Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0036341 (schizophrenia)
 60,220 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The present study investigated the associations between social change, personality, causal beliefs and treatment style and goal preferences of 375 Ghanaian teachers. The index of social change (ISC) was conceptualized as the average percentile rank of a person's income, education and acculturation. The self-report measures (greatly modified after two pilot studies) were subscales of the SuinnLew Acculturation Scale, the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire (dependency), the Sociotropy-Autonomy Scale (autonomy), the Symptom Checklist '90 (paranoid ideation), the Spheres of Control Scale, and the Cognitive Somatic Anxiety Questionnaire. Respondents also completed a questionnaire on causal beliefs and treatment preferences pertaining to mental disorders. Results indicated that beliefs and treatment preferences were affected by the index of social change (ISC) and were specific to type of disorder. High ISC teachers endorsed significantly higher ratings on belief in an internal cause for Depression and Dependent Personality Disorder, and indicated greater preference for participation in treatment than lower ISC teachers. Contrary to prediction, lower ISC teachers indicated a greater preference for greater individual goals in treatment for depression and schizophrenia. High ISC teachers also reported greater perception of interpersonal control and emotional support, less dependency and less interpersonal sensitivity than lower ISC teachers. Little support was found for the commonly observed somatization of distress among non-Western peoples.
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PMID:The effect of social change on causal beliefs of mental disorders and treatment preferences in Ghana. 761 Apr 29

This article delineates the conceptual models used when medications are prescribed for patients with personality disorders and reviews the data on the efficacy of these medications. Studies before 1980 are difficult to interpret because of changes in diagnostic criteria. Nonetheless, early studies on non-DSM-III disorders such as pseudoneurotic schizophrenia, emotionally unstable character disorder, hysteroid dysphoria, and subaffective disorders indicated the potential utility of pharmacotherapy for treating personality disorders. Models to consider in evaluating the possible use of medications for treating personality disorders are: (1) treating the disorder itself; (2) treating symptom clusters within and across disorders; and (3) treating associated axis I disorders. Among the current personality disorders, borderline personality disorder has been the most extensively studied, with antipsychotic agents being the most well-documented treatment. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors, fluoxetine, and carbamazepine show promise. Schizotypal disorders may respond to low-dose antipsychotic drugs. Although heuristically valuable, the symptom cluster approach to treatment has not yet been validated. Axis I disorders, especially depression, are frequently associated with all personality disorders. Dependent personality disorder is linked to panic disorder with agoraphobia, whereas avoidant personality disorder is associated with social phobia and panic. In general, pharmacotherapy for axis I disorders is less effective in the presence of a comorbid personality disorder. Despite the modest benefits seen in many studies, pharmacotherapy can add significantly to the overall treatment of those with personality disorders. Future research must carefully assess the effect of comorbid axis I disorders on responses. The symptom cluster/psychobiologic dimension approach should be investigated in clinical studies.
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PMID:Pharmacotherapy of personality disorders: conceptual framework and clinical strategies. 822 92