Personality profiles of dysthymic disorder.

A Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Medicine in part fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Medicine in Psychiatry at the University of the Witwatersrand.The motivation for undertaking this study stems from the confusion that reigns in the literature regarding the relationship between personality, personality traits and dysthymic disorder. A large body of theorists ancl researchers still claim a definite association between dysthymia and personality. Their views arose to an extent from the concept of dysthymia as it developed through the past few decades. Dysthymia grew out of the concept of depressive neurosis which had a stronger basis in personality pathology. other terms like neurotic depression and depressive reaction preceded depressive neurosis. with the advent of DSM-III and DSM-III-R, dysthymia was moved from the neuroses to the mood disorders category. The DSM-IV Mood Disorders Work Group has also reinforced the classification of dysthymia with mood disorders. The Work Group has embarked on research to determine the symptomatology that should be used for the diagnosis of dysthymia. It is proposed that cognitive, functional and vegetative symptoms be included in DSM-IV to further entrench dysthymia as an affective disorder and extricate it from the personality disorders.Andrew Chakane 201

The intercontinental schizophrenia outpatient health outcomes (IC-SOHO) study: baseline clinical and functional characteristics and antipsychotic use patterns in the North Africa and Middle Eastern (AMEA) region: original article

Objective: To describe the baseline findings of the Intercontinental Schizophrenia Outpatient Health Outcomes (IC-SOHO) study in the North Africa and Middle Eastern sub-region (AMEA-SOHO) Method: The IC-SOHO study is an ongoing prospective, three-year, non-interventional observational study of schizophrenia treatment, clinical characteristics and mental health services utilization in two North African and two Middle Eastern countries. The study population consists of non-hospitalised patients who had initiated treatment with or changed to a new antipsychotic. Results: The baseline findings of the IC-SOHO study (AMEA Subset) appear to reflect clinical practice in Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Algeria (N=1, 398). Overall, the patients were moderately to markedly ill and either overweight (46%) or obese (8%) when they entered the study. Functionally, the majority of patients were not involved in social activities, could not care for themselves and were unemployed. Substance and alcohol dependency/abuse was not a problem in this study population. At baseline the majority of patients were treated with typical antipsychotics (oral and depot); and anticholinergics were the most commonly prescribed concomitant medication. Sexual side effects were most frequently reported among the surveyed adverse events. Overall compliance/adherence to medication was good. Conclusion: The baseline IC-SOHO data highlighted various clinical and functional characteristics and antipsychotic use patterns in a group of outpatients with schizophrenia in a naturalistic setting. Once completed, the IC-SOHO study will add further to this knowledge base. SA Psychiatry Rev. Vol.7(3) 2004: 27-3

The Intercontinental Schizophrenia Outpatient Health Outcomes (IC-SOHO) study: baseline clinical and functional characteristics and antipsychotic use patterns in Turkey

Objective: In this study, our main objective is to describe the baseline findings of the Intercontinental Schizophrenia Outpatient Health Outcomes(IC-SOHO) study in Turkey.Method: The IC-SOHO study is an ongoing prospective, three-year non-interventional observational study of schizophrenia treatment, clinicalcharacteristics and mental health services utilization in Turkey. The study population consisted of non-hospitalized patients who had started orswitched into a new antipsychotic.Results: The baseline findings of the IC-SOHO study (Turkish Subset) appear to reflect clinical features of schizophrenia patients in Turkey (n=692).Overall the patients were moderately to markedly ill (66.7%) and already overweight (46.4%) and obese (7.3%) when they entered the study.Functionally the majority of patients were not involved in social activities, could not care for themselves and were unemployed. Substance andalcohol dependency/abuse was not a major problem in this study population. The majority of patients at baseline were treated with anantipsychotic (86.1%) and oral typicals antipsychotics were the most commonly used drugs 6 months prior to the study. Sexual adverse events werethe most frequently reported amongst the surveyed adverse events and overall compliance/adherence was moderate.Conclusion: The baseline IC-SOHO findings highlighted various clinical and functional characteristics and antipsychotic use patterns in a group ofschizophrenic outpatients in a naturalistic setting in Turkey. Once completed, the IC-SOHO study will add further information to this knowledge base

Depression in the South African workplace

Depression is a common psychiatric disorder and can be costly, having a significant impact on the individual and employers. The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) in partnership with HEXOR, with the support of Lundbeck, undertook research into depression in the workplace, because South African information is not available on this topic. It provides insight into the prevalence of depression within the workplace in South Africa, as well as the impact of depression on the employees and employers in terms of sick leave and levels of productivity, especially when the symptoms include cognitive impairment. It is apparent that stigma plays a pivotal role in the reasons for non-disclosure to employers. It further highlights the magnitude of awareness, early detection and the provision of a holistic support system within the work environment, free from bias, to ensure that optimum benefit can be achieved for both employer and employee

Psychopharmacology 2003 Conference, 10-13 September 2003

List of abstracts and authors: 1. Comparative benefits of Atypical antipsychotics Diana P Morrison 2. Evidence-based management of depression in Schizophrenia Andre F Joubert 3. Second generation Antipsychotics: An African update Dave Swingler 4. The drug management of patients with HIV/Aids in the Mental Health Care setting: A therapeutic challenge Denise White 5. New developments in the treatment of Bipolar depression Jospeh R Calabrese 6. Dual action antidepressants: Faster onset, more remission, better value? Roger M Pinder 7. Antisocial personality disorder: A review Donald W Black 8. The South African study of stress and health: An overview David R Williams 9. Ugliness is in the eye of the beholder: Psychiatric apsects of body image disturbance David Castle 10. Over diagnosed or under recognized? Treating ADHD Dora Wynchank 11. The contagious effects of trauma and their impact on human service organisations Kerry Gibson 12. Temporal lobe epilepsy in adolescence - 'Understanding the narrative' Helen Clark 13. The effectiveness of treatment programs for Methaqualone (Mandrax) dependence Greg McCarthy, Nandi Siegfried, Bronwyn Myers 14. Community influence on alcohol and marijuana Alan J Flisher, Robyn Mallett, Gary King, Neo Morojele, Martie Muller, Carl Lombard 15. Psychiatric presentations of medical illness Sebastian Akalula 16. Imaging of brain function using Spect James Warwick 17. Selected neuropsychological test performances and SSRI usage Theophilus Lazarus 18. Comparative effectiveness and safety of antipsychotic treatments for outpatient Schizophrenia Frans Korb, Adel Sadak, Aly Akram, Sunar Birsoz, Abderrahmane Belaid 19. Evidence-based mental healthcare - What do you know, think, feel? Nandi Siegfried, George Swingler, Soraya Seedat, Martie Muller, Rachel Churchill, Dan Stein 20. Competitions Act - Anti-competitive health care practices Z Nthakwana 21. Unique approach to mental wellness by medical Schemes Petro Kempen 22. What happens to my medical aid contribution? Eugene Allers 23. Financial issues in a modern private practice Mike Edwards 24. Transcranial magnetic stimulation: Uses in brain function research and medical intervention Alan St Clair Gibson 25. The Neurochemistry of dreams: Implications for Psychiatry Mark Solms 26. Tenascin-R expression in the Central Nervvous system of lower vertebrates Ruth Jarvis, N-. Hsu, P. Pesheva and D.M. Lang 25. Localisation of the Nogo-A receptor in Neronal Lipid rafts Edward Nyatia, D.M. Lang 26. Characterising an animal model for early life trauma using time dependent sensitisation Joachim D.K. Uys, Willie M.U. Daniels, Dan J. Stein 27. Tolmetin affords protection against Quinoclinic acid induced Neurotoxixity in Rat brain Amichand Dairam, S Daya 28. Acetaminophen and aspirin inhibit superoxide anion generation and Lipid Peroxidation, and protect against 1-Methyl-4Phenyl Pyridinim-induced Dopaminergic Neurotoxicity in rats H. Maharaj, D.S. Maharaj, K. S. Saravanan, K.P. Mohanakumar, S. Daya 29. Can exercise provide Neuroprotection in a rat model for Parkinson's disease? M Mabandla, L Kellaway, A St Clair Gibson, M Lambert, V Russell 30. Treatment of rapid cycling Bipolar disorder Joseph R. Calabrese 31. Depression as a Neurodegenerative Disorder: The need for achieving remission Roger M Pinder 32. Side-effects induced by modern antidepressants- Overview and management Franco Colin 33. The Placebo response in antidepressant clinical trials Robin Emsley 34. Impulse control disorders: An overview Donald W. Black 35. Post traumatic stress disorder: The Wits trauma clinic experience Ugash Subramaney 36. Post traumatic stress disorder among recently diagnosed patients with HIV in South Africa Soraya Seedat, Bo Olley, D J Stein 37. Improving outcome in Schizophrenia Diana P Morrison 38. Reviewing post Graduate training Cliff W Allwood 39. Ethics in HIV Research Keimanthro Moodley 40. Improving and maintaining ethical standrads in Psychiatric research Tuviah Zabow ============================================================= Posters: Neurosciences section (Presenting author only) 1. Blunted Acth response correlates with altered Neurotransmitter function in maternally separatedrats W M U Daniels 2. A mechanism for zinc toxicity in Neuroblastoma cells W M U Daniels 3. The effects of Hypericum Perforatum, Quercetin, and Fluoxetine on receptor densities in the Rat Brain L Heiderman 4. Trichotillomania and obsessive-compulsive disorder: Clinical and genetic comparisons within a South African population S M J Hemmings 5. Expression of Nogo-A in the amphibian central nervous system N. J. Hsu 6. Biochemical model for inflammation of the brain: The role of iron, transferring and toxiferring in Lipid Peroxidation S J Van Rensburg 7. Improvement in Alzheimer's disease patients with antioxidant supplementation over 15 months S J Van Rensburg 8. The Placebo effect - Is it all in the mind? S J Van Rensburg 9. Very low serum iron concentrations in elderly patients with active Carcinoma S J van Rensburg 10. Melatonin affords protection against Rotenone-induced Neurotoxicity R John 11. Effect of enriched environment on Ca uptake via NMDA receptors into barrel cortex slices of spontaneously Hypertensiverats M Lehohla 12. Effects of Methylpenidate in a rat model for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder G. L. S. Lelaka 13. 6-Hydroxymelatonin converts Fe (III) to Fe(II) and reduces iron-induced Lipid Peroxidation D S Maharaj 14. Metrofinate Potentiates Quinolinic Acid and Potassium Cyanide induced Neurotoxicity A Ramsunder 15. The effect of chronic Intra-Amylgdala CRF injections on rat behaviour and HPA-Axis function L Richter 16. Effect of Glutamate in the Prefrontal Cortex of a rat model for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder V Russell 17. An investigation into the relationship between Corticosterone and Neuron Cell death P J Van Vuuren ============================================================= 41. Blunted Acth response correlates with altered Neurotransmitter function in maternally separated Rats W M U Daniels, C Y Pietersen, M E Carstens, D J Stein 42. A mechanism for Zinc Toxicity in NeuroBlastoma Cells W M U Daniels, J Hendricks, R Salie, S J Van Rensburg 43. The effects of Hypericum Perforatum, Quercetin and Fluoxetine on receptor densities in the rat brain L Heideman and S Daya 44. Trichotillomania and obsessive-compulsive disorder: Clinical and genetic comparisons withn a South African population S M J Hemmings, C J Kinnear, C Lochner, H Moolman-Smook, D J H Niehaus, V Corfield, D J Stein 45. Expression of Nogo-A in the amphibian central nervous system N. J. Hsu, R Jarvis, D. M. Lang 46. Biochemical model for inflammation of the brain: The role of iron, transferring and Toxiferring in Lipid Peroxidation S J Van Rensburg, R T Erasmus, J M van Zyl, D Hon, W M U Daniels, F C V Potocnik, M J Kotze, N J De Villiers, P R Hurly 47. Improvement in Alzheimer's Disease patients with antioxidant supplementation over 15 months S J van Rensburg, F C V Potocnik, J M Van Zyl, B J Van der Walt, D Hon, A Roos, E Rienhardt, R T Erasmus 48. The Placebo effect - Is it all in the mind? S J van Rensburg, R A  Emsley, C M Smuts, M Kidd, S Van der Merwe, C C Myburgh, P Oosthuizen, H Bleeker 49. Very low serum Iron concentrations in elderly patients with active Carcinoma S J van Rensburg, R Erasmus, D Hon, C Bouwens 50. Melatonin affords protection against Rotenone-induced Neurotoxicity R John, S Daya 51. Effect of enriched environment on Ca uptake via NMDA Receptors into barrel Cortex slices of spontaneously Hypertensive rats M Lehohla, V Russell, L Kellaway 52. Effects of Methylpenidate in a rat model for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder G. L. S. Lelaka, V. A. Russel, L. A. Kellaway 53. 6-Hydroxymelatonin converts Fe (III) to Fe (II) and reduces iron-induced Lipid Peroxidation D S Maharaj, S Daya 54. Metrofinate Potentiates Quinolinic Acid and Potassium Cyanide induced Neurotoxicity A Ramsunder, S Daya 55. The effect of chronic Intra-Amygdala CRF injections on rat behaviour and HPA-Axis function L Richter, W Daniels, D J Stein 56. Effect of Glutamate in the Prefrontal Cortex of a rat model for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder V Russell, M Lehohla, L Kellaway 57. An investigation into the relationship between Corticosterone and Neuron cell death P J Van Vuuren, J Hendricks, W M U Daniels ============================================================= Posters: Psychiatry Section 1. Descriptive study of Tardive Dyskinesia in a South African Xhosa population S Brink 2. Alcohol drinking problems at three urban High Schools in Umtata O Alonso Betancourt 3. Childhood and adolescent sexual abuse - Demographic, traumatic and clinical signposts P D Carey 4. Inositol in the treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder P D Carey 5. A review of factors associated with Suicidal behaviour in children and adolescents admitted to Tygerberg Hospital T Du Plessis 6. Psychological and physical outcomes fo elective abortion; Local Anaesthesia vs Intravenous Sedation T Ericksen 7. Mental health literacy of Human Resource Practitioners in South Africa C J Hugo 8. The importance of a specialized clinic for the care of patients with first episodes of psychosis N Keyter 9. Self-report vs Urinary drug screening in Schizophrenia: A pilot study L Koen 10. The effect of aggression on the use of Psychotropics in Schizophrenia: A naturalistic study H Lategan 11. Factor analysis of obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders in patients with obssessive-compulsive disorder: Clinical and Genetic correlates C Lochner 12. Experiences in obsessive-compulsive Disorder and Trichotillomania: Role of childhood trauma C Lochner 13. Delusional systems in Xhosa Schizophrenia Sibpairs J E Muller 14. OCD Heteogeneity reflected by lack of Genealogically determined founder effect D J H Niehaus 15. The efficacy and tolerbaility of low-dose vs standard dose Haloperidol in first episode Psychosis. A randomised, double-blind study P P Oosthuizen 16. Treatment with low-dose Haloperidol does not protect against Tardive Dyskinesia P P Oosthuizen 17. Do healthcare funders discriminate against members on the grounds of mental illness? O Scholtz 18. Treatment strategies in patients with Clozaopine-resistant Schizophrenia at Stikland Hospital: A critical evaluation of one option A Schulte 19. Early coadministration of Clonazepam with Paroxetine for generalized social anxiety disorder S Seedat 20. Trauma exposure and post-traumatic stress symptoms in adolescents: A schools' survey in Cape Town (South Africa) and Nairobi (Kenya) S Seedat 21. The QTC effects of Thioridazine when used as a second line Anti-psychotic ( at Stikland Hospital) C Seller 22. Brain imaging and substance related disorders D J Stein 23. Gender differences in trauma exposure & post traumatic stress disorder in a clinic sample S Suliman 24. Assessing the prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms among clinica at Tygerbeg Academic Hospital and controls H Van der Bijl 25. Pharmacological challenge with a serotonin ID Agonist in alcohol dependence B Vythilingum 26. The treatment of ADHD in adults W Verbeeck ============================================================= 58. Descriptive study of Tardive Dyskinesia in a South African Xhosa population S Brink, D J H Niehaus, L Koen, J E Muller 59. Alcohol drinking problems at three Urban High Schools in Umtata O Alonso Betancourt, M Morales Herrera 60. Childhood and adolescent sexual abuse - Demographic, traumatic and clinical signposts P D Carey, J Walker, S Seedat, D J Stein 61. Inositol in the treatment of obsessive compulsive Disorder P D Carey, S Seedat, D J Stein 62. A review of factors associated with suicidal behaviour in children and adolescents admitted to Tygerberg Hospital T Du Plessis, S M Hawkridge, F H Theron, S A Du Plessis 63. Psychological and physical outcomes of elective abortion: Local anaestheisa vs Intravenous sedation T Ericksen, S Seedat, P Labuschagne, D J Stein 64. Mental health literacy of Human resource practitioners in South Africa C J Hugo, H D Vos, D J Stein 65. The importance of a specialized clinic for the care of patients with first episodes of psychosis N Keyter, P P Oosthuizen, R A Emsley, H J Turner 66. Self-reort vs urinary drug screening in Schizophrenia: A pilot study L Koen, D J H Niehaus, J E Muller, C Seller, N Keyter 67. The effect of aggression on the use of Psychotropics in Schizophrenia: A naturalistic study H Lategan, L Koen, D J H Niehaus 68. Factor analysis of obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders in patients with obsessive-compulsive Disorder: Clinical and genetic correlates C Lochner, D J H Niehaus, S M J Hemmings, C J Kinnear, V A Corfield, J C Moolman-Smook, D J Stein 69. Experiences in obsessive-compulsive disorder and Trichotillomania: Role of childhood trauma C Lochner, S Seedat, P D Carey, D J Stein 70. Delusional systems in Xhosa Schizophrenia Sibpairs J E Muller, D J H Niehaus, L Koen, C Seller, N Keyter, C Laurent, R A Emsley 71. OCD Heteogeneity reflected by lack of Genealogically determined founder effect D J H Niehaus, L Endeman, I Bosman, S Hemmings, C Lochner, L Koen, H Moolman-Smook, V A Corfield, D J Stein 72. The efficacy and tolerability of low-dose vs standard dose Haloperidol in first episode Psychosis. A randomised, double-blind study P P Oosthuizen, R A Emsley, H J Turner, N Keyter 73. Treatment with low-dose Haloperidol does not protect against Tardive Dyskinesia P P Oosthuizen, R A Emsley, H J Turner, N Keyter 74. Do healthcare funders discriminate against members on the grounds of mental illness? O Scholtz, P P Oosthuizen, C Hugo, B Richards 75. Treatment strategies in patients with Clozapine resistant Schizophrenia at Stikland Hospital: A critical evaluation of one option A Schulte, D J H Niehaus, L Koen, J E Muller, P P Oosthuizen, R A Emsley 76. Early coadministration of Clonazepam with Paroxetine for generalised Social Anxiety Disorder S Seedat, M B Stein 77. Trauma exposure and post-traumatic stress symptoms in adolescents: A schools' survey in Cape Town (South Africa) and Nairobi (Kenya) S Seedat, C Nyamap, F Njenga, B Vythilingum, D J Stein 78. The QTC effects of Thioridazine when used as a second line Antipsychotic (at Stikland Hospital) C Seller, P P Oosthuizen 79. Brain imaging and substance related disorders D J Stein 80. Gender differences in trauma exposure & post traumatic stress disorder in a clinic sample S Suliman, S Seedat, F Gxama, J Walker, W Rossouw 81. Assessing the prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms among clinicians at Tygerberg Academic Hospital and controls H Van der Bijl, P P Oosthuizen 82. Pharmacological challenge with a Serotonin ID agonist in alcohol dependence B Vythilingum, C Wessels, S Maritz, W P Pienaar, D J Stein 83. The treatment of ADHD in adults W Verbeec