Effects of Serum from Schizophrenics on Evoked Cortical Potentials in the Rat

Many experiments have been reported suggesting that the serum of schizophrenic patients differs in some way from the serum of non-schizophrenic subjects, either in respect of some specific constituent or of the alterations in function which it can produce when added to various biological systems (Heath, 1957; Walaszek, 1960; Bergen, Koella, Czicman and Hoagland, 1961). These reports suggest that schizophrenia is a pathological mental condition resulting from some disorder of metabolism or of biochemical processes, and it would be logical to expect that this disorder would be most manifest as a disturbance of the neurological activity in the cerebrum—perhaps more specifically in the cerebral cortex—since the clinical picture in schizophrenia is primarily one of gross derangement of the processes of perception, attention and thinking.

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Effect of Serum from Schizophrenics on Evoked Cortical Potentials in the Rat

The British Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/bjp.111.473.339 ◽

1965 ◽

Vol 111 (473) ◽

pp. 339-344 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

D. Stenhouse ◽

R. Antebi ◽

E. M. A. Dear ◽

R. N. Herrington ◽

C. McCance

Keyword(s):

Cerebral Cortex ◽

Rat Cerebral Cortex ◽

Sensory Area ◽

Normal Individuals ◽

Schizophrenic Patients ◽

Evoked Cortical Potentials ◽

Stimulation Of ◽

Cortical Potentials

German (1961, 1963) reported that serum from schizophrenic patients, in contrast to that from normal individuals and non-schizophrenic patients, when applied topically to the rat cerebral cortex, increased the amplitude of potentials evoked in the somato-sensory area by stimulation of the contralateral forepaw. Furthermore, similar changes were found when urine extracts were tested in the same manner (German and Kemali, 1963; Kemali, 1964).

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A Further Study of the Effects of Serum from Schizophrenics on Evoked Cortical Potentials in the Rat

The British Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/bjp.111.473.345 ◽

1965 ◽

Vol 111 (473) ◽

pp. 345-347 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

G. A. German ◽

R. N. Antebi ◽

E. M. A. Dear ◽

C. McCance

Keyword(s):

Cerebral Cortex ◽

Electrical Response ◽

Cutaneous Stimulation ◽

Control Subjects ◽

Schizophrenic Patients ◽

Evoked Cortical Potentials ◽

Cortical Potentials

In 1963, one of us reported that serum from schizophrenic patients, applied topically to the cerebral cortex of the rat, produced a large increase in the amplitude of the electrical response evoked in the cortex by cutaneous stimulation (German, 1963). This effect was not observed when serum from non-schizophrenic control subjects was used.

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Stable Abnormalities in the Lateralisation of early Cortical Somatosensory Evoked Potentials in Schizophrenic Patients

The British Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/bjp.146.6.585 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 146 (6) ◽

pp. 585-593 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

J. E. Cooper ◽

H. Andrews ◽

C. Barber

Keyword(s):

Evoked Potentials ◽

Somatosensory Evoked Potentials ◽

Tactile Stimulus ◽

The Other ◽

Technical Problems ◽

Affective Illness ◽

Schizophrenic Patients ◽

Evoked Cortical Potentials ◽

Stimulation Of ◽

Cortical Potentials

SummaryDuring the investigation of somatosensory evoked cortical potentials arising from a complex vibro-tactile stimulus to the forefingers, an abnormal lack of lateralisation of response was found in 10 out of 21 schizophrenic patients. Eight patients with severe affective illness all had the expected degree of lateralisation of cortical potentials, as did 12 out of 15 normals. Three normals and 3 schizophrenic patients had a loss of lateralisation of the evoked response on stimulation of one hand but a normal lateralisation on stimulation of the other. The considerable technical problems of this and related techniques are discussed, but it is suggested that further exploration of this technique is justified. At this stage, no conclusion can be drawn about the cause of the abnormalities.

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Treatment patterns and appropriateness of antipsychotic prescriptions in patients with schizophrenia

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-92731-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Verónica Gamón ◽

Isabel Hurtado ◽

José Salazar-Fraile ◽

Gabriel Sanfélix-Gimeno

Keyword(s):

Negative Impact ◽

Current Treatment ◽

Treatment Patterns ◽

Mental Condition ◽

Comorbid Condition ◽

Concomitant Treatment ◽

Antipsychotic Medications ◽

Wide Range ◽

Schizophrenic Patients ◽

High Level

AbstractSchizophrenia is a chronic mental condition presenting a wide range of symptoms. Although it has a low prevalence compared to other mental conditions, it has a negative impact on social and occupational functions. This study aimed to assess the appropriateness of antipsychotic medications administered to schizophrenic patients and describe current treatment patterns for schizophrenia. A retrospective cohort study was conducted in all patients over the age of 15 with an active diagnosis of schizophrenia and treated with antipsychotics between 2008 and 2013 in the Valencia region. A total of 19,718 patients were eligible for inclusion. The main outcome assessed was inappropriateness of the pharmacotherapeutic management, including polypharmacy use. Altogether, 30.4% of patients received antipsychotic polypharmacy, and 6.8% were prescribed three or more antipsychotics. Overdosage affected 318 individuals (1.6%), and 21.5% used concomitant psychotropics without an associated psychiatric diagnosis. Women and people with a comorbid condition like anxiety or depression were less likely to receive antipsychotic polypharmacy. In contrast, increased polypharmacy was associated with concomitant treatment with other psychoactive drugs, and only in user on maintenance therapy, with more visits to the mental health hospital. Overall, we observed a high level of inappropriateness in antipsychotic prescriptions. Greater adherence to guidelines could maximize the benefits of antipsychotic medications while minimizing risk of adverse effects.

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