[Sexual disorders in the DSM-5]. / Seksuele stoornissen in de DSM-5.

BACKGROUND: In DSM-IV-TR, the subject of 'sexual and gender identity disorders' was dealt with in one chapter; in DSM-5, however, the subject is divided into three chapters, namely sexual dysfunctions , gender dysphoria, and paraphilic disorders. AIM: To discuss the above-mentioned changes. METHOD: The one-chapter version in DSM-IV is compared with the three-chapter contribution in DSM-5 and the differing criteria are tested for their clinical utility. RESULTS: There are minor changes in the chapter 'sexual dysfunctions'. The content of the chapters on 'gender dysphoria' and 'paraphilic disorders' differs substantially from the content of the sections on these subjects in DSM-IV. In the section on gender dysphoria the term 'sex' has been replaced by 'gender' and the term 'identity disorder' has been dropped. With regard to paraphilias, a distinction is now made between a paraphilia and a paraphilic disorder. The DSM-5 makes a new distinction between pathology (paraphilic disorder) on the one hand and other unusual or unconventional non-pathological sexual behavior on the other hand. In the DSM-5 the highly relevant clinical concept 'hypersexuality' has still not been incorporated as a separate category. CONCLUSION: In the DSM-5 many parts of the chapters on sexual disorders have been substantially revised.

Deep brain stimulation of the ventral internal capsule/ventral striatum for obsessive-compulsive disorder: worldwide experience.

Psychiatric neurosurgery teams in the United States and Europe have studied deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the ventral anterior limb of the internal capsule and adjacent ventral striatum (VC/VS) for severe and highly treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder. Four groups have collaborated most closely, in small-scale studies, over the past 8 years. First to begin was Leuven/Antwerp, followed by Butler Hospital/Brown Medical School, the Cleveland Clinic and most recently the University of Florida. These centers used comparable patient selection criteria and surgical targeting. Targeting, but not selection, evolved during this period. Here, we present combined long-term results of those studies, which reveal clinically significant symptom reductions and functional improvement in about two-thirds of patients. DBS was well tolerated overall and adverse effects were overwhelmingly transient. Results generally improved for patients implanted more recently, suggesting a 'learning curve' both within and across centers. This is well known from the development of DBS for movement disorders. The main factor accounting for these gains appears to be the refinement of the implantation site. Initially, an anterior-posterior location based on anterior capsulotomy lesions was used. In an attempt to improve results, more posterior sites were investigated resulting in the current target, at the junction of the anterior capsule, anterior commissure and posterior ventral striatum. Clinical results suggest that neural networks relevant to therapeutic improvement might be modulated more effectively at a more posterior target. Taken together, these data show that the procedure can be successfully implemented by dedicated interdisciplinary teams, and support its therapeutic promise.

[Fitting proof]. / Passend bewijs.

Randomised controled trials (RCT's) and meta analyses of RCT's are known as the best research designs to evaluate if interventions are doing more good than bad. Some interventions can not be evaluated by RCT's because of the heterogeneity of the problems, the cost of the evaluation study or ethical arguments against the study. This is often the case with population based interventions. A typical example is suicide prevention. The shortcomings of the "classic" research designs for the evaluation of suicide prevention are discussed and feasible solutions are suggested for future research.

Psychomotor functioning in chronic fatigue syndrome and major depressive disorder: a comparative study.

BACKGROUND: Studies comparing chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and major depressive disorder (MDD) reported similarities as well as differences between the two disorders. However, whereas psychomotor symptoms have been studied extensively in MDD, such research in CFS is more limited. Moreover, the few studies that compared cognitive and motor performance in MDD and CFS yielded inconsistent results. This study hence directly compares fine psychomotor functioning in both syndromes. METHODS: Thirty-eight patients diagnosed with CFS without a current major depressive episode (MDE), 32 MDD patients with a current MDE and 38 healthy controls performed two computerized copying tasks differing in complexity: a line-copying task that mainly requires motor effort and a figure-copying task requiring additional cognitive efforts. All participants were female. A multivariate general linear model was used to compute group differences. RESULT: Overall, both patient groups performed more slowly than the controls. Compared to CFS patients, patients with MDD needed significantly more time to copy the single lines but no such between-group performance difference was observed for the figure reproductions. In this latter copying task, the increasing complexity of the figures resulted in prolonged reaction times for all three participant groups with the effect being larger and the magnitude similar for the two patient groups. LIMITATIONS: All patients were female and most were on psychotropic medication. CONCLUSIONS: Both the MDD and CFS patients tested demonstrated an overall fine motor slowing, with the motor component being more affected in the MDD patients than in the CFS patients while both patient groups showed similar cognitive impairments.

[Mentally disturbed offenders in Flanders]. / De justitiabele met een psychische stoornis in Vlaanderen.

In the course of the past 25 years in Flanders there has been a real breakthrough as far as forensic psychiatry is concerned. New types of treatment have become available for mentally disturbed offenders, whether they are in prison or in the community. A new Belgian law on mentally disturbed offenders with diminished responsibility confirms that 'internment' is still regarded as a protective measure and an alternative to punishment. The current university course in psychiatry should now be widened to include the subject of forensic mental health.

Applicants for stereotactic neurosurgery for psychiatric disorders: role of the Flemish advisory board.

OBJECTIVE: Research on stereotactic neurosurgery for psychiatric disorders (SNPD) is rapidly evolving. Knowledge on patients undergoing SNPD is of crucial importance. We describe applicants for SNPD and examine the necessity for a multidisciplinary advisory board. METHOD: Summary of the current practice of the Flemish advisory board (SNPD committee) and analysis of a questionnaire investigating the attitude of clinicians on SNPD. RESULTS: In 7 years, 91 applications were submitted, nine patients did not fulfill diagnostic criteria for OCD, 65 patients received a positive recommendation, 50 SNPD procedures were performed. The prevalence of SNPD in the current year in Belgium is 0.6/million inhabitants. Ninety-seven per cent of clinicians consider the expertise and advice of the SNPD committee essential for indication setting. Forty-four percent of clinicians consider referral of a patient for capsulotomy, 82% for electrical brain stimulation. CONCLUSION: Neurosurgery is exclusively considered for severe, treatment-refractory psychiatric disorders. Clinicians consider the SNPD committee essential in the decision-making process prior to intervention.

Combined dexamethasone/corticotropin-releasing factor test in chronic fatigue syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Studies of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) point to hypofunction, although there are negative reports. Suggested mechanisms include a reduced hypothalamic or supra-hypothalamic stimulus to the HPA axis and enhanced sensitivity to the negative feedback of glucocorticoids. The aim of the current study was to investigate HPA axis function in CFS with the dexamethasone/corticotropin-releasing factor (Dex/CRF) test, in analogy with research in affective disorders. METHOD: Thirty-four well-characterized female CFS patients and 25 healthy control subjects participated in the low-dose Dex/CRF test. Current major depressive episode was an exclusion criterion. History of early-life stress (ELS) was assessed with the Structured Trauma Interview. RESULTS: Salivary cortisol responses after 0.5 mg Dex were lower in CFS patients than in controls (before 100 microg CRF, p=0.038; after 100 microg CRF, p=0.015). A secondary analysis revealed an influence of early-life stress and of oestrogen intake. After removal of the 10 participants who were taking an oral oestrogen, patients without a history of ELS showed lower cortisol responses than patients with ELS and controls (before CRF, p=0.005; after CRF, p=0.008). CONCLUSIONS: CFS is globally associated with reduced cortisol responses in the combined low-dose Dex/CRF test, but this effect is only clearly present in CFS patients without a history of ELS. This study provides further support for an enhanced glucocorticoid negative feedback and/or a reduced central HPA axis drive in CFS. Furthermore, it demonstrates that ELS is an important variable to consider in CFS research.

Behavioural and physiological effects of electrical stimulation in the nucleus accumbens: a review.

Electrical stimulation (ES) in the brain is becoming a new treatment option in patients with treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). A possible brain target might be the nucleus accumbens (NACC). This review aims to summarise the behavioural and physiological effects of ES in the NACC in humans and in animals and to discuss these findings with regard to neuroanatomical, electrophysiological and behavioural insights. The results clearly demonstrate that ES in the NACC has an effect on reward, activity, fight-or-flight, exploratory behaviour and food intake, with evidence for only moderate physiological effects. Seizures were rarely observed. Finally, the results of ES studies in patients with treatment-resistant OCD and in animal models for OCD are promising.

Deep brain stimulation for treatment-refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder: psychopathological and neuropsychological outcome in three cases.

OBJECTIVE: Investigation of deep brain stimulation (DBS) as a last-resort treatment alternative to capsulotomy in treatment-refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). METHOD: Prospective single-case based design with evaluation of DBS impact on emotions, behaviour, personality traits and executive function in three patients with OCD. RESULTS: Two patients experienced sustained improvement of OCD symptoms with DBS. Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) dropped 12 points and 23 points to baseline and Y-BOCS self-rating scale (Y-BOCS-SRS) and Profile of Mood States (POMS) for depression and tension decreased with increasing stimulation amplitude. Total Maladjustment Score on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale reduced with 44 and 59% to baseline. Reduction in psychopathology was sustained under continuous stimulation. No deleterious impact of DBS on neuropsychological testing or personality traits measured on a self-rated personality inventory was detected. CONCLUSION: These preliminary findings demonstrate that DBS may have important therapeutic benefits on psychopathology in OCD. No harmful side-effects were detected during follow-up (33/33/39 months, respectively).

Deep brain stimulation in treatment refractory obsessive compulsive disorder.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a worldwide psychiatric disorder with a lifetime prevalence of 2% and mainly characterized by obsessional ideas and compulsive behaviors and rituals. Many patients show improvement under cognitive behavioral and/or pharmacological treatment. A minority of patients is refractory to all available therapy and may benefit from capsulotomy. This study aims to investigate deep brain stimulation (DBS) as a last resort treatment alternative to capsulotomy in treatment refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder. Eight patients have been implanted bilaterally in the anterior limbs of the internal capsules with a quadripolar electrode. This paper presents the results of the first 4 operated patients. Acute deep brain stimulation displays an immediate improvement of the speech, mood, eye contact and motor function. Chronic deep brain stimulation improves significantly the obsessional and compulsive symptomatology in three out of the four patients. This study definitely needs replication, but the results are promising. Reversible deep brain stimulation may improve the symptomatology of treatment refractory OCD patients, without significant side effects.

[The treatment of internees: a breakthrough in a new law?]. / De behandeling van geïnterneerden: een doorbraak in een nieuwe wet?

Mentally disordered offenders can be declared criminal irresponsible according the Belgian Law of Social Defense (1 July 1964) and as a consequence they are "interned". The treatment of this population of "internees" is inadequate and the law must be revised. A commission "internment" has, at the request of the Minister of Justice, put forward conclusions in his report of 1999. Proposals are made to introduce the multidisciplinary psychiatric expert report, to improve the labeling of the question asked to the experts according to current psychiatric knowledge, and to operationalise important concepts as for example "dangerousness". The quality of the psychiatric treatment in the Belgian Prison system is bad for all the categories of inmates, detainees on remand, condemned or interned. The commission proposed that the Minister(s) in charge of Public Health and Social Affairs should be responsible for the treatment for the treatment of psychiatric disordered offenders, be it inside or outside prison. The political authorities plan to review this law of Social Defense, but these efforts will remain vain if no decisions are taken to implement the medical requirements of the law, and if no valuable forensic psychiatric treatment network is developed.

Pedophilia is accompanied by increased plasma concentrations of catecholamines, in particular epinephrine.

Plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine concentrations were measured in pedophiles and normal men both in placebo conditions and after administration of meta-chlorophenylpiperazine (mCPP), a post-synaptic 5-HT2 receptor agonist. The plasma concentrations of catecholamines, in particular epinephrine, were significantly increased in pedophiles. It is concluded that pedophiles may have an increased activity of the sympathoadrenal system.

Lower baseline plasma cortisol and prolactin together with increased body temperature and higher mCPP-induced cortisol responses in men with pedophilia.

There is some evidence that hormonal and serotonergic alterations may play a role in the pathophysiology of paraphilias. The aims of the present study were to examine: 1) baseline plasma cortisol, plasma prolactin, and body temperature; and 2) cortisol, prolactin, body temperature, as well as behavioral responses to meta-chlorophenylpiperazine (mCPP) and placebo in pedophiles and normal men. Pedophiles showed significantly lower baseline plasma cortisol and prolactin concentrations and a higher body temperature than normal volunteers. The mCPP-induced cortisol responses were significantly greater in pedophiles than in normal volunteers. In normal volunteers, mCPP-induced a hyperthermic response, whereas in pedophiles no such response was observed. mCPP induced different behavioral responses in pedophiles than in normal men. In pedophiles, but not in normal men, mCPP increased the sensations "feeling dizzy, " "restless," and "strange" and decreased the sensation "feeling hungry". The results suggest that there are several serotonergic disturbances in pedophiles. It is hypothesized that the results are compatible with a decreased activity of the serotonergic presynaptic neuron and a 5-HT2 postsynaptic receptor hyperresponsivity.

Electrical stimulation of the brain for psychiatric disorders.

Despite advances in therapies, there remain psychiatric patients who are extremely ill and cannot be helped by classic psychiatric treatments, including psychotherapy and drug therapy. Certain of these patients may be helped by use of bilateral brain lesioning. The complication rate of standard stereotactic psychosurgery techniques is very low. The main rationale for the continued experimental use of deep brain stimulation (DBS) in neurosurgery for mental disorders is its reversibility. This reversibility is not an advantage in terms of the benefits obtained, but rather if side effects emerge. In addition, electrical stimulation may provide patients with some autonomy for their treatment. The first, very preliminary results of electrical stimulation for obsessive-compulsive disorder and for a small heterogeneous group of patients with other psychiatric disorders have been published. Electrical stimulation of the brain for psychiatric disorders may become a new treatment option for certain intractable psychiatric disorders. Nevertheless, the mechanism of action of DBS in psychiatric disorders is unknown, and the experience with this modality is extremely limited. The first results look promising, but this treatment option may prove unusable for some time because of a lack of knowledge of appropriate brain stimulation targets and technical problems such as the availability of sufficient current supply.

Electrical stimulation in anterior limbs of internal capsules in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Chronic electrical stimulation instead of bilateral capsulotomy was done in four selected patients with long-standing treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder. In three of them beneficial effects were observed.

Self-report assessment of the DSM-IV personality disorders. Measurement of trait and distress characteristics: the ADP-IV.

BACKGROUND: Self-report instruments assessing the DSM personality disorders are characterized by overdiagnosis due to their emphasis on the measurement of personality traits rather than the impairment and distress associated with the criteria. METHODS: The ADP-IV, a Dutch questionnaire, introduces an alternative assessment method: each test item assesses 'Trait' as well as 'Distress/impairment' characteristics of a DSM-IV criterion. This item format allows dimensional as well as categorical diagnostic evaluations. The present study explores the validity of the ADP-IV in a sample of 659 subjects of the Flemish population. RESULTS: The dimensional personality disorder subscales, measuring Trait characteristics, are internally consistent and display a good concurrent validity with the Wisconsin Personality Disorders Inventory. Factor analysis at the item-level resulted in 11 orthogonal factors, describing personality dimensions such as psychopathy, social anxiety and avoidance, negative affect and self-image. Factor analysis at the subscale-level identified two basic dimensions, reflecting hostile (DSM-IV Cluster B) and anxious (DSM-IV Cluster C) interpersonal attitudes. Categorical ADP-IV diagnoses are obtained using scoring algorithms, which emphasize the Trait or the Distress concepts in the diagnostic evaluation. Prevalences of ADP-IV diagnoses of any personality disorder according to these algorithms vary between 2.28 and 20.64%. CONCLUSIONS: Although further research in clinical samples is required, the present results support the validity of the ADP-IV and the potential of the measurement of trait and distress characteristics as a method for assessing personality pathology.

Imaging findings in diffuse axonal injury after closed head trauma.

Even in patients with closed head trauma, brain parenchyma can be severely injured due to disruption of axonal fibers by shearing forces during acceleration, deceleration, and rotation of the head. In this article we review the spectrum of imaging findings in patients with diffuse axonal injuries (DAI) after closed head trauma. Knowledge of the location and imaging characteristics of DAI is important to radiologists for detection and diagnosis. Common locations of DAI include: cerebral hemispheric gray-white matter interface and subcortical white matter, body and splenium of corpus callosum, basal ganglia, dorsolateral aspect of brainstem, and cerebellum. In the acute phase, CT may show punctate hemorrhages. The true extent of brain involvement is better appreciated with MR imaging, because both hemorrhagic and non-hemorrhagic lesions (gliotic scars) can be detected. The MR appearance of DAI lesions depends on several factors, including age of injury, presence of hemorrhage or blood-breakdown products (e. g., hemosiderin), and type of sequence used. Technical aspects in MR imaging of these patients are discussed. Non-hemorrhagic lesions can be detected with fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR), proton-density-, or T2-weighted images, whereas gradient echo sequences with long TE increase the visibility of old hemorrhagic lesions.

The inflammatory response system and the availability of plasma tryptophan in patients with primary sleep disorders and major depression.

BACKGROUND: It is now well established that major depression is accompanied by an immune-inflammatory system response and that indicators of the latter are inversely correlated with lower availability of plasma tryptophan in depression. Inflammation and infection can alter sleep architecture, whereas sleep disturbances can impair immune functions. AIMS AND METHODS: The aims of the present study were to examine: (i) immune-inflammatory markers, i.e. serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, IL-6 receptor (IL-6R), IL-1R antagonist (IL-1RA), gp130, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production by mitogen-stimulated whole blood and the availability of plasma tryptophan in patients with primary sleep disorders, major depression and healthy volunteers; and (ii) the relationships between the availability of tryptophan and indicators of the immune-inflammatory response system. RESULTS: Mitogen-stimulated release of PGE2, and serum IL-6 and IL-8, were significantly increased in both depressed and sleep disordered patients compared to normal controls. Serum IL-1RA was significantly higher in depressed patients than in normal controls. Patients with depression and sleep disorders had a significantly lower availability of tryptophan than normal controls. There were significant and inverse relationships between the availability of plasma tryptophan and serum IL-1RA, IL-6 and IL-8. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that (i) there is an activation of the immune-inflammatory response system in primary sleep disorders and depression; and (ii) the decreased availability of plasma tryptophan may be related to the inflammatory system response.

Medical ethics and the judicial coerced treatment of sexual abusers.

The increasing demand for judicial coerced treatment of sexual abusers constitutes a new challenge for mental health professionals. The discussed controversial ethical issues are the influence of coercion on the treatment, the motivation of patient as well as therapist, confidentiality and hormonal treatment. Social control is not the primary concern of therapists and any treatment must be beneficial to the individual patient. The coerced treatment of sexual abusers requests an agreement between psychiatric and judicial authorities with respect for their respective professional ethics.