Showing papers on "Psychotropic drug published in 1982"
Journal Article•
TL;DR: In this article, it was shown that buspirone's anticonflict activity in rats may be mediated, at least partially, through 1-PP, without involving any effect on the dopaminergic system.
Abstract: Buspirone is a novel psychotropic drug with clear anxiolytic activity in man. There are a number of neurochemical differences between buspirone and both neuroleptics and benzodiazepines. Moreover, buspirone is extensively metabolized, and several metabolites are present in the brain together with the parent compound. One of these, 1-PP, is present in the brain at higher concentrations than the parent drug, particularly when the drug is given orally. On the basis of the reported experimental data, it can be postulated that buspirone's anticonflict activity in rats may be mediated, at least partially, through 1-PP, without involving any effect on the dopaminergic system. The possibility that buspirone and 1-PP may mimic the action of benzodiazepine on some sites in the complex benzodiazepine-GABA receptors is discussed.
85 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a longitudinal study of 153 general practice patients beginning a new course of psychotropic drug treatment and characterized by extensive physical and psychological morbidity was conducted, and about 1 in 5 were still receiving psychotropic drugs 6 months later.
Abstract: While many of the characteristics of psychotropic drug consumers have been established by means of cross-sectional studies, little is known about new consumers and the factors which predispose to long-term treatment. We report on a longitudinal study of 153 general practice patients beginning a new course of psychotropic drug treatment and characterized by extensive physical and psychological morbidity. About 1 in 5 were still receiving psychotropic drugs 6 months later and this prolonged treatment was associated with increased age, previous psychotropic drug-use, higher levels of psychological morbidity at the inception of treatment and, for the women only, social problems as perceived by the general practitioners.
65 citations
TL;DR: It is suggested that the ethanol-benzodiazepine interaction is probably less important than those involving ethanol and other psychotropic drugs, such as cannabinoids, neuroleptics, stimulants, and antidepressants.
Abstract: Ethanol and benzodiazepines interact both pharmacokinetically and pharmacodynamically. However, the importance of these effects has been exaggerated. Kinetically, acute doses of ethanol impair the disposition of benzodiazepines that are metabolized by demethylation or hydroxylation, but not those that undergo glucuronide conjugation. On the other hand, chronic ethanol administration increases the clearance of benzodiazepines that are demethylated or hydroxylated. The pharmacodynamics of the ethanol-benzodiazepine combination is less clear. The sedative and psychomotor effects of the combination appear to be enhanced, compared to the effects of the drugs given alone. However, it is difficult to assess the proportion of the observed effects that is due to benzodiazepines, as ethanol appears to be the dominant partner in this combination. Studies attempting to control for this imbalance have been so hampered by methodological problems that no firm conclusions can be drawn. Moreover, a number of benzodiazepines have not been studied in combination with ethanol. We suggest, however, that the ethanol-benzodiazepine interaction is probably less important than those involving ethanol and other psychotropic drugs, such as cannabinoids, neuroleptics, stimulants, and antidepressants.
64 citations
TL;DR: Persistence of depression was positively associated with initially reporting cognitive and affective types of depressive symptoms, the presence of physical illness, the seeking of psychiatric treatment, and the receipt of psychotropic drug prescriptions.
Abstract: This exploratory study examines the persistence of depressive symptomatology as measured by the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depressive Scale (CES-D). Over as 12-month period, half of the group of 309 prepaid group practice enrollees reporting depressive symptoms at the beginning of the interval also had high scores on the CES-D at the end of the interval. Sociodemographic characteristics did not predict persistence of depression. Persistence of depression was positively associated with initially reporting cognitive and affective types of depressive symptoms, the presence of physical illness, the seeking of psychiatric treatment, and the receipt of psychotropic drug prescriptions.
62 citations
TL;DR: There would appear to be an increased risk for spontaneous malformations in the case of lithium and there have been inconsistent reports of structural abnormalities following exposure to phenothiazines and benzodiazepines.
Abstract: Accurate prediction of fetal/neonatal risks following maternal psychotropic drug consumption by the human will require much additional study. Based upon our present understanding of fetal exposure to psychotropic drugs, there would appear to be an increased risk for spontaneous malformations in the case of lithium. There have been inconsistent reports of structural abnormalities following exposure to phenothiazines and benzodiazepines. In animal models that demonstrate structural changes due to neuroleptic exposure, in general, extremely large dosages of medication had been given. Thus, their correlative value is limited. Behavioral alterations in animals following drug exposure during pregnancy tend to support increased concerns about the safety of psychotropic drugs for the fetus but cannot be used alone in making a final decision. Behavioral studies evaluating drugs in breast milk have been restricted to experimental animals; hence, the associated risks from this form of drug dosing in man remain unknown. At present, neither gross anatomic nor motor side effects have been apparent in the infant. The question of the development of subtle behavioral changes as a long-term consequence will remain undetermined until careful assessments have been completed.
57 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: It is suggested that a single prenatal exposure to methyl mercury can affect learning and drug sensitivity of the adult animal, and mercury exposure in late gestation has more deleterious consequences on learning ability than early exposure.
Abstract: Male Long-Evans rats that had been exposed in utero to 5 or 8 mg/kg of methyl mercury administered as a single dose on either days 8 or 15 of gestation were tested as adults in two operant tasks. In one task the animals were trained on two-way avoidance to a criterion of 10 consecutive avoidances. Following acquisition the animals were extinguished and 24 hours later re-trained to the previous criterion. Animals treated with 8 mg/kg on day 8 of gestation required significantly more trials to reach criterion during reacquisition than controls. Rats treated on day 15 with either 5 or 8 mg/kg took significantly more trials to reach criterion during acquisition than controls, and of the 8 mg/kg group 55% failed to reach criterion. Rats treated with 8 mg/kg of mercury on day 8 of gestation acquired a DRL-10 sec task at the same rate as controls. When challenged with d-amphetamine the treated animals were less disrupted at the higher dose (1.0 mg/kg) than controls, suggesting a shift in the dose response curve for this psychoactive drug. Activity measures taken simultaneously with the DRL session confirmed this shift in amphetamine effect. Results suggest that a single prenatal exposure to methyl mercury can affect learning and drug sensitivity of the adult animal. Additionally, mercury exposure in late gestation has more deleterious consequences on learning ability than early exposure.
49 citations
TL;DR: A study of psychotropic drug prescribing, derived from the computerized pricing data in Northern Ireland from 1966, showed that the use of these drugs reached a peak in 1975, when about 12.5% of the adult population were estimated to have been receiving them, and declined in the following 5 years.
Abstract: A study of psychotropic drug prescribing, derived from the computerized pricing data in Northern Ireland from 1966, showed that the use of these drugs reached a peak in 1975, when about 12.5% of the adult population were estimated to have been receiving them, and declined in the following 5 years. Benzodioazepines accounted for three-quarters of all psychotropic drugs prescribed in 1980. Benzodiazepine tranquillizer prescribing was consistently 20-30% higher than in the rest of the United Kingdom, in contrast to hypnotic and antidepressant prescribing which has been consistently lower. The rate of increase in benzodiazepine tranquillizer prescribing was greater than in other European countries, but the level remains lower than in Iceland and Denmark. The influence of a number of demographic and socioeconomic variables was studied in an intra-regional analysis of the 1978 data for the 17 health districts in the province, using multivariate and multiple regression statistics. The prescribing of benzodiazepine hypnotics was almost entirely accounted for by the proportion of elderly (over 65 years) and women aged 45-59 years: neuroleptic prescribing was largely a function of factors associated with rural areas (overcrowding and unemployment) and the proportion of elderly; but neither tranquillizer, antidepressant, barbiturate hypnotic nor psychostimulant prescribing were satisfactorily explained by these variables.
46 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: The results of the present study indicate that minaprine is active on certain, but not all, animal models for depression and suggest the drug may have a potential clinical utility in the treatment of human depressions.
Abstract: Minaprine (3-[2-morpholino-ethlamino]-4-methyl-6-phenyl-pyridazine dihydrochloride; 30038CM; trade name in France: Cantor) is a new psychotropic drug The therapeutic profile of minaprine differs from that of other known psychotropic agents; in man the drug antagonizes the "inhibitory syndrome" characterized by decreased spontaneous activity, reduction in basic drives, slowed thoughts, feelings of tiredness and social withdrawal Preliminary clinical trials have indicated that minaprine may also be effective in certain depressive states This finding prompted us to study the effects of minaprine in animal models for depression Like most antidepressants minaprine antagonizes behavioral despair, but the effect exhibits a slow onset and maximal activity is reached 24 h after administration Minaprine also antagonizes reserpine-induced ptosis, this effect has a rapid onset, and is long-lasting In contrast, minaprine poorly antagonizes reserpine-induced hypothermia Unlike most antidepressants minaprine does not potentiate yohimbine-induced lethality Minaprine potently antagonizes prochlorperazine-induced catalepsy in rats and potentiates amphetamine-induced stereotyped behavior, suggesting that the drug may enhance dopaminergic transmission Finally, minaprine does not antagonize either oxotremorine-induced tremors or physiostigmine-induced lethality Taken together the results of the present study indicate that minaprine is active on certain, but not all, animal models for depression and suggest the drug may have a potential clinical utility in the treatment of human depressions
35 citations
01 Jan 1982
TL;DR: This chapter explains how the brain proteins that are selectively increased in relative labeling following hyperthermia induced by LSD or by other means are similar in molecular weight to two of the major heat-shock proteins that is induced in several tissue culture cell lines.
Abstract: Publisher Summary This chapter presents an experimental approach to the analysis of regulation of macromolecular synthesis in the brain to investigate the effects of the introduction of physiological treatments. Inhibition of initiation has been implicated as a possible mechanism for observed decreases in the brain protein synthesis. The psychotropic drug lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) has been a useful tool to probe translational mechanisms in the rabbit brain. Using several in vivo and in vitro experimental techniques, it has been observed that this drug rapidly activates a translational mechanism that causes a global inhibition of protein synthesis in the brain and a selective increase in synthesis of certain brain proteins. As LSD induces a rapid rise in body temperature, attempts were made to differentiate between translational effects attributable to hyperthermia and those attributable to psychotropic effects of the drug. The chapter also explains how the brain proteins that are selectively increased in relative labeling following hyperthermia induced by LSD or by other means are similar in molecular weight to two of the major heat-shock proteins that are induced in several tissue culture cell lines.
32 citations
TL;DR: No significantly altered risk of breast cancer was found in association with the use of diazepam, chlordiazepoxide, antidepressants, major tranquillizers, sedatives or hypnotics, even after adjustment for known menstrual and reproductive risk factors.
Abstract: The relative risk of breast cancer incidence and tumor promotion associated with psychotropic drug consumption was evaluated in 151 patients with newly diagnosed neoplasms and 151 hospital controls. N
32 citations
TL;DR: Assessment of sample characteristics is mandatory and should include demographic, historical and diagnostic data, and standardized procedures for the assessment of safety are not in general use.
Abstract: 1. Appropriate clinical assessment procedures are critical for the successful execution of a psychotropic drug trial and essential for the proper documentation of results. 2. Clinical instruments may be classified in four general areas: demography, efficacy, safety, administration. 3. Since questions concerning the precise characteristics of the research sample are among the first to be raised, the detailed assessment of sample characteristics is mandatory and should include demographic, historical and diagnostic data. 4. Instruments for the assessment of efficacy are, for the most part, rating scales which provide measures of initial psychopathology and subsequent change. This area of assessment has been the focus of much research over the past two decades and, for many diagnostic populations, reliable and sensitive standard instruments are available. 5. The assessment of safety, in contrast to efficacy, is less well defined. The earlier checklist approach is being replaced by newer, more sophisticated instruments but, as yet, standardized procedures for the assessment of safety are not in general use. 6. Lastly are the administrative documents which record the events of trial, e.g., dosage, concomitant medication, intercurrent events, disposition. Regarded as “bookkeeping” chores, these instruments are frequently neglected—often to the detriment of the exposition and interpretation of results.
TL;DR: The contributions of illness behavior and social network theories to an understanding of long-term use of psychotropic drugs are considered.
TL;DR: Psychiatric drugs with simple metabolic pathways, particularly tricyclic antidepressants (secondary amines) and short-acting benzodiazepines, are preferred in elderly patients.
01 Jan 1982
TL;DR: The issue of mental health for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders has been relatively neglected over the last decades for several reasons as mentioned in this paper, such as: Orientals, particularly the Chinese in Chinatown, are stereotyped as tranquil and well disciplined; the low incidence of juvenile delinquency, crime, alcoholism, and divorce in Chinatown has often misled the public into believing that there is no serious mental health problem among this population.
Abstract: The issue of mental health for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders has been relatively neglected over the last decades for several reasons. First, they are the minority of minorities. Second, Orientals, particularly the Chinese in Chinatown, are stereotyped as tranquil and well disciplined; the low incidence of juvenile delinquency, crime, alcoholism, and divorce in Chinatown has often misled the public into believing that there is no serious mental health problem among this population (Sue, 1977). Third, the common notion of the “inscrutable Oriental” makes Asian Americans less attractive to the mental health professional than the YAVIS (young, attractive, verbal, intelligent, and successful) patients (Schofield, 1964). Fourth, there are relatively few bilingual and bicultural mental health professionals to present the unique problems of Asian Americans to the remaining majority of professionals. Fifth, until the middle of the 20th century, there has been no political representation for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders at the congressional, or cabinet level by Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders. Finally, it is only in the last few years that mandatory priority has been given to the minorities through legislation, executive order, or court opinion. President Reagan’s budget reductions have had a heavy impact on these improvements and we fear that the net result will be the loss of all these gains for the minorities.
TL;DR: It was concluded that the occurrence of significant life events during the course of drug trials of the type involved here did not affect the with which drug-placebo differences could be detected.
Abstract: A group of 410 primarily anxious psychiatric outpatients treated with chlordiazepoxide, 244 treated with diazepam, and 537 receiving placebo were asked to report any significant favorable or unfavorable life events which occurred during both the first and the second 2 weeks of a 4-week double-blind drug trial. The frequency with which favorable and unfavorable events were reported did not differ across medication groups. However, patients reporting unfavorable events showed significantly less improvement after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment than did patients reporting no events or patients reporting favorable events. The amount of improvement experienced by patients reporting positive events did not differ significantly from that of patients reporting no events. The size of the impact of reported events upon outcome did not vary with treatment agents. Essentially similar results were obtained when data based on 2- and 4-week patient improvement ratings were analyzed. It was concluded that the occurrence of significant life events during the course of drug trials of the type involved here did not affect the sensitivity with which drug-placebo differences could be detected.
01 Jan 1982
TL;DR: A presentation and discussion of psychotomimetic drugs in a handbook concerned with psychotropic agents must, at the onset, emphasize the several properties that make this class of materials unique as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: A presentation and discussion of the psychotomimetic drugs in a handbook concerned with psychotropic agents must, at the onset, emphasize the several properties that make this class of materials unique.
TL;DR: Two problems of measuring psychotropic drug use are described and illustrated using sales of psychotropic drugs in Finland and Norway and a new unit called the defined exposure dose (DED) is introduced, which estimates the potential chemical exposure of the population to drugs.
Abstract: Two problems of measuring psychotropic drug use are described and illustrated using sales of psychotropic drugs in Finland and Norway. Classifying psychotropic drugs is a problem because the meaning of psychotropic drugs is not clear on a theoretical or practical level. In particular, the role of hidden psychotropic drugs--psychotropics included in combination products--is noted. Previous studies comparing the Nordic countries did not include combination products. Because a notable proportion of psychotropic substances sold in Finland were combination products, the inclusion of hidden psychotropic drugs affected the comparative levels of psychotropic drug use in Norway and Finland. Another problem in measuring psychotropic drug use is the unit of measurement. Traditional units of measurement, including defined daily dose (DDD), are discussed, and a new unit called the defined exposure dose (DED) is introduced. DED estimates the potential chemical exposure of the population to drugs. Sales of psychotropics in numbers of DDD/ and DED/ 1000 inhabitants/day in Finland and Norway from 1962 to 1978 were compared. Sales appeared to be much higher when DEDs were used. Irrespective of the unit used, sales were greater in Finland than Norway. Methods used to measure psychotropic drug use can affect conclusions drawn. The choice of unit of measurement should depend on the problem being studied, data source, and available resources. The concept of DED merits further investigation.
TL;DR: It is suggested that few correlations exist between polygraphic sleep, daytime EEG and mental performance data if age as an independent factor is kept constant, and extrapolations from one level of assessment to another and from experiments in young subjects to studies in the elderly appear unwarranted at the present time.
Abstract: As people grow older, their subjective and objective sleep patterns change: sleep is often experienced as less deep, more broken, less refreshing – and these alterations find their objective correlate in polygraphic sleep recordings. Reductions in high amplitude slow wave sleep, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and sleep maintenance are the best documented of these. Besides, there are changes in the EEG pattern during sleep (fewer and slower sleep spindels, fewer K-complexes and other phasic events). Daytime EEG recordings in the elderly are characterized by slowing of the dominant alpha rhythm, diffuse or localized slow waves and reduced reactivity to stimuli. Only few studies, however, have addressed the question of how daytime EEG alterations are related to changes of the sleep polygram, and how these electrophysiological parameters relate to measures of mental performance which also undergo changes with aging. A review of published results and data from our own studies suggest that, within the non-pathological range, few correlations exist between polygraphic sleep, daytime EEG and mental performance data if age as an independent factor is kept constant. The only relations that were significant in some of the studies had opposite directions in different subjects’ samples. Thus, until more is known, these 3 areas of assessment should be studied and conceptualized separately. Our lack of understanding in this field is further illustrated by results of drug studies: compounds with confirmed effects on mental performance and mood in young subjects, such as amphetamine, fail to be useful stimulants or antidepressants in the elderly, and drugs like co-dergocrine mesylate (Hydergine ®) which are of use in mentally deteriorating old persons have no effects on vigilance and mental performance in young, healthy subjects. Therefore, extrapolations from one level of assessment to another and from experiments in young subjects to studies in the elderly appear unwarranted at the present time.
TL;DR: The results suggest that MCI‐2016‐induced supersensitivity is specific for NA and is due to interference with the neuronal uptake process for NA.
Abstract: In the isolated vas deferens of the guinea-pig, the effects of 2-(4-methylaminobutoxy) diphenylmethane hydrochloride (MCI-2016), a new psychotropic drug, on the contractile response to various agonists or transmural electrical stimulation and on the release of noradrenaline (NA) from the tissue were examined and compared with cocaine. MCI-2016 (3 X 10(-6)M) and cocaine (3 X 10(-5)M) produced a leftward shift (15 and 20 times, respectively) of the dose-response curves for the contractile effect of NA and increased the maximum contractile response to NA by approximately 7 and 14% respectively. MCI-2016 had no apparent effect on the dose-response curves for methoxamine, acetylcholine and high K, while cocaine markedly shifted those for these agents to the left and increased the maximal responses (10, 16 and 16%, respectively). MCI-2016 and cocaine abolished the tyramine (3 X 10(-4)M)-induced contraction and inhibited the twitch response to transmural electrical stimulation in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibitory effects of both drugs on the twitch were reversed by yohimbine (10(-5)M). The spontaneous outflow of NA from the vas deferens was unaffected by MCI-2016 (3 X 10(-6)M) and cocaine (10(-5)M), while the high-K-evoked release of NA was increased by both drugs. In the presence of cocaine (10(-5)M), the high-K-evoked release of NA was markedly increased by yohimbine (10(-5)M) and decreased by clonidine (3 X 10(-8)M), but only slightly increased by MCI-2016 (3 X 10(-6)M).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
01 Jul 1982
TL;DR: This prescription pattern of Nigerian psychiatrists provides a list of what can be considered as essential psychotropic drugs in Nigeria.
Abstract: Psychotropic drug prescription pattern of Nigerian psychiatrists was studied. The most widely prescribed oral antipsychotic was found to be chlorpromazine closely followed by thioridazine and trifluoperazine. Fluphenazine decanoate was the most frequently employed parenteral long-acting antipsychotic preparation. The most commonly prescribed antidepressant was amitriptyline (96.2%) closely followed by imipramine (84.6%). The two widely prescribed anxiolytics were diazepam (88.5%) and chlordiazepoxide (69.2%). This prescription pattern of Nigerian psychiatrists provides a list of what can be considered as essential psychotropic drugs in Nigeria.
TL;DR: Clinicians should make a complete medical evaluation and determine all of the medications an older patient is taking before they prescribe a psychotropic drug.
Abstract: Elderly patients pose special pharmacological problems. The combination of failing health, an aging body, and multiple drug prescriptions can alter drug effects clinicians would expect to occur in younger patients. Clinicians may also encounter problems of noncompliance of capricious compliance when treating older patients. They should be aware that elderly patients are more susceptible to psychotropic drug toxicity, severe extrapyramidal side-effects from neuroleptics, and anticholinergic side-effects from tricyclic antidepressants. Clinicians should make a complete medical evaluation and determine all of the medications an older patient is taking before they prescribe a psychotropic drug.
TL;DR: The results taken together indicate that the major effect of CM 54903 on the cholinergic neurons is at the presynaptic level to compete with choline at its uptake sites.
TL;DR: The severe toxic side-effects and the sometimes fatal outcome associated with the use of lithium-salts have again raised the importance of the problem and have suggested more obvious interpretations of the EEG alterations.
Abstract: Introduction It is generally accepted that all psychotropic active drugs affect the human EEG 1-3 Controlled combined pharmacological and EEG studies are frequently based on single drug dose settings. It thus became possible to describe drug-specific EEG profiles and even predict the clinical drug action of new agents taking the EEG effects into account. 4-6 In clinical practice drug use has a less uniform pattern. Psychiatric pharmacotherapy is hardly ever restricted to a single fixed drug. It always ends up with a combination of several, pharmacologically differently active drugs. These drugs are always taken for a prolonged period of time, often years, It is rightly stressed in the EEG handbook that only a few investigations have considered the EEG effects of chronic administration of neuroleptic drugs and that further research along these lines would be highly desirable. An intoxication is essentially a clinical diagnosis. It is usually the result of a massive overdose of one or several drugs presenting as an acute clinical syndrome with different grades of impaired consciousness. It is often overlooked that the chronic intake of drugs can also give rise to clinical symptoms, which are lessobvious, less typical, less dramatic. That is the main reason why diagnostic pitfalls frequently occur in cases of chronic intoxications. The EEG alterations resulting from acute drug intoxications, especially of the hypno-sedative type, are well known.\"?\" Massive overdoses of neuroleptics induce less obvious EEG alterations; 11 tricyclic antidepressants may induce irritative EEG signs. The chronic use of some psychotropic drugs, such as neuroleptics seems to affect the EEG more than a single overdose does. 14 This is in contradiction with the general rule that acute progressing C.N.S. dysfunctions produce more profound EEG signs than chronic ones. The meaning of the observed EEG alterations is still a controversial subject. Some authors interpret the drug-induced EEG alterations as prognostically good signs of a successful pharmacotherapy.25-29 The severe toxic side-effects and the sometimes fatal outcome associated with the use of lithium-salts have again raised the importance of the problem and have suggested more obvious interpretations of the EEG alterations. 30 34 This paper is designed to discuss the significance of the EEG in some cases of chronic drug intoxications. The clinical context is essential for understanding the EEG alterations, which have no specific features as to the type of drug involved or the presence of the clinical symptomatology.
01 Jan 1982
TL;DR: The United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971) defines it as any substance, natural or synthetic, or any natural material in Schedule I, II, III or IV of the Convention as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: The term ‘psychotropic substance’, though widely used by the medical and lay public, and reasonably well understood by both groups, is one for which there is no fully accepted definition Thus the United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971) defines it as ‘any substance, natural or synthetic, or any natural material in Schedule I, II, III or IV of the Convention’ Many would regard this as a rather restrictive definition
01 Jan 1982
TL;DR: The first step in the clinical investigation of psychotropic drugs is to bring to mind the different levels on which psychiatric syndromes can be quantified and the corresponding methods which can be used for this purpose.
Abstract: Compared to the assessment of pharmacological effects on body functions, clinical testing of psychotropic drugs presents us with particular problems. The treatment objective, namely to influence psychiatric syndromes, is on a higher level of complexity than the goals of other pharmacotherapy, e.g., reduction of blood pressure or regulation of blood sugar level. Psychiatric syndromes can only be defined descriptively and can be distinguished from the personality of the patient, who must be treated as a whole, only by means of rough schematization. Therefore, the first step in the clinical investigation of psychotropic drugs is to bring to mind the different levels on which psychiatric syndromes can be quantified and the corresponding methods which can be used for this purpose.
TL;DR: Though the listing of a psychotropic drug for general use alters the share of the market taken by the PBS, there is little evidence that it alters the overall market for the drug.
TL;DR: In vitro studies showed that the phenothiazines tested and the pharmacologically inactive CPZO, the major metabolite of CPZ, in concentrations ranging from 3 X 10(-9) to 3X 10(-4) M had an activating effect on kynurenine hydrolase.
TL;DR: This review will examine the clinical features and management of poisoning due to psychotropic agents used by Hollister (1978), which indicates a 50% fall in the mortality from barbiturate poisoning over the same period.
TL;DR: Findings lend credence to the hypothesis that the vague and ill-defined health problems precipitating a psychotropic prescription may in fact be economic, social, or psychological in origin.
Abstract: Data on patterns of psychotropic drug use from a two-part study of Quebec urban women are reported. Part I involved telephone interviews with 1187 women on their use of pain, sleep, and psychotropic medications. In Part II, 179 women participated in a further person-to-person interview. Areas covered included frequency and duration of use, efficacy of the product, dosage, presence of undesirable side effects, source of drug information, and the concomitant use of other medications. Diazepam and flurazepam (Valium and Dalmane) were the most frequently consumed psychotropes, with diazepam second only to aspirin as the most commonly used of all the medications. The majority of psychotropic users obtained the drug initially through a general practitioner for nonspecific health reasons, were satisfied with the efficacy of the drug, took the medication as directed, felt informed of the effects, and found no undesirable side effects. Multiple psychotrope use was not prevalent, and users of mood-modifiers were ge...