latency, duration, amplitude and surface) of N100, N200 and P300 waves in patients with senile dementia, patients suffering from Parkinson's disease with dementia and non demented elderly patients. Using discriminant analysis, more than 90% of the patients were correctly classified.

[Contingent negative variation and regional cerebral blood flow in senile dementia and cerebral aging].

Relationships between contingent negative variation (CNV) amplitude, regional cerebral blood flow (CBF), mini mental status examination score (MMSE) and reaction time (RT) have been studied in young subjects, non-demented old subjects and patients with primary degenerative senile dementia. Significant correlations have been found between CNV amplitude and global CBF, MMSE score and reaction time. Factorial analysis has shown 3 factors weighted respectively by MMSE and CNV, antero-posterior ratio fort left hemispheric CBF and age, and antero-posterior ratio for right hemispheric CBF and reaction time.

Growth hormone response to clonidine in panic disorder patients.

The growth hormone (GH) response to clonidine administration (2 micrograms/kg) was compared in three groups of subjects: seven panic disorder patients, seven depressed patients matched for age and sex, and seven normal controls. As previously reported, patients with affective disorders show a blunted GH response to clonidine. Only one panic disorder patient had a blunted GH response to clonidine, and this patient had recently received a tricyclic antidepressant.

Age and gender effects on the diagnostic power of the DST.

Among 365 major and 158 minor depressive inpatients, the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) yielded an overall diagnostic sensitivity of 50%, a specificity of 85%, and a confidence level of 88%. Age was significantly correlated with the post-dexamethasone cortisol levels in the whole sample (r = 0.11; P less than 0.