Biochemical pathogenesis of post-traumatic epilepsy

Head trauma is often followed by epilepsy and may be related to the breakdown of red blood cells and hemoglobin within the CNS. Injection of hemoglobin or iron salts into the rat cortex is known to induce a chronic epileptic focus. We observed the formation of superoxide anion (O₂) and hydroxyl radical (·OH) after ferric chloride injection into the rat cerebral cortex and suggest that these radicals, especially ·OH, may be responsible for the initiation of lipid peroxidation in neuronal membranes and for the accelerated production of guanidine compounds in the brain, which may in turn lead to epileptogenicity. Then, we found that treatment with epigallocatechin (EGC) or a phosphate diester of vitamins E and C (EPC), which are potent ·OH scavengers, significantly inhibited the formation of malondialdehyde and epileptic discharges in the iron-induced epileptic focus. This study was supported by a grant-in-aid for scientific research from the Japanese Ministry of Education, Science, and Culture.     

Locus of semantic generalization of the galvanic skin response and possible inhibitory influence of conditional stimuli upon unconditional response following conditioning with innocuous and noxious unconditional stimuli

Two different problems were investigated using the GSR index of the orienting reflex (OR): 1) the locus of semantic generalization: and 2) a possible inhibitory influence of the CS upon the UCR. Two experiments were conducted. One experiment employed an innocuous USC, and a second similar experiment used a loud noise as the UCS. Unidirectional word associates were employed in the test of the direction of semantic generalization. Constant and varying CS words were used to test the possible inhibitory influence of the CS upon the UCR. Evidence was obtained of semantic generalization occurring in the training and in the test situation. There was no evidence of the CS developing inhibition over the UCR. Theoretical interpretations of both phenomena were considered. The need for developing theories of conditioning of the OR in humans was emphasized in contrast to current efforts to apply inappropriate cognitive animal learning theories which fail to consider biologic constraints. Supported in part by University Grant 1322.     

Using the Family Paper Sculpture for education,therapy, and research

The Family Paper Sculpture is a semi-projective task useful in family life education, in clinical work with families, and in research involving family system variables. Families or individuals are asked to make a picture of the family using round disks for individuals, red and black strips to show similarities and differences among individuals, and boundary markers to show individuals who are separate, or pairs, or groups of individuals who belong together. Examples are given which demonstrate the value of the technique for educational, therapeutic, and research purposes.She is on leave from the University of Houston-Clear Lake, Houston, Texas, where she is an Associate Professor of Behavioral Sciences.The research reported here was supported in part by grants from the (U.S.) National Institute of Mental Health.     

The conflict cycle in the case of an adolescent in crisis

This is an extension of a previous paper describing a conflict cycle in families and therapy consisting of four steps: (1) the dispute; (2) blaming; (3) shame, guilt, or denial; and (4) reparation, reconciliation, or retaliation. The focus is on a single case of a 15-year-old male with a gender identity disorder in addition to a conduct disorder. He is an adopted child living in a small community in the southern United States. Conflict is illustrated from several perspectives in a single interview with the family and over the length of contact over a nine-month period: (1) between the adolescent and parents, (2) between the adolescent and community, (3) between the parents, and (4) between the Good Self and the Bad Self of the adolescent. The thesis is that the conflict cycle is an organizing principle helpful to therapists working with families to make assessments and plan interventions.This paper is an expanded and edited version of a presentation by the senior author in San Diego, California, on November 12, 1988, at the Western States Conference of the American Society of Adolescent Psychiatry.     

Nature of marital relations among chronic pain patients

Fifty-two chronic pain patients and their spouses were evaluated for their marital relations utilizing the FACES III. In most areas of family functioning the couples provided evidence of difficulties and demonstrated a significant level of agreement about the nature of the problems. On the circumplex model the couples were functioning at the mid-to extreme-range. This study suggests that marital difficulties among chronic pain sufferers may indeed be pervasive.     

Attention training normalises combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder effects on emotional Stroop performance using lexically matched word lists

We examined two groups of combat veterans, one with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (n?=?27) and another without PTSD (n?=?16), using an emotional Stroop task (EST) with word lists matched across a series of lexical variables (e.g. length, frequency, neighbourhood size, etc.). Participants with PTSD exhibited a strong EST effect (longer colour-naming latencies for combat-relevant words as compared to neutral words). Veterans without PTSD produced no such effect, t?p?>?.37. Participants with PTSD then completed eight sessions of attention training (Attention Control Training or Attention Bias Modification Training) with a dot-probe task utilising threatening and neutral faces. After training, participants—especially those undergoing Attention Control Training—no longer produced longer colour-naming latencies for combat-related words as compared to other words, indicating normalised attention allocation processes after treatment.     

Suicide and Suicidal Attempts in the United States: Costs and Policy Implications

The national cost of suicides and suicide attempts in the United States in 2013 was $58.4 billion based on reported numbers alone. Lost productivity (termed indirect costs) represents most (97.1%) of this cost. Adjustment for under‐reporting increased the total cost to $93.5 billion or $298 per capita, 2.1–2.8 times that of previous studies. Previous research suggests that improved continuity of care would likely reduce the number of subsequent suicidal attempts following a previous nonfatal attempt. We estimate a highly favorable benefit–cost ratio of 6 to 1 for investments in additional medical, counseling, and linkage services for such patients.