Psychotic Continuum

by N.C. Andreasen (Contribution by), Andreas Marneros (Editor), J. Angst (Contribution by), Nancy C. Andreasen (Editor), F.M. Benes (Contribution by)

Overview

One of the most important questions of our previous common volumes about affective, schizoaffective, and schizophrenic disorders was the question of what connects and what separates psychotic disorders (Marneros and Tsuang, Schizo­ affective Psychoses, Springer-Verlag, 1986; Marneros and Tsuang Affective and Schizoaffective Disorders, Springer-Verlag, 1990; Marneros, Andreasen, and Tsuang, Negative and Positive Schizophrenia, Springer-Verlag 1993). The boundaries between various psychotic disorders are not always clearly defined. Some groups of psychotic disorders, such as schizoaffective disorders and all the other "atypical" psychoses, occupy a position between "typical" mental disorders, such as schizophrenia, and affective disorders. The question is: Do psychotic disorders form a continuum, or are they, despite their unclear boundaries, distinct entities? On what basis should we assume there is a continuity of psychotic disorders? Solely symptomatology? Or perhaps also a continuity in genetic predispositions? Or in biological, pharmacological, and other dimensions? Is the old idea of "Einheitspsychose" (unitary psychosis) really always wrong? The contributions contained in this new volume cannot provide a definite answer to the above questions. But they try to describe some relevant aspects of the problem, and to give some partial answers. Halle-Wittenberg, Germany A. MARNEROS Brockton, USA M. T. TSUANG Iowa, USA N. C. ANDREASEN October 1994 Contents Part I Psychotic Continuum: An Introduction A. MARNEROS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Psychotic Continuum or Distinct Entities: Perspectives from Psychopathology CH. MUNDT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Psychotic Continuum Under Longitudinal Considerations A. MARNEROS, A. ROHDE, and A. DEISTER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Psychotic Continuum or Distinct Entities: Perspective from Psychopharmacology H. Y. MELTZER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783642794872
Publisher:	Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Publication date:	01/19/2012
Edition description:	Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1995
Pages:	167
Product dimensions:	6.69(w) x 9.53(h) x 0.01(d)

About the Author

Marneros, Andreas, MD, PhD (Martin-Luther-Universitat Halle-Wittenberg); Andreasen, Nancy C., MD, PhD (Univ of Iowa); Tsuang, Ming T., MD, PhD (Harvard Univ)

The contributors represent the specialties of psychiatry. Most are from universities and research centers in the U.S., the U.K., and Germany. Institutions prominently represented include Harvard, Maryland Psychiatric Center, Klinik fur Kinder-und Jungendpsychiatrie der Philipps-Universitats in Germany, and Klinik und Polonik fur Psychiatrie der Martin-Luther-Universitat in Germany.

Table of Contents

I.- Psychotic Continuum: An Introduction.- Psychotic Continuum or Distinct Entities: Perspectives from Psychopathology.- Psychotic Continuum Under Longitudinal Considerations.- Psychotic Continuum or Distinct Entities: Perspective from Psychopharmacology.- Psychotic Continuum or Distinct Entities: Perspectives from Family Studies.- Etiology of Schizophrenia: Perspectives from Childhood Psychoses.- Psychotic Continuum or Distinct Entities: Discussion.- II.- The Schizophrenia Spectrum: Perspectives from Neuroimaging.- Biochemical Heterogeneity in Schizophrenia: Implications and Research Strategies of the State Dependency Model.- Microscopic Findings in the Cortex and Hippocampus of Schizophrenic and Schizoaffective Patients.- Schizophrenia: Disease Entity, Disease Entities, or Domains of Psychopathology?.- Psychotic Continuum or Disease Entities? The Critical Impact of Nosology on the Problem of Aetiology.

Editorial Reviews

4 Stars! from Doody

This appears to be the proceedings of a European-American conference on the boundaries and continuities of psychotic syndromes as examined from the perspectives of course, phenomenology, biochemistry, family history, microscopic brain pathology, and neuroimaging. The problem for the symposium was to examine whether there is a continuity within psychotic disorders or are they distinct entities with definite, if unknown, boundaries. The purpose is to describe some relevant aspects of the problem and to give some partial answers. The topic is a vital question for research psychiatry and is worthy of examination. The book itself is a summary of current thinking and as such is a useful piece for the serious resident and scientist. It meets its objectives as stated by the authors. The book is written for serious psychiatric residents and those who do research in psychotic disorders. The authors and editors are very creditable and well recognized authorities in the field. The tables and graphs are appropriate, well labeled, and easy to read. The references are quite current and pertinent. The overall appearance of the book is satisfactory. Those who will purchase it will do so because of its title and contents, not its appearance. This book is an exposition of the arguments for and against the concept of a ^^unitary psychosis^^ versus the multiple distinct category approach favored in neo-Kraepelinian American psychiatry. Its interest for the reader is in the different forms of data presented as they relate to the topic. Data on longitudinal course, familial transmission, neuroanatomic abnormalities as seen on MRI, microscopic neuroanatomic abnormalities, biochemical evaluations and response topharmacologic treatment are presented as they relate to the question. It is a book for medical school libraries, research institutions, and very thoughtful clinicians. Although it is a compilation of talks, it contains clearly written technical prose with rare editorial lapses.

William Scheftner

Reviewer: William Scheftner, MD (Rush University Medical Center)
Description: This appears to be the proceedings of a European-American conference on the boundaries and continuities of psychotic syndromes as examined from the perspectives of course, phenomenology, biochemistry, family history, microscopic brain pathology, and neuroimaging.
Purpose: The problem for the symposium was to examine whether there is a continuity within psychotic disorders or are they distinct entities with definite, if unknown, boundaries. The purpose is to describe some relevant aspects of the problem and to give some partial answers. The topic is a vital question for research psychiatry and is worthy of examination. The book itself is a summary of current thinking and as such is a useful piece for the serious resident and scientist. It meets its objectives as stated by the authors.
Audience: The book is written for serious psychiatric residents and those who do research in psychotic disorders. The authors and editors are very creditable and well recognized authorities in the field.
Features: The tables and graphs are appropriate, well labeled, and easy to read. The references are quite current and pertinent. The overall appearance of the book is satisfactory. Those who will purchase it will do so because of its title and contents, not its appearance.
Assessment: This book is an exposition of the arguments for and against the concept of a "unitary psychosis" versus the multiple distinct category approach favored in neo-Kraepelinian American psychiatry. Its interest for the reader is in the different forms of data presented as they relate to the topic. Data on longitudinal course, familial transmission, neuroanatomic abnormalities as seen on MRI, microscopic neuroanatomic abnormalities, biochemical evaluations and response to pharmacologic treatment are presented as they relate to the question. It is a book for medical school libraries, research institutions, and very thoughtful clinicians. Although it is a compilation of talks, it contains clearly written technical prose with rare editorial lapses.

Doody's Review Service