Biological psychiatry
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Biological psychiatry · Jun 1997
Clinical TrialA psychophysiological study of the development of delirium in coronary care units.
This is a longitudinal investigation of the psychophysiological mechanism for the development of delirium in coronary care units (CCUs). Ten patients satisfying DSM-III-R diagnostic criteria for delirium (group D) and 10 controls (group C) were drawn from patients admitted to CCU. ⋯ That is, from days 2 to 3, EEG findings showed an improvement in consciousness, and eye movement recordings manifested signs of anxiety and tension. These psychophysiological findings can be used to explain the transition from prodromal delirium to obvious delirium, and are supported by clinical features.
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Biological psychiatry · May 1997
Effect of nitrous oxide on cerebral blood velocity while reclining and standing.
Cerebral blood velocity (CBV) (measured with transcranial Doppler, TCD) and other physiological and rating scale indices were measured before, during, and after inhaling a mixture of 40% nitrous oxide/oxygen and 40% nitrogen/oxygen, given during two separate visits in 7 normal male volunteers. During nitrous oxide/oxygen but not nitrogen/oxygen inhalation, CBV and euphoria increased significantly with minimal changes in other physiological indices except an increase in pulse rate after nitrous oxide/oxygen. ⋯ There were no significant postural changes in blood pressure. Standing up during nitrous oxide/oxygen inhalation was associated with significant though mild dizziness.
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Biological psychiatry · Mar 1996
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialBrain potential changes after intranasal vs. intravenous administration of vasopressin: evidence for a direct nose-brain pathway for peptide effects in humans.
There is evidence that intranasal application of peptides is a way to circumvent the blood-brain barrier. This led us to compare the effects of arginine-vasopressin (AVP) on event-related potentials (ERPs) in healthy men (n = 15) after intranasal and after intravenous (i.v.) administration. In a double-blind, crossover study, subjects received on three different occasions 20 IU of AVP intranasally (IN), 1.5 IU of AVP i.v., and saline solution. ⋯ In supplementary experiments as well, i.v. administration of lower doses of AVP (0.1 and 0.025 IU) did not affect the ERP. Plasma vasopressin concentrations after the 0.025 IU dose in these experiments were comparable to those after intranasal administration of 20 IU AVP. The results provide functional evidence that in the human brain effects of peptides like AVP may be facilitated after IN as compared to i.v. administration.
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Biological psychiatry · Feb 1994
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialA comparison of propofol and methohexital as anesthetic agents for ECT: effects on seizure duration, therapeutic outcome, and memory.
The effects of the anesthetic agents propofol and methohexital on seizure duration, clinical outcome, recovery, and memory in electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) were studied in a double-blind trial. The study comprised 53 patients, 47 patients with major depression and six patients with other diagnoses according to DSM-III. Several recent clinical studies with a crossover design have shown a reduced seizure duration for anesthesia with propofol in comparison with both methohexital and thiopental. ⋯ Propofol did not significantly alter the length of the course of ECT; however, a slightly prolonged course for women cannot be completely ruled out. There were no significant differences between the two agents in effects on recovery times after anesthesia and on anterograde memory. In general, it seems that propofol is as effective as methohexital as an induction agent for ECT.