Tract identification by novel MRI signal changes following stereotactic anterior capsulotomy.

BACKGROUND: Five patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) following MRI-guided stereotactic bilateral anterior capsulotomy to detect lesion-related anatomic changes. METHODS: Five disabled and treatment-resistant patients with major depression (n = 4) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (n = 1) underwent stereotactic bilateral anterior capsulotomy. All patients had postoperative MRI at 2 months and at 1-4 years after surgery. An additional patient who had a pure motor deficit following a spontaneous basal ganglia hemorrhagic stroke was imaged as a comparator. RESULTS: The 2-month postcapsulotomy MRI showed a previously undescribed increase in T1-weighted signal within similar neural pathways for each patient. These pathways showed no changes in T2-weighted or fluid-attenuated inversion recovery sequences. The signal changes are different from the expected changes associated with anterograde Wallerian degeneration and identify retrograde changes in the proximal segment of the interrupted axon. CONCLUSION: Previously undescribed T1-weighted signal alterations following stereotactic surgery identify retrograde non-Wallerian changes in interrupted axons and provide a new method in identifying and tracing lesioned pathways.

Hypomania as an adverse effect of subthalamic nucleus stimulation: report of two cases.

Mania following subthalamic nucleus (STN) deep brain stimulation (DBS) is well described and obvious to both the patient and their physician. The authors describe two patients who developed hypomania following STN-DBS but were unaware of their mood disturbance. Two Parkinson's patients with no previous mood disorders received bilateral STN electrodes. Both experienced dramatic improvement in their motor function and neither complained of any side effects. Their families reported detrimental hypomanic behaviour. Readjusting the stimulation parameters resolved the hypomania with continued motor benefits. The authors draw attention to potential adverse effects of STN-DBS that might be neglected by patients.

Regional cerebral glucose metabolism in never-medicated patients with schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess regional cerebral glucose metabolism in patients with schizophrenia who had never received antipsychotic medication and whose olfactory identification ability had been assessed. Two hypotheses were examined. First, the patients were compared with normal controls to determine whether differences in regional cerebral metabolism were apparent. Second, regional rates of metabolism were correlated with olfactory ability and the relation between them determined. METHODS: The patient (n = 26) and control (n = 32) subjects were scanned at rest using positron emission tomography (PET) after administration of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). In addition, the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test was administered to each patient. RESULTS: Patients with schizophrenia had reduced rates of glucose metabolism in the right and left thalamus that reached significance if not corrected for multiple comparisons. However, if a Bonferroni correction was applied over the 27 regions of interest, the differences were not significant. Scores on the Smell Identification Test were negatively correlated with 8 regions of interest. When scores were analyzed using multiple regression, the left frontal cortex and the medial parietal cortex were significant predictors. CONCLUSIONS: The finding of reduced metabolism in the thalami is consistent with some of the previous literature, whereas the negative correlations between specific regions and olfactory function are not consistent with studies using activation paradigms.

Sleep in a community sample of elderly war veterans with and without posttraumatic stress disorder.

BACKGROUND: Although sleep disturbances are commonly reported by individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), objective findings have been inconsistent, due in part to small sample sizes, comorbid psychiatric disorders, variations in the recentness of trauma exposure, and the use of PTSD subjects involved in psychiatric treatment. METHODS: A community sample of elderly males (n = 59) exposed to war trauma 28-50 years ago and free from sleep-affecting medications and disorders other than PTSD completed 3 nights of polysomnography. Of these participants, 30 met criteria for current PTSD; three were receiving supportive outpatient psychotherapy. RESULTS: Two statistically significant differences were observed: Those with PTSD had a higher percentage of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and fewer arousals from non-REM sleep. The perceptions of sleep quality among the participants with PTSD were lower than the perceptions of non-PTSD participants. Although participants with untreated obstructive sleep apnea and sleep movement disorders were not included in the sample, many cases were detected on initial screening. Treatment resulted in improved sleep and increased feelings of well being. CONCLUSIONS: Alterations in REM and arousals characterized PTSD in this sample. When comorbid sleep disorders were ruled out, sleep was clinically similar across the groups. Trauma-related sleep disturbances that subjects reported as arising early in the course of the disorder appear to have declined over time.

Polysomnographic sleep is not clinically impaired in Vietnam combat veterans with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder.

BACKGROUND: Because sleep is typically disturbed in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), this study was undertaken to evaluate a group of Vietnam combat veterans with the disorder using clinical polysomnographic techniques. METHODS: Eighteen Vietnam combat veterans with PTSD and 10 healthy non-combat-exposed Vietnam era veterans participated in 2 nights of polysomnographic study and a multiple sleep latency test. RESULTS: No significant differences between subjects and controls were noted except for greater sleep onset latency to stage 2 (p < .03), and lower arousals/hour from stages 3 & 4 (p < .04) on night 2, and lower subjectively estimated total sleep time on night 1 (p < .005) in the case of PTSD subjects. Otherwise, results from the second night served to replicate those from the first, and no significant differences appeared on 2 successive nights for any polysomnographic variable. No daytime hypersomnolence was detected. CONCLUSIONS: Polysomnographically recorded sleep was notably better than expected in the presence of clinically significant PTSD with typical histories of disrupted sleep. In these subjects, there is no clinically significant sleep disorder or typical pattern of sleep disturbance detectable by standard polysomnography.

The indications for polysomnography and related procedures.

This paper is a review of the literature on the use of polysomnography in the diagnosis of sleep disorders in the adult. It is based on a search of MEDLINE from January 1966 through April 1996. It has been reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors of the American Sleep Disorders Association and provides the background for the accompanying ASDA Standards of Practice Committee's Parameters for the Practice of Sleep Medicine in North America. The diagnostic categories reviewed are: sleep-related breathing disorders; other respiratory disorders; narcolepsy; parasomnias and sleep-related epilepsy; restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movement disorders: insomnia; and circadian rhythm sleep disorders. Where appropriate, previously published practice parameters papers are cited and discussed. The relevant published peer-reviewed literature used as the basis for critical decisions was compiled into accompanying evidence tables and is analyzed in the text. In the section on the assessment of sleep apnea syndrome, options for estimating pretest probability to select high risk patients are also reviewed. Sleep-testing procedures other than standard polysomnography are also addressed (daytime polysomnography, split-night studies, oximetry, limited full respiratory recordings, and less-than-full respiratory recording) and treatment-related follow-up studies are discussed.

Classroom dialogues and deaf identities.

Despite increasing diversity in the classroom, many teachers of deaf and hard of hearing students are unprepared to teach in a way that benefits all their students. Our course for future teachers focuses on understanding these multiple identities, and on practical approaches to using diversity as an opportunity for class growth. Proceeding from the assumption that everyone in the classroom has something to teach and to learn, we describes our approach to teaching teachers in which we make use of the teachers' own diversity and expertise in a continuous dialogue across various methods. Samples of classroom dialogues are included.

Olfactory deficits in schizophrenia are not a function of task complexity.

The purpose of the current study was to determine if olfactory identification deficits in patients with schizophrenia were related to task complexity. Given that we had previously reported that male patients with schizophrenia are the most impaired on olfactory identification tests (the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test, UPSIT), we wished to determine whether a similar deficit would exist for this group on a task of similar format and complexity, the Colour Identification Test (CIT). Sixty-five neuroleptically medicated patients with a DSM-III-R diagnosis of schizophrenia and 30 normal control subjects participated. The dependent measures were scores on the UPSIT and CIT. Overall, patients with schizophrenia had significantly lower USPIT scores than did the normal control subjects whereas no mean difference was observed for colour identification. Male patients with schizophrenia had olfactory identification deficits but performed comparably to all other groups on the CIT. Furthermore, microsmic patients with schizophrenia had CIT scores that did not differ from normal control subjects. Finally, CIT and UPSIT scores were not significantly correlated for the study sample as a whole. The results of this study suggest that the olfactory identification deficits observed in patients with schizophrenia likely reflect abnormalities of brain areas involved in olfactory pathways and are not a function of task complexity.

Additional categories of sleep-related eating disorders and the current status of treatment.

Sleep-related eating disorders distinct from daytime eating disorders have recently been shown to be associated with sleepwalking (SW), periodic limb movement (PLM) disorder and triazolam abuse in a series of 19 adults. We now report eight other primary or combined etiologies identified by clinical evaluations and polysomnographic monitoring of 19 additional adults (mean age 40 years; 58% female): i) obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), with eating during apnea-induced confusional arousals (n = 3); ii) OSA-PLM disorder (n = 1); iii) familial SW and sleep-related eating (n = 2); iv) SW-PLM disorder (n = 1); v) SW-irregular sleep/wake pattern disorder (n = 1); vi) familial restless legs syndrome and sleep-related eating (n = 2); vii) anorexia nervosa with nocturnal bulimia (n = 2) and viii) amitriptyline treatment of migraines (n = 1). In our cumulative series of 38 patients (excluding six with simple obesity from daytime overeating), 44% were overweight (i.e. > 20% excess weight) from sleep-related eating. Nightly sleep-related binge eating (without hunger or purging) had occurred in 84% of patients. Onset of sleep-related eating was also closely linked with i) acute stress involving reality-based concerns about the safety of family members or about relationship problems (n = 6), ii) abstinence from alcohol and opiate/cocaine abuse (n = 2) and iii) cessation of cigarette smoking (n = 2). Current treatment data indicate a primary role of dopaminergic agents (carbidopa/L-dopa; bromocriptine), often combined with codeine and clonazepam, in controlling most cases involving SW and/or PLM disorder. Fluoxetine was effective in two of three patients. Nasal continuous positive airway pressure therapy controlled sleep-related eating in two OSA patients.

Metabolic subtypes in patients with schizophrenia.

Patterns of regional cerebral glucose metabolism were examined in a group of patients with schizophrenia (n = 17) and normal controls (n = 16) to determine if different metabolic profiles were present. For the patients with schizophrenia, two profiles were found. The first was characterized by a normal "shape" but overall reductions in cerebral metabolism. The second had focal reductions in frontal metabolism. This latter group also had significantly larger frontal horns than the other schizophrenic group. The two groups with schizophrenia did not differ on other attributes or clinical variables. These results are discussed in terms of our understanding of heterogeneity in schizophrenia and etiology.

Olfactory deficits in neuroleptic naive patients with schizophrenia.

Because previous studies have shown deficits in olfactory identification for male patients with schizophrenia, either withdrawn from or receiving neuroleptic medication, the purpose of the current study was to determine if such deficits occurred in male patients who had never received neuroleptics. A sample of male (n = 30) and female (n = 10) patients as well as age appropriate controls (males, n = 28, females, n = 30) was assessed in terms of olfactory acuity and identification ability. No differences were found in olfactory acuity, but an olfactory identification deficit was present in 31% of the male patients with schizophrenia. As the olfactory pathways project through the limbic system and to the orbitofrontal cortex, odour identification may be a measure of the functional integrity of these structures. Therefore, these results suggest that for a sub-sample of male patients, the functional integrity of these structures is compromised.

Cumulative trauma disorders among educational interpreters. Contributing factors and intervention.

Upper extremity cumulative trauma disorders became a potentially significant occupational hazard among sign language interpreters at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf in the 1988-89 academic year. The following case control study was conducted to identify factors that might play a role in developing, exacerbating, and maintaining upper extremity cumulative trauma disorders among interpreters. Investigations were conducted to determine whether medical status, physical capacities, interpreting styles, pain, fatigue, and job stress differed among NTID's sign language interpreters. This report provides a general summary of selected findings as well as a conceptual framework that should help clarify the factors associated with upper extremity cumulative trauma disorders in sign language interpreters. The results indicated that the upper extremity cumulative trauma disorder diagnosed most often is tendinitis rather than a nerve entrapment syndrome (e.g., carpal tunnel syndrome). Analysis of the frequency of potential biomechanical risk factors indicated that those reporting pain demonstrated higher frequency of hand and wrist deviations from the neutral position, higher frequency of the upper extremities leaving a predefined work space, fewer rest breaks during interpreting sessions, and higher evaluator ratings of pace of finger and hand movements. Specific features of interpreting styles were associated with increased pain and fatigue.

The role of a sleep disorder center in evaluating sleep violence.

To review the state-dependent nature of violence and present a clinically useful classification of sleep violence, this article reviews our experience with sleep-related violence, establishing a differential diagnosis, methods of evaluation, and treatment options. The study occurs in a full-service clinical sleep disorders center evaluating approximately 1000 patients annually with an active participation of 16 physicians representing seven specialties. The patients were self-, physician-, or court/social service-referred for evaluation of violent or injurious behaviors associated with the sleep period. Interventions were dependent on the final diagnosis following clinical and (usually) sleep laboratory evaluation. The main outcome measures were self-reported. During routine clinical evaluations at a multidisciplinary sleep disorder center, it has become apparent that violence is often state-dependent, occurring only during the sleep period, resulting from a number of both neurologic and psychiatric conditions (including malingering and Munchausen syndrome by proxy). In such cases, careful clinical and laboratory evaluation usually results in a specific diagnosis, with effective therapeutic recommendations. Violence may be state-dependent. It is clear that violent behaviors may arise from the sleep period, often without conscious awareness on the part of the subject. This has social, forensic, and clinical implications, and may help contribute to the understanding of violence in general.

Prominent eye movements during NREM sleep and REM sleep behavior disorder associated with fluoxetine treatment of depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

The clinical polysomnographic (PSG) reports of 2,650 consecutive adults studied during 41 months were reviewed retrospectively to identify all patients treated with fluoxetine or tricyclic antidepressants. The PSG reports of four other adult groups were also reviewed: periodic limb movement (PLM) disorder (n = 28); sleep terror/sleepwalking (ST/SW) (n = 54); rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) (n = 70); patients with clinically unremarkable sleep during two consecutive PSG studies (n = 30). Standard PSG recording and scoring methods were employed. A total of 1.5% (n = 41) and 2.0% (n = 52) of patients were receiving fluoxetine or tricyclics (amitriptyline or nortriptyline, n = 31; imipramine or desipramine, n = 16; protriptyline or trimipramine, n = 5). A selective association between fluoxetine and extensive, prominent eye movements in nonrapid eye movement (NREM) sleep was detected, utilizing Fisher's exact one-tailed statistic (p less than 0.00001 for each comparison). The detection rates were fluoxetine, 48.8% (20/41); tricyclics, 5.8% (3/52); RBD, 4.3% (3/70); objectively normal sleepers, 3.3% (1/30); PLM, ST/SW, 0% (0/82). These groups had similar mean ages (31.5-45.4 years) and gender distributions (50.0-60.7% male), apart from RBD. The effect of fluoxetine, a potent and specific serotonin reuptake inhibitor, on NREM eye movements is postulated to derive from potentiation of serotonergic neurons that inhibit brainstem "omnipause neurons", which, in turn, inhibit saccadic eye movements, thus resulting in disinhibited release of saccades. In addition, a 31-year-old man with obsessive-compulsive disorder developed RBD soon after starting fluoxetine therapy, which persisted at PSG study 19 months after fluoxetine discontinuation.

Structural brain imaging abnormalities associated with schizophrenia and partial trisomy of chromosome 5.

Chromosomal abnormalities occurring in association with mental illness provide a unique opportunity to study the interaction of genetic abnormalities and the brain in mental illness. Four individuals from a family in which schizophrenia was found to cosegregate with a partial trisomy of chromosome 5 were studied with computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Temporal lobe atrophy was found in the two trisomic males and in the asymptomatic balanced translocation female. In addition, a large cavum septum pellucidum and a cavum vergae were found in the older trisomic individual. Scans from the normal male were free of abnormalities. These results suggest that molecular studies of the translocation breakpoints in this chromosomal abnormality may be of interest, and encourage further studies of brain structure in other chromosomal abnormalities associated with psychosis.

Primacy and recency effects in the assessment of memory using the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test.

The present study examined the manifestation of the primacy and recency effects in patients with anterior brain damage, posterior brain damage, and psychiatric inpatients with no known organic impairment. All three groups of patients demonstrated both a primacy and a recency effect on the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT). Differences among the three groups with respect to the magnitude of primacy and recency as well as with other variables reflecting free recall were nonsignificant. These findings limit the use of primacy and recency for the differentiation of memory deficits due to organic and nonorganic causes.

A comparison of the matching of emotional information by depressive and organic patients.

The ability to match complex emotional stimuli was assessed in depressed and organic neuropsychiatric patients. Subjects were 13 nonorganic-depressed, 13 organic-depressed, 10 organic-nondepressed, and 10 nonorganic-nondepressed right-handed adults. They were required to match pictures, sentences, and faces on the basis of emotional content in order to determine whether depression resulted in difficulties in analyzing emotional information consistent with those seen in organic patients. Depression produced an error pattern for the matching of complex emotional information that was suggestive of right hemisphere dysfunction. It was unclear if this was due to emotional processing defects or a more generalized deficit in conceptual processes.

Regional metabolism in microsmic patients with schizophrenia.

The cerebral glucose metabolism of eight patients with schizophrenia and an olfactory agnosia was compared with that of eight normosmic patients with schizophrenia and eight normal controls. Since all patients were scanned while on their current medication regimen, the duration and dosage of the medication of the two patient groups were compared. Similarly, duration and dosage were correlated with absolute regional metabolic rates. No significant effects were found in these analyses. The patients with schizophrenia had significantly lower rates of frontal metabolism than the normal controls. However, the patients with schizophrenia and an olfactory agnosia had a lower right basal ganglia and thalamic metabolism than the normosmic patients with schizophrenia.