Previous issues

D.J. Veltman

summary The use of imaging techniques in basic research in cognitive psychology, neurology, and psychiatry is rapidly increasing. Neuroimaging is highly complex methodologically, which limits its accessibility. In this review, various scanning mod...

Depression in dementia

J.G.E Janzing, F.G. Zitman

background Depressive symptoms and syndromes are highly prevalent in patients with dementia. They may significantly affect the quality of life of the patients and their care-givers, but also the course of dementia.
aim To review the current knowle...

Short report

Pharmacoepidemiological research in psychiatry

J.J. Stolker, W.E.E. Meijer, G.W.K. Hugenholtz, W.A. Nolen, E.R. Heerdink

summary In this article the methods used in pharmacoepidemiology are discussed, the differences between randomised clinical trials and observational research are considered, and the possibilities and weaknesses of pharmacoepidemiological research ...

Case report

A patient who developed a manic syndrome after using a diet product

P. Naarding, R.J. Verkes

summary A 37-year old woman presented with a manic syndrome, after a period in which she deliberately had lost considerable weight. Because she had a history of depressive disorder and was currently treated with amitriptyline, the diagnosis of bip...

Editorial

Meer klachten, minder tuchtzaken

Burden on the family

B. Lowyck, M. De Hert, E. Peeters, M. Wampers, P. Gilis, J. Peuskens

background Mental health care in Belgium has been characterised by an increasing tendency to deinstitutionalise persons with psychiatric problems. Despite a growing number of studies evaluating the burden on the family of schizophrenic patients a ...

New research

Dissociative symptoms in psychiatric outpatients

H.N. Sno, H.F.A. Schalken, W. op den Velde, P.G.H. Aarts

background Due to the paucity of epidemiological data the clinical relevance of dissociative symptoms may have been underexposed.
aim To obtain information on the nature and frequency of dissociative symptoms in psychiatric outpatients.
method Dur...

Whither Quality?

E.M. Bisseling, J.M. Havenaar, B. Heemskerk

background In a former article we concluded that 'quality of care' is a key concept within a new paradigm in the health sciences. Within this paradigm health care is regarded in its totality. Structures, processes and outcomes of care are the focu...

Essay

Anxiety/aggression-driven depression

H.M. van Praag

summary A new subtype of depression is hypothesized, named anxiety/aggression-driven depression. Psychopathologically it is characterized by increased anxiety and aggression being precursor symptoms as well as pacemaker symptoms: symptoms capable ...

Short report

Psychiatrist: a multi-facetted profession or an intermediary stop on the way to a subspecialization?

R.J.A. ten Doesschate

summary In the discussion on subspecialization a distinction should be made between profession and function. A logical categorization of sub-specializations in psychiatry is no simple matter. The consequences of subspecialization for psychiatry, t...

Case report

A cognitive aspect related to the withdrawal of alprazolam

Y. Meesters, C.J.M. van Velzen, E.H. Horwitz

summary A 39-year-old woman experienced withdrawal effects after her dosage of alprazolam medication was lowered. Cognitive symptoms made it almost impossible for her to stop the alprazolam medication or to continue her psychotherapeutic treatment...

Editorial

Luisteren naar het verhaal van de patiënt: een evidentie?

Personality disorders in psychotherapeutic day treatment: psychological test feedback, effect and client satisfaction

J.A. Snijders, A.M. Huijsman, M.H. de Groot, J.J. Maas, A. de Greef

background Although psychological test feedback may influence treatment outcome, the generalization of this principle to clinical settings is unknown.
aim An investigation is reported on the controlled influence of test feedback on treatment outco...

New research

Cognitive styles in adolescents with autism spectrum disorders

H.J.C. Berger, F.H.T.M. Aerts, A. van der Sijde, P.A.M. van den Bogart-Bex, J.P.W.M. Teunisse

background It has been proposed that weak central coherence and poor mental shifting may be primary cognitive styles in autism spectrum disorders. Both concepts have a strong intuitive appeal, but the empirical evidence and factorial validity are ...

Whither Quality?

J.M. Havenaar, B. Heemskerk, E.M. Bisseling

background During recent years mental health care has undergone tremendous developments both from a scientific and organisational point of view. The government, the health insurance companies and the patient advocacy movement increasingly expect a...

Lateralization in schizophrenia: a meta-analysis

I.E.C. Sommer, A. Aleman, J.-P. Selten, N.F. Ramsey, A. Bouma, R. Kahn

background In the last years several studies reported on lateralization in schizophrenia. Results of these studies are equivocal.
aim To review studies on lateralization in schizophrenia.
method Meta-analysis of studies on hand preference, anatomi...

Essay

Self-organizing artificial neural networks which illustrate the interaction between the biological and environmental domain

N. van Beveren

summary In natural science 'complex dynamical systems' are in the focus of interest. A property of these kind of systems is their ability for self-organization. For its emergence the interaction of environmental and biological parameters is of imp...

Case report

Neurotic excoriations and obsessive-compulsive disorder

M. Kossen, G. Glas

summary Self-mutilation can be a symptom of various psychiatric disorders. Neurotic excoriations are a rarely described subtype of self-mutilation. After the presentation of two vignettes, the article describes the phenomenon of neurotic excoriati...

Letter to the editor

Reactie op 'Afwijkingen in de membraanvetzuursamenstelling bij patiënten met schizofrenie'

Reactie op 'Vrouwen met schizofrenie: onderzoeksbevindingen en implicaties voor de behandeling'

J.M. Garbis-Berkvens, W.R. Reuvers-Lodewijks, M.M. Rost van Tonningen-van Driel

3 februari 2004

Letter to the editor

Reactie op 'Psychosen bij jeugdigen'

De prijs van de wetenschap

Relapse prevention of depression with continuation of elektroconvulsive therapy

ISSUE 2002/1

J. Wijkstra, A. Algra, W.A. Nolen

background Medication resistance in major depressive disorder prior to ECT may be related to high relapse rates after successful ECT when continued medication is used to prevent relapse. An alternative could be to continue ECT.
aims We try to find...

Neurobiology of posttraumatic stress disorder: a literature study

ISSUE 2002/1