Correlation between Prolactin and Symptom Profile in Acute Admitted Women with Recurrent Schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of hyperprolactinemia among psychiatric patients receiving antipsychotic medications was estimated to be between 30% and 70%. A review of the literature on prolactin and schizophrenia symptoms suggests that the correlation between them is complex and not limited to the adverse effects of antipsychotics. Relations with specific symptom dimensions have not been found consistently across studies. The association between increased prolactin and recurrent episodes of schizophrenia needs to be replicated in larger samples and in a population of female patients. The aim of this study was to find out whether elevated prolactin is related to specific symptoms or dimensions of schizophrenia, which is a heterogenic entity. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The sample consisted of 119 consecutively acute admitted women, aged 18 to 45 years with recurrent schizophrenia diagnosed on bases of DSM-5 criteria. Assessment for all the enrolled subjects comprised a psychiatric evaluation and blood draw to determine the prolactin level. Symptoms of schizophrenia were determined using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Data were analyzed by regression analysis and the Independent Samples t Test. Values are given as means ±SD. RESULTS: Hyperprolactinemia was detected in 74.79% patients (n=89), whereas the group without hyperprolactinemia comprised 25.21% of the sample. When plasma prolactin levels and clinical features between groups were compared, there was a statistically significant difference in the negative subscale scores of the PANSS (p=0.0011), positive subscale scores of the PANNS (p=0.0043), general subscale scores of the PANSS (p=0.0226) and total scores of the PANNS (p=0.0003). CONCLUSION: There were statistically significant differences in the clinical symptoms between two compared groups in total score and in the positive, negative and general subscores.

Startle reactivity in acute stress disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder.

The aim of this study is to prospectively examine electromyographic (EMG) responses in patients diagnosed with acute stress disorder (ASD) after experiencing a traffic accident or violent attack, within one month after the traumatic event and six months later. Half of the participants met criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after six months. Psychophysiological parameters can provide a better clarification between ASD and PTSD patients. Heightened startle magnitude in the immediate aftermath of trauma may be a good predictor of PTSD; moreover, a lack of startle habituation appears to be a more stable marker of PTSD, which persists for six months after trauma exposure.

Psychophysiological indicators of acute stress disorder.

AIM: The aim of the current study was to compare basal psychophysiology and startle reflexes in acute stress disorder (ASD) patients and controls. Stress reactions to traumatic event include acute and chronic reactions like ASD and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They are characterized by prominent psychophysiological symptoms that can give insight into the pathogenesis of PTSD. METHODS: We measured heart-rate (HR), respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), electrodermal activity (EDA) and electromyography (EMG) of musculus orbicularis occuli during an acclimation period and during the presentation of startle stimuli in 29 ASD patients with different traumatic experiences and in 33 healthy controls. RESULTS: ASD subjects had similar habituation to the startle probe as healthy controls. EDA for individuals with ASD after traffic accident was higher then for healthy controls. There were no differences for heart-rate in two compared groups. CONCLUSION: EDA appears to offer the most reliable psychophysiological indices in the ASD following traffic accident.

Psychiatric heredity and posttraumatic stress disorder: survey study of war veterans.

AIM: To explore the prevalence of psychiatric heredity (family history of psychiatric illness, alcohol dependence disorder, and suicidality) and its association with the diagnosis of stress-related disorders in Croatian war veterans established during psychiatric examination. METHODS: The study included 415 war veterans who were psychiatrically assessed and diagnosed by the same psychiatrist during an expert examination conducted for the purposes of compensation seeking. Data were collected by a structured diagnostic procedure. RESULTS: There was no significant correlation between psychiatric heredity of psychiatric illness, alcohol dependence, or suicidality and diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or PTSD with psychiatric comorbidity. Diagnoses of psychosis or psychosis with comorbidity significantly correlated with psychiatric heredity (Phi=0.111; P=0.023). There was a statistically significant correlation between maternal psychiatric illness and the patients' diagnoses of partial PTSD or partial PTSD with comorbidity (Phi=0.104; P=0.035) and psychosis or psychosis with comorbidity (Phi=0.113; P=0.022); paternal psychiatric illness and the patients' diagnoses of psychosis or psychosis with comorbidity (Phi=0.130; P=0.008), alcohol dependence or alcohol dependence with comorbidity (Phi=0.166; P=0.001); psychiatric illness in the primary family with the patients' psychosis or psychosis with comorbidity (Phi=0.115; P=0.019); alcohol dependence in the primary family with the patients' personality disorder or personality disorder with comorbidity (Phi=0.099; P=0.044); and suicidality in the primary family and a diagnosis of personality disorder or personality disorder with comorbidity (Phi=0.128; P=0.009). CONCLUSION: The study confirmed that parental and familial positive history of psychiatric disorders puts the individual at higher risk for developing psychiatric illness or alcohol or drug dependence disorder. Psychiatric heredity might not be necessary for the individual who was exposed to severe combat-related events to develop symptoms of PTSD.