7Li NMR Spectroscopy: A Tool for Determining Dimerization Constants and Averaged Dimerization Constants of the Monomer/Dimer Equilibrium of Hierarchical Helicates.

7Li nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is an ideal tool to study hierarchically assembled helicates of the form Li[Li3L6Ti2]. Internally bound and external lithium ions can be well distinguished by solution- or solid-state NMR spectroscopy and dimerization constants of the monomer/dimer equilibrium can be easily determined in solution. Averaged dimerization constants can be estimated in case of statistical mixtures of helicates formed from mixtures of ligands.

A Copper-Catalyzed Interrupted Domino Reaction for the Synthesis of Fused Triazolyl Benzothiadiazine-1-oxides.

Copper(I)-catalyzed domino reactions of 2-azido sulfoximines with 1-iodoalkynes yield fused triazolyl-containing benzothiadiazine-1-oxides. The protocol features the synthesis of two fused heterocyclic rings in one step with good to excellent yields and a broad functional group tolerance. Detailed mechanistic investigations indicate that a copper π-complex initiates a cycloaddition and oxidative C-N coupling reaction sequence. The results suggest an interrupted domino process involving an iodinated triazole as a key intermediate.

Alexithymia and script-driven emotional imagery in healthy female subjects: no support for deficiencies in imagination.

Alexithymia is associated with a limited access to inner emotional processes. Furthermore, alexithymia is assumed to be characterized by a limited ability to use imagination. To evaluate the frequently proposed thesis of a reduced imagination ability in alexithymic persons, 25 high and 24 low alexithymic women self-rated their imagination ability. Furthermore, the electrodermal activity (EDA) during script-driven emotional imagination was determined and valence, arousal, and vividness of the respective imaginations were rated. Our results indicate no significant differences between high and low alexithymic women in the self-rated imagination ability, the EDA during imagination and the ratings of valence, arousal and vividness. The study provides evidence that healthy high alexithymic women are capable of differentiated emotional imagination.

Alexithymia as a predictor of outcome of psychodynamically oriented inpatient treatment.

This naturalistic study aimed to determine whether the initial degree of alexithymia can predict treatment outcome of psychodynamically oriented multimodal therapy. The Toronto Alexithymia Scale-26, the Global Severity Index (GSI), and the Depression subscale of the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised were administered at hospital admission and at discharge to 480 inpatients with various psychological disorders. GSI and depressive symptoms decreased significantly during treatment. High initial alexithymia total scores significantly predicted treatment outcome, especially in patients with somatoform disorders. Difficulties in verbalizing feelings had the strongest association with less favourable symptom improvement. Although significant, the predictive values were relatively small, and patients with alexithymia indeed benefited from therapy. Implications of these results are discussed for the specificity of disorders and therapeutic approach.

Effects of inpatient psychotherapy on the stability of alexithymia characteristics.

BACKGROUND: Although alexithymia is associated with several psychiatric disorders, there has been little research into the effects of psychodynamic psychotherapies on this condition. Here, the influence of inpatient multimodal psychodynamic psychotherapy on alexithymia and symptom load was evaluated in a large sample of patients. METHODS: Alexithymia [measured with the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS)-26] and psychological stress and depression [measured with the Symptom Checklist 90 Revised (SCL-90-R)] were evaluated at admission and after inpatient multimodal psychotherapy in patients with various psychosomatic and psychiatric disorders admitted to this unit between 2002 and 2005. Patients undergoing both short-term (up to 4 weeks) and long-term treatment (8-12 weeks) were studied. Analyses of covariance were used to analyse the data on depression (SCL-90-R) and psychological stress (SCL-90-R), and correlations between admission and discharge scores for the TAS-26 were computed to evaluate mean and relative stability of alexithymia. RESULTS: Data on 397 of the 568 patients admitted were analysed. Psychological stress and depression (SCL-90-R) decreased significantly during the study across all diagnostic groups. The TAS-26 total score also decreased significantly, showing that there was no mean stability of alexithymic characteristics. However, the significance of decrease was lost when psychological stress and depression were controlled for. Highly significant correlations between TAS-26 sores before and after treatment reflected high relative stability of alexithymia. CONCLUSIONS: During inpatient multimodal psychodynamic treatment, the symptom load and alexithymia in our patients decreased. The high relative stability of alexithymia shown supports the view that alexithymia is a relative stable personality trait.

S-Citalopram in neuroendocrine challenge-tests: serotonergic responsivity in healthy male and female human participants.

The aim of the present study was to assess the usefulness of the selective serotonin-reuptake-inhibitor S-Citalopram as a serotonergic challenge probe in 24 healthy male and 24 healthy female participants. The participants received a single oral dose of 10 and 20mg of S-Citalopram in a placebo-controlled double blind crossover design. In female subjects phases of the menstrual cycle were controlled. Changes in concentrations of cortisol in saliva were used to indicate serotonergic reactivity. S-Citalopram induced a reliable dose dependent rise in cortisol concentrations. Results reveal a clear dose-response relationship in both sexes. However, in contrast to the 10mg condition the dosage of 20mg led to significantly higher cortisol levels in females, whereas no differences could be observed with respect to different phases of the menstrual cycle (follicular vs. luteal). Adverse side effects were reported only after 20mg. The results clearly indicate that the dosage of 10mg should be preferred when challenging males and females. Results will be discussed with regard to the further use of S-Citalopram in neuroendocrine challenge tests.