Arabpsynet

Revues   / مجلات /  Journals

شبكة العلوم النفسية العربية

 

 

THE ARAB JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY

Vol. 7, N° 1, May (1996)

E.mail: takriti@nol.com.jo

 

 

q        CONTENTS / SOMMAIRE /  فهرس الموضوعات

 

q       Review Article    

§          Serotonin Receptors- A Review Of their Function And Possible Significance  In Psychiatric Disease.  / B. E Leonard

§          After Prescribing No Benzodiazepines / M. Abdel-Hakam, M.A. Ibrahim, M. Fakhr El-Islam

§          Fertility in Schizophrenia: a comparative study  / T. K. Daradkeh, M.T.Abou-Saleh, R. Ghoubash, 0. El Rufaie   A. Saad, Y. Younis, F. Reda, Y. Amin

§          Zuclopenthixol Versus Haloperidol In The Initial Treatment Of Schizophrenic  psychoses, Affective Psychoses And Paranoid States; A Controlled Clinical Trial / M. AI-Haddad, C.Kamel, R.P. Sequeria, M.A. Mawgood

§          Psychosocial aspects of limb amputation: The Impact of age differences  / T. E. Ahmad, A.Al-Worikat, W.M. Said, W. Al-Thunaibat and R. Suleiman

§          Case Report:-  Psychiatric Presentations and Social Consequences of Hypothyroidism. Case Report  / T. A. AI-Habeeb, A. AI-Ruhaily

§          Forensic Psychiatry 1   

      The Role of Current Legislation In the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Substance- Abuse Programs in the UAE. / Zain Omara

 

q       Obituary

  

q       Book Review     

§          Forensic Psychiatry Il 

     A proposed unified Mental Health Act for the Arab countries. / K. Chaleby,. Y. Rakhawi,. S. Abdel Azim

 

q       SUMMARY / RESUMES / ملخصات 

q       Review Article    

§         Serotonin Receptors- A Review Of their Function And Possible Significance  In Psychiatric Disease.  / B. E Leonard

ABSTRACT : Thirty-three years ago Gaddum and Picarelli classified the serotonin receptors in the guinea pig ileum into D and M types based on the activity of dibenzyline (D) and morphine (M) to block contractions of intestinal smooth muscle caused by serotonin. The subsequent location of specific ligand binding sites for serotonin in the brain has led to the identification of ten serotonin receptor sub-types in art brain. While there is some controversy over the functional importance of many of these receptor sub-types, there is evidence that they fall into two major groups according to the nature of their coupling to secondary messengers or ion channels. Thus the 5HT1 and 5HT2 receptors appear to occupy the G protein receptor subfamily which may be coupled either to adenylate cyclase (most 5HT1 sub-types) or phosphatidyl inositol (5HT2 sub-types). The central M receptors (now termed 5HT3) appear to occupy a ligand gated ion channel super family. The cloning of these receptor sub-types has been of importance in enabling them to be classified as specific protein molecules encoded by specific genes. The problem now arises with regard to the linking of the changes in the cellular activity of the various receptor sub-types with the plethora of behavioural changes that arise as a consequence of the actions of serotonin in the brain. The present review summarizes  the evidence implicating the role of specific serotonin receptor sub-types in thermoregulation, modulation of cardiovascular function, eating disorders, sleep, sexual activity, anxiety states, aggression, schizophrenia and depression. A summary of the relationship between these receptor sub-types and their possible involvement in the etiology of these diseases is shown in Table 2.

Return in high

   

§         After Prescribing No Benzodiazepines / M. Abdel-Hakam, M.A. Ibrahim, M. Fakhr El-Islam

ABSTRACT : A recent review (Farlotta et al 1994) regretted the small number of controlled studies on patients who discontinue Benzodiazepines (BZP).

METHOD :

    Fifty three patients treated with BZP continuously  > 3 months were studied as their own controls after discontinuation of BZP at the only psychiatric clinic in Qatar. A simple clinic assessment of patients outcome was made before and after BZP discontinuation as remitted (=symptom-free), partially improved (=retaining some symptoms) and unimproved.

RESULTS:

     A significantly better outcome was found after substituting BZP with tricyclic antidepressants and/or small doses of neuroleptics especially in anxiety disorders, younger patients and those receiving antidepressants.

DISCUSSION:

     The better outcome in younger patients and anxiolytic role of tricyclic antidepressants were confirmed. No support could be found to the relevance of type, dosage and duration of BZP therapy concerning the outcome of substitute therapies after BZP discontinuation.

CONCLUSION:

      Restrictive use of BZP to a few weeks in acute cases should be the prophylactic dictum. The use f antidepressants in the treatment of anxiety disorders should be preferred to BZP.

Return in high

                    

§         Fertility in Schizophrenia: a comparative study  / T. K. Daradkeh, M.T.Abou-Saleh, R. Ghoubash, 0. El Rufaie   A. Saad, Y. Younis, F. Reda, Y. Amin

ABSTRACT : To test the Hypothesis that fertility in schizophrenic patient is less than the psychiatric population. This study has been conducts on an inpatient population in psychiatric unit - Al Ain -U.A.E. Between 1st Oct. 1993 - 30th of September 1995. The study showed no difference in fertility rate amongst schizophrenic population.

Return in high

             

§         Zuclopenthixol Versus Haloperidol In The Initial Treatment Of Schizophrenic  psychoses, Affective Psychoses And Paranoid States; A Controlled Clinical Trial / M. AI-Haddad, C.Kamel, R.P. Sequeria, M.A. Mawgood

ABSTRACT : An open-ended controlled clinical trial was carried out on forty-nine patients with mania, acute psychoses or exacerbation of a chronic psychosis to compare zuclopenthixol acetate with haloperidol  to determine the efficacy and adverse effects during a six day trial period. Both zuclopenthixol acetate and haloperidol were equally effective in patients with acute psychosis, exacerbation of chronic psychosis and in mania. Zuclopenthixol acetate produced a greater degree of sedation in the initial phase of treatment and caused fewer extrapyramidal side effects than haloperidol and the patients treated with zuclopenthixol acetate needed less anti-parkinsonian treatment.

Return in high

          

§         Psychosocial aspects of limb amputation: The Impact of age differences  / T. E. Ahmad, A.Al-Worikat, W.M. Said, W. Al-Thunaibat and R. Suleiman

ABSTRACT :   This study was designed to identify the psychological and social adjustment aspects in amputees of various ages. Fifty-one amputee patients participated in this study, twenty-six patients above fifty years of age and twenty-five patients below this age. All patients were assessed by using the Arabic version of a personality test, Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and Psychosocial Adjustment Scale. Results showed that the main reason for amputations was due to accidents. Results of comparing the older and younger amputees on the MMPI and psychosocial Adjustment Scale revealed that younger amputee patients have a significantly higher score regarding depression and anxiety disorders and are less able to adjust than older amputee patients.

Return in high

 

§         Case Report:-  Psychiatric Presentations and Social Consequences of Hypothyroidism. Case Report  / T. A. AI-Habeeb, A. AI-Ruhaily

ABSTRACT : The aim of this case report is to show the wide range of different psychiatric presentations and social consequences of hypothyroidism. Here a 46 year old female with hypothyroidism was misdiagnosed as having psychotic depression for 12 years. The role of the physician in patient education and the consequences of misdiagnosis have been discussed. Also, the relationship between hypothyroidism and hyperprolactenemia, quick response to replacement therapy and the importance of considering hypothyroidism in the differential diagnosis, especially of atypical psychiatric disorders, were evaluated.

Return in high 

       

§         Forensic Psychiatry 1   

      The Role of Current Legislation In the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Substance- Abuse Programs in the UAE. / Zain Omara

SUMMARY : This paper describes a five year follow-up study (1987-1991) for substance-abusers admitted compulsory or voluntary for treatment into the drug dependency units in the UAE. It describes the existing legislation governing the treatment programs in the drug-dependency units in the UAE. It discusses the role of these regulations in the promotion of more practical systems of follow-ups, community surveillance and aftercare. It emphasizes the need for reevaluation of the existing legislation and revision of certain legal provisions in the current law, No "6" (1986) (Control of Narcotic substances and the like-substances). It highlights the need for regional collaboration with GCC Council of Health Ministers, the General Secretarial of Arab Ministers of Interior and W.H.O. policies, legislation and programs on dependence and the harmful use of drugs and alcohol.

Return in high  

 

q       Obituary

  

q       Book Review     

§         Forensic Psychiatry Il 

     A proposed unified Mental Health Act for the Arab countries. / K. Chaleby,. Y. Rakhawi,. S. Abdel Azim

ABSTRACT :  Most the Arab countries have either no written canonized Mental Health Act, or still struggling with an  old law that does not reflect the spirit of our age and the contemporary advances in Psychiatry.

During the last meeting of the Pan Arab Federation of Psychiatrist in dec. 1994, an ad hoc committee was formed to write a draft for a proposed Mental Health Act that can be either suitable to be used by most of the Arab countries or can form a framework for the law makers in a particular country  to make its own  law depending on its need the unique characteristic of that country. Now the bulk of the work has been completed, we are inviting all Arab Psychiatrists, and who ever is interested in this matter to write his or her suggestion or correction  to be published in this journal. It will be studied and discussed to be implemented in the final version of the Pan Arab Mental Health Act.

Return in high

 

Arabpsynet

Revues   / مجلات /  Journals

شبكة العلوم النفسية العربية

 

Copyright ©2003  WebPsySoft ArabCompany, Arabpsynet. (All Rights Reserved)