Maurice Korman

Neuropsychological effects of abuse of inhalants.

A neuropsychological battery of 67 measures was completed by 68 inhalant-abusing and 41 other-drug-abusing adolescent subjects. The measures tapped both global and specific functioning. Analysis of covariance was used to control effects of age and other drug use. These analyses indicated that inhalant abusers performed significantly more poorly than other drug abusers on 20 of the 67 measures. Deficits were observed on both global measures (WAIS and WRAT) and specific measures (perception of speech sounds, visual suppression, sensory perception, and Trails). These deficits suggest that the effect of inhalant abuse may be severe and widespread.

A comparative evaluation of 162 inhalant users

Abstract All inhalant users seen in a country wide psychiatic emergency room during a 24 month period were interviewed by psychiatrists or psychologists, and information regarding symptoms, background, mental status and diagnosis was noted. Severity ratings were made for each of 87 variables and 162 inhalant users thus assessed. Appropriate emergency room control groups matched for age, sex, and ethnicity (one group of polydrug non-inhalant users and a second of non-drug users) brought the total N studied to 486. A series of statistical analyses resulted in a total 28 significant findings differentiating the I, P, and ND group, with most of these differentiating the I and P groups significantly as well. The inhalant group evidenced more self- and other-directed aggressive behavior, a wider range of cognitive deficits, and more extensive social disruption than the other two groups, Inhalant users, however, were not significantly different in emotional dyscontrol or intelligence. Significantly more diagnoses of personality disorders and drug dependency were recorded for inhalant users: their difficulties tended to be more long standing and disposition included hospitalization more frequently.

EFFECTS OF TRAINING ON THE ALCOHOL CONSUMMATORY RESPONSE IN RATS

In an effort to isolate possible etiological factors in alcoholism, a number of procedures have been studied with reference to their effectiveness in increasing the alcohol consumption of animals. These have included forced alcohol consumption (Richter, 1953), specific nutritional deficiencies (Williams, et al., 1955; Mirone, 1:957), drugs such as propyl thiouracil (Zarrow & Rosenberg, 1953), and stress experiences (Masserman & Yum, 1946). Masserman and Yum found a specific preference for alcohol in a free choice situation on the part of animals who had experienced relief from the ingestion of alcohol during the stress-inducing period. The free choice test occurred in the same stimulus complex in which the conflict had been generated originally and consisted of observation of the animals preference rather than amounts consumed. This preliminary study was designed to investigate the effect of a series of simple avoidance training procedures upon the alcohol consummatory response of albino rats (as defined by the amount consumed) in a free choice situation and the generalizability of such a habit to surroundings other than those in which it was first acquired. The efficacy of two other procedures will be contrasted with this learning experience: first, the forced consumption of alcohol in a no-choice situation and, secondly, punishment not immediately paired with the availability of alcohol.

EEG and autonomic responding to verbal, spatial and emotionally arousing tasks: Differences among adults, adolescents and inhalant abusers ☆

The present study investigated the physiological responses of an adolescent inhalant abuse group, an adolescent non-abuse group, and an adult non-abuse group elicited by three types of tasks: verbal, spatial, and emotionally arousing. Each group consisted of 10 male Mexican-American subjects. Bilateral EEG and electrodermal activity, as well as heart rate, were monitored. While exploring for possible heart rate and hemispheric alpha wave differences in response to predominantly verbal and spatial tasks, an attempt was also made to discover if electrodermal responses could be bilaterally differentiated. Another purpose of the study was to explore possible psychophysiological differences between a younger and older group, and between an inhalant abusing group and a non-abuse group, in response to the three types of tasks. Results indicated that attempts to produce task-related EEG hemispheric asymmetry were largely nonsuccessful. Bilateral electrodermal responses were also not greatly differentiated. It was suggested that stronger task manipulations were needed. Significant group differences were found for initial physiological response levels (adults demonstrated higher levels than the two adolescent groups) and for heart rate response to the emotionally arousing task (non-abusing subjects demonstrated greater heart rate acceleration than inhalant abusing subjects). It was suggested that group differences in initial levels occurred due to the adult groupss greater involvement in the experimental situation. Heart rate differences to the emotionally arousing situation were discussed in terms of Zuckermans sensation seeking hypothesis.

Psychophysiological and cognitive characteristics of ulcer and rheumatoid arthritis patients.

This study examined differences in the physiological and cognitive response patterns among peptic ulcer, rheumatoid arthritis, and healthy group subjects to two types of stressors-slides of autopsies and imagined scenes involving conflicts and attitudes proposed to be associated with the two psychosomatic disorders. Ten subjects were assessed in each group. Results indicated that the ulcer patients demonstrated a heart rate accelerative trend, while arthritic and normal subjects showed significant deceleration, in response to the aversive slides of autopsies. Ulcer patients also reported paying less attention to the slides, and experiencing more anxiety when viewing them, relative to the other subjects. In response to the imagined scenes, the arthritic patients responded with more heart rate acceleration, apparently because of the greater emotional imagery produced by the scenes in these subjects. Finally, self-report and interview data did not lend support to a derivative of the specificity-of-attitude model of psychosomatic disorders.

ABUSE OF INHALANTS: MOTIVATION AND CONSEQUENCES

188 inhalant users, 157 heavy polydrug users, and 157 light polydrug users were interviewed concerning their reasons for drug abuse and the consequences they saw. Inhalant users were consistently more negatively affected by drug abuse and more strongly motivated toward drug abuse. The negative effects included factors of personal behavior, interpersonal adjustment, impulsivity, bad and distal consequences, and general drug-related trouble. Motivational factors implicated by inhalers were equally diverse, including internal, interpersonal, positive, and negative factors. These results are consistent with many current theories of drug addiction in general, suggesting that these theories may also be valid for the more specific, although less frequently addressed problem of inhalant abuse.

An information processing system for the psychiatric emergency room

An information processing system for a psychiatric emergency room is described. Several studies are presented that show the utility of the system. In the first study, variables involved in diagnosis are explicated. The second study attempts to determine the characteristics that distinguish recidivists from nonrecidivists at an emergency room. The third study attempts to find patient variables related to success in short-term treatment programs. The final study is aimed at discovering whether there are psychopathological effects related to the use of inhalants. Together, these studies show the potential of a mental health information system for learning more about the nature of mental disorders and their treatment.

Psychosocial Factors in Early Release from Psychiatric Hospitalization

Extensive demographic and psychometric information was collected on 813 consecutively admitted psychiatric patients. Those male patients who were discharged with medical advice in 75 days or less tended to show less severe pathology on admission together with a history of some stability and interpersonal success, yet saw themselves as troubled in a number of areas and in need of help. While a more favorable diagnosis was equally predictive of early release in females, measures reflecting the significance of marriage and family were featured prominently. Males and females differed markedly, however, with regard to the relationship of presenting symptoms (as derived by the Cornell Index) to early release from hospitalization.