Research Report

Poster Highlights from the 162nd Annual Meeting of the American Psychiatric Association

First published in Psychiatry Weekly, Volume 4, Issue 14, on June 22, 2009.

“Hostility and Impulsivity of Nicotine Dependence”
Hwang J, Min S.
Korean researchers obtained data from 550 males, 21 years of age (SD: 1.1 years). Smoking rates were 30.1%, and depression, hopelessness, anxiety, hostility and impulsivity were found to be related to smoking status. 11.6% of smokers had moderate to severe dependence. Hostility and impulsivity were especially related to severity of nicotine dependence. Poster NR2-004

“Religious Affiliation and Suicidal Behavior in Patients with Bipolar Disorder”
Dervic K, Carballo JJ, Baca-Garcia E, et al.
149 patients with bipolar disorder with a religious affiliation (BD-RA) were compared to 49 patients without religious affiliation (BD-WRA). Compared to BD-WRA, BD-RA were more likely to have children, fewer past suicide attempts, less comorbid substance abuse, and greater moral objections to suicide. Both groups, however, had similar levels of suicidal ideation, depression, hopelessness, and severity of manic symptoms. Poster NR2-110

“Changes in Regional Cerebral Blood Flow and Clinical Effects in Patients with Panic Disorder Treated by Group Cognitive Behavioral Therapy”
Min J, Jahng E, Seo HJ, et al.
Previous reports have suggested that CBT in panic disorder may decondition contextual fear at the level of the hippocampus. 14 subjects with panic disorder underwent SPECT scans before and after a completion of a 3-month course of CBT. According to SPECT images, there were significant regional cerebral blood flow increases after CBT, compared to before CBT, in the left postcentral gyrus, left precentral gyrus, and inferior frontal gyrus. Poster NR3-064

“Respiratory Health in Psychotic Disorders: A Population Study”
Partti K, Vasankari T, Perälä J, et al.
Lung function was assessed with spirometry in a Finnish cohort (N=8,028) of persons ≥30 years of age with schizophrenia (n=43), non-affective psychosis (n=58), and affective psychosis (n=33). Serum cotinine levels were measured to ascertain smoking status. After controlling for variables, schizophrenia remained an independent predictor of low FEV1 and FVC and high cotinine levels. Poster NR3-097

“The Effect of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors on Periodic Limb Movements and Restless Leg Syndrome in Depressed Patients”
Zarrouf F, Budur K.
Polysomnographic evaluations were conducted in adults (mean age 44.96 years) with depression. 124 females and 106 males participated. 164 subjects (71.3%) were taking SSRIs at evaluation. After evaluating subjects’ sleep quality, BMI, and controlling for variables, researchers found no significant differences between active and control groups in regards to restless leg syndrome, and periodic limb movement indices. Poster NR3-108