Henning Sass

Impulsivity in self-mutilative behavior: Psychometric and biological findings

This paper examines impulsivity as a central factor in moderate/superficial self-mutilation such as skin-cutting and burning. A sample of 165 subjects were divided into four groups, namely self-mutilators, patients with any modes of impulsive behavior other than self-mutilation, patients without any impulsive behavior, and normal probands. All were administered the 10th version of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory, and the Inventory for the Assessment of Factors of Aggressiveness. They also were interviewed carefully in regards to both impulsive and self-mutilative behavior. A d-fenfluramine challenge test was administered to 36 females and prolactin levels were measured. On the whole results implicate impulsive personality functioning as a major factor in subjects with moderate/superficial self-mutilative behavior whose trait pathology is similar to personality disordered patients with other modes of self-harming impulsive behavior.

Correlation of positive symptoms exclusively to hyperperfusion or hypoperfusion of cerebral cortex in never-treated schizophrenics

BACKGROUND Studies of schizophrenia by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) have shown both regional cerebral hyperperfusion and hypoperfusion. The aim of this study was to examine the inter-relations between regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), psychopathology, and effects of neuroleptic therapy. METHODS 24 never-treated patients with acute schizophrenia were examined with hexamethylpropyleneamine-oxime brain SPECT and assessed psychopathologically according to the positive and negative syndrome scale; they were studied again after neuroleptic treatment and psychopathological remission. rCBF values that deviated from those of 20 controls by more than 2 SD were regarded as abnormal. FINDINGS Both hyperperfused and hypoperfused patterns were found among schizophrenia patients during acute illness. The seven positive symptoms on the symptom scale showed different correlations with rCBF: formal thought disorders and grandiosity correlated positively (and strongly) with bifrontal and bitemporal rCBF; delusions, hallucinations, and distrust correlated negatively (and strongly) with cingulate, left thalamic, left frontal, and left temporal rCBF. Stereotyped ideas as a negative symptom correlated negatively (and strongly) with left frontal, cingulate, left temporal, and left parietal rCBF. After neuroleptic treatment (and reduction of positive symptoms), only negative symptoms correlated exclusively with bifrontal, bitemporal, cingulate, basal ganglia, and thalamic hypoperfusion. INTERPRETATION Different positive symptoms are accompanied by different rCBF values--some related to hyperperfusion, others to hypoperfusion. This finding may help to explain observed inconsistencies of perfusion patterns in drug-naïve schizophrenics.

High Intensity Dependence of Auditory Evoked Dipole Source Activity Indicates Decreased Serotonergic Activity in Abstinent Ecstasy (MDMA) Users

Neurotoxic damage of central serotonergic systems has been demonstrated in numerous animal studies after exposure to methylenedioxyamphetamines (ecstasy). A high intensity dependence of auditory evoked potentials and, particularly, of the tangential N1/P2 source activity has been associated with low levels of serotonergic neurotransmission in humans. We performed an auditory evoked potentials study in 28 abstinent recreational ecstasy users and two equally sized groups of cannabis users and nonusers. The ecstasy users exhibited an increase of the amplitude of the tangential N1/P2 source activity with higher stimulus intensities; whereas, both control groups failed to exhibit this feature. These data are in line with the hypothesis that abstinent ecstasy users present with diminished central serotonergic activity. This feature of information processing is probably related to the well-recognized neurotoxic potential of ecstasy. Our data indicate that recreational ecstasy use may cause long-term alterations in the function (and possibly structure) of the human brain.

Neurometabolic Effects of Psilocybin, 3,4-Methylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDE) and d-Methamphetamine in Healthy Volunteers A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled PET Study with [18F]FDG

The neurometabolic effects of the hallucinogen psilocybin (PSI; 0.2 mg/kg), the entactogen 3,4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDE; 2 mg/kg) and the stimulant d-methamphetamine (METH; 0.2–0.4 mg/kg) and the drugs’ interactions with a prefrontal activation task were investigated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled human [F-18]fluorodeoxyglucoseFDG-positron emission tomographicPET study (each group: n = 8). Subjects underwent two scans (control: word repetition; activation: word association) within 2–4 weeks. Psilocybin increased rMRGlu in distinct right hemispheric frontotemporal cortical regions, particularly in the anterior cingulate and decreased rMRGlu in the thalamus. Both MDE and METH induced cortical hypometabolism and cerebellar hypermetabolism. In the MDE group, cortical hypometabolism was more pronounced in frontal regions, with the exception of the right anterior cingulate, which tended to be hyperactive. Cognitive activation-related increases in left frontocortical regions were attenuated under all three psychoactive substances, but less so under MDE. Taking into account performance data and subjective reports on task difficulty, these effects may result from different mechanisms across the three groups. Our PSI data are in line with studies on acute schizophrenic patients suggesting frontal overactivity at rest, but diminished capacity to activate prefrontal regions upon cognitive demand. The MDE data support the hypothesis that entactogens constitute a distinct psychoactive substance class, which takes an intermediate position between stimulants and hallucinogens.

Psychophysiological responses in ADHD boys with and without conduct disorder: implications for adult antisocial behavior.

OBJECTIVE Several studies have demonstrated that the presence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in childhood increases the risk of antisocial behavior developing in adulthood. However, because previous research did not consider comorbid conduct disorder (CD), the question of whether ADHD by itself or only the association of ADHD with CD implies a risk of adult antisocial behavior developing is still under discussion. METHOD Because several characteristics of psychophysiological response had been shown to be associated with future increased likelihood of adult antisocial behavior, autonomic arousal as well as electrodermal responses to orienting and aversive stimuli were assessed in 26 boys with ADHD+CD compared with 21 boys with ADHD alone and 21 controls. RESULTS Boys with a comorbid condition of ADHD+CD showed a decrement of autonomic responses and a more rapid habituation to orienting and aversive startling stimuli compared with age-matched children with ADHD alone. CONCLUSIONS Boys with ADHD+CD show a psychophysiological response pattern that is very similar to that reported in antisocial personalities. These findings give further support for a high persistence of antisocial behavior from childhood to adulthood, while no evidence was found that ADHD itself is associated with a predisposition to antisocial behavior.

Affective instability and impulsivity in personality disorder: Results of an experimental study

Affective instability in borderline personality disorder is due to a marked reactivity to environmental events. The present study focused on the relationship between affective instability and impulsivity in personality disorder. It used an experimental approach in the form of an affect-stimulation design based on the presentation of a short story which allowed for an analysis of affective responses in regard to quality, intensity, and alterations over time. Impulsive personalities showed a strong intensity of affective responses us well as a tendency towards rapid affect alterations supporting the theory of poor affect regulation in subjects with impulsive self-harming behaviour. Results suggest that affective instability is a crucial part of impulsive personality functioning.

Effects of the Hallucinogen Psilocybin on Covert Orienting of Visual Attention in Humans

Hallucinogenic drug-induced states are considered as models for acute schizophrenic disorders (experimental psychoses). In a double-blind study with healthy volunteers we investigated the influence of the serotonergic hallucinogen psilocybin, the ecstasy-like drug 3,4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDE), the stimulant d- methamphetamine and placebo on covert orienting of spatial attention (n = 8 in each group). Reaction times were prolonged after ingestion of psilocybin > MDE, but not after d-methamphetamine. In addition, subjects on psilocybin exhibited particularly slow reaction times in invalid trials at short cue target intervals and failure of response inhibition in valid trials at long cue target intervals for right visual field targets. Despite some methodological limitations, these results are in line with both bilateral impairment of disengagement of attention and a lateralized impairment of inhibition of return (IOR) in productive psychotic states. Additional investigations with larger samples, different hallucinogenic substances (serotonergic agonists vs. NMDA antagonists) and different dose regimens are needed in order to further explore the suggested relationship between visuospatial attentional dysfunction and acute psychotic conditions.

DAS KONSTRUKT LEBENSQUALITAT : METAANALYTISCHE VALIDIERUNG UND DIE ENTWICKLUNG EINES MODULAREN ERHEBUNGSSYSTEMS

ZusammenfassungIn einer von der Arbeitsgruppe „Lebensqualität (LQ)” der „Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Methodik und Dokumentation in der Psychiatrie” (AMDP) unterstützten multizentrischen Studie wird das Konstrukt Lebensqualität (LQ) anhand von acht (inter)national validierten Erhebungsinstrumenten sowie einer gesunden (n=479), einer depressiven (n=171) und einer schizophrenen (n=139) Stichprobe metaanalytisch untersucht. Neben herkömmlichen psychometrischen Kriterien liegt der methodische Schwerpunkt dabei auf einem facettenanalytischen Vorgehen. Der resultierende Fragebogen „Modulares System zur Lebensqualität” (MSLQ) besteht aus einem für alle 3 Stichproben hinreichend validen Kernmodul mit 47 Items (ein „G-Faktor” und 6 Subdimensionen) sowie 4 spezifischen Modulen (Demographie, Familie, Partnerschaft, Beruf). Für die psychopathologischen Subgruppen lassen sich keine spezifischen Module etablieren. Die validierte Struktur der subjektiv eingeschätzten Lebensqualität (in Form einer facettenanalytischen Radexkonstellation) bietet die Möglichkeit zu einer kumulativ angelegten Forschung und einer untersuchungsspezifischen Anpassung des MSLQ.SummaryThe construct Quality of Life (QoL) is investigated by metaanalysis of eight (inter)nationally validated questionnaires in a multicenter study. Data have been collected in a mentally healthy (n=479), a depressed (n=171) and a schizophrenic (n=139) sample. Conventional psychometric criteria and a facet analytical methodology have been applied. The resulting questionnaire „Modular System for Quality of Life” (MSQoL) consists of a core module with 47 items (one „G-factor” and six subdimensions), which is sufficiently valid for all three samples. Additionally, there are four specific modules (demography, family, partnership, profession). No specific modules can be identified for the psychopathological subgroups. The validated radex structure for subjective QoL offers the opportunity for a cumulative research design and for adaptations to the actual setting.

Personality disorders and the law, with a German perspective

Current research on legally relevant personality disorders favours character-based approaches to classifications that are restricted to behavioural phenomena. This development agrees with those critics who demand a clear-cut distinction between pure delinquency and deviance resulting from psychopath

”Ecstasy”-induced changes of cerebral glucose metabolism and their correlation to acute psychopathology

Abstract. The aim of this study was to determine the acute effects of the ”Ecstasy” analogue MDE (3,4-methylene dioxyethamphetamine) on cerebral glucose metabolism (rMRGlu) of healthy volunteers and to correlate neurometabolism with acute psychopathology. In a randomized double-blind trial, 15 healthy volunteers without a history of drug abuse were examined with fluorine-18-deoxyglucose (18FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) 110–120 min after oral administration of 2 mg/kg MDE (n=7) or placebo (n=8). Two minutes prior to radiotracer injection, constant cognitive stimulation was started and maintained for 32 min using a word repetition paradigm to ensure constant and comparable mental conditions during cerebral glucose uptake. Individual brain anatomy was represented using T1-weighted 3D flash magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), followed by manual regionalization into 108 regions of interest and PET/MRI overlay. After absolute quantification of rMRGlu and normalization to global metabolism, normalized rMRGlu under MDE was compared to placebo using the Mann-Whitney U-test. Acute psychopathology was assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and rMRGlu was correlated to PANSS scores according to Spearman. MDE subjects showed significantly decreased rMRGlu in the bilateral frontal cortex: left frontal posterior (–7.1%, P<0.05) and right prefrontal superior (–4.6%, P<0.05). On the other hand, rMRGlu was significantly increased in the bilateral cerebellum (right: +10.1%, P<0.05; left: +7.6%, P<0.05) and in the right putamen (+6.2%, P<0.05). There were positive correlations between rMRGlu in the middle right cingulate and grandiosity (r=0.87, P<0.05), both the right amygdala (r=0.90, P<0.01) and the left posterior cingulate (r=0.90, P<0.01) to difficulties in abstract thinking, and the right frontal inferior (r=0.85, P<0.05), right anterior cingulate (r=0.93, P<0.01), and left anterior cingulate (r=0.85, P<0.05) to attentional deficits. A negative correlation was found between the left frontal operculum (Broca’s area) and attentional deficits (r=–0.85, P<0.05). The present study revealed acute neurometabolic changes under the ”Ecstasy” analogue MDE, indicating a frontostriatocerebellar imbalance paralleling other psychotropic substances or various psychiatric disorders.